Brian Wilson’s cause of death has been revealed
An official cause of death for songwriting genius and Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson has been revealed.
Wilson, one of the masterminds behind beloved songs such as ‘God Only Knows’ and ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, passed away on June 11th at the age of 82. While he was known for his fantastic arrangements, he had not been with The Beach Boys for years and had been living at home ever since.
Now with a copy of Wilson’s autopsy officially revealed, it has been confirmed that the songwriter passed away from “respiratory arrest”, a condition which stops the lungs from functioning. Among the other ailments that Wilson had at the time of his death were sleep apnea, sepsis, and a neurodegenerative disorder that he had been struggling with for some time.
Wilson had also been battling with cognitive issues, revealing in 2024 that he had been battling dementia. He had since credited many of mental issues to his heavy drug use in the 1960s when making some of his masterpieces.
Known for making the soundtrack to summer throughout the 1960s, Wilson led The Beach Boys for the first few years of their existence alongside his brothers, Dennis and Carl, as well as his cousin Mike Love. Since leaving The Beach Boys, Wilson had kept up an extensive solo career, with his last album At My Piano being released in 2021. He had also been recording songs for an upcoming solo album at the time of his death.
Upon hearing of the beloved icon’s death, many figures from the music world paid their respects to Wilson. Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr had released statements talking about how much they were impacted by Wilson’s music when the Fab Four were still together, and Bob Dylan also shared his thoughts, reminiscing on “the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius.”
Fellow Beach Boy Al Jardine also paid his respects, saying, “I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were. I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again. You were a humble giant who always made me laugh and we will celebrate your music forever.”
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