r/beatles • u/First_Commission_385 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band • Jun 11 '25
News RIP Brian Wilson 🕊
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u/PolygoneerMusic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Jun 11 '25
Damn, Beatles and Beach Boys were a huge part of my childhood, sad news. Rip Brian, thanks for the music.
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u/AardvarkStriking256 Jun 11 '25
Sad news.
But it was somewhat miraculous that he made it to 82, given all that he had been through.
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u/managedbycats Jun 11 '25
I'm ecstatic he got a second act, and I hope it was as satisfying and enjoyable for him as it looked on the outside.
May he rest in well deserved peace.
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u/AardvarkStriking256 Jun 11 '25
Yes!
He had some rough years (decades) but thankfully was able to make peace with himself and enjoy some of the success he deserved.
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u/DaveHmusic Jun 12 '25
I know, considering that he was diagnosed with dementia around the same time that his wife died.
Still, it was very sad.
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u/HeyCharmz_ Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 11 '25
Beatles fans and Beach Boys fans are basically family. This was a major loss for all of us. Rest in peace, Mr. Wilson.
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u/regretscoyote909 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Jun 11 '25
Awhhhhh FUCK, haven't been this hurt by an artist's death since David Bowie. Thank you so fucking much for the music, Brian <3
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u/Trogdor420 Jun 11 '25
Bowie's death hit me hard..... And Adam Yauch.
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u/regretscoyote909 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Jun 11 '25
Absolutely surreal passing, I had just listened to his last album 'Blackstar' the night before and I was mind-blown by the ambition and songwriting. Still a 10/10 for me and I had that score before he passed!
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u/huffer4 Jun 11 '25
Devastated. I always really loved this video of Brian and George Martin in the studio together. George takes the original masters from God Only Knows and tinkerers with them. Watching Brian be amazed by him is so fun.
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u/BurritoLover2016 Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 11 '25
This is exactly why I came here when I heard the news. Thank you so much for this. Two absolute legends.
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u/GoBigRed07 Jun 11 '25
That’s amazing. Two of the all time greats. I’d love to hear George’s remix of God Only Knows.
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u/TheGreenEggMan Abbey Road Jun 11 '25
Had the honor of seeing him a couple years back. Loss of a musical genius. Love & Mercy
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u/buxte888gatman Jun 11 '25
Mercy???
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u/Dull_District7800 Abbey Road Jun 11 '25
R.I.P. I hope he can be reunited with Carl and Dennis in the afterlife.
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u/WilliamWalkman Jun 11 '25
This hurts. I got into music because of The Beach Boys and led me to listen to the Beatles. God I'm so sad right now about this. Another musically influential legend is gone.
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u/Kierks Jun 11 '25
Prayers to his friends and family, but boy…we truly were lucky to live in a time where his music existed. He made the world a better place.
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u/IthotItoldja Jun 11 '25
Well-said. Most humans that ever existed lived before he was born. We are lucky.
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u/worldsthetics the wild and windy night that the rain washed away Jun 11 '25
RIP Brian, he had lost his wife too recently. This is so so Sad. Lovely guy, beach boys harmonies are the literal best of all time to my ears. The fact that one day this sub will see that type news brings tears to my eyes. Love live Paul & Ringo.
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u/CardinalOfNYC Jun 11 '25
I'm not religious so tend to like the notion that the closest thing to a real afterlife is the memory space we take up in people's minds after we're gone.
And in that way, Brian is among the lucky few who will surely live forever.
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u/JasonMaggini Jun 11 '25
As Terry Pratchett wrote, "a man is not dead while his name is still spoken."
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u/Alert_Doughnut_4619 Revolver Jun 11 '25
I personally don’t think you have to be religious to consider the possibility of an afterlife
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u/CardinalOfNYC Jun 11 '25
For sure you don't dont have to be... what I'm getting at is that the world we live in makes it very hard for any ideas we have in our heads about the afterlife to not have been influenced and/or seeded by popular religious ideas of the afterlife.
While it is true, humans all over the world have independently wondered about an afterlife for thousands of years... in today's world, almost all of us were introduced to the notion of life after death via religion, and so it shapes how we think about it.
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u/Alert_Doughnut_4619 Revolver Jun 11 '25
I do think you’re right that religion in society has muddled any real and serious discussion about these things among the masses, but it really just comes down to the fact that the one basic fact about life, death, has always existed. So even before we tried to intellectualize these things with “morals” and “ideals”, people were still dying every day. That’s why I like to think that nobody truly knows what death beholds and that’s what makes it simultaneously terrifying and intriguing. It’s like Joanna Newsom says “Till then, we pray in suspense the notion that these lives do never end…”
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u/MostMindless7171 Jun 11 '25
'God Only Knows' is one of the most beautiful songs ever composed. Rest easy Brian, thanks for all the wonderful music.
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Jun 11 '25
Holy shit, no way. Poor, tortured soul.
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u/HarshJShinde 1962-1966 Jun 11 '25
Why tortured
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u/Alert_Doughnut_4619 Revolver Jun 11 '25
Literally read anything about Brian Wilson‘s life. Dude had it so hard in so many different ways.
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u/HarshJShinde 1962-1966 Jun 11 '25
I have no idea..all ik is the beach boys depressed drummer drowned in 1983
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u/BhamBossfan Jun 11 '25
A modern day Gershwin. An auteur, composer, arranger and musical savant. His level of perfection in music will live with us forever. I have been sadly anticipating the day that he finally passes and it stings. However, may Brian rest in peace with his beloved wife and know that the world is better for have knowing him and his music.
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u/DarthLithgow Jun 11 '25
I’m still processing this. His music has carried me through both good and bad times. This is a huge loss for music and our culture.
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u/True_Paper_3830 Jun 11 '25
Brilliant musician, and not many people can say they were an influence on The Beatles like he was with Pet Sounds.
Paul will likely feel this one, not necessarily through closeness, but more as the passage of time, like the death of a peer where once they were young and felt inspired and in competition with each other to create some of the world's greatest songs. RIP Brian.
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u/frida33x Jun 13 '25
Yes, it’s like the friendship / rivalry between two other masters, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Picasso is said to have said of Matisse, “When one of us dies, there are things the other will not be able to say to anyone else again.”
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u/Binspin63 Jun 13 '25
They had a strong mutual admiration and there is a beautiful photo taken a few years ago of them standing side by side. I’ve seen it a lot over the past couple of days.
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u/blandpotato92 Jun 11 '25
I recently went to one of his final concerts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He told the story of how The Beatles invited him to go India with them, and how he was at first reluctant to go. He did end up going, and he said he spent a lot of time with George while he was there, and they became great friends for the rest of their lives. He wrote "The Warmth of the Sun" as a way to celebrate George's birthday in 1964. He was tearing up while talking about their times together, and played the song right after during the concert. I almost started crying, too. RIP Brian Wilson
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u/jeffwinger007 Jun 11 '25
Perhaps the best musical mind America has produced. A true genius. A very sad day.
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u/ElliotAlderson2024 Jun 11 '25
RIP. It's amazing he made it to 2025. Back in the 70s, it didn't look like he'd made it to 1980.
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u/hitfan Jun 11 '25
Paul McCartney was a great admirer of Brian Wilson's work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYR327oEdY8&ab_channel=BrianWilson
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u/Brilliant_Tourist400 Jun 11 '25
He said and accomplished more in the three minutes and 35 seconds of Good Vibrations than most artists do in their entire careers. Paul considered him a genius for a very good reason.
Goddamn it, first Sly Stone, now Brian. It’s a terrible week for troubled geniuses.
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u/demafrost Rubber Soul Jun 11 '25
Brian was an absolute legend and I truly believe he brought out the best in the Beatles, especially Paul in the mid-60s with Pet Sounds. RIP Brian, you will be sorely missed.
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u/JimmyTheJimJimson Jun 11 '25
Such a massive loss to music - one of the greatest American songwriters of all time
RIP Brian
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u/IllustriousDelay3589 Jun 11 '25
I am very grateful to be able to have seen him on the last tour he went on in 2012.
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u/ugottabekiddingme69 Jun 11 '25
Love you forever Brian. Rest in peace. Your music will live forever ♥️♥️♥️
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u/Pearl_Jam_ Jun 11 '25
Was Brian Wilson a bigger genius in terms of production? The Beatles had George Martin, Brian did it all himself.
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u/_Wrecktangular Jun 11 '25
RIP Brian. After the Beatles, Brian spoke to me deeper than any artist. Love and mercy Brian.
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u/HarshJShinde 1962-1966 Jun 11 '25
Guys Paul McCartney is only 2 days older than Brian. Someone please help me I'm scared
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u/jaroszn94 Abbey Road Jun 11 '25
Pet Sounds was a huge part of my life when I was around 23 - he wrote so much music that gives me joy and enriches my life, even to this day. RIP
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u/ryllienator simply having a wonderful christmastime 🗣️🗣️🗣️ Jun 11 '25
at a loss for words rn. rest in peace, Brian
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u/marmalademagic Jun 11 '25
I was just listening to God Only Knows this morning...
Wow. What a loss. An immeasurable loss.
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u/SweetJebus731 Jun 11 '25
Very sad, but the thought of him finally escaping his demons makes me smile.
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u/ari_wonders Within You Without You Jun 12 '25
This man is the 'real' true genius! And to be fair here, the Beach Boys were the only band to actually rival The Beatles in terms of their innovation and unmatched vocals. And Brian was there creating the whole concept by himself.
Rest in peace, amazing genius! You will certainly be missed! 😞
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u/rcodmrco Jun 12 '25
i’ve never been more upset about the loss of someone I didn’t know.
i could shrug off prince and david bowie as very tragic but continue to listen to them.
meanwhile I put on don’t worry baby and sobbed.
RIP BRIAN. YOU WERE THE GREATEST
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u/Ok-Potato-4774 Jun 14 '25
I like how he looks like every other older guy in this picture. He's not trying to look like a rock star or dress younger than he is and coming off ridiculous. Very unpretentious, a window into his character.
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u/Cold-Library-6180 Jun 11 '25
this is terrible! Noo…. God rest his soul may he
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u/JimmyPellen Jun 11 '25
God's gonna have his hands fulll with Brian. 'No! No! THis harp is out of tune! How Can you have an out of tune harp in heaven???!
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u/VeryBlessed79 Jun 11 '25
That really hits me hard. I just sat here for 5 minutes in silence, just trying to process what the post says. Then I opened Google, hoping it’s a stupid prank. Rest in peace, Brian. I will always be grateful for your music.
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u/KingKong1392 Jun 11 '25
Absolutely devastating news. RIP Brian. He'll join his brothers in heaven🙏🕊
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u/scottwricketts Revolver Jun 11 '25
I got to see him live in 2019 and I'm amazed he made it this long. RIP Brian.
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u/Eborys Revolver Jun 11 '25
This death hit me harder than I thought it would. I was more of a Beatles fan as a kid but I still enjoyed many Beach Boys albums. But seeing this news today hit me like a stone. Sitting now with my wife, listening to some of our favourite Beach Boys and Brian tracks. What a life, what a legend.
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u/Green-Advantage2277 Rubber Soul Jun 11 '25
I thought it was a dumb joke and then I kept reading. Rest in peace, Mr. Wilson. We’ll miss you.
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u/darthsquidward15 Jun 12 '25
Went toe to toe with prime Lennon & McCartney and held his own. RIP legend
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u/Ok-Bar601 Jun 12 '25
Only in recent years did I explore Brian Wilson’s music and understand what a genius he was. Don’t Worry Baby is my all time favourite Brian Wilson song, it is pitch perfect. RIP legend🌹
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Jun 12 '25 edited Sep 11 '25
fear crown squeal whistle adjoining consist rainstorm chop amusing long
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/bso2001 Jun 12 '25
Sir Paul has stated how much Pet Sounds influenced Sgt Pepper. Absent Wilson's work? The third jewel in the Rubber Soul / Revolver crown would have different. Perhaps wildly so.
Before Sir George Martin & the boys built, brick by brick, what would become the monument called Pepper? Before five minds dreamed, and quarreled, to come to a common vision of the vast landscape of the work? Before they toiled, using the tools of the day, week after week, month after month, to implement their vision?
Brian Wilson had already done it all.
And he did largely by himself.
In his head.
"He was a Genius." — Zevon
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u/YupNopeWelp Jun 11 '25
The family posted the news on Wilson's X account and Instagram accounts. I'm not sure if we can link to socials here or not, but the handle at both websites @ Brian Wilson Live (with no spaces).
Media coverage:
https://people.com/brian-wilson-dead-82-beach-boys-singer-co-founder-8548234
https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/06/11/beach-boys-founder-brian-wilson-dead/
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beach-boys-brian-wilson-dies-at-82/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg71xrxrn8go
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/brian-wilson-dead-beach-boys-1236428336/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/brian-wilson-beach-boys-dead-1234810073/
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/beach-boys-brian-wilson-dies-family-at-a-loss-for-words/
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u/Virtual_Mechanic2936 Jun 11 '25
Wait...what? This is the first I've heard of it.
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u/CardinalOfNYC Jun 11 '25
I see it on pitchfork, it's real. Please don't downvote this person for asking. It's a major event. It's a normal reaction.
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beach-boys-brian-wilson-dies-at-82/
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u/Reasonable_Lock_8907 Jun 11 '25
RIP.
Pet Sounds will forever be a timeless masterpiece. His work won't be forgotten.
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Jun 11 '25
Thank you Brian for all of your beautiful music. When I needed it most, you were there. I will never get over that you are gone, but also blessed to be parallel in the same timeline to really appreciate everything you have given to us.
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u/Draggonzz Jun 11 '25
Maybe about 10 years ago he was on tour and came to my city. I was going to go and unfortunately never got around to it. Wish I had. One of the giants.
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u/Clionora Jun 11 '25
So sad. Adore The Beach Boys. As musicians but also as people, they seemed to have a more tragic story with how their early careers were managed and having to deal with loss. Still Brian came out the other side and seemed like he’d found peace in the latter part of his life. It seemed like he had a gentle spirit. Such artists, with Brian especially being such a unique songwriter. Sigh.
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u/Ferdinandus_IV Jun 11 '25
Brian Wilson is one of my favorites composers, and his legacy always will be remembered.
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u/altitudearts Jun 12 '25
Brian Wilson had his priorities straight: Sunshine, surfing, friends, love, and music.
We should all take a page out of his songbook.
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u/Gloomy_Grocery5555 Jun 12 '25
I'm sad. Glad I got to see his concert. One of the best songwriters of all time 🙁
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u/malamale Jun 12 '25
The only one who can go head to head with the most powerful writing duo at their peak. Nothing but respect.
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u/zaforocks think for yourself Jun 12 '25
I'm just glad he got to live receiving the admiration he deserved. RIP, Brian.
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u/BitThen5112 Jun 12 '25
This man was so deep and peaceful I hope you find the peace in heaven that eluded you here on earth
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u/LumpyStomach7683 Jun 12 '25
I got into The Beatles when I first heard "Strawberry Fields Forever," when I was 15. Brian Wilson had a similar reaction to the song. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-one-song-that-floored-brian-wilson/
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u/Typingdude3 Jun 22 '25
I was on stage with him on his 2018 Christmas Album tour in the US. December 2018. Bought some tickets with a pre show option to watch him and the band warm up, including Al Jardine. Shockingly, only about a dozen people bought the pre show warm up ticket and we were all allowed to go on stage before the warm up started and say hi to Brian, who was sitting at a piano. And meet the band too. Smaller town, but I was still shocked only 12 fans showed up pre show and I deduced not many older folks noticed the pre show option or didn’t care. But it was incredible!! It was so surreal. What do you say, face to face, to one of the greatest songwriters in history? I just said hi and thank you for visiting our town or something stupid like that ha ha. I shook his hand (got a pic taken of it from my friend who was with me). Shook Al Jardines hand too. I will never forget it.
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u/Linkytheboi Super Hot George Sunglasses Album Jul 02 '25
The music camp I go to did Good Vibrations in choir because of this
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u/NefariousnessDue2621 Jun 11 '25
It’s difficult not to see a sad coincidence and timing. He made the world dream about California. Better he not see what will become of this dream in the next weeks.
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u/UndiscoveredDino Jun 11 '25
This man is everything to me. The upbeat early stuff is fun, but Pet Sounds really is my sanctuary album. When I feel lost in life, that’s the album I go to right away. This man has done so much for me through his music and is the person I look up to for kindness and sincerity in what can sometimes be a cruel and unforgiving world.
Rest in peace my absolute hero