The Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson has died aged 82, his family have confirmed in a statement on his website, adding: ‘We are at a loss for words right now’.

The statement reads: “We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away.

We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

It was back in the 1960s that Wilson co-founded The Beach Boys alongside brothers, Dennis and Carl, as well as their cousin, Mike Love, and friend, Al Jardine.

Brian Wilson has died aged 82 (Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The band instantly became loved across the US, on top of fans across the globe.

While the band released many classic hits during their heyday, it’s the 1966 album Pet Sounds that has been dubbed one of the greatest albums of all times by some fans.

It was Wilson who almost entirely by himself written and directed the album, showing how pivotal he was to the band