Challenges in the Life of Brian Wilson in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Brian Wilson faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Brian Wilson is a highly influential American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as the co-founder of the Beach Boys. Revered for his innovative approach to pop music, he's celebrated for his complex harmonies, orchestrations, vocal layering, and introspective songwriting. His high production values and mastery of recording techniques have cemented his status as one of the 20th century's most significant songwriters. Wilson has faced lifelong challenges with mental illness, adding another layer to his complex persona.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

December 23, 1964: Brian Wilson's Breakdown on Flight

On December 23, 1964, Brian Wilson experienced a breakdown on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston, sobbing uncontrollably due to stress over his recent marriage. He played the show in Houston but was replaced for the rest of the tour.

1964: Psychological Strain and Shift Away from Surf Themes

By late 1964, Brian Wilson faced mounting psychological strain from career pressures and began distancing himself from The Beach Boys’ surf-themed material.

1964: Nervous Breakdown and Shift in Focus

In 1964, Brian Wilson had a nervous breakdown and resigned from regular concert touring with The Beach Boys. He shifted his focus to songwriting and production.

1965: Influence of Marijuana and Song Composition

In 1965, Brian Wilson was introduced to marijuana and hashish, leading to marital tensions. His first song composed under the influence of marijuana was "Please Let Me Wonder".

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1965: Temporary Separation and Reconciliation

In 1965, after unsuccessful efforts to distance Brian Wilson from Loren Schwartz, Marilyn temporarily separated from him due to his drug-associated social circle. The couple soon reconciled and moved into a new home in Beverly Hills.

1965: Musical Ambitions, Drug Use and Relocation

Throughout 1965, Brian Wilson's musical ambitions progressed significantly. He relocated to an apartment with his wife and first took LSD, composing portions of "California Girls" during the experience. He also attributed persistent paranoia later that year to his LSD use.

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March 1966: Release of Caroline, No and Reaction to Pet Sounds

In March 1966, “Caroline, No” was released as Brian Wilson’s first solo credit. Though Pet Sounds reached number 10, Wilson was "mortified" that his artistic growth had failed to translate into a number-one album.

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1966: Turning Point

Associates often cite late 1966 as a turning point, coinciding with erratic behavior during sessions for the track "Fire" (or "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow") for Brian Wilson.

1966: Acknowledged Using Pills

In 1966, Brian Wilson acknowledged using "pills" for introspection rather than leisure and viewed psychedelic usage as benign. He also did an interview in 1966.

1966: Phil Spector's self-imposed retirement

In 1966, Phil Spector's self-imposed retirement was identified as one of the catalysts for the "rock/pop split that has afflicted American music ever since".

1967: Possible LSD use

Around 1967, Brian Wilson consumed LSD for a second time when he was 23.

1967: Wilson's withdrawal and its impact on music

In 1967, sociomusicologist Simon Frith identified Brian Wilson's withdrawal as one of the catalysts for the "rock/pop split that has afflicted American music ever since".

1968: Hospitalization and Treatment for Anxiety

By 1968, Brian Wilson's mental health had worsened and he experienced paranoid delusions. Following the birth of their first child in 1968, Marilyn became concerned about Wilson's mental health. Wilson was hospitalized later that year and prescribed Thorazine for severe anxiety disorder. He may have self-admitted and possibly received treatments ranging from talking therapies to doses of lithium and electroconvulsive therapy during this stay. Also, in the late 1960s, Wilson and his bandmates promoted Transcendental Meditation (TM). By 1968, he had equated religion and meditation, though he ultimately abandoned TM.

1968: Decline in Songwriting and Emotional State

In 1968, Brian Wilson's songwriting output and emotional state declined substantially, leading him to self-medicate with food, alcohol, and drugs. He also began using cocaine and expressed suicidal ideation.

1968: Withdrawal from Trying

In a 1968 interview, Brian Wilson explained, "We pulled out [...] because I was about ready to die. I was trying so hard. So, all of a sudden I decided not to try any more."

1968: Hospitalization

In mid-1968, Brian Wilson was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Once discharged later in the year, Wilson rarely finished any tracks for the band.

May 1969: Financial Difficulties and Health Food Store

In May 1969, Brian Wilson disclosed the Beach Boys’ near-bankruptcy to reporters. In July, he opened a short-lived health food store, the Radiant Radish.

November 1970: Performance at the Whisky a Go Go

In November 1970, Brian Wilson performed with The Beach Boys at the Whisky a Go Go for one-and-a-half dates. Intense discomfort forced him to leave mid-performance during the second show.

June 1973: Seclusion Following His Father's Death

Following the death of his father in June 1973, Brian Wilson secluded himself in the chauffeur's quarters of his home, engaging in self-destructive behaviors and drug abuse. His family eventually took control of his financial affairs.

1974: Minimal Output and Social Life with Danny Hutton

In 1974, Brian Wilson's output was minimal due to preoccupation with cocaine, magazines, and hanging out with Danny Hutton. He spent nights at Hutton's house with colleagues like Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop. Marilyn Wilson often sent friends to retrieve him.

1975: Decline in Health and Intervention

In 1975, Brian Wilson's increased substance abuse and weight gain led to interventions from his wife Marilyn and band manager Stephen Love. Stan Love was appointed as Wilson's caretaker. Wilson was threatened with legal action regarding his contract with Warner Bros. and eventually entered Eugene Landy’s therapy program in October.

1975: Minimal Output and Social Life with Danny Hutton

In 1975, Brian Wilson's output was minimal due to preoccupation with cocaine, magazines, and hanging out with Danny Hutton. He spent nights at Hutton's house with colleagues like Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop. Marilyn Wilson often sent friends to retrieve him.

1977: Production of Adult/Child and Signing with CBS Records

In early 1977, Brian Wilson produced Adult/Child, intended as the follow-up to Love You, but it was not released due to concerns from bandmates. In March, The Beach Boys signed with CBS Records, requiring Wilson to compose most of the material for all subsequent albums, which distressed him.

October 1978: "Mental Blank-Out" During M.I.U. Album Sessions

During the sessions for M.I.U. Album in October 1978, Brian Wilson described experiencing a "mental blank-out". He was credited as the album's "executive producer".

November 1978: Institutionalization

In November 1978, after his marriage unraveled and his alcoholism worsened, Brian Wilson was institutionalized at Brotzman Memorial Hospital for several months.

1978: Regression and Overdose

After a disastrous Australian tour in 1978, Brian Wilson regressed and began secretly acquiring cocaine and barbiturates. In mid-1978, following an overdose, he left his family, hitchhiked, and eventually ended up in a gay bar, later being found by police in Balboa Park and hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.

1978: Diagnosis of Manic-Depressive Psychosis

In 1978, Brian Wilson was diagnosed with manic-depressive psychosis, in addition to the since-retracted diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, when he was a patient at Brotzman Memorial Hospital. In July 1978, Wilson and Marilyn separated.

March 1979: Involvement in L.A. (Light Album)

In March 1979, after his release from the hospital, Brian Wilson rejoined his bandmates for the recording of L.A. (Light Album), but after producing demos and early recordings, he asked that Bruce Johnston take over the project.

March 1980: Inability to Produce Keepin' the Summer Alive

Although his bandmates urged him to produce their next album, Keepin' the Summer Alive, Brian Wilson was unable or unwilling to do so in March 1980.

1980: Collaboration with Dennis Wilson

In 1980, Brian Wilson, influenced by Dennis Wilson, continued his overeating and drug habits. Dennis motivated Brian's musical endeavors by providing him with McDonald's hamburgers and cocaine. They had clandestine recording sessions at Garby Leon's home studio in Venice Beach, later known as the "cocaine sessions" or "hamburger sessions".

1981: Collaboration with Dennis Wilson continues

In 1981, Brian Wilson and Dennis Wilson continued their clandestine recording sessions at Garby Leon's home studio in Venice Beach, later known as the "cocaine sessions" or "hamburger sessions". These sessions were hidden due to efforts by certain members of the Beach Boys clan to keep them apart.

1981: Wilson's failure to overcome his insecurities

In 1981, journalist Richard Goldstein considered the most culturally significant "tragedy" in 1960s rock was Brian Wilson's failure to overcome his insecurities and realize "his full potential as a composer".

1981: Assault on Dennis Wilson

In early 1981, Pamplin and Stan Love were convicted of assaulting Dennis Wilson at his home after discovering that Dennis had been providing Brian Wilson with drugs.

1982: Re-entry into Landy's program

In 1982, after Brian Wilson overdosed on alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs, his family and management staged an elaborate ruse to persuade him to re-enter Landy’s program. The group falsely informed Brian that he was destitute and no longer a Beach Boy, insisting he reenlist Landy as his caretaker to continue receiving his touring income.

1982: Trust document and hospitalization

In early 1982, Brian Wilson signed a trust document granting Carl Wilson control of his finances and voting power in the band's corporate structure. Brian was involuntarily admitted for a three-day stay at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

March 1983: Relocation to Malibu Home

In March 1983, Brian Wilson, under Landy's direction, moved to a Malibu home where he lived with Landy's aides and was cut off from many of his friends and family, including his children and ex-wife Marilyn.

1983: Landy's Annual Charges

From 1983, Landy charged approximately $430,000 annually for his services and began to assume the role of Brian Wilson's creative and financial partner.

1984: Misdiagnosis of Schizophrenia and Brain Damage

In 1984, Brian Wilson was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, with doctors also finding evidence of brain damage caused by excessive and sustained drug use.

1985: Suicide Attempt

In mid-1985, Brian Wilson attempted suicide by swimming as far out to sea as possible before one of Landy's aides retrieved him.

1986: Landy's role in Brian's life

In 1986, Landy continued to exert control over every aspect of Brian Wilson's life, including his musical direction, leading to accusations of creating a Svengali-like environment.

August 1989: $100 Million Suit Against Irving Music

In August 1989, Brian Wilson filed a $100 million suit against Irving Music to reclaim song publishing rights sold by his father decades earlier.

1990: Estrangement from The Beach Boys

By 1990, Brian Wilson was estranged from the Beach Boys. His bandmates scheduled recording sessions without him and twice rejected his offers to produce an album.

1990: LSD use leading to "Jesus Christ complex"

In 1990, Brian Wilson stated that LSD use in the mid-1960s led him to develop a "Jesus Christ complex". Following this, he consulted with a psychiatrist regarding the adverse effects of LSD.

May 1991: Conservatorship Suit Filed

In May 1991, a conservatorship suit was filed by Brian Wilson's family, leading to the dissolution of his partnership with Landy in December and a subsequent restraining order.

December 1994: Jury Rules in Favor of Mike Love

In December 1994, a jury ruled in favor of Mike Love in a lawsuit over long-neglected royalties and songwriting credits, awarding him $5 million and a share of future royalties from Brian Wilson.

September 1995: Lawsuit Against Jerome Billet

In September 1995, Brian Wilson sued his former conservator, Jerome Billet, seeking $10 million for alleged failures in supervising the lawyers handling the Irving Music and Love lawsuits.

August 1999: Lawsuit Against Joe Thomas

In August 1999, Brian Wilson filed suit against Joe Thomas, seeking damages and a declaration that he could work on his next album without Thomas's involvement.

2022: Lawsuit from ex-wife

In 2022, Brian Wilson's ex-wife Marilyn, who had been awarded half of his songwriting royalties, sued him for $6.7 million after he sold his rights to UMPG.