ADVERTISEMENTLegendary The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson’s cause of death has been confirmed.
Wilson’s death at the age of 82 was confirmed by his family on 11 June. His children wrote at the time: “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.”
The surviving members of The Beach Boys paid their respects through a joint statement, with Mike Love saying that “the world lost a genius.”
“Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound,” he posted. “From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him.”
According to Wilson’s death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Health – first obtained by TMZ – the singer’s primary cause of death was listed as “respiratory arrest,” with sepsis and cystitis listed as contributing factors.
In addition to Brian Wilson’s respiratory arrest, sepsis, and cystitis, the autopsy found that the singer also suffered from several other health issues including chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory failure, obstructive sleep apnea and neurodegenerative disorder.
Last year, Wilson’s family revealed that the singer was suffering from dementia. His longtime representatives – LeeAnn Hard, his business manager, and Jean Sievers, his longtime publicist – were appointed as his co-conservators.
Wilson, whose genius for melody and arrangements inspired hits like ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘California Girls’, was voted alongside The Beach Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Beach Boys’ 1966 album ‘Pet Sounds’ was voted Number 2 in a 2003 Rolling Stone list of the Best 500 Albums Of All Time, with Paul McCartney citing the album as a direct inspiration on the Beatles and the ballad ‘God Only Knows’ as among his favourite songs.
