"When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love. L-U-V. "
Recorded, "You Think You Really Know Me," an album of bizarre, yet danceable tunes, partially in his parent's basement and pressed an original run of only about 300 albums. His concerts were part performance art and often involved him dousing himself with paint, milk and flour, and wrapping himself in cellophane and duct tape.
He retired from music in the early 80's after releasing only a few more singles. His distinctive yelp is said to have inspired, "Prince," in some form and, "Beck," also cites Gary as an influence. Gary staged a comeback a in the late 90's and produced another album just as weird as the first. He plays occasionally, only in Southern California, as he is afraid of flying and refuses to tour.
Legendary British blues guitarist fronted the original Fleetwood Mac until his schizophrenia became debilitating. At the onset of his descent into madness he penned, possibly his greatest song "The Green Manalishi With The Two-Prong Crown," a song that is absolutely chilling to listen to, despite the fact that there is great speculation to what it actually means.
Mr. Chi Pig
His lyrics ranged from bittersweet to demented, often in the same song and transcended SNFU's energetic skate-punk. The unusual imagery of his artwork and his sense of humor defined the band. Onstage his use of bizarre props, daredevil leaps and his all-around stage presence made them legendary.
Many were shocked when the normally reclusive Chi appeared looking haggard, clearing tables at the Cobalt. He's gotten his life and a new version of his band together and is back performing.
His lyrics ranged from bittersweet to demented, often in the same song and transcended SNFU's energetic skate-punk. The unusual imagery of his artwork and his sense of humor defined the band. Onstage his use of bizarre props, daredevil leaps and his all-around stage presence made them legendary.
Many were shocked when the normally reclusive Chi appeared looking haggard, clearing tables at the Cobalt. He's gotten his life and a new version of his band together and is back performing.
The erstwhile Carlos Cadona was originally the Dead Kennedy's original drummer but switched to second guitar when Bruce Slesinger joined. He wrote "Forward To Death," and the music to "Ill In The Head," from "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables," (the latter is the only studio-recorded song he played on) as well as "Religious Vomit," "Short Songs," and "Straight A's". He had creative differences with Biafra and left to play prog-rock. He is rumored to have played with "The Residents," for a brief period before becoming a recluse. His mother became his legal trustee as he was no longer able to care for himself and, according to DK members, he is now a born-again Christian who has spent much of his time writing a Punk/Gospel rock opera.
Gaahl
Norwegian Black Metal is a genre based around image and theatrics rather than actual music. Acts of sacrilege and vandalism seemed the fastest route to gaining prominence in the scene for young men in black and white paint with silly nicknames borrowed from Tolkien novels. Of them, Gaahl is arguably the most convincingly evil. A Vice Magazine documentary reveals that Gaahl's bizarre behaviour began as a defense mechanism to make other residents of his home town afraid of him and leave him alone. He was, however charged with keeping a man prisoner six hours and attempting to make him drink a cup of his own blood (he claims it was self-defense.) If anything, the way he just glares at the cameraman without blinking at the very end of that documentary will give you the creeps
Jandek
Prolific outsider musician made countless albums of melancholy noise and deliberately shrouded his identity in mystery. Eventually he gained a huge cult following, that became obsessed with finding out any sort of information about, "The Representative From Corwood Industries". In a bizarre turn of events he finally appeared in public and began touring in Europe and North America after 20 years.
Captain Beefheart
Beefheart blurred the lines between composer and cult leader when he kept members of his "Magic Band," secluded in a house together for 8 months to record the album, "Trout Mask Replica." The band was forced to transcribe and perform incredibly complex music that he composed on the piano, an instrument he couldn't play. He also re-Christened them with names like, "The Mascara Snake," and "Zoot Horn Rollo." If you think that's strange, you should hear the album.
Roky Erickson
The former lead singer of the 13th Elevators barely escaped the psychedelic 60's with his mind intact.
Schizophrenia, as well as too many acid trips, sent him to the edge of the abyss, but he kept making weird and wonderful music with his band "The Aliens," for many years before disappearing. His re-emergence is documented in the film "You're Gonna Miss Me." Roky is now medicated and playing shows regularly in his hometown of Austin Texas and elsewhere.
Beefheart blurred the lines between composer and cult leader when he kept members of his "Magic Band," secluded in a house together for 8 months to record the album, "Trout Mask Replica." The band was forced to transcribe and perform incredibly complex music that he composed on the piano, an instrument he couldn't play. He also re-Christened them with names like, "The Mascara Snake," and "Zoot Horn Rollo." If you think that's strange, you should hear the album.
The former lead singer of the 13th Elevators barely escaped the psychedelic 60's with his mind intact.
Schizophrenia, as well as too many acid trips, sent him to the edge of the abyss, but he kept making weird and wonderful music with his band "The Aliens," for many years before disappearing. His re-emergence is documented in the film "You're Gonna Miss Me." Roky is now medicated and playing shows regularly in his hometown of Austin Texas and elsewhere.
Daniel Johnston
A hopeless romantic and long time McDonald's employee who made albums for a decade before mental illness took over. His songs often alternated between heart-wrenching, wounded love songs for a girl named Laurie who barely knew he existed and accounts of his internal battle with Satan.
Wesley Willis
A schizophrenic street person, known for his brilliantly accurate line-drawings of Chicago, Wesley made the jump to music, briefly fronting, "The Wesley Willis Fiasco." He then produced about a million albums of strange pre-programmed Casio loops behind lyrics about bestiality, concerts he'd attended, people he knew and various celebrities. Of all the eccentric people I've met, looking into Wesley Willis' eyes as he headbutted me and told me to say "rah," and "roll," was the first time I was genuinely frightened.
