Hundreds of surfers and fans gathered at the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday to pay tribute to Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder of the Beach Boys, with a traditional paddle-out ceremony.
Wilson, a celebrated composer, songwriter, and vocalist whose music defined an era of California surf culture, died on June 11 at the age of 82. While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Wilson had been diagnosed with dementia and placed under a conservatorship in 2024.
Approximately 400 people attended the memorial, which was held under sunny skies with the sounds of Beach Boys classics playing over speakers. Among those who spoke were Dean Torrence of the rock duo Jan & Dean, former world surfing champion Peter “PT” Townend, and Kelly Miller, president and CEO of Visit Huntington Beach.
“The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson had a huge part in establishing what we would call the Southern California beach culture,” said Townend, a fixture in the global surfing community.
Miller reflected on Wilson’s cultural impact: “I did not personally know Brian and I did not know the Beach Boys personally, but I can tell you that those harmonies, those lyrics and those crafted surf culture songs stirred my soul magically — like I am sure it did all of yours.”
The ceremony began with Duke Aipa, son of legendary surfboard shaper Ben Aipa, blowing a conch shell in a Hawaiian tradition to honor the departed. Aipa then led dozens of surfers into the ocean, where they formed a circle, joined hands, and offered a moment of silence in Wilson’s memory before paddling back to shore.
Although Wilson was not a surfer himself, his music played a pivotal role in popularizing surf culture worldwide. The Beach Boys’ early hits — including their 1963 breakout single Surfin’ U.S.A. — captured the spirit of California’s beaches and became synonymous with the surf lifestyle.
“Brian gave so much to the world through his music, his spirit and his strength,” said Wilson’s longtime manager, Jean Sievers, in a statement to Rolling Stone. “There will never ever be anyone like him again. God truly broke the mold when he created Brian Wilson. Besides being a creative genius, he was one of the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever known. His message of love will live on through his music forever.”
Saturday’s paddle-out served as both a tribute to Wilson’s musical legacy and a reflection of how deeply his work resonated with generations of beachgoers and surfers alike. Though he never took to the waves himself, Brian Wilson’s music helped define the soul of surf culture — and, as many said on Saturday, it will continue to do so for years to come.
