The founder of The Beach Boys has passed away...
12 · 06 · 2025
Bob Dylan has paid tribute to the “genius” of Brian Wilson.
In sad news, Brian Wilson, the founder of The Beach Boys and a pop innovator, died overnight at the age of 82 after battling dementia.
Tributes are pouring in for the composer who transformed the pop music landscape, reaching impressive, baroque levels along the way. A visionary who fully embraced the potential of studio recording, Brian Wilson’s heartfelt lyricism soared amidst elaborate soundscapes.
The master was respected by his contemporaries – Paul McCartney described Brian Wilson as the greatest songwriter ever, while Elton John hailed him as one of his major influences.
Bob Dylan was a great admirer of Brian Wilson’s artistry; the two often met, with Brian recalling a long dinner where they exchanged tales about early rock and roll records.
Dylan expressed his admiration for Wilson candidly, famously stating: “Jesus, that ear. He should donate it to the Smithsonian. The records I used to listen to and still cherish, you can’t create a record that sounds like that. Brian Wilson made all his records with four tracks, but you couldn’t replicate his sound even with a hundred tracks today.”
Taking a moment to reflect on his peer and inspiration, Bob Dylan shared one of his well-known tweets: “Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve spent listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace, dear Brian.”
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Bob Dylan has praised the "genius" of Brian Wilson. In some unfortunate news, Beach Boys founder and pop innovator Brian Wilson passed away last night at the age of 82.