Daniel Johnston profile picture

Daniel Johnston

thedevilanddanieljohnston

About Me

The Devil and Daniel Johnston” is a stunning portrait of a musical and artistic genius who nearly slipped away. Director Jeff Feuerzeig exquisitely depicts a perfect example of brilliance and madness going hand in hand with subject Daniel Johnston, an artist suffering from manic depression with delusions of grandeur. Daniel Johnston's wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites are exposed in this deeply moving documentary. The film artfully melds current footage, vintage performances, home movies, and dozens of recorded audiotapes from Daniel's life. Testimony from supportive friends and a deeply committed family adds a rich layer to his personal history, but it is Daniel's poetic songs interwoven throughout the film that tell their own passionate, haunting, and truly unforgettable story.2005 Sundance Film Festival winner -- Best Director, Jeff Feuerzig.
Made with the MyTheme myspace editor

My Interests

As a reclusive teenager growing up in New Cumberland, VA, Johnston began showing signs of unusual artistic ability at an early age. He religiously recorded his thoughts and stories onto cassette tapes, directed intuitive Super- 8 films starring himself in multiple roles ala Peter Sellers, and created expressive comic book-style drawings and animation in the basement of his family's home. However, in the eyes of his fundamentalist Christian family, Daniel simply wasn't contributing to society in a useful or productive way. After running off on a moped and joining a carnival, he landed in Austin, Texas, broke and alone. It was there he began to hone his musical career, recording folk songs on a series of homemade, lo-fi cassettes, which Daniel handed out free to fans, friends and journalists in the early 80s. With the help of a timely break and the thriving Austin music scene, Daniel managed to secure a brief spotlight on MTV making him a minor celebrity. But just as he was beginning to make a name for himself, his inner demons began to surface and Daniel's ongoing struggle with manic depression became more and more evident in his songs and drawings.

Music:

Influenced by the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Queen, Sex Pistols. Was a major influence on the music of Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Flaming Lips, noted Minutemen/FIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Beck, and an ever-growing international cult audience. He collaborated often with Jad Fair of Half Japanese.Johnston is the musician's cult musician, whose music is appreciated for it's utter lack of artifice and the undeniable simple brilliance. A range of artists, such as Beck, Wilco, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Nina Persson (of The Cardigans ), Sparklehorse, Jad Fair, The Pastels, Zwan and Pearl Jam have all covered Johnston's songs in the past. Kurt Cobain declared him the greatest living songwriter.

Television:

The Simpsons creator Matt Groenig is a huge admirer and supporter of Daniel Johnston. He mused in an LA Weekly article years ago that “someone should make the Daniel Johnston documentary,” which is exactly what Jeff Feuerzeig has done. Casper the Friendly Ghost, of course.His work has appeared on the soundtrack to My So-Called Life.