Can you still hear the sounds pets make?

Last month, we heard of the tragic passing of Melinda Ledbetter, better known as the (second) wife of music legend Brian Wilson. For those who are too young and/or living under a pile of rocks, Wilson was the driving force behind the Beach Boys, one of the most important musical outfits of the 20th century, not far behind the Beatles, on par with Phil Spector and Motown records in terms of sonic influence, and above pretty much anything else that came before or after.

The 1966 album Pet Sounds alone, which Wilson wrote and orchestrated essentially on his own while his bandmate brothers toured the world, stands as one of the most celebrated pieces of pop music ever. The lush arrangements of “Wouldn’t it be nice”, the melodicisim of “Sloop John B.”, the sheer perfection of “God only knows”, one of the first known instances of religious imagery in secular music, all contributed to making this masterpiece a turning point in music history. To such an extent that Wilson famously struggled to try and surpass it, with lifelong mental health issues being ignited as he worked on its follow-up, from which only the classic single “Good Vibrations” truly survived…

A few days ago, his family announced that they were seeking conservatorship for the great man as he suffers from a degenerative neurological condition. It appears his wife had been caring for him for a while and arrangements now had to be made for him to be taken care of further. Regardless how the story unfolds — a previous conservatorship in the 70’s and 80’s with controversial psychologist Eugene Landy automatically springs to mind — one thing is for sure: Brian Wilson’s contributions to popular music are now over.

Brian Wilson is 81*. It it to be expected that, no matter how genius the man is, his days are effectively numbered. Especially given his complicated life and multiple episodes of grave psychological disorder. Nevertheless, it is still deeply painful to think that a man who created to much original music and had such an effect of the very concept of pop may never write another note on a sheet of paper ever again.

Sir Paul McCartney, please take very good care of yourself…

* Interestingly, his late wife was 77 at the time of her passing, thus proving that carers often pass away before the persons they actually care for…