“I make music, I sing my ass off.” With these words, Wesley Willis opens a short documentary shown below. Willis was a bizarre musician — a chronic schizophrenic, his music was crude and thus considered “punk,” but in a way no one had heard before. Willis’s songs generally consisted of spoken-word poetry over a keyboard’s built-in “demo” track, with (generally off-key) choruses sung every now and then.
Because Willis was mentally ill, it was hard to be sure how to take him or his music — was it okay to find it funny? (In other words, could you enjoy his sense of humor and his music without feeling sorry for him?) I always thought so — when I met him in the late 90′s (I ran sound for one of his shows in Tallahassee, Florida — and yes, he head-butted me) I got the very clear sense that what he was doing was not ironic. He was completely singing his heart out and expressing himself, and the audience I saw laughed with him, not at him. Willis died in 2003 at just 40 years of age. Below I’ve collected samples of his work.
Wesley Willis Documentary
Watch Willis write a song about Taco John’s. “It’s a whole lot of Mexican,” then record one of his many “rock on” songs in the studio, get a haircut, entertain some kids at a motel, then be introduced by Jello Biafra at a concert. Warning: a bit of crude language shown onscreen but not spoken.
“Rock and Roll McDonald’s,” Live 2002
Willis’s biggest hit. Amazing. Listen to the audience going nuts and singing along. Sample lyrics: “McDonald’s will make you fat. … They serve hamburgers. … They’ll kill your ass. ROCK AND ROLL MCDONALD’S….”
“I Wupped Batman’s Ass”
Fan video. Warning: some crude language pertaining to Batman’s overly high opinion of himself.
“I Whipped Spiderman’s Ass”
Audio only.
“Cut the Mullet”
“Get out the hair-clippers, jerk. … Get the rat’s nest off your head. … Tell the barber that you’re sick of looking like an asshole.” Fan video with various mullet pics.
Live at the Double Door, Chicago
An interview and live performance.
Wesley Willis Interview
Willis visits a high school journalism class in Bloomington, Illinois and the students interview him. Audio only, with still shots in the video.
“Wesley Willis’s Joy Rides” Documentary Trailer 1 & 2
“I made about 45 albums in five years, and I’m fixing to make about 100 more.”
More on Wesley Willis
Check out Willis’s artist page at his record label Alternative Tentacles, Wikipedia (note the “partial discography” — it’s huge), and A Tribute to Willis by various artists. Also, a full-length documentary, Wesley Willis’s Joy Rides, has just been released on DVD (trailers above).
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I thought it was great for Chicago to return the favor and honor Willis by renaming the Sears Tower
posted by Scott on 12-9-2009 at 11:39 pm
I really wish I’d gotten to hear Willis live and gotten a headbutt!
I saw the documentary at SXSW. It was amazing. Willis was an authentic and driven artist, musician, and human being. He struggled against his mental demons much more than against societal norms.
HIs music was like nothing else! I hope he’s still kicking batman’s ass in a heaven of eternal joyrides!
posted by tona b. on 12-10-2009 at 12:03 am
Don’t discount is artistry, his pen work was amazing.
posted by Amanda on 12-10-2009 at 12:59 am
This is righteous!
recaptcha- your upson
posted by Kelly on 12-10-2009 at 1:15 am
i saw Wesley around ’97 or ’98, IIRC, with a bunch of friends. he played at some divey little cafe that occasionally had shows.
Wesley sat down with us at our table and hung out with us for about half an hour, and it was really cool to listen to him talk. he had this childlike innocence about him, even though he was very aware of the world around him. it was refreshing to say the least, and he was a really sweet guy, perpetual callous on his forehead and all.
…and yes, he did headbutt one of my friends (and gave him a mild concussion, which we found out the next day!) being all of 5’2″ (and Wesley being a pretty big guy), i strategically wedged myself between two other people so as to avoid his preferred greeting, which i gathered was fairly painful according to my friends. but it was still a memorable evening, and one i doubt i’ll ever forget!
rock over London, rock on mental_floss! thanks for the joyrides!
posted by Cat MacKinnon on 12-10-2009 at 8:10 am
This is awesome. My old roommate attended Northwestern and adored Wesley Willis and introduced me to his artistry about 4 years ago. My life has been a happier one for it.
During SXSW a couple of years, a band I was booking and I bonded over Rock N Roll McDonald’s when they saw it on my ipod. I only wish I had known of him earlier and been able to witness his unique genius live.
Wheaties, breakfast of champions.
posted by nikki on 12-10-2009 at 9:50 am
What a lovely surprise on a Thursday morning. I’ve been a Wesley fan since I first saw his video for “Alanis Morrisette” on Muchmusic sometime in 1995 or so. I had the pleasure of seeing him (and meeting him) live in Winnipeg in 2001, and yes, I managed to get greeted with a headbutt after the friend in line in front of me chickened out. A very surreal experience.
Obviously you’re going to laugh at most of Wesley’s tunes, but I don’t think anyone needs to feel awkward about that because he clearly loved expressing himself that way, and loved to make his fans happy.
Thanks for the harmony joy ride!
posted by Bert on 12-10-2009 at 11:35 am
I saw Wesley a couple times but the time I got the “Headbutt” was in Lacrosse WI. He brought me up on the makeshift stage, grabbed the back of my head and said “Say Rock” and I did then he said “Say Roll” I said roll. He Headbutted me after each rock/roll for a total of about 8 headbutts. I was dizzy and had a headache for the next 20 hours or so. Loved it, his documentary is worth watching and I miss him.
Rock over London, Rock on Chicago, Diet Pepsi, you got the right one baby.
posted by JFRANKO on 12-10-2009 at 12:53 pm
I saw Wesley perform a few times, but just like JFRANCO, the best was in La Crosse, WI at some place called The Warehouse. Most WW shows I went to usually had a jerk or two that wanted to laugh at him but the crowd in La Crosse was really into it.
His penwork was also amazing, his drawings of Chicago and on the road are so full of life. Wesley gave someone I used to know a little sketch that night in La Crosse, I wonder if he still has it.
Wesley Willis was a unique talent and I miss him, I wish he had been able to make another 500 albums.
posted by Talaga on 12-10-2009 at 1:06 pm
Another weird coincidence – I’ve had a couple of occasions to party in LaCrosse, WI (Oktoberfest!). I can vouch for JFRANKO and Talaga, that town knows how to show some goofy looking, hard-drinking Canadians a good time!
posted by Bert on 12-10-2009 at 4:38 pm
Hey all — I’ve also posted links to a full-length documentary on Willis here (warning, the video starts playing immediately, so make sure you’re ready to get rocked!):
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/42755
posted by Chris Higgins on 12-10-2009 at 5:00 pm