Sometimes, death, like life, brings strange symmetries. For instance, the recent passings of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson highlight this fact. Both were musical geniuses; moreover, they paid a steep price for their gifts. They created brilliant art at their peaks. Their work became more moving with time. However, their creative lights dimmed suddenly. Mental health and addiction issues caused this. Both were 82 when they died; Stone on Monday, Wilson on Wednesday.

The Coincidence of Two Musical Geniuses

“It’s an unsettling coincidence,” observed Anthony DeCurtis, a Rolling Stone editor. Indeed, these two figures were vastly different; however, they were also massively influential. Moreover, each faced their own unique problems. Even though they achieved so much, nevertheless, one cannot help but wonder if they could have done even more.

Brian Wilson’s Enduring Legacy

To illustrate, Brian Wilson, along with his brothers Carl and Dennis, co-founded The Beach Boys. In this role, he famously crafted the iconic California sound. This sound perfectly captured surfing, sun, beaches, and girls. Yet, despite all the “Fun, Fun, Fun,” Brian’s compositions consistently held much deeper, even darker, elements.

For example, this was clearly more than merely disposable teen music. Instead, he possessed an unparalleled melodic sense, literally hearing sounds in his mind that others simply could not. As a result, he could effortlessly reach into your mind, and then, he would break your heart with beloved songs like “In My Room” and “God Only Knows.” Furthermore, “Good Vibrations,” a remarkably complex symphony, also became easily accessible to all listeners. Indeed, people had barely even heard of the theremin before he expertly employed its unearthly wail.

“He was our American Mozart,” musician Sean Ono Lennon aptly wrote.

The Pressures of Genius: “Pet Sounds” and “Smile”

Specifically, the 1966 album “Pet Sounds” marked a significant peak in his career. Wilson felt an intense sense of competition with The Beatles. Still, they had three writers, including Sean’s father, John Lennon. Wilson, by contrast, worked largely alone. In addition, he frequently faced impatience from other Beach Boys members, despite the fact that their very music relied heavily on him.

As a direct result, he felt immense pressure to follow up “Pet Sounds.” Consequently, “Smile” became music’s most famous unfinished album. Wilson, already a damaged soul due to an abusive father, sadly never again reached those artistic heights. Instead, he descended into a well-documented period of profound darkness.

Sly Stone’s Revolutionary Sound and Decline

Stone’s skills, on the other hand, lay in creating a truly unique musical world. Significantly, The Family Stone was an integrated group, including both Black and white members, men and women. Their music, therefore, was a potent blend of rock, soul, and funk. Ultimately, it made you move; moreover, it made you think.

For a period of time, specifically from 1967 to 1973, their music was simply inescapable. Classic examples include “Dance to the Music” and “Family Affair.” Furthermore, their performance at Woodstock was a monumental milestone.

“His songs weren’t just about fighting injustice,” wrote Questlove, a musician and documentarian. Rather, he explained, “They were about transforming the self. This, in turn, transforms the world.” Questlove, indeed, lovingly tended to Stone’s legacy. He added, “He dared to be simple. He used childlike joy. He expressed adult truths.” Finally, his work unflinchingly confronted life’s brightest and darkest parts. It also demanded the same from us.

The Hard Fall and Later Years

Conversely, from his peak, the fall was notably hard. Years of drug abuse inevitably took their toll. Consequently, periodic comeback attempts only deepened a sense of bewilderment and pity surrounding him.

Lives Surpassing Expectation

Music history is undeniably filled with stories of sudden, untimely, and early deaths. However, until this very week, both men remarkably lived on. Indeed, they improbably surpassed average life expectancies.

Wilson, by many accounts, found some measure of peace later in life. He enjoyed a happy marriage. Crucially, he witnessed the profound reverence for his music. Furthermore, he spent several years performing again with a younger, adoring band. This postscript, however, was unknown to many, explained journalist Jason Fine. Fine, in fact, befriended Wilson and made a 2021 documentary about him.

“He truly wanted to give people a simple message,” Fine told The Associated Press. Specifically, it was “a sense of warmth, a sense that it’s going to be okay.” Music had lifted him from darkness. Therefore, he tried to do the same for others. “Now, more than earlier, he accepts this,” Fine noted. “That is a great comfort to him.”

Stone published an autobiography in 2023. However, less is known about his later years. It remains unclear if he found peace. It is also unknown if he fully knew his music’s immense impact.

“Yes, Sly battled addiction,” Questlove wrote. “Yes, he disappeared.” Nevertheless, he outlasted many disciples. He felt his genius ripple through hip-hop samples and documentaries. Still, none of this, ultimately, replaces his original work’s raw beauty.

A Legacy of Transformation

Did Sly Stone and Brian Wilson live lives of tragedy or triumph? Presently, it’s hard to say definitively. One suspects clarity will come with the passage of time. Then, only their extraordinary work will remain. This often brings true clarity.

“Millions had their lives changed by their music,” DeCurtis concluded. “They didn’t just enjoy it. Rather, their lives were transformed. That’s quite an accomplishment.”