The News Room Blog
October 05, 2009
The music of Daniel Johnston
I love music. I skew mainly toward hard rock and heavy metal but I appreciate and enjoy music of all types.
I especially love finding those unusual acts that most people have not discovered. This week I made one of those discoveries.
His name is Daniel Johnston. Daniel lives in Waller, Texas with his elderly parents. His is a truly unique and tragic story born of a twisted and tortured soul.
Born in January of 1961, Johnston grew up with aspirations of being a big-time music star. As a teen he began recording songs in the garage of his home on a $59 Sanyo boombox.
Diagnosed as being bipolar, Daniel lived in California, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania before he began generating a musical buzz when he moved to Austin, Texas in the early 80's.
Working by day at a McDonald's, he spent his evenings making his cassette recordings, painstakingly drawing and writing out his own cover art and labels, giving away the cassettes to everyone who would take them.
A cult following grew and large crowds showed up for his shows in the Austin area. All the while his mental problems continued.
Eventually he was signed to Atlantic Records but his growing mental psychosis, worsened by an acid trip gone bad, made him unmanageable for a major record label. He was eventually dropped by the label.
Daniel Johnston's songs are Dylan-esque in an often quirky and sometimes sorrowful way. They speak frankly about his descent into madness and his frustration with seeing his mind melt away.
Now nearing fifty years old, Daniel continues writing, recording and touring. Reviews of his music range from strange and unusual to primitive and without talent to brilliant and genius. It's certainly raw, unusual and to me, speaks deeply to the thoughts and doubts that inhabit each and every one of us.
(Daniel Johnston - Tyron Francis Photo)
His story was the subject of an award-winning documentary called, "The Devil And Daniel Johnston." It's available on DVD and a good place to start if you're interested in Daniel's heartbreaking and inspiring story.
Madman or genius, it's hard to ignore the music of Daniel Johnston.
You can find his music, art and more at http://hihowareyou.com
That's what I'm thinking.
Rick Hadley
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posted by The News Room on 10/5/2009 9:45:35 AM
