Lasting Legacy of Brian Wilson: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Brian Wilson—a timeline of influence.

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

1965: Religious Experience with LSD

In 1965, Brian Wilson took LSD and described it as a profound religious experience, learning about patience and understanding.

1967: CBS Documentary Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

In 1967, the CBS documentary Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution, hosted by Leonard Bernstein, identified Brian Wilson as "one of today's most important pop musicians."

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1968: Bedroom Tapes

Brian Chidester later coined the term "Bedroom Tapes" to refer to Brian Wilson's unreleased output between 1968 and 1975.

1969: Nik Cohn recognizes Wilson as a progenitor of authentic pop art

In his 1969 book, Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock, Nik Cohn recognized Brian Wilson as a progenitor of authentic pop art, elevating high school-themed music "to completely new levels" and transforming it into a mythic narrative.

Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: The Golden Age of Rock

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1976: Highest Chart Position Since 1976

In September 2004, BWPS debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200, the highest chart position for any album by the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson since 1976's 15 Big Ones and the highest ever debut for a Beach Boys-related album.

1978: Brian Wilson's influence on bands recognized

In 1978, biographer David Leaf identified Brian Wilson's 1960s productions as a chief influence on bands such as Queen, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), 10cc, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, among others.

1995: Reflection on Caroline, No

In a 1995 interview, Brian Wilson called “Caroline, No” “probably the best [song] I’ve ever written.”

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1997: Sean O'Hagan felt rock music's domination

Speaking in a 1997 interview, musician Sean O'Hagan felt that rock music's domination of mass culture following the mid-1960s had the effect of artistically stifling contemporary pop composers who, until then, had been guided by Wilson's increasingly ambitious creative advancements.

2000: Feeling Comfortable on Stage

In 2000, Brian Wilson stated that he felt much more comfortable on stage due to having a good band behind him, considering them better than the Beach Boys.

2000: Release of Caroline Now!

In 2000, Marina Records released Caroline Now!, an album of Brian Wilson's songs recorded by various artists.

2007: Wilson's impact on indie music

Through acts such as Panda Bear, and especially his 2007 album Person Pitch, Brian Wilson began to be recognized for his continued impact on the indie music vanguard since the late 2000s.

2009: Pitchfork editorial feature

In 2009, Pitchfork ran an editorial feature that traced the development of nascent indie music scenes, and chillwave in particular, to the themes of Brian Wilson's songs and his reputation for being an "emotionally fragile dude with mental health problems who coped by taking drugs."

2010: A Brilliant Producer

In 2010 Virgil Moorefield's book The Producer as Composer: Shaping the Sounds of Popular Music acknowledges Wilson as a "brilliant producer" who significantly expanded the field of music production.

The Producer as Composer: Shaping the Sounds of Popular Music

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2011: Tributes to Wilson remain common

Writing in his 2011 book on the Beach Boys, Mark Dillon stated that tributes to Brian Wilson remained "common among musicians young enough to be his children".

2015: Quintessential Figure

In his 2015 book Electric Shock, Peter Doggett identifies Brian Wilson as the quintessential figure of an era marked by "some of the most notorious pop battles" between "idealistic musicians" and the executives funding their ambitious projects.

Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone – 125 Years of Pop Music

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2016: Pet Sounds credited with inventing the modern pop album

In 2016, Jason Guriel of The Atlantic credited Brian Wilson's album Pet Sounds with inventing the modern pop album and anticipating "the rise of the producer".

2016: Harmonic Ingenuity

In 2016, musicologist Philip Lambert states that Wilson's harmonic approach demonstrated an exceptional mastery and significantly expanded upon the British-American pop idiom of the 1960s, leaving a lasting imprint on popular music since.

2022: She & Him concert tour dedicated to renditions of Wilson's songs

In 2022, She & Him, accompanied by the release of Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, embarked on a concert tour dedicated to renditions of Brian Wilson's songs.