Brian Wilson’s cause of death revealed by death certificate
The Beach Boys co-founder died June 11 at 82.
WASHINGTON — Singer, songwriter, record producer and co-founder of the Beach Boys Brian Wilson’s cause of death has been released. He died June 11 at 82.
TMZ and Fox News Digital reported that the 82-year-old died from respiratory arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by both outlets.
Respiratory arrest is similar to cardiac arrest, defined as when the heart stops, but pertains to the lungs, according to the American Heart Association. It can be caused by a variety of factors.
Sepsis, cystitis, chronic respiratory failure, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative disorder and obstructive sleep apnea were also listed in the report, according to Fox News Digital.
Since May 2024, Wilson had been under a court conservatorship to oversee his personal and medical affairs, with Wilson’s longtime representatives, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, in charge.
Wilson spoke openly about his prior drug use, particularly the use of LSD, cocaine and alcohol, while promoting his second autobiography “I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir” with Rolling Stone in 2016.
“I want people to realize that drugs can be very detrimental and dangerous,” he said then. “I talk a lot about my bad experiences on drugs in the book for that reason… It’s mentally dangerous to take. I regret having taken LSD. It’s a bad drug.”
Wilson had also previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.
He was the eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers — Brian played bass, Carl lead guitar and Dennis drums. He and his fellow Beach Boys rose in the 1960s from local California band to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of surf and sun.
Wilson himself was celebrated for his gifts and pitied for his demons. He was one of rock’s great Romantics, a tormented man who in his peak years embarked on an ever-steeper path to aural perfection, the one true sound.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.