Brian Wilson, the mastermind behind The Beach Boys’ greatest music, was seen on Sunday for the first time since his family announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
Public sightings of Wilson, 81, are rare to begin with, and he hasn’t been spotted out in public since it was revealed that his family was seeking to institute a conservatorship to account for his personal care and finances.
Wilson looked reserved as he was pushed in his wheelchair and followed by a group of people as he arrived at Downtown Los Angeles‘ Crypto.com Arena to take in the Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Minnesota eventually triumphing 127–117.
The singer–songwriter supported his team in a yellow polo shirt, and he also had on a black fleece jacket, black sweatpants and black-and-white Nike trainers.
A man was seen pushing Wilson’s wheelchair, while a woman rested a hand on his shoulder as they moved toward a door to enter the arena.
Brian Wilson, the mastermind behind The Beach Boys’ greatest music, was seen on Sunday for the first time since his family announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia
Wilson, 81, looked reserved as he was pushed in his wheelchair as he arrived at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena to take in the Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves
In February, two representatives for the performer — who is one of the most acclaimed songwriters of the 20th century — and his family said in a court filing that he is suffering from a ‘major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia),’ according to documents obtained by The Blast.
In the filing, the hitmaker’s team requested that a conservatorship be set up for the legendary musician to help treat the alleged condition.
The news of the filing arrived just weeks after he suffered a tragedy when his longtime wife Melinda died at age 77.
At the time, journalists who had interviewed Wilson in the past noted how she had been a constant source of help and reassurance for the musician in his later years, and she was said to have regularly sat in on interviews with him.
In a statement to DailyMail.com at the time, Wilson’s family said that ‘longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators of the person’ after his seven children, his caregiver and his doctors had determined the move was necessary.
‘This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and Brian and the children living at home will be taken care of and remain in the home where they are cared for by Gloria Ramos and the wonderful team at the house who have been in place for many years helping take care of the family.
‘Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses,’ they concluded.
Wilson has a decades-long history of mental health issues and has struggled with substance abuse in the past, and the court filing said he would allegedly be unable to care for himself as his condition deteriorates.
They also said that Wilson is not able to attend hearings on the matter ‘because of medical inability.’
Court records indicate that a hearing is currently scheduled for April 26, 2024, to address the request for a conservatorship.
He supported his team in a yellow polo shirt, and he also had on a black fleece jacket, black sweatpants and black-and-white Nikes. A man pushed Wilson’s wheelchair, while a woman rested a hand on his shoulder as they moved toward a door to enter the arena
In February, his family and caregivers filed in court to establish a conservatorship to care for Wilson. The legal move followed the death of his longtime wife Melinda at 77 in January; pictured together in 2015 in Berlin
Wilson’s caregivers said in court filings that he wouldn’t be able to care for himself as his alleged dementia symptoms worsen; seen in 2007 in Los Angeles
According to The Blast, a ‘capacity’ filing among the documents said that Wilson’s ‘fear, depression, helplessness’ are ‘severely inappropriate.’
The filing quoted a doctor saying Wilson is ‘easily distracted, often even when aware of surroundings, and its purpose.’
They added that the musician ‘Often makes spontaneous irrelevant or incoherent utterances’ and ‘Has very short attention span and while unintentionally disruptive, is frequently unable to maintain decorum appropriate to the situation.’
He was also said to be taking medication to ‘slow the progression of the illness.’
Wilson’s family indicated in its statement and in the court filing that the death of his wife Melinda on January 30, 2024 necessitated the conservatorship request, as she had been taking care of his ‘daily living needs.’
‘Mr. Wilson is unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter,’ the filing continues.
Wilson’s intended co-conservators did not request a conservator of Wilson’s estate, as his assets are held in a trust with LeeAnn Hard serving as its trustee.
In an anguished social media post announcing his wife Melinda’s death, Brian wrote: ‘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,’ he continued. ‘Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior.’
The couple were married in 1995. They previously dated from 1986 through 1989, though meddling from Wilson’s then-therapist Eugene Landy ended the relationship. Landy hard nearly total control of Wilson’s life at the time.
Landy’s professional license in California was revoked in 1989, and his overwhelming control over Wilson’s personal and professional life was cited among the initial allegations.
Wilson was previously reported to have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder in the past.
Wilson was the primary songwriter and producer for The Beach Boys through 1966, including the creation of the band’s masterpiece Pet Sounds; Wilson (L) in 1962 with Mike Love, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson and David Marks
As his drug use and mental illness intensified after 1966, Wilson withdrew and took on a supporting role, though he continued to write and perform many of their greatest songs, while also occasionally producing; seen (top L) in 1979 Love, Al Jardine, Carl and Dennis Wilson
In a 2015 interview with Salon — which his wife Melinda joined him for — Wilson admitted to experiencing auditory hallucinations in the form of voices for decades.
‘I have voices in my head,’ he explained. ‘Mostly it’s derogatory. Some of it’s cheerful. Most of it isn’t.’
Wilson began heavily using drugs in the mid-1960s, including the psychedelic drug LSD, and shortly afterward he began to develop paranoid delusions.
Although he had nearly total control of The Beach Boys through 1966 and the creation of the band’s masterpiece Pet Sounds, his increasing drug use and mental health issues forced him to step back from his creative position.
