September 21st, 2007



I thought I would start out with one of my favorite outsider musicans, Daniel Johnston. Bi-polar musican who makes truly beautiful music. Dan has been singing and recording since the late 70's. When he started releasing his Cassette Tapes in 1982, no one has heard of him. Now Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, and Beck haven covered him. In 1984, Dan was working for a carnival, when he stumbled into the Austin, Tx music scene at the time. He Got his way onto a show called "The Cutting Edge" [MTV actually used to air it, before they cancelled it in 1987] and became a legend. He also started Believing in Satan and was Diganosed as Being Bi-polar. He started using Drugs [He is now clean] and he started getting violent. By 1987, he was on his meds and was invited into New York City by Steve Shelly, member of Sonic Youth. It was here he recorded his album "1990", which was his 1st formal album [By now, over a dozen cassettes has been released] It was in the city, though, where he got into some trouble, When he caught drawing the Jesus Fish on the Statue of Liberty. He was given a ticket to West Virginia [now living there with his parents], but he skipped his bus, and stayed in the city. he found residence in a shelter, and peformed the same night on CBGB's [how about that!]. By the time he got back, the members of Sonic Youth were glad to have him off their hands. In the late 80's he recorded a nalbum w/ Jad Fair. In 1992, Kurt Cobain started wearing a T-shirt w/ A drawing of Daniel's on it. Dan was then in a mental instution, and did't know that his shirt was seen by milions at the 1992 Mtv VIdeo Music Awards. Dan got a contract to Atlantic Records in '84, but the cd sold poorly. Dan's still recording & his art is sold for thousands around the world. A film "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" was released in 2004. It is a great movie.