On Wednesday June 11th, Wilson’s family members announced that The Beach Boys’ co-founder had sadly passed away at the age of 82. The internet has since been flooded with condolences and tributes from fans, friends and colleagues of the artist. The cause of death wasn’t announced although Wilson had been suffering from dementia since February 2024.
Following the news, British pop icon Elton John took to Instagram to post a throwback picture of him and Brian in a recording studio. The caption read: “Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him. He sang ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’ at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation. I grew to love him as a person, and for me, he was the biggest influence on my songwriting ever; he was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant.”
Among the many names that spoke about Wilson and his genius, kindness and love, folk singer Bob Dylan also shared a statement that read: “Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian.”
Brian’s band also shared a statement, talking about the musician as well as his time and input within the iconic band The Beach Boys: “The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure. Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys – he was the soul of our sound. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom – music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities. We will continue to cherish the timeless music we made together and the joy he brought to millions over the decades,” they wrote. “And while we will miss him deeply, his legacy will live on through his songs and in our memories.”
