Brian Wilson R.I.P.

"Words fail at a moment like this. It’s hard to imagine a world without Brian Wilson. More words, memories and tributes will be forthcoming but beyond changing the face of music— he was at the epicenter of the life Taylor and I built together. So many friends we made were also planets in Brian’s galaxy. What a galaxy it was indeed, and we all share our collective grief for this kind soul who made the world better for all of us-forever." - Todd Sucherman




"RIP Brother Brian. I had the overwhelming good fortune to have worked with him on his first solo album. His genius cannot be overstated. Thank you to the great producer Russ Tittleman for the call." - Tris Imboden


"Oh man. Sly Stone and now Brian Wilson. Brian was my first love between the two. In grade school you might say he was my first music theory teacher as I picked away at the Beach Boy songs and studying what is behind those rich chords on my mom’s piano.
Brian also showed me the sonic capabilities of drums in the way he used percussion. It’s no wonder at all to me that Keith Moon wanted to play with the Beach Boys. The starts and stops of the drums! The Timpani! Bells. Glorious.
Here’s a pic of a band from this time. Sixth grade is my guess. Schoolmate and bandmate Gary Griifin is playing the Farfisa keyboard. He has played with the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson for many many years. In fact I think he is on tour now with Al Jardine. Talk about a direct path to success! Thanks Brian, fo lettin yur own self be yur self!" - Billy Ward



"Oh gee...We say goodbye to Brian Wilson.
I’ve know the Beach boys since the mid 60’s and have done lots of shows with them. They were the American answer to the Beatles. They wowed everyone with the songs, structures, vocals harmonies. The sunshine sound. I remember when Brian decided to not go on the road anymore but continued to write incredible music. They were like family. When Carl passed it was like losing a brother and it feels the same today. They are still going today with their incredible legacy with Bruce Johnston and Mike Love. We lost one of the greatest composers and messengers who took jazz harmony, put it to a Chuck Berry beat and made a new genre of music. Some of the best singles in the world. Dennis, Carl and Brian are all together now. Other worlds to sing in." - Randy Bachman



"Bowing our heads in grief, respect, honor, and gratitude. Thank you, Brian Wilson, for the magic, music, and memories you gave the world. May all who loved him find peace and comfort." - Peter Tork


"Rest in Peace Hero of heroes Brian Wilson God only knows what any of us would be without you. It was an honor and a delight to record United Recording with 4 of my favorite artists in the world Jeff Beck Vinnie Colaiuta . Thank you Vinnie for capturing these beautiful memories The Beach Boys forever and ever." - Tal Wilkenfeld



"Wow…absolutely shocked to hear that the legendary Brian Wilson has passed away… Paul McCartney has often said that if there were no Pet Sounds, there’d be no Sgt Pepper…and that he thought God Only Knows was one of the most beautiful songs ever written. This is surely a big one… #RIPBrianWilson Rest in Peace reunited w your brothers Dennis and Carl." - Mike Portnoy



"A GENIUS has just left us.....God Bless You Brian! Always grateful for spending time working for you in the Studios especially...it was wonderful to see you regain your authorship of being a fine Producer, Writer of the Music we Recorded for you....and seeing the genius unroll each time we did those recordings...."Brian, did you really want me to play that maj7th in the bass notes like you wrote?" "Yes Carol!" "OK then".....and it worked! Others wrote simply Do-Mi-So lines Brian heard it differently (thx to his love of listening to the Four Freshmen, a popular jazz musician-singing group) and overdubbed the Beach Boys voices sooo well on top of his fantastic arrangements. Leading the charge for the 1960s hits!
We also worked for other rock groups whose producers also started with good ideas of theirs given to us a little like what Brian started with his fine production and music writing work of basic tracks. And even doing what he didn't want to do (at first) in 2000s - go on the Road with his own fine Group of Musicians worldwide, he couldn't help but also be a huge success! "Brian! YOU DID GOOD BOSS!" ........Your Loving Studio Musician(s)." - Carol Kaye


"Today, the world lost a genius, and I lost a cousin by blood and my partner in music. Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound. From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him. His musical gifts were unmatched. The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every note—Brian changed the course of music forever...It was our privilege to make the world believe in sunshine, surfing, and teenage dreams. My life was forever changed by Pet Sounds, God Only Knows, In My Room, Good Vibrations, The Warmth of the Sun and a hundred other pieces of his soul wrapped in music. He allowed us to show the world what vulnerability and brilliance sound like in harmony. He was fragile, he was intense, he was funny—and he was one of a kind... Brian, you once asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older?” Now you are timeless. May you rest in the peace you so deeply deserve, surrounded by the heavenly music you helped create. May your spirit soar as high as your falsetto, may your wings spread in effortless flight.
Thank you for the harmonies, the memories, and the love. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
I’ll miss you forever, my beloved cousin." – Mike Love



"Hard to put this one into words. Brian Wilson was a true giant - not just of music, but of spirit. His melodies shaped a generation, his harmonies changed the game, and his soul came through in every note. We crossed paths many times over the years, and every time I was struck by his quiet genius and kind heart. I was lucky to know him… and all of us were lucky to hear what was in his head. Rest peacefully, Brian. You gave us so much beauty." - Mickey Dolenz

June 20 1942- June 11 2025
Born in the summer left in the summer


"Sail on Sailor"..

Brian seemed like such a great guy. He put Jan and Dean on the map no doubt. I've read where he would meet people on the street and say lets go make a record and he'd go and do it.

I remember him recounting as a young teen how his mother was driving him somewhere and for the first time he heard The Four Freshman over the radio and he excitedly asked his mom...who is this?!

Wikipedia:

The Four Freshmen were an important influence on Brian Wilson, beginning in the mid-50s. He listened to one of their albums, Four Freshmen and 5 Trombones, and it "mesmerized" him. He spoke very highly of it: "'It brings a feeling of love inside me.... That feeling of harmony.'"[35] Aside from listening to their music, the teenage Wilson made a point of seeing the Four Freshmen perform live: "he made solitary pilgrimages to the resort hotels of Catalina Island to see the Four Freshmen."

Godspeed Brian and thanks.

One of the all time greats.

I’m a bit of a late starter with music (I was 19 when I went to my first gig) so I’ve missed out on seeing a lot of my favourite acts. I did see a version of the Beach Boys with Mike Love, back in 2017. Taking away the politics and persona of Mike Love, it was a dream come true to listen to all the songs and they played them fairly true to the record. That night I realised just how many great songs Brian/Beach Boys created.

from "The Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys" from 2023 Re-airing this evening)
Charlie Puth

he nailed it imo never heard of him
Puth, whose perfect pitch means he is often distracted by identifying the notes sounded by passing car horns and leaf-blowers, began studying jazz at age 10 and attended both the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, where he majored in jazz piano, and Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in jazz piano, and Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in music production and engineering. His classical training is on full display, along with his impeccable influences — which range from jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans to R&B songwriter-producers Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

jda said:

from "The Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys" from 2023 Re-airing this evening)
Charlie Puth

he nailed it imo never heard of him

Google Search

Puth, whose perfect pitch means he is often distracted by identifying the notes sounded by passing car horns and leaf-blowers, began studying jazz at age 10 and attended both the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, where he majored in jazz piano, and Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in jazz piano, and Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with a degree in music production and engineering. His classical training is on full display, along with his impeccable influences — which range from jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans to R&B songwriter-producers Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Click to expand...

Yep that's about as good as you can get without actually being Brian...who of course did it better.

Recording studio footage featuring Brian Wilson and Hal Blaine.

trad grip butt end out
Sly&Family Stone early live clips to are all trad Grip

I was always a huge Beach Boys fan as a kid. Later, someone gave me Pet Sounds and Smile bootlegs, then Sunflower and Surf's Up and I realized that there are really two kinds of fans; the largely pre-67 ones, and the hipper ones that move throughout the catalog, up to That's Why God Made The Radio.

I was fascinated by how Brian used such unusual chord inversions, often putting the 5th of the chord in the bass(he did it with the harmonies too). I'm really a permanent beginner in piano, but I love playing God Only Knows and other BB songs.

Been obsessed with Smile in particular since the boots came out. So close to keeping up with The Beatles...and he almost caught them. Unbelievable. And even though that album was never really finished, the work not only holds up but remains, imo enigmatic; I've never heard anything like Cabinessence. If you listen to the backing track, it's a mind blower, especially the 3/4 "rock" section that has a 2/4 part superimposed over it(I think it's plucked piano strings). Brian was on another planet, which was both good and bad.

Saw the band and Brian a bunch of times, recorded a 24-track cover of Let Him Run Wild for a compilation, even spoke on the phone with Brian twice(long story).

Brian was huge, enormous, gigantic. The Beatles were influenced by him. So was Joey Ramone(those early songs sound exactly like BBs but with distorted guitars), so was Lindsey Buckingham, so was nearly every musician I respect. He made happy music(the countless hits), but he also made sad music(Til I Die), weird music(Do You Like Worms), even scary music(Fire). Had his brain stayed intact, he probably should have scored for films like a John Williams or Jerry Goldsmith.

Godspeed, Brian Wilson. We'll be hearing your music as long as there's a summer(perhaps that's why it hasn't happened yet!)

I put black up on my Facebook for a few days.

I'll do the same for Paul and Ringo.


Dan

One of my closest friends (and guitarist and singer in a band I was playing with) in high school, his uncle is Mike Love (his mother was Mike's sister). We would get back stage passes at their concerts when in town (this was in PDX at the time). Brian was out under Landry's 'care' at this time, but I met all of them (Dennis was gone at this time) and I can tell you they were the friendliest bunch of guys you would ever meet. They all loved Brian and credited him with pretty much everything they ever did.

When you would go backstage after the show, there were two large coolers, one full of Budweiser and the other one Coca Cola. No drugs, no drinking on stage (none of them even had a beer post show), 100% professional.

I can't speak highly enough of Brian and the entire crew.

Brian's musical genius is studied at multiple music programs across multiple universities to this day. The man had so much talent, I could go on for days.