The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson's Cause Of Death Revealed

The music world has been in mourning ever since the passing of The Beach Boys icon, Brian Wilson, earlier this month.

His family shared news of his passing on social media, and at the time, no cause of death was revealed. Wilson died at the age of 82. News of his passing arrived over a year after the singer, songwriter and producer was diagnosed with dementia and subsequently placed under a conservatorship run by his longtime representatives, LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers.

It’s since been revealed that Wilson was dealing with multiple health issues upon his passing, but according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, his cause of death was “respiratory arrest.”

Other factors that contributed to his passing included sepsis, cystitis, a neurodegenerative disorder, sleep apnea, chronic respiratory failure, and chronic kidney disease.

Brian Wilson is one of the most celebrated, prolific and important musicians of all time. He wrote over three dozen Top 40 hits, and by “wrote,” we mean that he penned, arranged, and produced much of his music.

Recognised for hits such as Good Vibrations, Surf City, God Only Knows, and many more, Wilson was given near-unchecked control by Capitol Records at the height of The Beach Boys’ success.

After news of Wilson’s passing surfaced, the remaining members of The Beach Boys wrote in tribute to their bandleader, “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.”

They continued, “We are heartbroken by his passing. We will continue to cherish the timeless music we made together and the joy he brought to millions over the decades. And while we will miss him deeply, his legacy will live on through his songs and in our memories.”

To find out why Wilson was held in such high regard not only by musicians and the music industry but also by music fans across the globe, read The Music’s obituary on why Brian Wilson was the greatest.