On Thursday a Los Angeles court decided to place Brian Wilson, historic singer and founder of the Beach Boys, one of the most famous rock bands of all time, under legal guardianship. The decision was made at the request of his family and his closest collaborators and considered necessary due to the “serious neurocognitive disorder” from which Wilson, who is 81, suffers. The judge appointed two of his historic collaborators, the agents Jean Sievers and LeeAnn Hard, as the singer’s legal representatives. Wilson’s wife, Melinda Ledbetter, who handled his daily life and some of his professional commitments, died in January.
Wilson lives in his home in Beverly Hills, California, and will continue to do so: he can move with the help of a walker but according to some doctors heard by the judge he is not able to “provide for his physical health independently” or his needs basic like eating or dressing. She is not always able to understand and answer questions and only recognizes the two daughters who live with him, Carnie and Wendy (she has seven in total). The decision was shared with all family members and should not bring “radical changes” in Wilson’s daily life, who will be able to “continue working on his current projects”.
Wilson was the founder, producer, arranger and singer of the Beach Boys, as well as the main songwriter of their songs: he has had mental health and substance abuse problems since the 1960s. In 2014 director Bill Pohlad made a film about his life, Love and Mercy.
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