“I never even dreamed of meeting The Beach Boys, let alone playing with them,” John Stamos, an unofficial guest touring band member, once told Kelly Clarkson on her talk show, recounting an 80s concert of theirs he went to while he was still a soap star.

Wilson’s struggles with mental health issues played a role in the followup to Pet Sounds —the unfinished album Smile, which the Beach Boys began recording in 1966. Wilson was convinced it would be his masterpiece, but Smile wouldn’t be released until nearly forty years later.

The musical world lost a giant with news Wednesday that Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader, had died. He was 82. Attempting to distill Wilson's talent and

Peoria-born Bruce Johnston joined The Beach Boys in 1965 as Brian Wilson took to the recording studio and made rock history.