Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson suffers from dementia

Aged 81, the artist suffers from a “major neurocognitive disorder” and “is not able to meet his personal needs in terms of physical health”, according to court documents filed by the family.

Brian Wilson, singer, bassist, songwriter and co-founder of the Beach Boys, has been diagnosed with dementia. SThe family wishes to place him under the guardianship of its agents after the recent death of his wife, several American media revealed on Friday February 16. His agent, Jean Sievers, should soon serve as his guardian jointly with his manager, LeeAnn Hard, according to a press release published on Instagram.

This decision has been madefollowing the death” from his wife Melinda Wilson in January and “after careful consideration and consultation between Brian, his seven children (…) and Brian’s doctors“, aged 81. This placement under guardianship must still be ratified by a judge. The family made a request this week to a Los Angeles court.

Brian Wilson has a “major neurocognitive disorder“, we can read in the court documents filed by the family and cited by the American media. He “is unable to meet personal physical health needs“.

American pop prodigy

By the end of the 1960s, the musician’s notorious drug use had caused him mental health problems. He had described his wife Melinda, whom he met in the 1980s, as a “savior“, which allowed him to have a second career and to finish his masterpiece, the album smile.

This American pop prodigy made history in the early 1960s, when he composed more than 200 anthems to sun, surf and tanned girls (Surfin’ USA, I Get Around, Fun Fun Fun, Surfer Girl). He made the Beach Boys the best-selling American group in the world.

John Lennon considered the album Pet Sounds (1966) as one of the best albums of all time. After the innocence of the first compositions, the singer ruminated on the loss of youth and moved his group towards a more psychedelic rock with the origins of hippie culture.