2025’s “Top” Ten Music Losses: Brian Wilson (#2)

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For most of you, the music countdown ends today, because the person who’s at the top of the list is there for me and few other crazy people. As far as impact goes, I would say this was the biggest loss in music from 2025. Here’s a salute to this great. #2: Brian Wilson Listen, “genius” is thrown around as carelessly as “how are you” these days. Brian Wilson was a stinking genius. He wrote so many of those Beach Boys classics. He arranged the vocals. He produced the records. All of that while dealing with mental health issues. Your fun trivia of the day: Glen Campbell was a touring Beach Boy to take Wilson’s place when his stage fright overwhelmed him to the point where he couldn’t perform. I don’t have to explain the Beach Boys. They are synonymous with American summers. They were the primary American rival to the Beatles for record sales in the 60s, and in many cases the only band that held influence as long as the Beatles did. To this day you can hear traces of Brian Wilson’s influence in music, be it a surf guitar or structured harmonies. He truly was one of the heavyweights of music. Thanks to those great songs, the “endless summer” will continue, but it will seem just a little less fun without Brian around. Brian Wilson Born Brian Douglas Wilson, June 20, 1942, Inglewood, California Died June 11, 2025, Beverly Hills, California (respiratory arrest) (age 82) HALLS OF FAME: Rock and Roll, 1988 (with the Beach Boys); Songwriters, 2000 My favorite Beach Boys song, “Sloop John B.”: