Despite pouring out the painful depths of his troubled mind, Daniel Johnston has always remained elusive and abstruse. In recent years Johnston has kept quieter than ever hidden in Waller, Texas plagued by mental illness. Under the cautious, careful eye of brother/tour manager Dick Johnston, Daniel has started to play live again. I caught up with Daniel to see what’s been happening in these dark years.
To many Daniel Johnston is a genius. Many musicians have been struck by what they call the 'Daniel Johnston Effect' and are quick to praise him in ways such as the release of The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered, a compilation album of Johnston's songs covered by artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, Tom Waits, Eels and Bright Eyes, and I Killed the Monster: 21 Artists Performing the Songs of Daniel Johnston which featured Sufjan Stevens, Kimya Dawson and Kramer.
He has inspired Beck, Flaming Lips and Bowie to name a few and, of course, the infamous Kurt Cobain who sported Daniels 'Hi, How Are You' album shirt on more than one occasion. The effects of Cobain wearing this shirt were instantaneous, record labels started a bidding war to sign Johnston despite him, at the time, being in a mental hospital due to his manic depression. Atlantic Records were to win the fight and went on to release the album Fun in 1994, Daniels first major album. A succession of albums followed this, eventually leading to the Johnston’s setting up their family label Eternal Yip Eye Music which saw the release of Daniel's first greatest hits compilation named Welcome to my World which included hits such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Story of an Artist and Lennon Song.
The Beatles
Daniel’s obsession with one of Britain’s most critically acclaimed band ever has always been crystal clear from his own sound. He showed his praise through songs entitled ‘The Beatles’ and ‘Lennon Song’ and lyrics such as; 'a legendary rock group, like history now to read/ like a magical fairy tale that's hard to believe/ But it really did happen/ four lads who shook the world/ God bless them for what they done.'
In fact, Daniel rides his whole success on them. “If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be doing this. I take a lot of inspiration from them. When I was a teenager and working, every payday I would go and buy a new Beatles record and listen to it and feel something new. I would be excited the whole day waiting for it. I used to find myself lost in the new record. It was the only reason I worked."
Fighting with Myself
Tragically, manic depression has plagued Daniel throughout his whole life adding another reason to the list of why Johnston is one of the most unlikely sensations. The condition often leaves him hospitalised or bed bound. His ongoing illness has never been a secret from the media and it is considered as ‘part of him’. There has however been much backlash with people describing it as ‘madness’. Yet his daily battle is his creative muse in some respects. It is the reason he writes. “Writing is the best medication I have found.”
Daniel refers to his depression as his ‘devil’ leading him to erratic, angst-driven behaviour. Despite his constantly lapsing mental health he has successfully spanned his career over 28 long, eventful years giving hope to fellow sufferers branded as ‘insane’ or ‘crazy’.
I Live for Love
Daniels naive lyrics always seem to lead back to the same concept- being loved. This love is directed at Daniels first girlfriend when he was aged 18. "Songs of Pain was inspired by her. It was the idea of being so in love and invisible.”
Daniel continues his theme of love throughout all of his albums with lyrics such as; 'I live for love, and I can hardly wait until Saturday/ When I see her because I live for love, the moon and the stars they know how I feel.'
Many of his lyrics speak of pain, longing and alienation. These feelings could be in relation to his illness, especially as he considers his condition to often hinder his writing abilities recently. “Well I have been not too happy. I haven't been in a good place in the past two years. I haven't wanted to write and I haven't wanted to do anything. I have been in and out of hospital and not a very good person recently. I haven't felt like writing any music, but now I really do and I need to make up for two years of no music. When I am writing music, I am feeling good.” Although he feels it does inspire his writing in some ways; “Some of my songs are sad because I can write about being sad. But not that sad otherwise I can't write.”
Although it can creatively help him, Johnston does have to be in a certain mood to write music. In a sense it is reflective and pensive rather than present tense. “I can't write when I have my depression because it makes me not want to do anything. Sometimes I feel funny and write bad songs but not ones that I know I can use. I need to sit down and write and not get distracted or angry or sad.”
He often refers to the infamous quote from American guitarist David Bromberg whom he seems to relate to: ‘You've got to suffer to sing the Blues’.
The Story of an Artist
Not content with merely being a successful musician, Johnston has always had a passion for art. He sketches cartoon heroes and childlike figures often connecting them to his music. “They always go together and sometimes I may draw pictures of my lyrics. So they do link together most of the time. If I am not writing music I will be doing art and drawing.”
The most recent piece of work (music or art) to be released from Daniel is a book of art simply entitled Daniel Johnston which was released earlier this year. It contains Johnston’s surrealist concepts and weird, sorrowful yet exciting imagination shown in wonderful drawings, sketches and watercolour paintings. Although Daniel is unsure of who may have put this book together, he is extremely grateful to have something to show for his last few years; “All these things I had done were together and I don't really know how. But it's good because it feels like I have something to show for 2008 after all. I wanted to write and do music and I didn't but at least I look at this book and think there, that is something I did right there.”
Casper the Friendly Ghost
The buzz around Johnston has been present ever since the Kurt Cobain scenario, but also his involvement in the film industry has heightened his fan base.
Firstly Daniel wrote two songs for Larry Clark’s shocking, controversial teen culture film Kids, about sex and drugs and, ultimately, the HIV virus amongst teens in New York City. One of these songs was the popular ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost’.
Then there was The Devil and Daniel Johnston. This was directed by Jeff Feuerzeig and it was released in 2006. It is a stunning portrait of a broken artist, struggling against the devil- his illness. It shows the highs and the lows and could not have been an easy watch for Daniel. “Some parts were hard to watch of course. They took what they needed and made the best of it. It was true.”
Rock This Town
Although it’s been a while since Daniel released any solo material he has been involved in several projects. One of these being Danny and the Nightmares, a group of friends from Waller, Texas. They met in the town and starting jamming together eventually leading to the release of their debut album Freak Brain in 2005 and then later The Death of Satan which was released in 2007.
The future of Danny and the Nightmares, like so many other of Daniels side-projects, seems hazy as he seems destined to be a solo star: “I help people out and then I know I just want to be solo still. I want to be writing my own music and performing alone the way I am used to and the way that I feel comfortable doing. I do like to (do music) with other people but I like to on my own as well.”
Good Luck
So what now? “I want to start writing again and be in a better place.” And writing new material? “That is what I want to do. I haven't written any songs for two years and I have only just picked up the pen again. It feels nice to be writing after such a long time not doing it. I feel like I could have wasted time when I could have been writing.”
It has been a quiet few years with no new releases from Daniel, and there is the constant worry that he will relapse into severe mental illness. Yet his compassionate, understanding brother/tour manager Dick Johnston is there every step of the way making sure Daniel doesn’t get pushed too far, yet it is still a relief to hear Daniel say
"there’s so much that I want to do. And I really am feeling good again.”
Are you a fan of Johnston? Do you agree with his hoards of celebrity fans? Don't forget to also check out this excellent piece on him we published a while ago
Posted In Features, Apr 26 2009.
Words - Aimee