The surviving members of the original Beach Boys have paid tribute to the “genius” of Brian Wilson following his death at the age of 82.
His cousin Mike Love, 84, noted that Wilson's “musical talents are unparalleled,” while Al Jardine described him as a “soul brother.”
Wilson was the eldest and last of three brothers who, along with Love and school friend Jardine, founded a rock band in the United States in 1961.
“The melodies he created and the emotion he put into every note, Brian changed the musical landscape forever,” Love wrote in a lengthy Facebook post, adding that there was “something otherworldly” about Wilson.
“Like any family, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I always admired what he could do at the piano and the way he worked in the studio.”
Describing Wilson as “tender, strong, funny” and “unique,” he noted that his music “allowed us to show the world what vulnerability and genius sound like in harmony.”
“Brian, you once asked, 'Wouldn't it be great if we were older?' Now you are timeless,” he wrote.
Posting a photo of himself with Wilson on Facebook, Jardine, 82, said: “I will always feel blessed that you were a part of our lives for so long.”
“You were a humble giant who always made me laugh, and we will forever honor your music.”
Wilson's family released a statement on their website Wednesday: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved father, Brian Wilson. We are speechless. Please respect our privacy during this time as we grieve.”
Elton John posted on Instagram saying Wilson had “always been kind to me” and “was a huge influence on my songwriting.”
“He was a musical genius and an innovator,” he said.
“He revolutionized songwriting and changed music forever. A true giant.”
Bob Dylan also paid tribute, writing in X that he recalled “all those years listening to him and marveling at his genius.”
Fellow singer-songwriter Carole King, 83, described Wilson as “my friend and songwriting brother,” while former Velvet Underground member John Cale told X that he was “a true musical genius who worked to transform pop music into something sophisticated.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, 78, paid tribute to Wilson and American musician Sly Stone, who passed away this week, writing on social media: “Oh no, Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in the same week – my world is in mourning, so sad.”
Bandmate Keith Richards, 81, posted an excerpt from his 2010 memoir Life on Instagram, in which he recounts first hearing The Beach Boys on the radio and his reaction to their 1966 album Pet Sounds.
The passage reads: “When we first came to America and Los Angeles, the Beach Boys were on the radio a lot, which was quite funny to us – this was before Pet Sounds – songs about hot cars and surfing, quite crudely done, with the usual Chuck Berry touches…
“Later, when I listened to Pet Sounds, I realized that this was something completely different, Brian Wilson had something special.”
Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, called Wilson “our American Mozart” in a post on X, while The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz noted that “his melodies shaped generations and his soul resonated in every note.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
