He brought such a simple joy to all the people who were in tune enough to understand the way he was trying to communicate. This music isn't sophisticated, but you know what? He was out there doing what he could to contribute to the culture. As misunderstood as Wesley Willis was, is, and will remain -- he was pretty fearless in his approach and had the courage and wherewithal to turn his biggest demon into his art and the expression of everything inside of him. If the music seems simple and repetitive, that's because it is. The thing is, Wesley never tried to make excuses or explain away any of that aspect of what he did -- he fully embraced it and brought it to the world anyway. He was brazen enough to believe in himself and capture the creativity hidden in his deepest depths, and he didn't care at all how he was going to be perceived. In an age where tabloid culture takes any random detail and magnifies it just to exploit someone in the limelight, Willis' ability to ignore the popular press is admirable. He was, ultimately, way ahead of his time. It's probably true that we didn't really deserve Wesley Willis, as he's destined to always be the butt of many-a-joke and treated simply as a defective oddity of popular music and popular culture. But, look below the surface of what you can hear and see, and you can peel back a million layers of obfuscation hiding a beautifully troubled soul underneath. He dared to speak out against icons of popular imagination without any kind of reverence, in the truest and most honest way he could muster. Nothing was off-limits and nothing was watered down. A lot of people come to his music looking for an explanation, or looking for some kind of rationale to understand exactly what was going on. Was it all an elaborate joke? Was he simply a troubled troubadour being gawked at? Maybe. Probably. But you know what? The truth is that his music was actually the purest expression of internal ideas/struggle/artistic vision because he didn't put on any airs whatsoever. He didn't pander to the "artistic" crowd and never bowed to any demands. He took his thoughts and he brought them to the people, with only a thin veil of pre-programmed Casio keyboard melodies to string his diatribes together. In one sense, you can call him the punkest of the punk rockers because he had no desire to water down his vision for anyone. The interesting thing to keep in mind is also what would his music have sounded like if he had been able to clamp down on his demons and discover his own language through an instrument he actually played? Really though, this question doesn't matter -- what he brought to the world he brought to the world on his own terms and in his own viscerally unique way. It's sad that he's gone, but it's wonderful that we allowed him to exist at all. Music isn't dead so long as Wesley Willis has a say in the conversation. We love you, Wesley! REST IN PEACE.
timsopinion I’ve been a fan of his for damn near 25 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him and his music described better than this! Thank you for writing this.
Wesley Willis Wesley Willis Wesley Willis Wesley Willis Wesley Willis, he made me smile Rock over London, Rock over Bloomington Indiana, Rock over the internet UA-cam video, wow, what a difference!
He used to play right down the street from my apartment and I never went to see him. He also used to push a shopping cart wtih a big boom box near my place and scare the shit out of me. He was a big guy and looked crazy. I once saw him scream at a parked car at 7 in the morning in front of a Caribou Coffee. Very strange man. Too bad he is dead. Thanks for the upload.... this is pop culture gold. He is pretty much worshiped in Chicago and there is a big tapestry of him hanging inside of Reggies Rock Club on the South Side.
Man, I'd give anything for just one more headbutt. This was a guy who would sit in some scenic location, set up his poster board, and make intricate perspective drawings (often of some completely different location, complete with real license plate numbers and, especially, ads on buses). There will never be another quite like him.
I knew about Wesley Willis the same year he died. I liked what I heard and found his music hilarious. After watching documentaries on the man now I appreciate him a lot more. I knew he had schizophrenia but I had no idea of his situation and the demons he had to face. Pretty amazing, and I think he was much more deep and complex than what I think he was treated.
Good luck with that. Wesley has so many unreleased and lost recordings that I don't think even friends of his like Jello Biafra have heard them all. Right now I'm on the lookout for a studio album of his called Silver Fish Sea World. It features a lot of songs he played at this show which I have only heard live. The only studio track on youtube I can find from 'Sea World is called Suck an Elephant's Pisstube.
You can say that about a lot of punk and alternative stuff. I've noticed people liking some of that stuff, but then complaining about a current generation complaining. It's kind of part of punk to break down barriers and be yourself.
He brought such a simple joy to all the people who were in tune enough to understand the way he was trying to communicate. This music isn't sophisticated, but you know what? He was out there doing what he could to contribute to the culture. As misunderstood as Wesley Willis was, is, and will remain -- he was pretty fearless in his approach and had the courage and wherewithal to turn his biggest demon into his art and the expression of everything inside of him. If the music seems simple and repetitive, that's because it is. The thing is, Wesley never tried to make excuses or explain away any of that aspect of what he did -- he fully embraced it and brought it to the world anyway. He was brazen enough to believe in himself and capture the creativity hidden in his deepest depths, and he didn't care at all how he was going to be perceived. In an age where tabloid culture takes any random detail and magnifies it just to exploit someone in the limelight, Willis' ability to ignore the popular press is admirable. He was, ultimately, way ahead of his time. It's probably true that we didn't really deserve Wesley Willis, as he's destined to always be the butt of many-a-joke and treated simply as a defective oddity of popular music and popular culture. But, look below the surface of what you can hear and see, and you can peel back a million layers of obfuscation hiding a beautifully troubled soul underneath. He dared to speak out against icons of popular imagination without any kind of reverence, in the truest and most honest way he could muster. Nothing was off-limits and nothing was watered down. A lot of people come to his music looking for an explanation, or looking for some kind of rationale to understand exactly what was going on. Was it all an elaborate joke? Was he simply a troubled troubadour being gawked at? Maybe. Probably. But you know what? The truth is that his music was actually the purest expression of internal ideas/struggle/artistic vision because he didn't put on any airs whatsoever. He didn't pander to the "artistic" crowd and never bowed to any demands. He took his thoughts and he brought them to the people, with only a thin veil of pre-programmed Casio keyboard melodies to string his diatribes together. In one sense, you can call him the punkest of the punk rockers because he had no desire to water down his vision for anyone. The interesting thing to keep in mind is also what would his music have sounded like if he had been able to clamp down on his demons and discover his own language through an instrument he actually played? Really though, this question doesn't matter -- what he brought to the world he brought to the world on his own terms and in his own viscerally unique way. It's sad that he's gone, but it's wonderful that we allowed him to exist at all. Music isn't dead so long as Wesley Willis has a say in the conversation.
We love you, Wesley! REST IN PEACE.
timsopinion I’ve been a fan of his for damn near 25 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him and his music described better than this! Thank you for writing this.
This is absolutely beautiful mate.
The Music was at times nuanced it was just intentionally simple because it was supposed to be Punk basically.
He was pretty well understood by his core audiance and continues to be in the same aya a lot of these Cult Punk acts are.
The fact that “I whooped Batman’s Ass” is not on The Dark Knight soundtrack is criminal.
It could be on the "Joker".
Wesley Willis played it on
The band got down like a magikist
The crowd roared like a lion
The jam session whipped a horse's ass
Craig Stallone
The rock show was over at last
A lot of people met Wesley after the show
The jam session was awesome
It whupped a llama's ass!
+jhp40219 Rock over London, rock on Chicago. Be a pepper, drink Dr. Pepper.
moving violation hell ride
Wesley Willis was the alternative Michael Jackson of the 1990's
MJ was a failed Wesley Willis.
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis, he made me smile
Rock over London,
Rock over Bloomington Indiana,
Rock over the internet
UA-cam video, wow, what a difference!
Awesome
He'd run a deep fried meme page if he were alive today.
stfu
Rock over UA-cam. Broadcast Yourself.
Rock over London, Rock on Chicago.
Chilis, the place for ribs.
Budweiser, the king of beers
Wheaties, breakfast of champions
He used to play right down the street from my apartment and I never went to see him. He also used to push a shopping cart wtih a big boom box near my place and scare the shit out of me. He was a big guy and looked crazy. I once saw him scream at a parked car at 7 in the morning in front of a Caribou Coffee. Very strange man. Too bad he is dead.
Thanks for the upload.... this is pop culture gold. He is pretty much worshiped in Chicago and there is a big tapestry of him hanging inside of Reggies Rock Club on the South Side.
Man, I'd give anything for just one more headbutt. This was a guy who would sit in some scenic location, set up his poster board, and make intricate perspective drawings (often of some completely different location, complete with real license plate numbers and, especially, ads on buses).
There will never be another quite like him.
He was schizophrenic so that may have had something to do with it.
Oh man, you missed seeing him. He's a blast.
Suck a caribou's aaaaaaaaaass
Suck a caribou's aaaaaaaaaass
its a crime that this man is not on the radio, this man is amazing at what he does
They used to play R&R McDonald’s on the radio in ogden ut in 98
I knew about Wesley Willis the same year he died. I liked what I heard and found his music hilarious. After watching documentaries on the man now I appreciate him a lot more. I knew he had schizophrenia but I had no idea of his situation and the demons he had to face. Pretty amazing, and I think he was much more deep and complex than what I think he was treated.
Saw him in Columbus, OH 2003. the performance rivaled that of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan or Queen at Live Aid
Lucky!!! I live in Columbus but was only 8 years old in 2003 lol
He really put on a good show
They are awe-some
His shows are the place to be
Don't ever miss one, RIP
I miss Wesley.
We all do. :(
woah he did live shows? im in the process of listening through his whole discography!
Good luck with that. Wesley has so many unreleased and lost recordings that I don't think even friends of his like Jello Biafra have heard them all. Right now I'm on the lookout for a studio album of his called Silver Fish Sea World. It features a lot of songs he played at this show which I have only heard live. The only studio track on youtube I can find from 'Sea World is called Suck an Elephant's Pisstube.
only 4,726 views!? what's wrong with people? This is great, rare, live footage people!
Everyone is rocking at McDonalds
Dude made listening to backing tracks interesting
RIP BIG MAN!!
he seemed tired but still a hell of a show
Antipsychotics do that
5:23 I like how as soon as it ended someone shouted "ROCK AND ROLL MCDONALD'S!!!"
This was a great show to the max! The jam session was awesome
It whooped a Rhino’s ass!
@@BeerCrafted with a belt!!
This was a excellent jam session
The most hooks in a row award goes to Wesley Willis
+1 would watch again
Man this is incredible footage. Wesley is definitely on a joyride during this show.
This video gives me a harmony joy bus ride to the max. ROCK
Ive never seen footage of a show I wish I’d been at more than this. Rip ww
I love your little Wesley tune in the description.
I love you Wesley Willis
I love wesley !
have only just literally discovered this man. how the hell did i miss this!
he's fantastic :-)
peace :-)
racefaceec90 True genius
yep same here this man was a genius!!! in his own world
Number 7 is "I'm Hoo Riding On You". Hoo Riding is a gang term that basically means driving around looking for someone to shoot, etc.
FUCK YES!
I saw him live in Fort Dodge, IA. Pretty cool stuff thank you for the upload
Yeah!!!! Fucking right!!!! Wesley was the best!!!
Great gig - Nice one for putting it up.
Another legend gone too early...
Wish i could've been there to crowdkill during rock n roll macdonalds
King
He was real.
He was a Punk Artist basically.
I hope so. Or else, this is all a hallucination.
Thank you for uploading this…. 🧖🏻♂️
i love this guy!!! wooowww
IT WAS A DEEEEEEEMON HELL-RIDE!
YES just what i was looking for
If I were given a choice to glorify either a.) Chris Tray or this b.) guy, I'd choose b.) this guy, Wesley Willis in a second!
Wow cool! Thanks!
ROCK A ROCKS ROCK!
7:54 to 9:25 genius :)
kind of sounds like Toxic by Britney Spears
@@Dagazur oh haven't you heard, britney's a huge wesley fan and was inspired by him
DONT YA KNOW THAT YOURE TOXIC
this was when gutter punk was still alive in bloomington. RIP, just a bunch a whiners anymore
You can say that about a lot of punk and alternative stuff. I've noticed people liking some of that stuff, but then complaining about a current generation complaining. It's kind of part of punk to break down barriers and be yourself.
Man I was there that night!
John Maus listen Wesley Wills, of course! 🙌🏼
I first heard about him a few years before he died when a friend told me about a guy that played at his college.
Was cats and jammers the opening band? Did you happen to film them too? I recorded the show in Cincinnati the night after this.
My man !!
1:35
6:22
10:58
15:23
His mouth never moves it’s his ears and mind amplifying the sounds
12:33
I was born in 97 lol
Batman in my nerves i whooped batman's ass lol
Please post more of Welsey. Please post some fiasco people!!!
жёсткая шняга, парень явно не здоров, шиза 100 проц, но музыка зачёт, грузит
He could really rock Saddam Hussein's ass. Rock him to Russia.
Wtf?