Daniel Johnston Explained

Daniel Johnston
Birth Name:Daniel Dale Johnston
Birth Place:Sacramento, California, U.S.
Birth Date:22 January 1961[1]
Death Place:Waller, Texas, U.S.
Origin:New Cumberland, West Virginia, U.S.
Years Active:1978–2019

Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in outsider, lo-fi, and alternative music scenes. Most of his work consisted of cassettes recorded alone in his home, and his music was frequently cited for its "pure" and "childlike" qualities.[2]

Johnston spent extended periods in psychiatric institutions and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[3] He garnered a local following in the 1980s by passing out tapes of his music while working at a McDonald's in Dobie Center in Austin, Texas.[4] [5] His cult status was propelled when Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was seen wearing a T-shirt that featured the artpiece "Jeremiah the Innocent"[6] from Johnston's 1983 cassette album Hi, How Are You.[7]

Johnston also created visual art, and his illustrations were exhibited at galleries around the world. His struggles with mental illness were the subject of the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He died in 2019 of a suspected heart attack.[8]

Early life

Johnston was born in Sacramento, California, and grew up in New Cumberland, West Virginia.[9] He was the youngest of five children of William Dale "Bill" Johnston (1922–2017) and Mabel Ruth Voyles Johnston (1923–2010). He began recording music in the late 1970s on a $59 Sanyo monaural boombox, singing and playing piano as well as the chord organ.

Following graduation from Oak Glen High School, Johnston spent a few weeks at Abilene Christian University in West Texas before dropping out. He later attended the art program at Kent State University, East Liverpool, during which he recorded Songs of Pain and More Songs of Pain.[10]

Career

1980s–1990s

In 1984, Johnston took a job at McDonald's and passed out tapes in the store. When Johnston moved to Austin, Texas, he began to attract the attention of the local press and gained a following augmented in numbers by his habit of handing out tapes to people he met.[11] Live performances were well-attended and hotly anticipated.[12]

His local standing led to him being featured in a 1985 episode of the MTV program The Cutting Edge featuring performers from Austin's "New Sincerity" music scene.[13]

In 1988, Johnston visited New York City and recorded 1990 with producer Mark Kramer[14] at his Noise New York studio. It was Johnston's first experience in a professional recording environment after a decade of releasing home-made cassette recordings. His mental health further deteriorated during the making of 1990.[15] In 1989, he released the album It's Spooky in collaboration with singer Jad Fair of the band Half Japanese.[16]

In 1990, Johnston played at a music festival in Austin, Texas. On the way back to West Virginia on a private two-seater plane piloted by his father Bill, Johnston had a manic psychotic episode; believing he was Casper the Friendly Ghost, Johnston removed the key from the plane's ignition and threw it outside. His father, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, managed to successfully crash-land the plane, even though "there was nothing down there but trees". Although the plane was destroyed, Johnston and his father emerged with only minor injuries. As a result of this episode, Johnston was involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.[17]

Interest in Johnston increased when Kurt Cobain was frequently photographed wearing a T-shirt featuring the cover image of Johnston's album Hi, How Are You that music journalist Everett True had given to him. Cobain listed Yip/Jump Music as one of his favorite albums in his journal, in 1993.[18]

Despite Johnston's having been a resident in a mental hospital at the time, there was a bidding war to sign him. He refused to sign a multi-album deal with Elektra Records because Metallica was on the label's roster and he was convinced that they were Satanic and would hurt him, also dropping his longtime manager, Jeff Tartakov, in the process.[19] Ultimately he signed with new manager Tom Gimbel who subsequently negotiated a deal with Atlantic Records in February 1994 and that September released Fun, produced by Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers.[20] President Danny Goldberg, who championed the signing of Johnston left Atlantic. In June 1996, with Goldberg no longer making A&R decisions, Atlantic dropped Johnston from the label.

In 1993, the Sound Exchange record store in Austin, Texas, commissioned Johnston to paint a mural of the Hi, How Are You? frog (also known as "Jeremiah the Innocent") from the album's cover.[21] After the record store closed in 2003, the building remained unoccupied until 2004 when the Mexican grill franchise Baja Fresh took ownership and decided that they would remove the wall that held the mural. A group of people who lived in the neighborhood convinced the managers and contractors to keep the mural intact.[22] In 2018, the building housed a Thai restaurant called "Thai, How Are You".[23] Thai, How Are You closed business permanently in January 2020. In April 2023 the building was razed, but the wall with the mural was left standing. The owner said that there were no current plans for development, but that the wall would be integrated into any future designs.[24]

2000s

In 2004, Johnston released , a two-disc compilation. The first disc featured covers of his songs by artists including Tom Waits, Beck, TV on the Radio, Jad Fair, Eels, Bright Eyes, Calvin Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, Sparklehorse, Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips and Starlight Mints, with the second disc featuring Johnston's original recordings of the songs.[25] In 2005, Texas-based theater company Infernal Bridegroom Productions received a Multi-Arts Production/MAP Fund grant to work with Johnston to create a rock opera based on his music, titled Speeding Motorcycle.[26]

In 2006, Jeff Feuerzeig released a documentary about Johnston, The Devil and Daniel Johnston; the film, four years in the making, collated some of the vast amount of recorded material Johnston (and in some case, others) had produced over the years to portray his life and music.[27] The film won high praise, receiving the Director's Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.[28] The film also inspired more interest in Johnston's work, and increased his prestige as a touring artist. In 2006, Johnston's label, Eternal Yip Eye Music, released his first greatest-hits compilation, Welcome to My World.[29]

Through the next few years Johnston toured extensively across the world, and continued to attract press attention. His artwork was shown in galleries such as in London's Aquarium Gallery, New York's Clementine Gallery and at the Liverpool Biennial in 2006 and 2008,[30] and in 2009, his work was exhibited at "The Museum of Love" at Verge Gallery in Sacramento, California.[31] In 2008, Dick Johnston, Johnston's brother and manager, revealed that "a movie deal based on the artist's life and music had been finalized with a tentative 2011 release."[32] He also said that a deal had been struck with the Converse company for a "signature series" Daniel Johnston shoe. Later, it was revealed by Dick Johnston that Converse had dropped the plan.[33] In early 2008, a Jeremiah the Innocent collectible figurine was released in limited runs of four different colors.[34] Later in the year, Adjustable Productions released Johnston's first concert DVD, The Angel and Daniel Johnston – Live at the Union Chapel, featuring a 2007 appearance in Islington, London.[35]

Is and Always Was was released on October 6, 2009, on Eternal Yip Eye Music.[36] In 2009, it was announced that Matt Groening had chosen Johnston to perform at the edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he curated in May 2010, in Minehead, England.[37] Also that year, Dr. Fun Fun and Smashing Studios developed an iPhone platform game called Hi, How Are You. The game is similar to Frogger, but features Johnston's art and music. Johnston played it during its development and liked it, although he was not familiar with the iPhone.[38]

2010s

On March 13, 2012, Johnston released his first comic book Space Ducks – An Infinite Comic Book of Musical Greatness[39] at SXSW, published by BOOM! Studios. The comic book ties-in with the Space Ducks album and an iOS app.[40] Johnston collaborated with skateboarding and clothing company Supreme on numerous collections (consisting of clothing and various accessories) showcasing his artwork.[41]

On March 1, 2012, Brooklyn-based photographer Jung Kim announced her photo book and traveling exhibition project with Johnston titled DANIEL JOHNSTON: here, a collaboration that began in 2008 when Kim first met Johnston and began photographing him on the road and at his home in Waller, Texas.[42] On March 13, 2013, this photography book was published, featuring five years of documentation on Johnston. The opening exhibition at SXSW festival featured a special performance by Johnston along with tribute performances led by Jason Sebastian Russo formerly of Mercury Rev.[43] [44] The second exhibition ran in May and June 2013 in London, England, and featured a special performance by Johnston along with tribute performances by the UK band Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs with Steffan Halperin of the Klaxons.[45] [46] On October 10, 2013, Jason Pierce of Spiritualized hosted the New York City opening of the exhibition, which included special tribute performances led by Pierce and Glen Hansard of The Swell Season and The Frames.[47] [48]

In November 2015, Hi, How Are You Daniel Johnston?, a short documentary about Johnston's life, was released featuring Johnston as his 2015 self and Gabriel Sunday of Archie's Final Project as Johnston's 1983 self. The executive producers for the film included Lana Del Rey and Mac Miller.[49] [50]

In July 2017, Johnston announced that he would be retiring from live performance and would embark on a final five-date tour that fall.[51] Each stop on the tour featured Johnston backed by a group that had been influenced by his music: The Preservation All-Stars in New Orleans, The Districts and Modern Baseball in Philadelphia, Jeff Tweedy in Chicago, with Built to Spill for the final two dates in Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, WA.[51]

Death

On September 11, 2019, Johnston was found dead from a suspected heart attack at his home in Waller, Texas. It is believed that he died overnight, a day after he had been released from the hospital for unspecified kidney problems.[52] [53] [54]

Daniel Johnston is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Katy, Texas.[55] [56]

Discography

See main article: Daniel Johnston discography. Studio albums

External links

Official

Other

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sweeting. Adam. Daniel Johnston obituary. The Guardian. September 12, 2019. January 19, 2024.
  2. News: McNamee. David. The myth of Daniel Johnston's genius. The Guardian. August 10, 2009.
  3. Brook. Pete. PHOTOGRAPHER SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF DANIEL JOHNSTON. Wired. March 2012.
  4. Web site: Spotlight: Daniel Johnston. Austinchronicle.com. July 18, 2021.
  5. Hall. Michael. He's Daniel Johnston, And He Was Gonna Be Famous. Texas Monthly. February 2005.
  6. Web site: Starkey . Arun . How Kurt Cobain launched the career of Daniel Johnston with a T-shirt . Far Out Magazine . September 11, 2021 . March 25, 2023.
  7. Web site: D'Angelo. Mike. Is Daniel Johnston a great musician or a victim of hipster exploitation?. The A.V. Club. December 5, 2013.
  8. Daniel Johnston, Cult Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 58. Grow. Kory. September 11, 2019. Rolling Stone. en-US. October 13, 2019.
  9. Grow . Kory . Daniel Johnston, Cult Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 58 . . September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  10. Web site: Hi, How Are You? Daniel Johnston – Biography. hihowareyou.com. October 7, 2014. October 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030093825/http://www.hihowareyou.com/web/bio.htm. dead.
  11. News: Daniel Johnson, cult singer-songwriter, dies age 58 . September 12, 2019 . . September 12, 2019.
  12. News: Black . Louis . Genius and Jive: My roller-coaster relationship with Daniel Johnston Austin Screens . Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas . May 5, 2006. September 18, 2010.
  13. Book: Shank, Barry. Dissonant Identities: The Rock'N'Roll Scene in Austin, Texas. Wesleyan University Press. Middleton, Connecticut. 1994. 978-0-8195-6276-0. 157–58. Google Books.
  14. Web site: kramershimmy home . Kramershimmy.com . September 18, 2010.
  15. Web site: Blais-Billie . Braudie . Daniel Johnston Dead at 58 . . Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  16. Web site: Schreiber . Ryan . It's Spooky review . . Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. June 19, 2001. September 11, 2019.
  17. News: Sean O'Hagan on Daniel Johnston . . London, England . Sean . O'Hagan . April 2, 2006 . March 15, 2011.
  18. Web site: Top 50 by Nirvana [MIXTAPE] ]. May 8, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141018034220/http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/journal/top-50-by-nirvana/ . October 18, 2014 .
  19. News: The Devil and Daniel Johnston . . Gannett. Phoenix, Arizona. Michael . Senft . August 11, 2006 . March 15, 2011.
  20. News: Personal demons . . London, England . John . Robinson . August 20, 2005 . April 30, 2010.
  21. Web site: Baja Fresh Hi How Are You frog mural . Rejectedunknown.com . January 6, 2004 . July 9, 2012.
  22. Web site: Dan. Solomon. The People's Frog. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629135819/http://www.texasobserver.org/dateline/the-peoples-frog . June 29, 2011 . . Texas Democracy Foundation. Austin, Texas. November 10, 2010. July 9, 2012.
  23. News: Hoffberger . Chase . Landmark Daniel Johnston mural gets a touch-up . September 12, 2019 . . Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas. August 28, 2013.
  24. News: Gross . Joe . Daniel, Kurt, and Jeremiah: Why 'Hi, How Are You' Matters . May 26, 2023 . . Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas. May 26, 2023.
  25. Web site: Moore . David . Discovered, Covered:The Late, Great Daniel Johnston . . Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. September 23, 2004. September 12, 2019.
  26. Web site: Infernal Bridegroom Productions . MAP Fund . July 9, 2012 . September 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170929044203/http://www.mapfund.org/grant_59.html . dead .
  27. Web site: Itzkoff . Dave . Dave Itzkoff. Daniel, You're a Star: SPIN's 2006 Interview With Daniel Johnston's Documentarian . . SpinMedia. San Francisco, California. September 11, 2019. September 12, 2019.
  28. News: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . Daniel Johnston, cult US indie songwriter, dies aged 58 . September 12, 2019 . . September 11, 2019.
  29. Web site: Colin. Stutz. The News and Daniel Johnston. https://web.archive.org/web/20061223035358/http://www.filter-mag.com/news/interior.3145.html . December 23, 2006 . Filter-Mag.com . April 14, 2006 . July 9, 2012.
  30. Web site: Ingvaldsen . Torsten . Prodigious Indie Rock Musician & Artist Daniel Johnston Has Passed Away at 58 . Hypebeast . September 12, 2019. September 12, 2019.
  31. Web site: Daniel Johnston, Museum of Love. yelp.com. January 12, 2017.
  32. News: Austin. Powell. Off the Record: Music News. The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas. October 3, 2008.
  33. Web site: Unreleased Daniel Johnston Converse All-Stars . June 17, 2009 . MonsterFresh.com . September 18, 2010.
  34. Web site: Daniel Johnston's Frog Jeremiah: Now a Collector's Item. Rollingstone.com. June 25, 2008. July 18, 2021.
  35. Web site: The Angel And Daniel Johnston – Live at the Union Chapel . Prlog.org . October 30, 2008 . September 18, 2010.
  36. Web site: Abebe . Nitsuh . Is and Always Was . . Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. October 16, 2009. September 12, 2019.
  37. Web site: ATP 2010: Curated By Matt Groening @ Butlin's Holiday Centre, Minehead, UK . Stereogum . May 10, 2010 . September 12, 2019.
  38. News: Randy. Kenny. Work of Daniel Johnston, Texas Artist, Inspires Video Game. The New York Times. September 28, 2009. October 1, 2009.
  39. Web site: Daniel Johnston. lambiek.net.
  40. Web site: Official Press Release for SPACE DUCKS . HiHowAreYou.com . March 23, 2012 . February 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210206224335/https://www.hihowareyou.com/news/posts/14 . dead .
  41. Web site: Jenn. Pelly. Daniel Johnston Designs Shirts for Supreme. Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. en. June 12, 2012. May 11, 2019.
  42. Web site: Hagi . Ella . Daniel Johnston's lo-fi life . Dazed . May 24, 2013. September 12, 2019.
  43. Web site: Daniel Johnston "here" Book Release & Opening . The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas. March 13, 2013.
  44. Photographer Shows a Different Side of Daniel . . Condé Nast. New York City. March 28, 2012.
  45. Web site: Daniel Johnston's Lo-Fi Life . DAZED Digital. May 24, 2013.
  46. Web site: Daniel Johnston Secret Show . Protein UK . June 3, 2013 . November 16, 2013 . November 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171102020633/https://www.prote.in/en/feed/2013/06/daniel-johnston-secret-show . dead .
  47. Web site: Daniel Johnston Book Event . Brooklyn Vegan. October 10, 2013.
  48. Web site: Daniel Johnston NYC Pop Up . Getty. October 10, 2013.
  49. Web site: Hi How Are You Daniel Johnston. IMDB.com. January 12, 2017.
  50. Web site: Daniel Johnston Biopic, My Suicide Soundtrack, & More . TwentyFourBit . March 18, 2010 . September 18, 2010.
  51. Web site: Kim. Michelle. Daniel Johnston Announces Final Tour. Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Chicago, Illinois. July 26, 2017. July 26, 2017. en.
  52. News: Daniel Johnston, Austin singer-songwriting icon, has died at 58. CBS News. CBS Corporation. New York City. September 12, 2019. September 15, 2019.
  53. Web site: Curtin . Kevin . Austin Songwriting Genius Daniel Johnston Dead at 58 . Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp.. Austin, Texas. September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  54. News: Daniel Johnston, Enigmatic Singer-Songwriter, Is Dead at 58. Sisario. Ben. September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019. The New York Times. New York City. https://archive.today/20190912051602/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/11/arts/music/daniel-johnston-dead.html. September 12, 2019. live.
  55. Web site: Family, friends and fans remember Daniel Johnston at graveside service. Peter. Blackstock. Statesman.com. January 21, 2024.
  56. Web site: Funeral services for Austin artist Daniel Johnston set for this weekend. September 13, 2019. Kvue.com. January 21, 2024.