Brian has passed away!!!!

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

There was smart speculation earlier in the thread that a final Brian album might have been in the works, with Joe Thomas helming it until his death put it on hold.
Check this out:

Todd Sucherman: An unfinished Brian Wilson song: In October 2023 I was hired by producer Joe Thomas to record a couple songs for Brian Wilson. Joe told me the plan was for this to be his final record, and this song “Never Land” was to be the final song ending the record. Shortly after this Melinda Wilson passed away, then Joe passed away, and then Brian. I can’t share the music but I can share my ten parts I recorded for the end section into a “long goodbye” fade out. I imagined Brian soaring over the ocean and disappearing into “Neverland” which is what I tried to convey with my parts. I hope you can feel it, and my heart was so deep into this. I wish this could have been finished, but alas…

https://www.facebook.com/todd.sucherman/videos/717158034056559

[Zenobi]

Now almost everybody "admits" Brian was a genius. And he was, one of the greatest in music. But he was a hero, too. He knew mostly fear, pain and sorrow, and distilled all that into happiness for us.

[Zenobi]

There was smart speculation earlier in the thread that a final Brian album might have been in the works, with Joe Thomas helming it until his death put it on hold.
Check this out:

Todd Sucherman: An unfinished Brian Wilson song: In October 2023 I was hired by producer Joe Thomas to record a couple songs for Brian Wilson. Joe told me the plan was for this to be his final record, and this song “Never Land” was to be the final song ending the record. Shortly after this Melinda Wilson passed away, then Joe passed away, and then Brian. I can’t share the music but I can share my ten parts I recorded for the end section into a “long goodbye” fade out. I imagined Brian soaring over the ocean and disappearing into “Neverland” which is what I tried to convey with my parts. I hope you can feel it, and my heart was so deep into this. I wish this could have been finished, but alas…

https://www.facebook.com/todd.sucherman/videos/717158034056559

This is wonderful! I can hear the waves, and Brian soaring over them, at an mysterious yet upbeat rhythm. As unfinished as it is, it's perfect for me!  Thanks a million. What an unexpected gift! 

[Amy B.]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/brian-wilson-cause-death-revealed-175854173.html

🥺

Wow, he was in really bad shape! :-(

Yeah that was very hard to read. Seems like a fair bit of it stemmed from his kidneys , and that he’d been sick for longer than we knew.

Just occurred to me we still don’t know what happened to Melinda.

My heart goes out to their kids…I lost both my parents about the same length apart

I think Melinda’s passing has been surprisingly undiscussed. There are a lot of mysteries.

— Why wasn’t she seen in public after 2015?
— What role did or didn’t she have in BW’s career after that point?
— What actually happened with BW’s bad back surgery in 2018/19?
— Did BW face challenges a lot earlier than anyone suspected?

I suspect a lot of things went on over these final years that we may learn in times to come. And some will likely be really challenging to take.

Regarding Brian, Al said Brian declined a lot after a case of Covid and there were issues with oxygen. Covid can damage pretty much every organ, and Brian probably already had existing issues (given his age). My own father declined mentally after getting Covid and has now been diagnosed with dementia.

Regarding Melinda, no idea, but I remember thinking she seemed a little frail during the Love and Mercy promotion, and we didn't really see her after that. However, she lived many more years, and no one seems to have made arrangements for Brian and/or the kids in case of her death (hence the family's rush to make arrangements/a conservatorship to protect the kids after she died). I keep thinking about those kids, many of whom are still so young.

 

[Rocker]

RIP Brian Wilson | UNSEEN Interview on His Love for Music, R&R Hall of Fame & Personal Struggles


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhthfctO3_o





I Photographed The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson (And Had To Keep A Secret...)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAe4BL0fa5E

[pixletwin]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/brian-wilson-cause-death-revealed-175854173.html

🥺

I reckon the Chronic Kidney Disease could account for at least part of his back troubles too.

[Summer_Days]

The one thing I can be glad about is that he is no longer in pain, no longer struggling. Still so sad.

I was wondering, has there been any reaction from Mike about Brian's death? I just hopped on his Twitter page and there's nothing about it.

[Zenobi]

.

[Amy B.]

I was wondering, has there been any reaction from Mike about Brian's death? I just hopped on his Twitter page and there's nothing about it.

Yes, it's on his Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKxscKEB10n/

"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.

Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE . Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what he could do when he sat at a piano or his spontaneity in the studio.

Brian’s unique artistry and our collaboration gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in an endless summer and endless possibilities. It was one of the greatest blessings of my life to experience that creative space with him.

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.

My wife, Jacquelyne, and I are heartbroken. She stood beside me through so many chapters of this story, and we both send our love and prayers to Brian’s family, his children, and all who were touched by his life and gifts.

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"

[Zenobi]

I have read this wonderful tribute by Mike several times. Never gets old.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

He’s also talked about him being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight.

My heart goes out to him… losing Brian and Stan in close proximity like that.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Just saw this

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/brian-wilson-darian-sahanaja-salute-solo-band-beach-boys-1236432399/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLSRI1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjLRoGAN-aA88hGrZgm0CWy-l8oLJFPTEa8P6_c8hHRT-eOS4ZWMxynoCCJZ_aem_KdGnnURK0c8-9289xWwfyQ

[Zenobi]

This is a fantastic tribute by one of the greatest guys in the music business, Darian Sahanaja. That the real saviour of SMiLE would come from Indonesia is nothing short of a miracle.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Yes, Darian is definitely a hero and a key player in Brian's saga. I've been reading David Leaf's Smile book and there are fascinating passages where Darian and Brian collaborate on the Smile arrangements.

It makes me think too, they must have gone through a similar (though obviously shorter) collaborative process to work up arrangements for the 2019 tour of Friends and 20/20 material. We think of that material as a pretty big departure from Smile, but hearing some of those songs played freshly in concert, and played by much of the actual BWPS band, I was struck how some tracks really sounded like they could have come directly from Smile.

[Rocker]

Beach Boys Salute in L.A. Brings Three Generations of the Wilson Family Together With Friends for First Tribute Concert Since Brian’s Death

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beach-boys-tribute-carnie-wilson-family-brian-concert-1236447640/

[Pretty Funky]

Beach Boys Salute in L.A. Brings Three Generations of the Wilson Family Together With Friends for First Tribute Concert Since Brian’s Death

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beach-boys-tribute-carnie-wilson-family-brian-concert-1236447640/

Interesting. Wasn’t there some speculation Carrie Marks was out of the picture?

Marks said it felt slightly strange taking part in a Beach Boys salute: “I told my wife, it’s kinda weird that I’m here paying tribute to myself! But I didn’t want to miss it.”

[rab2591]

Instagram post from Carnie yesterday. Funeral for Brian was held yesterday, August 7.

https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/carnie-wilson-tribute-dad-brian-wilson-beach-boys-funeral-1236039420/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNCcTw9x9l1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Today we laid my Daddy to rest. It was incredibly difficult to see that happen, but at the same time it gave more closure and more of a feeling of restful peace. The last eight weeks have been extremely challenging and like nothing I've ever experienced. I love and miss him so much and I wish he could come back. There's so many signs that he gives me every day and I know that he's around ...he can hear me and he can see me. He makes that apparent. I'm so grateful for this. Today we had a couple of monarch butterflies that just would not leave the site. It was comforting and beautiful.  I'm trying to deal with my emotions -they're so up and down. I know that he would want everybody to feel happy and not sad. He didn't like it when I cried. I was talking with my dear friend Gunnar Nelson today who lost his Pop Ricky Nelson years ago and he reminded me that the world will have his music to sing to and remember him every single solitary day until we are all gone. This is a really special and a real  heavy duty thought. It's much bigger than I can wrap my head around. For this I am grateful for though because I know it's the truth. So I just wanna say thank you... thank you Daddy for your beautiful contribution to so much happiness and real raw emotions that you have brought to people. Thank you to all the beautiful loving and supportive fans out there for honoring him. We share this together.  God knows what we'd be without him. Love, Carnie ❤️🎼❤️

[Rocker]

Instagram post from Carnie yesterday. Funeral for Brian was held yesterday, August 7.

https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/carnie-wilson-tribute-dad-brian-wilson-beach-boys-funeral-1236039420/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNCcTw9x9l1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Today we laid my Daddy to rest. It was incredibly difficult to see that happen, but at the same time it gave more closure and more of a feeling of restful peace. The last eight weeks have been extremely challenging and like nothing I've ever experienced. I love and miss him so much and I wish he could come back. There's so many signs that he gives me every day and I know that he's around ...he can hear me and he can see me. He makes that apparent. I'm so grateful for this. Today we had a couple of monarch butterflies that just would not leave the site. It was comforting and beautiful.  I'm trying to deal with my emotions -they're so up and down. I know that he would want everybody to feel happy and not sad. He didn't like it when I cried. I was talking with my dear friend Gunnar Nelson today who lost his Pop Ricky Nelson years ago and he reminded me that the world will have his music to sing to and remember him every single solitary day until we are all gone. This is a really special and a real  heavy duty thought. It's much bigger than I can wrap my head around. For this I am grateful for though because I know it's the truth. So I just wanna say thank you... thank you Daddy for your beautiful contribution to so much happiness and real raw emotions that you have brought to people. Thank you to all the beautiful loving and supportive fans out there for honoring him. We share this together.  God knows what we'd be without him. Love, Carnie ❤️🎼❤️

Just when I clicked on your post I had Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World" playing. Well, I guess Brian would've liked that one.
You did well, Brian. Thanks for everything!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-IVmKH_yYU

[pixletwin]

Beautiful post. I had to check the date to see if it was right... it took 8 weeks to get him laid to rest?

[rab2591]

Just when I clicked on your post I had Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World" playing. Well, I guess Brian would've liked that one.
You did well, Brian. Thanks for everything!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-IVmKH_yYU

ahhh man amazing tune. Kind of in a similar vein, I had the Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World' stuck in my head a lot in the week following Brian's passing.
_____

Yeah I'm not sure why it took so long for the burial - I wonder if it was quite an ordeal to prepare for his service (ensuring everyone was able to be there on a specific date which may explain the wait).

[rab2591]

[rab2591]

[sorry for the double post, but the size of the above image made the formatting of the following text weird]

David Leaf shared this image above of the program from Brian's service on Facebook. Below is his tearjerking writeup about the service. What an incredible selection of music on that program.

“Yesterday, July 9, was one of the most remarkable—and heartbreaking—days of my life.

It was a deeply moving celebration of Brian Wilson’s life, held just steps from home at the United Methodist Church in Westwood. The service—filled with music, memories, and love—was planned with extraordinary care by Elizabeth, Jean, Carnie, the kids, and Darian.

Everything in the church was perfect, including an organist who, before the formal service began, included “Rhapsody in Blue” amongst the hymns

I had the honor of offering the eulogy.

Hearing “Our Prayer,” “God Only Knows,” and “Love and Mercy” in that sacred space—where Carl Wilson’s service was also held—was almost too much to bear.

The pastors spoke with grace. Dakota and Delanie read from Scripture. Dash bravely spoke about his father. Jason Fine shared a beautifully crafted, heartfelt remembrance.

The church was filled with old friends—too many to do more than hug and say hello. Vicki digitally captured the warm moments as they passed by.

Later, at the Beverly Hills Hotel luncheon, Brent Wilson and his team shared a stunning short film about Brian’s life and music. Each guest received a beautifully crafted 24-page commemorative book, adapted from Brian’s final tour program—bravo, Mark London. I had the privilege of contributing the essay inside.

Carnie emceed with warmth and grace. And the stories that followed—from Carnie, Wendy, Daria, Delanie, Danny Hutton, and especially Jerry Weiss—were loving, funny, and true. Jerry’s (often hilarious) reflections from his 16 years on the road with Brian were a special and unique window into the man behind the music.

And in nearly every tribute, one name stood alongside Brian’s: Gloria Ramos—his devoted caregiver of 40 years.

At our table: Danny and Laurie Hutton, Tony and Sheryl Asher, and Van Dyke and Sally Parks. Van Dyke even marked the day with a photo alongside Mike Love.

I had the chance to reconnect with so many dear friends as well as members of the original Beach Boys family—Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, David Marks, Alan Jardine, the ever-elegant Annie Hinsche Wilson Karges, and Justyn Wilson among them.

The SMiLE theme was everywhere—on the napkins, the cupcakes, and in the music. Brian’s band performed a 45-minute set of classics, joined by Marilyn and Ginger from the Honeys, a reunion of Wilson Phillips, Carnie’s daughter Lola, and Wendy’s son Leo. Ginger’s voice was as powerful as ever—what a moment.

Everything, from the program at the church to the cookies with one Brian bite taken out of each of them (take a bow, Debbie) to the music was just so perfectly planned and executed by Elizabeth and Jean and Carnie and all “the kids” and Darian. Throughout the afternoon, a slide show of Brian’s life played on big screens..

A deeply touching detail: in the ballroom, a small piano placed in a sandbox was displayed with a pair of white sneakers beside it—an homage to Brian’s early days composing barefoot in the sand, a symbol of innocence, genius, and the place where SMiLE began.

A personal highlight: Blondie Chaplin’s performance of “Sail On, Sailor.” When he softly sang “Buddy Boy,” his nickname for Brian, it struck a deep chord.

Watching it all with us were five members of the Stockholm Strings ‘n’ Horns who flew in from the other side of the ocean. They brought such youthful joy and energy (as well as their amazing musicianship) to both the Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE tour and album. It was so great to see them after all these years.

No one wanted the day to end. It felt—though I hesitate to say it—like the closing of an era. But it isn’t. Brian’s music lives on. It always will.”

[Wirestone]

Beach Boys Salute in L.A. Brings Three Generations of the Wilson Family Together With Friends for First Tribute Concert Since Brian’s Death

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/beach-boys-tribute-carnie-wilson-family-brian-concert-1236447640/

Interesting. Wasn’t there some speculation Carrie Marks was out of the picture?

Marks said it felt slightly strange taking part in a Beach Boys salute: “I told my wife, it’s kinda weird that I’m here paying tribute to myself! But I didn’t want to miss it.”

I mean, they did file for divorce. Papers easy to find online.