Brian Douglas Wilson was 82 years old. As sure as Beethoven and Bach were geniuses, so was Brian. Born, raised and embodying California, Brian Wilson and his music was entwined with my life from an early age.
When I was a kid, riding in the passenger side next to my Uncle Paul, he would always pop a Beach Boys tape into his deck. “Little Deuce Coupe” was a favourite. He loved that early Beach Boys; the surf rock. My mom grew up on that music too, but it was Uncle Paul who played it the most.
My wife Jen and her dad David always loved the Beach Boys. She danced to “Surfer Girl” with him at our wedding.
Last summer, my dad and I watched a Brian Wilson documentary on TV. We were both spellbound both by the man and his music. My dad told me that my grandfather considered moving to California in the 1950s. Imagine how different things would have been. I’d never have been born.
Brian was a visionary composer, perhaps to his own detriment. He was able to see forward, beyond what the producers of the time told him was possible or commercial. He stretched his boundaries in composition and production, creating layers of music previously unimagined. Unable to achieve his fullest visions at the time, the Smile album (1966) was shelved and Brian spiraled with depression and substances. He became the butt of jokes, which was tragic. It was good to see him return to making music before it was too late.
Rest in peace, you genius.
mikeladano.com 
Very nice tribute.You can see th
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Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in the same week. Fuck this year.
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Remember in like, 2016 when we said it was the worst year ever? It is a string of years now.
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Nothing has felt the same since 2016. Everything went to shit and everyone went crazy. 2020 only amplified it.
For some reason I threw on the 2012 U.S. Presidential debate the other week and it felt like an artifact from a civilization long gone.
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Great piece! I feel and think the same, Mike. Although I grew up listening to The Beach Boys under circumstances similar to you and Jen (although mainly on oldies radio as my parents didn’t like rock or pop music), it was only much later that I bought my first CD. It was “Endless Summer,” and I think I got it in Montreal when I was living there in the ‘90’s. I was greatly influenced during that period by a book I read by Dave Marsh “The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.” I liked the CD so much I got “Pet Sounds” soon after, and many others, although that classic album was and remains my personal favorite. I had some hard times during that era and Brian’s music seemed to speak to me. Best, Henry.
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Another one gone to the great gig in the sky, rest in peace, Brian.
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