“Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE . Like all families, we had our ups and downs. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other, and I never stopped being in awe of what he could do when he sat at a piano or his spontaneity in the studio.”

“Brian Wilson, my friend, my classmate, my football teammate, my Beach Boy bandmate and my brother in spirit, I will always feel blessed that you were in our lives for as long as you were. I think the most comforting thought right now is that you are reunited with Carl and Dennis, singing those beautiful harmonies again.” 

“Rest in Peace Dear Buddy Boy.”

“Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special. The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time. I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows.’ Thank you, Brian.”

“Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian.” 

“Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him. I grew to love him as a person, and for me, he was the biggest influence on my songwriting ever; he was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant.” 

“Brian Wilson was my friend and my brother in songwriting. We shared a similar sensibility, as evidenced by his 4 over 5 chord under ‘Aaaah!’ in ‘Good Vibrations’ and mine under ‘I’m Into Something Good.’ We once discussed who used it first, and in the end we decided it didn’t matter. The world will miss Brian, but we are so lucky to have his music.” 

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony. He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, The Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no ‘Racing In The Street.’ Listen to ‘Summer’s Gone’ from The Beach Boys’ last album That’s Why God Made The Radio and weep. Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.” 

“So sad to see that Brian Wilson has passed away. Absolutely one of the greatest songwriters of all time. I love Brian’s music. He is and will always be a huge inspiration to me! His songs are sublime! Miss you Brian!”

“Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.”

“Our friendship spanned decades and his various associations and casts of characters. Losing him is so tough and leaves a vacuum, but Brian bloomed where he was planted and his music documented an America that no longer exists. He moved mountains. He changed the language. He treated me kindly when he didn’t need to and when people say his music is astonishing, I agree.”

“Rest in Peace!”

“I never was a beach babe, but I loved his music like everybody else. I thought Brian Wilson was a genius, and I still think it.”

“God bless Brian, peace and love to all the family, peace and love Ringo and Barbara.”

“Oh no Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in one week - my world is in mourning. so sad.”

“Without Pet Sounds, my first single would never have sounded the same. Mike Hurst, my producer, was infatuated with that album, and tried his best to replicate the innovative use of classical instruments to complement the sonics.”

“What an extraordinary talent! Brian Wilson single-handedly raised the bar on how to write and arrange a great pop song. He inspired and touched so many songwriters, including me. It pushed the Beatles towards Sergeant Pepper and in God Only Knows he created a masterpiece that remains unmatched to this day.”

“Rest in Peace, Brian Wilson. What joy, what vision, what genius he brought into our lives. He set the musical course in a new direction. How lucky we are to have his beautiful sound to cherish for all time. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and to all of us whose lives have been musically expanded and uplifted by Brian.”

“Anyone who really knows me knows how heart broken I am about Brian Wilson passing. Not many people influenced me as much as he did. I feel very lucky that I was able to meet him and spend some time with him. He was always very kind and generous. He was our American Mozart. A one of a kind genius from another world.”

“So very sad to hear that our dear friend, inspiration and mentor for decades has passed away. Rest In Peace Brian Wilson.”

“So sad losing Brian Wilson and Sly Stone the same week, two giants of the Renaissance. What an extraordinary era to grow up in! We are the luckiest generation that will ever be.”

“To me, Brian Wilson was not merely about surf music, rather a true musical genius toiling away at melding POP into startling sophistication. He will he be missed mightily.

“His cherished music will live forever as he travels through the Universe and beyond. God bless you, sweet Brian. One of the biggest thrills of my life was singing ‘California Girls’ with Brian.” 

“The word genius gets banded about way too often these days, this man was and will forever remain one of the very few to have earned that word. Elton & I will never forget his kindness and beautiful vulnerability, his extraordinary harmonies and how he lovingly treated two wide eyed young songwriters on our first week in LA. To me Brian Wilson was the heart and sun of California.”

“Sadly, Brian Wilson has passed away. Songwriter, visionary. Thank you for a lifetime of wonderful melodies that spanned decades. I’m going to spend the day listening to the Beach Boys and reminiscing.”

“Brian Wilson Has Died. ‘Genius’ is a term used too often and too loosely. ‘Tortured Genius’ even more so. Brian's astonishing output of musical brilliance will bring joy while it influences generations to come. Thank you Brian and Rest In Peace.”

“Another giant has fallen. Brian Wilson had died. He and his band The Beach Boys, with their joyful sounds of California, Summer & Surf were so upbeat, so joyful, so full of harmony, possibility and fun: it was the sounds of being young. May you find some peace at last.”

“Anyone with a musical bone in their body must be grateful for Brian Wilson’s genius magical touch!! And greatly saddened of this major worldly loss!! My thoughts go out to his family and friends.”

“One of the best musical minds of all time. Nothing but respect for Brian Wilson and all he showed us. This is one of the actual GOATS of music!”

“If there was a human being who made art out of inexpressible sadness … damn it was Brian Wilson … Without him I dunno how so many that came after felt safe to express a feeling of sadness that most humans would be otherwise ridiculed/punished for.”

“Rest in peace to our musical hero and friend Brian Wilson - love and condolences to the wilson family - eternally grateful to the gifts he gave to the world of music.”

“Sending you all love. So grateful for all the beautiful music and compassion he brought into the world.”

“We lost one of the greatest composers and messengers who took jazz harmony, put it to a Chuck Berry beat and made a new genre of music. Some of the best singles in the world. Dennis, Carl and Brian are all together now. Other worlds to sing in.” 

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Brian Wilson. He gave us music that defined a generation and made the world feel a little lighter. Thank you Brian for the beauty you brought into our lives. Rest in peace.”

“What an utterly great singer, songwriter and musical innovator. An inspiration! Thinking of his loved ones and his millions of fans the world over today. Thank you, Brian.”

“I loved the music of Brian Wilson and was so happy to meet him backstage at a gig in Brooklyn. I was able to say to him what a profound influence he was on my musical life. Thank you Brian you will always be in my heart.”

“Brian Wilson created the best songs, the best sounds and absolutely deserves to be called a genius. R.I.P Brian.”

“I think ‘God Only Knows’ that song is like one of the best written songs ever and thank you, Brian, for that. May you rest in peace, we’re going to miss you.” 

“Thank you Brian Wilson. I recorded a cover of “I Get Around” a few years ago … never got to share it. One of my all time favorite songs ever.”

“Words can’t express what Brian Wilson meant to me as a songwriter. I was so fortunate to call him a friend. He was a genuine hero who taught me everything I know about music. Rest in peace, my friend.” 

“Sad 2 hear of Brian Wilson’s passing … got to perform with the Brian Wilson band about four or five years ago at the Greek Theatre and at the sound check Brian told me how much he loved my song Eyes Without a Face, which was kind of incredible to me as I was such a fan of early Beach Boys and Pet Sounds through to Surfs Up!”

“At a young age, I heard the theremin on ‘Good Vibrations’ and I just flipped over it. Brian Wilson was so ahead of the curve. And although he suffered for so long, what he translated and transcended from that was an amazing gift to the world. He was truly one of the greats. I hope he will now find peace.”

“His falsetto voice and iconic vocal blend were the sound of our generation. One of the Greatest Songwriters of our time, ‘God Only Knows’ is a classic that has influenced us all! Surfing, cars and chicks!Thanks for the music, Brian!” 

“So many immortal songs. Such deep love alongside darkness. Brian’s ability to harvest colorful chords and sounds and present them in such emotional ways blew my heart and ears open as a teenager. His profound eccentricity, audacity and oddity-inclusivity rocked my world, and completely transformed my concept of sound sculpting and production. Thank you, dear Brian.”

“Sending my love to Carnie and Wendy and the entire Wilson family. I cherish the brief time we spent together and will forever be grateful to this man for his music, his sweet soul, and the enormous inspiration he gave us all.”

“Today I lost a dear friend and the world lost a true musical genius — Brian Wilson. I’ve known Brian since the very beginning of my career through Lou Adler, and over the years, we shared unforgettable memories, both on stage and in the studio. His creativity knew no limits, and his heart was just as big as his talent. Rest easy, Brian. Your music, your spirit, and your soul will live on forever.”

“Terrible news. Brian was among a handful of the most important American popular musical artists of all time. Extremely talented and vastly influential, his music will live on forever.”

“Brian’s songs were more like hymns, and his body of work is up there with the greatest American composers. My condolences to his family and all who loved him.”

“One of the truly greats.”

“Brian managed to write songs that took music into the realms of heaven. His harmonies and his melodies always contain so much joy. And he was such a lovely guy.”

“Rest in peace Brian Wilson. Getting to know and work with him has been of the greatest honors of my life. His generosity of spirit and truly incandescent creativity has brought me so much joy and inspiration over the years and I’m grateful for all the time I spent with him. He was my true musical hero.”

“It is difficult to find the right words to express my astonishment at his polyphonic contrapuntal composition let alone the sweet high falsetto, so perfectly controlled. I was simply stunned by his musical talents. My deepest condolences to the family, particularly his children.”

“Despite his much-publicized inner-turmoil, Brian was a very strong, sweet, innocent guy with a heart full of love and music. He was on a mission to create songs that would bring comfort and understanding to the whole world. He succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.”

“My hero in every sense of the word. So many tears. I love you forever Brian.”