I was never a great fan of The Beach Boys - I always found their sound a bit too saccharine for my taste. But there's no question that Brian Wilson was a genius - a remarkable composer, arranger and producer.
He had his issues with drugs and mental illness, but his mark on pop music is inarguable. The Beatles - who were far more to my taste than The Beach Boys, were big fans - McCartney especially. It's said that The Beatles' album Rubber Soul inspired Wilson to write Pet Sounds, which in turn inspired The Beatles to create Sgt. Pepper.
Wilson was 82.
Edited by - eagleisland on 06/11/2025 11:37:12
Enigmatic and brilliant—the musical heart of the Bleachies, and influential with many other artists.
RIP,, he persevered despite tough struggles.
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Originally posted by chuckv97RIP,, he persevered despite tough struggles.
He and his brothers were beaten and bullied by their father - that's why he was deaf in one ear. His psychological troubles were exacerbated by his drug use. Yet he made the most remarkable music. He heard sounds that even his studio musicians, the Wrecking Crew, said wouldn't work, and yet, they later admitted, they did. But his mental struggles forced him to shelve Smile, a brilliant piece of work which, imho, outshines Sergeant Pepper. (The Beatles had George Martin and their studio engineers to work out their ideas. Brian did it all on his own.)
He faced obstacles - his father, Dr. Landy's control, lawsuits from his cousin Mike Love, his own mental issues - yet he made brilliant music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3Hbn1MFOQ&t=1894s Enigmatic and contradictory, he made some of the most enduring and consequential music of our time. RIP
A true musical visionary, like Sly Stone, who paved his own path of sound.
