The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson’s cause of death revealed
Brian Wilson’s cause of death has been disclosed, two weeks after he died at 82.
The Beach Boys co-founder passed away from “respiratory arrest,” according to his death certificate obtained by TMZ June 26.
Respiratory arrest occurs when the lungs stop functioning, but the heart is still beating, which prevents those affected from receiving oxygen, according to the American CPR Care Association.
Sepsis and cystitis were also listed on the death certificate, per TMZ. Both are infection issues.
Other associated factors reportedly included obstructive sleep apnoea, neurodegenerative disorder, chronic respiratory failure and chronic kidney disease.
Wilson died June 11, the same day that his family announced his passing.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” his family shared on Instagram. “We are at a loss for words right now.”
They asked for respect and privacy “as our family is grieving.” Wilson’s loved ones concluded, “We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
The star’s daughter, Carnie Wilson, spoke about his death one day later.
“I have no words to express the sadness I feel right now,” she wrote in her emotional message, posting a throwback image of herself with Brian and her sister, Wendy Wilson.
Calling her father “every fibre of my body,” Carnie said, “He will be remembered by millions and millions until the world ends. I am lucky to have been his daughter and had a soul connection with him that will live on always.”
John Stamos, who played the drums and guitar with the Beach Boys for 40 years, exclusively told The Post that he broke the news of Wilson’s death to their bandmate Mike Love, who was not only a co-founder of the group but also Wilson’s cousin.
“I was with Mike, I got off the plane, and I got the text,” the Full House star, 61, shared at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 12.
“And we sat in the car for 2½ hours or so … he didn’t say one word,” Stamos explained. “And I didn’t ask him anything, ask him how he was feeling. I knew how he was feeling.”
He concluded: “Without Brian Wilson, life would be a mistake. It’s been a big blow to all of us.”
The Beach Boys also released a statement about Wilson’s passing, labelling him the “soul” of their surf rock sound.
“The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure,” the band wrote in their tribute post. “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.”
Love addressed his cousin’s passing in addition to The Beach Boys’ statement, praising the two-time Grammy winner’s undeniable talent.
“From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him,” Love posted along with a video montage of the late star. “His musical gifts were unmatched. The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every note — Brian changed the course of music forever.”
In February 2024, his family revealed that the In My Room singer was suffering from dementia and had been placed under conservatorship after his wife, Melinda Ledbetter, died in January 2024 at 77.
The Beach Boys were founded in Hawthorne, California, in 1961 by brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Love, and school friend Al Jardine, per the band’s website.
Wilson quit touring with the band in 1964 after he suffered a panic attack during a flight to Houston. This caused him to shift his duties to composing, creating summer classics like Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and God Only Knows.
Wilson released his first solo album in 1988, although he remained an on-and-off member of the group for decades.
The Beach Boys’ creative leader struggled with his mental health and substance abuse throughout his career. He was even diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which involves hallucinations, depression and paranoia in his later years.
