Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson dies at 82, leaving lasting legacy at USC and beyond

One of the great musicians of all time, Brian Wilson, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, at the age of 82. A SoCal native, he would go on to reshape a lot of the industry through the Beach Boys. Wilson's in-studio and songwriting approach is what allowed the band to separate and create songs that will always stand the test of time.

One of the great musicians of all time, Brian Wilson, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, at the age of 82. A SoCal native, he would go on to reshape a lot of the industry through the Beach Boys. Wilson's in-studio and songwriting approach is what allowed the band to separate and create songs that will always stand the test of time.

In 1978, after Wilson was no longer a prominent or steady feature of the lineup by then, the Beach Boys members pursued offshoot projects around this time for their careers. In a photo shared on X by Beach Boys Legacy on X, Brian and Carl Wilson are seen on stage with Mike Love's band Celebration.

The gig took place in April of that year on the USC campus. Love's new band consisted of former members of King's Harvest at the time, but that picture shows that year's version of the Beach Boys performing at USC during the height of rock and roll.

They, like most musical groups, needed to spend some time apart. During the 2000s, however, remaining members of the group would find opportunities to share the stage together again. One of these instances occurred on October 25, 2013, at the Bovard Auditorium.

While Wilson was unable to take the stage for this specific performance, attendees of the USC concert were able to experience some of the Pet Sounds and Barbara Ann magic.

Re-listening to Good Vibrations and Surfin' USA today allows all listeners to experience a brief taste of the 60s again. For a person like Wilson and the other members of the Beach Boys to come to mean so much to the USC community and the SoCal region as a whole, 'God Only Knows' where the world would be without the sounds from their songs from nearly 70 years ago.

Much like the sports teams from prior decades, there could be something to be learned and appreciated from the music of past eras.

Rest in Peace, Brian Wilson