Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Stamos, John Cusack and More Pay Tribute to Brian Wilson: “The Maestro Has Passed”
Stars are mourning the death of Brian Wilson after it was announced on Wednesday that he died. He was 82.
The family of Wilson, who was a founding member of The Beach Boys, confirmed his death on Instagram , writing: "We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."
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Soon after the news broke, celebrities took to social media to share their condolences.
Elton John took to Instagram Wednesday, calling Wilson "the biggest influence on my songwriting ever."
"Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him," John said. "He sang 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight' at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union , and even performed for my AIDS Foundation."
I grew to love him as a person," John continued. "He was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant."
Bob Dylan posted his condolences on X as well.
"Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I've been listening to him and admiring his genius," Dylan wrote. "Rest in peace dear Brian."
John Stamos, who has performed with The Beach Boys, including their appearances on his hit sitcom Full House , shared a tribute on Instagram, which reads in part: "Brian Wilson didn't just soundtrack my life…he filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I've ever known. It's hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him. Brian wasn't just a musical genius, he was a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man. He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will. And somehow, he turned all of that into music that wrapped itself around the world and made us all feel less alone. I grew up worshipping the Beach Boys, never imagining one day I'd get to play with them, let alone call Brian a friend."
John Cusack, who played Wilson in the biopic Love & Mercy , said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter , "The maestro has passed — Brian was a raw open heart with two legs — and an ear that heard the angels — quite literally. He was touched. To see him so happy with his wife Melinda — finally talking about and performing his unfinished masterpiece Smile, (after the release of the astounding Smile sessions) — to hear him be so open about the depth of his struggles so that the telling of his story might help others and take away the stigma of mental health — was to see a triumph of endurance and spirit, love and Mercy."
Love & Mercy director Bill Pohlad also said in a statement to THR , "Brian was a true genius and I was honored to have gotten to know him a bit in the making of LOVE & MERCY . What an extraordinary artist! I will miss his presence on this earth. So many of his songs come to mind when I think of him. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT I'D BE WITH OUT (him)."
Nancy Sinatra shared on Instagram: "His cherished music will live forever as he travels through the Universe and beyond. God bless you, sweet Brian. One of the biggest thrills of my life was singing 'California Girls' with Brian."
The Beach Boys themselves shared a tribute on Instagram, writing in part, "Brian Wilson wasn't just the heart of The Beach Boys — he was the soul of our sound. The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom — music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities."
Actor Wendell Pierce wrote on X: "Brian Wilson RIP 82 years old Troubled life Gotta put on Love & Mercy …I was lying in my room And the news came on TV A lotta people out there hurtin' And it really scares me Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight…"
Ronnie Wood, a member of the Rolling Stones, also wrote on X: "Oh no Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in one week ~ my world is in mourning. So sad."
Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said in a statement: "Brian Wilson was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the history of recorded music. Not only did his songs capture the spirit of youth, joy and longing in ways that still inspire millions of fans around the world, his innovative work in the studio transformed the way musicians record even to this day. Brian made an indelible mark, and our thoughts are with his family in this time of loss."
See the tributes below.
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