The death of the poet laureate of adolescent heartbreak was announced by his family on Wednesday: “We are at a loss for words right now.”

Brian Wilson and his family were open about his health, from his needing a conservatorship for his dementia to his battle with substance use.

"This album never got finished and these tracks will live on my drive in obscurity, but they’re really great," Jonathan Wilson wrote.

“Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him,” John said. “He sang ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’ at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation.

Lola Bonfiglio, who auditioned for American Idol earlier this year, has paid tribute to her grandfather, Brian Wilson, following his death this week.

Sir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to legendary Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson, as a legion of stars hailed the singer and songwriter's legacy following his death at the age of 82. Wilson "had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special",