He was one of the true madmen of rock. The poster boy for outsider music. Larry "Wild Man" Fischer.
Larry Fischer was a local guy in 1960's LA, singing in the street for change. If you could call it singing. His could not carry a tune and his songs were atrocious. It was his enthusiasm and his charismatic personality that made people like him.
Frank Zappa discovered Larry and in 1968 he produced a two-record album called An Evening With Wild Man Fischer.
Larry had had a history of mental illness and had been institutionalized at age 16 after attacking his mother with a knife. Later, Larry was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.
Larry enjoyed a brief period of fame. Or maybe notoriety is a better word for it. Zappa carried a lot of weight in the music industry and Larry was all too happy to ride on his coatheels. At least until Larry allegedly threw a jar at Frank's daughter's head, thusly ending their relationship.
Wild Man Fischer's career was revitalized in 1981, when Barnes and Barnes produced a new record, Pronounced Normal. Barnes and Barnes would go on two make two other albums with Wild Man.
Over the years, Larry Fischer had his ups and downs. More downs than ups, but there were highlights. Incredibly, he did a duet with Rosemary Clooney, he collaborated with Tom Waits and Linda Rondstadt. Rhino Records did a huge retrospective of his career called The Fischer King, which sold out almost immediately and is a hotly sought-after collector's item.
Frank's widow, Gail Zappa, owns the rights to An Evening With Wild Man Fischer, but she refuses to release it to date. C'mon, how long can you hold a grudge? I mean, the guy was mentally ill.
In the late 70's, I was a fanatic about all things Frank Zappa. Someone, I can't remember who it was now, gave me a copy of An Evening With Wild Man Fischer. I stayed up late and listened to both discs on headphones. You could say that I liked it.
I bought some of Wild Man's albums over the years, but sadly, I lost all of my old possessions in my turbulent late youth. I always felt very fondly toward him. Maybe even an odd sort of kinship.
In 2005 a documentary about Wild Man Fischer's life was released. Entitled Derailroaded, it is as funny and fascinating as it is heartbreaking.
Goodbye Larry. You were called a freak, an acid casualty, a genius, a monster. What you were was a singer. It's highly debatable that you were a good one, but you gave it your all and people responded to it. I hope you're in a happier place than you were in the last years of your life.
Larry Fischer was a local guy in 1960's LA, singing in the street for change. If you could call it singing. His could not carry a tune and his songs were atrocious. It was his enthusiasm and his charismatic personality that made people like him.
Frank Zappa discovered Larry and in 1968 he produced a two-record album called An Evening With Wild Man Fischer.Larry had had a history of mental illness and had been institutionalized at age 16 after attacking his mother with a knife. Later, Larry was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.
Larry enjoyed a brief period of fame. Or maybe notoriety is a better word for it. Zappa carried a lot of weight in the music industry and Larry was all too happy to ride on his coatheels. At least until Larry allegedly threw a jar at Frank's daughter's head, thusly ending their relationship.
Wild Man Fischer's career was revitalized in 1981, when Barnes and Barnes produced a new record, Pronounced Normal. Barnes and Barnes would go on two make two other albums with Wild Man.
Over the years, Larry Fischer had his ups and downs. More downs than ups, but there were highlights. Incredibly, he did a duet with Rosemary Clooney, he collaborated with Tom Waits and Linda Rondstadt. Rhino Records did a huge retrospective of his career called The Fischer King, which sold out almost immediately and is a hotly sought-after collector's item.
Frank's widow, Gail Zappa, owns the rights to An Evening With Wild Man Fischer, but she refuses to release it to date. C'mon, how long can you hold a grudge? I mean, the guy was mentally ill.
In the late 70's, I was a fanatic about all things Frank Zappa. Someone, I can't remember who it was now, gave me a copy of An Evening With Wild Man Fischer. I stayed up late and listened to both discs on headphones. You could say that I liked it.
I bought some of Wild Man's albums over the years, but sadly, I lost all of my old possessions in my turbulent late youth. I always felt very fondly toward him. Maybe even an odd sort of kinship.
In 2005 a documentary about Wild Man Fischer's life was released. Entitled Derailroaded, it is as funny and fascinating as it is heartbreaking.
Goodbye Larry. You were called a freak, an acid casualty, a genius, a monster. What you were was a singer. It's highly debatable that you were a good one, but you gave it your all and people responded to it. I hope you're in a happier place than you were in the last years of your life.
The author does not allow comments to this entry
No comments