Brian Wilson: The Music Icon’s Life in Photographs

Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys founder and massively influential pop architect, died on Wednesday, his family shared through a statement. He was 82.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now,” his family wrote in the statement, which was posted to social media. “Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”

As a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, and producer, Wilson was considered a visionary who offered a blueprint for what modern pop music could be. As a songwriter and composer, he masterminded several of the Beach Boys’ most enduring songs and projects, including the groundbreaking album Pet Sounds. Wilson rode a wave of success with the band through the Sixties, but suffered from mental health issues and drug addiction, leading to a period of turmoil in the Seventies and in the Eighties.

However, he staged several comebacks throughout his life, releasing solo work and staging reunion tours with the Beach Boys. He also toured all over the globe by himself, playing his final show in Michigan on July 26, 2022. During the later part of his career, Wilson would go on to win two Grammys, a Kennedy Center Honor, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. More importantly, he’d go on to inspire bands and artists across genres. These photos capture the musical genius’ life and experiences through the decades.