Beach Boys star Brian Wilson, the last surviving brother from the band, has died aged 82.
Formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961, the original line-up of the American rock band included brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine.
Originally established as a garage band focused on Brian’s songwriting and managed by the Wilson’s father Murry, the Beach Boys had their first national hit in 1963 with the hit song Surfin’ USA.
Before the end of the decade the band released an astonishing 15 albums.
Other notable hits that followed included Good Vibrations and California Girls.
However today Wilson’s family announced his death. Although a cause of death was not revealed, he had been living with a neurocognitive disorder akin to dementia.
Sharing a photo of him sitting on a park bench in recent years, they wrote: ‘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.’
Brian was the last surviving Wilson brother. In 1983 Dennis drowned aged 39 at Marina Del Rey after drinking all day and then diving in the ocean.
Then, in 1998, Carl died aged 51 from lung cancer.
The oldest of the three brothers, Wilson was born in 1942 in Inglewood, California.
However, their childhood was marred by their father’s abuse, with Brian regularly beaten and also becoming partially deaf as a child.
He also faced haunting voices in his head from schizoaffective disorder and had previously spoken about his struggles with substance abuse and mental illness throughout the years.
In 1964 Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown and stopped touring, going on to work as a full-time studio artist over the next decade.
However, he did compose, arrange and produce the famous Pet Sounds album alongside songwriter Tony Asher, which was released in 1966 and had become the band’s defining album.
Wilson formed the band, originally called Pendletones, as a teenager before Candix Records changed their name to the Beach Boys without the members’ permission.
In May last year, following the death of his wife Melinda, a judge ruled to place Wilson under a conservatorship, which agreed to.
Court documents detailed him having a ‘major neurocognitive disorder’ and that he was unable to care for himself.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.