Beach Boys star is dead: Brian Wilson's life ended tragically

He was known for his worldwide hits, but offstage, Brian Wilson experienced dark times. Shortly before his death, he suffered severe blows of fate.

"Fun Fun Fun," "Good Vibrations," and "Surfin' USA": With songs about sun, sand, and love, the Beach Boys made music history and captivated an entire generation with the Californian lifestyle. Brian Wilson, who founded the band in 1961 as a 19-year-old with his brothers Dennis and Carl, their cousin Mike Love, and their neighbor Al Jardine, was behind almost all of them.

Wilson wrote many of the famous lyrics, and from their third album onward, he was also the official producer of all Beach Boys records. With "Pet Sounds," he created what many critics considered the "best pop album of the 20th century" in 1966. He was considered a musical visionary, but the introverted Californian struggled with his success.

He experienced many dark times marked by mental illness, substance abuse, health problems, and personal crises. And even shortly before his death, he had to cope with tragic blows. On Wednesday, Wilson died at the age of 82, about a year and a half after the loss of his great love. He never got over her loss. "Melinda, my beloved wife of the past 28 years, passed away this morning," he wrote on Instagram in January 2024. "My heart is broken."

The couple married in 1995 and subsequently adopted five children. "Melinda was more than just my wife," Wilson wrote upon his wife's death. "She was my savior." The former talent manager supported him in his career and encouraged him "to make the music that mattered most to me."

But above all, it gave him support as a person. The musician struggled with anxiety attacks and depression throughout his life. He was addicted to pills, took hashish, LSD, and eventually cocaine to enhance his creativity. He was later diagnosed with a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia .

Recently, he suffered another health setback. Wilson was diagnosed with a "neurocognitive disorder like dementia," as was revealed after his wife's death. Melinda had taken care of him and his daily life. Two long-time family representatives then took over guardianship of the musician, according to his website. His final fate is unknown.