The Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82, his family said.
Wilson was the eldest and last surviving of the three musical brothers who formed the American rock band in 1961, alongside their cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away”, his family said in a statement on his website.
“We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving.
“We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
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The statement finished “Love & Mercy”, a reference to a film about Wilson starring John Cusack.
His band, known for their vocal harmonies, signed with Capitol Records in 1962 and they released their first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year.
They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2001.
The Beach Boys’ hits included California Girls, Surfin’ USA and Good Vibrations, the latter of which topped the UK’s singles chart.
