Honestly, even with all the stuff Brian Wilson went through, people still think he was a total musical genius because his music just hit different. Like, Pet Sounds is still talked about as one of the absolute best albums ever, and that came out when he was actually struggling the most. I remember listening to it for the first time and being blown away that someone could come up with all those wild sounds and harmonies, especially back in the 60s.

The fact that he kept making such creative songs, even while dealing with mental health stuff and a lot of drama in his family and band, just makes it more impressive. People see him as proof that you can make amazing art even if your life is kind of a mess sometimes. I guess that's where the genius label comes in - it's not just about getting everything right, it's about creating something so original that it changes what music can be, and Brian Wilson definitely did that. His stuff is still inspiring new artists, too, so it's like his struggles made his music even more interesting.