Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson dead at 82
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Brian Wilson, founding member and main songwriter of the Beach Boys, has died, aged 82.
The news of the singer-songwriter's passing was shared by his family on Instagram. The post reads: "We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. "We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving."We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."
No cause of death has yet been disclosed.
One of the most respected and admired musicians ever to work within the field of pop music, Wilson was born on June 20, 1942 in Inglewood, California. He co-founded the Beach Boys with his brothers Dennis and Carl, their cousin Mike Love, and close friend Al Jardine in 1961, and the group were signed to Capitol Records the following year. The defining sound of Californian youth culture in the early '60s, Beach Boys went on to become the most iconic and successful American band of the decade, scoring Top 10 Billboard chart singles with songs such as Surfin' USA, Fun, Fun Fun, I Get Around , California Girls, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Good Vibrations and many more.
In 1964, Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown and elected to withdraw from touring with the group to concentrate on songwriting and production. His group's acknowledged masterpiece, 1966's Pet Sounds, has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest albums ever, with Wilson recognised by musicians worldwide as a songwriting genius for his innovative, groundbreaking and hugely influential compositional skills, his use of complex harmonies, his arrangements and orchestration. "I believe that without Brian Wilson's inspiration, Sgt Pepper might have been less of the phenomenon that it became,' Beatles producer George Martin is quoted as saying in Charles L Granata's book Brian Wilson And The Making Of Pet Sounds. 'Brian is a living genius of pop music. Like The Beatles, he pushed forward the frontiers of popular music."Beach Boys have sold sold more than 100 million records worldwide, according to their website.
Last year it was revealed that Wilson was suffering from dementia, and was placed in a conservatorship, overseen by his manager and US publicist.
The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood was one of the first musicians to pay tribute to Wilson following the announcement of his death."Oh no, Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in one week ~ my world is in mourning," Wood posted on X. "So sad."
In his own tribute, John Lennon's son Sean hailed Wilson as "our American Mozart."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Bassist Carol Kaye tells AP she's declining Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, 'Permanently'
NEW YORK (AP) — Carol Kaye, a prolific and revered bassist who played on thousands of songs in the 1960s including hits by the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and Barbra Streisand, told The Associated Press on Friday that she wants no part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 'I've declined the rrhof. Permanently,' the 90-year-old Kaye said in an email to the AP. She said she has sent a letter to the Hall saying the same thing. Her remarks come two days after a Facebook post — since deleted — in which she said 'NO I won't be there. I am declining the RRHOF awards show.' Kaye was set to be inducted in November in a class that also includes Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker and Cyndi Lauper. She said in her deleted post that she was 'turning it down because it wasn't something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.' Kaye's credits include the bass lines on Simon & Garfunkel's 'Homeward Bound,' the Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations' and the Monkees' 'I'm a Believer.' Along with drummer Hal Blaine and guitarist Tommy Tedesco, she was part of a core of heavily used studio musicians that Blaine later dubbed 'The Wrecking Crew.' Kaye hated the name, and suggested in her Facebook post that her association with it was part of the reason for declining induction. 'I was never a 'wrecker' at all,' she wrote, 'that's a terrible insulting name.' Kaye's inductee page on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website makes no mention of the moniker. Hall representatives had no immediate comment. Many artists have been inducted in their absence or after their death, and in 2006 the Sex Pistols became Hall of Famers despite rejecting their induction. In 2022, Dolly Parton initially declined her induction, saying someone more associated with rock 'n' roll should get the honor. But she was convinced to change her mind and embrace the honor. ___ Dalton reported from Los Angeles.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Fuerza Regida on making history, performing in LA amid turmoil
Beyond hard work and humility, manifestation has been part of Fuerza Regida's recipe for success. Frontman Jesús "JOP" Ortiz Paz remembers watching "Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento" (the Latino version of "America's Got Talent") with his parents at home in San Bernardino, California, and saying, "I'm going to be on that TV. I'm going to be right there," he tells USA TODAY. "Ah, you're crazy," Paz, 28, says his parents responded. That was during a June 2023 interview with USA TODAY ahead of Fuerza Regida's sold-out show at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, part of their "Otra Peda" tour. Fast forward two years, and the band finds itself reaching new career heights. Fuerza Regida − Paz, along with Samuel Jáimez, Khrystian Ramos, José "Pelón" García and Moisés López − makes its historic debut at both New York's Madison Square Garden June 20 and LA's Hollywood Bowl June 21. They'll be performing their latest album, the 12-track "111XPANTIA," in its entirety. "Us bringing corridos to these venues, I'm pretty sure it's for the first time, so we're really happy that our genre is growing and growing," Paz says ahead of the shows. "We're excited, we've been breaking all these records and making history." Interview: Fuerza Regida on Mexican music going global and why they're the pioneers In May, the all-genre Billboard 200 album charts, saw for the first time Spanish-language albums in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots at the same time − Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos" and Fuerza Regida's "111XPANTIA," respectively. More than that, it marked Fuerza Regida's highest-charting album to date, and the highest-charting Spanish-language album by a duo or group, or a regional Mexican music album, ever, according to Billboard. With nearly a decade in the industry under their belt, reaching the top of the charts isn't new territory for the group members anymore. Their 2023 album "Pa Las Baby's Y Belikeada" peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Latin Albums chart and reached the Top 15 of the Billboard 200, and also earned them a pair of awards — Top Duo/Group and Top Latin Duo/Group at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. With 2024's "Pero No Te Enamores," the band's eighth studio album, Fuerza Regida dabbled in Jersey club music, reggaeton, hip-hop and bachata and embarked on a 76-date tour. Manifestation brought Fuerza Regida new album '111XPANTIA' to life Before Fuerza Regida made its mark in arenas and stadiums all over the United States and Latin America, the band was performing small gigs in backyards and at quinceñeras in 2016. Now, the band boasts numerous chart-topping albums, sold-out stadium and arena shows, multiple brand deals (including their latest partnership with Dos Equis for the Ni Perdón Ni Permiso campaign) and performances on late-night talk shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live." In January, Paz became the first performer to bring regional Mexican music to Paris Men's Fashion Week during KidSuper's runway show ("It was my first time in Europe and we love fashion as well, so I was like a little kid at Toys 'R Us," Paz says). In 2018, he founded the independent record label Street Mob Records, which has signed other rising stars in the genre, including Chino Pacas, Calle 24, Clave Especial, and more. Still, Fuerza Regida keeps both feet planted on the ground. "We just keep on working hard, that's the key," Paz says. "We just act like we still haven't done anything − act like you haven't hit, act like you just started." López, who plays tololoche for the band, echoed a similar sentiment: "(We) stay working 24/7 and stay hungry," he says. "I've been saying that since I started my career, we work harder than a lot of other artists out there, and that's why I think we're more successful," Paz adds. "We don't just do the artist stuff. I also have my record label, and everything we have is because of all the hard work we've put in. So, of course, you gotta' have a little bit of talent, but the rest is all hard work." Paz and López also break down the meaning of the album's name, "111XPANTIA," which serves as a double entendre for manifestation. "111" is usually regarded as an "angel number" or a lucky sign whenever one comes across it, and "ixpantia" is the Nahuatl word for manifestation. "It was time to name an album that," Paz says. "Manifesting has been ever since I can remember. Everything I've wanted, I've almost got and the days go by, you want more things, you want better things for your family and better things for your business." The entire project is dedicated to the manifestation of dreams and constant hard work. It also marks a return to their corrido roots featuring stand-out tracks like "Peliculiando," "Por Esos Ojos," "Marlboro Rojo" and "Godfather." 'We've always fought for our music and our culture' In recent years, Latin musicians including Peso Pluma, Grupo Firme, Grupo Frontera, Junior H, Àngela Aguilar and Becky G have worked to put Mexican music, in all its variations, on the mainstream map. It's no longer just regional, as it's long been categorized in award show categories, but rather international and intentional. "We've just always fought for our music and our culture" to be respected like any other genre, Paz says. "It took a little longer for Mexican music," he adds. "Back in the day, Mexican music was just a little more in this bubble, and I feel like a couple years back, Fuerza Regida and a bunch of other pioneers − I don't want to just include myself − made this genre what it is now." Paz recognizes that many other bands and solo artists went through their own struggles and battles to be recognized, but now "we're accomplishing the goal of making our culture hit now." How Fuerza Regida shows up for the immigrant community during turmoil Although the show must go on, Fuerza Regida's Hollywood Bowl debut comes at a raw time in the city amid ongoing protests rejecting the continued presence of federal immigration enforcement. On June 10, Fuerza Regida shared a statement on Instagram, sending their "love and strength to our Latino community during this difficult time." "We've been deeply moved by the events of this past week," the band wrote. "These are our people, our fans, the very communities that inspire our music. We see your strength and resilience." Days later, they released limited-edition merch and 100% of profits from sales were donated to "support our communities impacted by the recent ICE raids," read the band's Instagram post. More: Jimmy Kimmel slams Trump, calls him 'arsonist with a hose' over ICE sweeps in LA This isn't the first time this year Fuerza Regida has put their money where their community is. Earlier this year, after Los Angeles was dealt another blow with the wildfires that ravaged the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the band helped provide shelter to 270 people. "Family is No. 1, and I feel like the way you're raised, it reflects a lot on how you're going to be and my parents raised me pretty well and taught me to always care about the community," Paz says. "If we're blessed, we gotta' share a little bit of the blessings."
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Lou Christie, ‘Lightnin' Strikes' Pop Crooner, Is Dead at 82
Lou Christie, who with his heartthrob persona and piercing falsetto rode high on the mid-1960s pop charts with hits like 'Lightnin' Strikes' and 'Two Faces Have I,' while transcending teen-idol status by helping to write his own material, died on Wednesday at his home in Pittsburgh. He was 82. His family announced the death on social media, saying only that he died 'after a brief illness.' With his perky doo-wop-inflected melodies and his gymnastic vocal range, Mr. Christie was at times compared to Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons. Like Mr. Valli, Mr. Christie hit his stride as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the other guitar groups of the British Invasion were starting to shatter the handsome-teen-crooner archetype personified by the likes of Fabian and Frankie Avalon. 'They started disappearing,' Mr. Christie once said of such singers in an interview with the site Classic Bands. 'It was so interesting that I kept going. I hit the end of that whole era. 'I've always been between the cracks of rock 'n' roll, I felt. The missing link.' Even in changing times, he held his own, thanks in part to the songs he wrote with his songwriting partner, Twyla Herbert, who was two decades his senior. The songs they created together had more emotional complexity than the standard odes to puppy love. While his debut album, released in 1963, failed to make a splash, two of the singles featured on that album climbed the charts. 'The Gypsy Cried' reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. 'Two Faces Have I,' a showcase for Mr. Christie's signature falsetto, climbed to No. 6 a few months later. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
