Beach Boys co-founders Mike Love and Brian Wilson shared a deep and complicated history as first cousins and bandmates. Despite their various conflicts, including their longstanding creative rift, Love has continued to hold deep affection for Wilson and respect for his phenomenal musical contributions.
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In the wake of Brian’s death at age 82 on Wednesday, June 11, Mike took to his social media pages to share a heartfelt tribute to his cousin and one-time collaborator.
The post also included a video montage featuring archival photos and film clips of Wilson and Love. The video is set to “Brian’s Back,” a 1970s solo song Love wrote that celebrated Wilson’s return to The Beach Boys around that time.
“Today, the world lost a genius, and I lost a cousin by blood and my partner in music,” Love’s homage began. “Brian Wilson wasn’t just the heart of The Beach Boys—he was the soul of our sound. From the first time we sang together as kids in my living room, I knew there was something otherworldly in him. His musical gifts were unmatched. The melodies he dreamed up, the emotions he poured into every note—Brian changed the course of music forever.”
Mike then touched on his multifaceted relationship with Brian, while stressing its positive aspects, and his reverence for Wilson’s talents.
“Our journey together was filled with moments of brilliance, heartbreak, laughter, complexity and most of all, LOVE,” he wrote. “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.”
Love Reflects on His Experience Collaborating with Wilson
Love went on to reflect on the enduring and influential music Wilson created, including the songs on which Mike collaborated.
“Brian’s unique artistry and our collaboration gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom—music that made people feel good, made them believe in an endless summer and endless possibilities,” Love noted. “It was one of the greatest blessings of my life to experience that creative space with him.”
He continued, “It was our privilege to make the world believe in sunshine, surfing, and teenage dreams. My life was forever changed by Pet Sounds, ‘God Only Knows,’ ‘In My Room,’ ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘The Warmth of the Sun’ and a hundred other pieces of his soul wrapped in music. He allowed us to show the world what vulnerability and brilliance sound like in harmony. He was fragile, he was intense, he was funny—and he was one of a kind.”
Condolences to Wilson’s Family and Wishing a Final Fond Farewell
As Love’s homage continued, he offered heartfelt condolences to Wilson’s immediate family, and bid goodbye to his cousin.
“My wife, Jacquelyne, and I are heartbroken,” Mike lamented. “She stood beside me through so many chapters of this story, and we both send our love and prayers to Brian’s family, his children, and all who were touched by his life and gifts.”
Love then referenced a line from the classic 1966 Beach Boys hit “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” to set up a touching parting wish for Wilson.
“Brian, you once asked, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older?’” he wrote. “Now you are timeless. May you rest in the peace you so deeply deserve, surrounded by the heavenly music you helped create. May your spirit soar as high as your falsetto, may your wings spread in effortless flight.”
Love concluded, “Thank you for the harmonies, the memories, and the love. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal. I’ll miss you forever, my beloved cousin.”
Recent News About Mike Love
Love is among the honorees who will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 12. The ceremony takes place at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Mike will receive the honor 25 years to the day that Wilson was inducted Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, The Beach Boys continue to tour, and have dozens of 2025 concerts lined up throughout the U.S. They also have a run of nine shows in Europe in July.
The band’s next concert takes place June 13 in New York City at The Town Hall. The Beach Boys’ itinerary is plotted out through a November 21 performance in Lincoln, California.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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