The Beach Boys Still Wants To Work With Brian Wilson

Despite the news that Brian Wilson had entered a formal conservatorship earlier this year following his diagnosis of dementia, his bandmates in The Beach Boys still hold out hope for future collaborations.

The conservatorship was established after the death of Wilson’s wife, Melinda, who had been his partner since their marriage in 1995. Melinda not only supported Wilson as his wife but also managed his career and cared for him through various health struggles.

Following her passing, Wilson shared his profound grief, saying:

“My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning. Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career.”

In light of her death, it was disclosed that Wilson had been placed under conservatorship. His family described this arrangement as a necessary support system, allowing him to “enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.”

Despite his ongoing battle with dementia, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys remain optimistic about working with Wilson again. Currently, they are promoting a new Disney+ documentary about the band, set to premiere on May 24th, which features a touching segment with Wilson.

Speaking to the Today program on BBC Radio 4, Love shared a hopeful update:

“We got together at Paradise Cove (in Los Angeles) at the end of the documentary. He was remembering things I’d forgotten about our high school days. His long-term memory is right there.”

Love continued:

“His musical abilities, as long as he’s alive he’ll have those, but he does need medical supervision and care. His wife did take care of that.”

While news of the conservatorship has concerned Wilson’s fans, Love emphasized the importance of ensuring he receives the best care, saying:

“He knows that he needs the help but we’re still able to get together and we‘re going to see each other soon. It’s not so negative as it sounds. As long as he’s cared for properly. He’s seeing his children… he’s being well taken care of.”

Although no collaboration with Wilson has been confirmed yet, Love remains hopeful. He added:

“It’s a brand new day now and I’m hoping we can do something together – all of us – and it’ll be great.”

In a recent court hearing in Los Angeles, Superior Court judge Gus T. May approved the petition filed by Wilson’s family, acknowledging that Wilson consented to the conservatorship but could not make critical decisions about his healthcare following Melinda’s passing.