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Singer/songwriter Wesley Willis is 320 lbs. of pure genius. As the artistic world has shown us, insanity and brilliance often go hand-in-hand. Willis began hearing voices in his head six years ago, and was later diagnosed as a chronic schizophrenic. We all hear voices in our heads from time to time; what matters is how you deal with them, right? Hailing from the Windy City, Willis reigns down blow after musical blow on "those demons" in songs like "Suck my Dog's Dick" and "Suck a Horse's Ass."
When he's not engaged in verbal warfare, he's singing the praises of rock bands & friends in "Urge Overkill," "Shudder To Think," "The Drovers," and "Bon Jovi," providing show reviews set to music, complete with estimation of crowd size. Wesley has released "at least 20" solo/keyboard albums on his own label. Albums that feature songs like: "Ply the Donkey with a Whip," "Who Killed John Columbo," and "I'm Sorry That I Got Fat." One of our favorites, "Rock and Roll McDonald's," is included on the 1995 Greatest Hits CD. It warns: "McDonald's hamburgers are the worst/they are much worse than Burger King.../they serve Quarter Pounders/they will put pounds on you."
Recently, The Wesley Willis Fiasco rocked San Francisco's Trocadero Transfer and the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, California, with their heavy metal "harmony music." On tour with Sublime and Lords of Brooklyn, the Fiasco boys chugged out tunes like: "Jesus is the Answer" and "Casper the Homosexual Friendly Ghost."
Wesley tears it up like a Cuisinart. He throws Ronnie James Dio down a flight of stairs. Kyle, our English correspondent from Ramshead-on-the-Water, spoke with Mr. Willis after the Petaluma show.
JP: Can we get you in some quiet place for like, 15 minutes?
WW: I gotta get ready to make my damn money. Wanna buy some o' my CD's?
(Deli platters were laid out backstage, but Wesley walked right on by them, grabbed two huge cases of his CD's and proceeded to the lobby of the club.)
JP: So, Wes, you're gonna go sell the merchandise now, right?
WW: [there ain't no way] I'll let a muthafucka turn my joy-bus tour into a hellride.
JP: You tell 'em Wes. Is it gonna distract you if I ask you a few questions while you're doing this?
WW: It'll be okay, goddammit.
JP: How long have you been singin' & songwritin'?
WW: ...Three fuckin' years! That's the way it is to make some fuckin' money! That's why I'm here to do the damn show -- is to have a joyride, not a fucking hellride! (then to a potential customer: "How ya do?") I just doin' well for my damn self!
JP: Is mama proud?
WW: Everybody's proud o' me! Everybody loves me! But I'm keepin' busy!
JP: If you died and had to come back as an animal, what would it be?
WW: A lot. I'm just gonna have a harmony joyride. I'm gonna keep busy.
JP: (Not hearing correctly) A hominy joyride?
WW: A harmony musical joyride.
JP: Tell us how you first got a record out -- did you start with a demo?
WW: Yalp.
JP: And who'd you give it to?
WW: My friends in the band.
JP: And then what?
WW: I just keep 'em busy.
JP: What do you think of Jello? Biafra, that is.
WW: I like him. I do.
JP: So, the next time someone tries to kick his ass, you're gonna fuckin' be there, right?
WW: Yaw.
JP: You're gonna fuck those mutherfuckas up.
WW: I'm gonna ram the muthafuckas upside the head!
JP: What's the secret to getting so much done?
WW: I'm just busy keepin' busy and stayin' outta trouble. I'm just here to have a good show and enjoy myself.
JP: Does it have anything to do with being schizophrenic?
WW: Yah.
JP: How much would you charge McDonald's if they wanted to use one of your songs for a commercial?
WW: Around $4,000 to 5,000 dollars.
JP: Has success spoiled you yet?
WW: Success hasn't even spoiled me at all, but I'm gonna have some fun on it.
JP: Where that fuck ya eatin' these days?
WW: I eat healthy foods. (to a passerby) Wanna buy one o' my CD's?
Passerby (to WW): Did you make this yourself?
WW: Yeah, I'm a rock star. I'm a rock n' rollah that does it all. I'm a rock n' rollah that whips a horse's ass real good. And I'm gonna rock that muthafucka to Russia.
JP: Tear it up.
WW: I'm gonna tear it up like a paper. I'm gonna tear this sucka's ass up like a piece o' paper!!! I just rocked it to tha max. I did it well to the word to the mutha. I know how to rock a record. I know how to rock it good. As soon as I get home from my tour I gotta work on a new record. The name o' tha CD will be called Deep Space Nine. First will be out Mr. Magoo Goes to Jail, Vol. II, the next will be Ground Zero but I'm gonna have fun. I'm a musician. I'm gonna play music and I'm gonna make money; I'm gonna play music and I'm gonna make money; I'm gonna stay outta trouble and that's what I have to say. I did not come out here ta fuck up, I came out here ta have fun. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka get me down. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka shoot down my power music. That's my power music. That's the way to keep busy. I just have to listen ta music to pick me up rather than listen ta some muthafucka ram profanity up my butt and make me mad. I'm a tell ya I'm a have a joyride tonite not a hell freak-ride.
JP: You got it. (Kyle begins to administer Wesley a post-concert shoulder rub)
WW: With my damn music, I'm gonna be in harmonization for the reso o' mah life. At least I'm gonna get on the road and make it real on the road. I'm gonna reel it in like a dawg. That dawg'll keep busy like a machine-gunner and when I rock that sucka', to the max, I'm a rock Saddam Hussein's ass to Russia.
JP: Fuck Yeah!
WW: And each time I write those songs, I write songs about bands who whip horses' asses with a belt.
JP: Alright. And you're not gonna do it with a machine gun, y' gonna do it with fuckin' rhythm, right? Poetry!
WW: Gonna do it well wit' riddim. My next gig is Arcata, California for two nights. I'm just goin' on tour in a van. (To another passerby: Would you like to buy one o' my CDs?)
Passerby: I don't have any money on me.
WW: If you ever get some money, for example, let me know for a CD and I'll sell you one right off da bat.
JP: I want the one with "Suck a Caribou's Ass." What was the inspiration for that one? I'll buy one right the fuck now, man! (Kyle hands WW a twenty)
WW: That's the word that I wrote... for my damn demons, that's why I say "suck a caribou's ass." (Pointing to his case full of CDs) Two for twenty. How about three for thirty to start off with?
JP: I can just buy the one with "Caribou" right now.
WW: You'll love it. It has 23 songs on there and it'll rock ya like crazy. (WW hands it to Kyle)
JP: How long did it take you to make it?
WW: It took me at least six hours to make tha rekkid.
JP: Fuck, man. You got perseverance, man.
WW: It took me at least three days to do it.
JP: You're prolific!
WW: At least I'm prolific just like Dr. Frankenstein. At least I'm doin' well just like Frankenberger. At least I'm gonna do it well like fucking Dr. Know. I'm gonna keep busy like Dr. Kuh-No.
JP: How'd ya come up with "Caribou?" Were you up in Canada or somethin'?
WW: I think the words up outta my head and that's how I go on from there. At least I'm gonna keep busy and whip a donkey's ass with a belt.
JP: Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?
WW: Those are my rock songs that I write: "Suck My Dog's Dick," "Shatter my Harmony Music," and "Suck a Horse's Ass." You'll love it.
JP: Hey, gimme my change.
WW: (handing over the change) I just gotta keep busy with my rock n' roll and nothin' can change it.
JP: Are you worried about lawsuits?
WW: No. I'm just keepin' busy and makin' money and stayin' outta trouble and when I work for tha Lord, I work hard for tha Lord.
JP: Jesus is the answer, man.
WW: He wasn't there, it's just a song.
JP: What kinds of girls do you like?
WW: I like all types.
JP: What kinds of girls like you?
WW: A whole lotta girls.
JP: What happened to y' face, man? (referring to serious old scars on Wesley's cheek)
WW: Four years ago, some guy... sliced me on my face. He's in jail servin' 25 years. All I gotta say is I'm a keep busy and those demons try to keep my music away from me.
JP: Who does?
WW: Those demons put me out of harmonization. They keep me out of harmonization. They keep my music out of harmonization. They bring me hell bus rides... in Chicago. [They make me] bust portable CD players and the one I have right now -- I'm not gonna bust that . (He's wearing an Aiwa around his neck. I'm a have my rock n' roll pick me up and not gonna let a demon shoot it down. I'ma have my rock n' roll pick me up and I'm not gonna let a demon shoot it down, but I'm a hear some music pick me up. At least I'm livin' in a good neighborhood. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka control me. I'm gonna have fun in JE-SUS.
Customer: Can you write me up a receipt?
WW: (not responding): At least I'm a musician and I'm gonna make it. I don't wanna hear profanity, I wanna hear harmony music.
When he's not engaged in verbal warfare, he's singing the praises of rock bands & friends in "Urge Overkill," "Shudder To Think," "The Drovers," and "Bon Jovi," providing show reviews set to music, complete with estimation of crowd size. Wesley has released "at least 20" solo/keyboard albums on his own label. Albums that feature songs like: "Ply the Donkey with a Whip," "Who Killed John Columbo," and "I'm Sorry That I Got Fat." One of our favorites, "Rock and Roll McDonald's," is included on the 1995 Greatest Hits CD. It warns: "McDonald's hamburgers are the worst/they are much worse than Burger King.../they serve Quarter Pounders/they will put pounds on you."
Recently, The Wesley Willis Fiasco rocked San Francisco's Trocadero Transfer and the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, California, with their heavy metal "harmony music." On tour with Sublime and Lords of Brooklyn, the Fiasco boys chugged out tunes like: "Jesus is the Answer" and "Casper the Homosexual Friendly Ghost."
Wesley tears it up like a Cuisinart. He throws Ronnie James Dio down a flight of stairs. Kyle, our English correspondent from Ramshead-on-the-Water, spoke with Mr. Willis after the Petaluma show.
JP: Can we get you in some quiet place for like, 15 minutes?
WW: I gotta get ready to make my damn money. Wanna buy some o' my CD's?
(Deli platters were laid out backstage, but Wesley walked right on by them, grabbed two huge cases of his CD's and proceeded to the lobby of the club.)
JP: So, Wes, you're gonna go sell the merchandise now, right?
WW: [there ain't no way] I'll let a muthafucka turn my joy-bus tour into a hellride.
JP: You tell 'em Wes. Is it gonna distract you if I ask you a few questions while you're doing this?
WW: It'll be okay, goddammit.
JP: How long have you been singin' & songwritin'?
WW: ...Three fuckin' years! That's the way it is to make some fuckin' money! That's why I'm here to do the damn show -- is to have a joyride, not a fucking hellride! (then to a potential customer: "How ya do?") I just doin' well for my damn self!
JP: Is mama proud?
WW: Everybody's proud o' me! Everybody loves me! But I'm keepin' busy!
JP: If you died and had to come back as an animal, what would it be?
WW: A lot. I'm just gonna have a harmony joyride. I'm gonna keep busy.
JP: (Not hearing correctly) A hominy joyride?
WW: A harmony musical joyride.
JP: Tell us how you first got a record out -- did you start with a demo?
WW: Yalp.
JP: And who'd you give it to?
WW: My friends in the band.
JP: And then what?
WW: I just keep 'em busy.
JP: What do you think of Jello? Biafra, that is.
WW: I like him. I do.
JP: So, the next time someone tries to kick his ass, you're gonna fuckin' be there, right?
WW: Yaw.
JP: You're gonna fuck those mutherfuckas up.
WW: I'm gonna ram the muthafuckas upside the head!
JP: What's the secret to getting so much done?
WW: I'm just busy keepin' busy and stayin' outta trouble. I'm just here to have a good show and enjoy myself.
JP: Does it have anything to do with being schizophrenic?
WW: Yah.
JP: How much would you charge McDonald's if they wanted to use one of your songs for a commercial?
WW: Around $4,000 to 5,000 dollars.
JP: Has success spoiled you yet?
WW: Success hasn't even spoiled me at all, but I'm gonna have some fun on it.
JP: Where that fuck ya eatin' these days?
WW: I eat healthy foods. (to a passerby) Wanna buy one o' my CD's?
Passerby (to WW): Did you make this yourself?
WW: Yeah, I'm a rock star. I'm a rock n' rollah that does it all. I'm a rock n' rollah that whips a horse's ass real good. And I'm gonna rock that muthafucka to Russia.
JP: Tear it up.
WW: I'm gonna tear it up like a paper. I'm gonna tear this sucka's ass up like a piece o' paper!!! I just rocked it to tha max. I did it well to the word to the mutha. I know how to rock a record. I know how to rock it good. As soon as I get home from my tour I gotta work on a new record. The name o' tha CD will be called Deep Space Nine. First will be out Mr. Magoo Goes to Jail, Vol. II, the next will be Ground Zero but I'm gonna have fun. I'm a musician. I'm gonna play music and I'm gonna make money; I'm gonna play music and I'm gonna make money; I'm gonna stay outta trouble and that's what I have to say. I did not come out here ta fuck up, I came out here ta have fun. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka get me down. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka shoot down my power music. That's my power music. That's the way to keep busy. I just have to listen ta music to pick me up rather than listen ta some muthafucka ram profanity up my butt and make me mad. I'm a tell ya I'm a have a joyride tonite not a hell freak-ride.
JP: You got it. (Kyle begins to administer Wesley a post-concert shoulder rub)
WW: With my damn music, I'm gonna be in harmonization for the reso o' mah life. At least I'm gonna get on the road and make it real on the road. I'm gonna reel it in like a dawg. That dawg'll keep busy like a machine-gunner and when I rock that sucka', to the max, I'm a rock Saddam Hussein's ass to Russia.
JP: Fuck Yeah!
WW: And each time I write those songs, I write songs about bands who whip horses' asses with a belt.
JP: Alright. And you're not gonna do it with a machine gun, y' gonna do it with fuckin' rhythm, right? Poetry!
WW: Gonna do it well wit' riddim. My next gig is Arcata, California for two nights. I'm just goin' on tour in a van. (To another passerby: Would you like to buy one o' my CDs?)
Passerby: I don't have any money on me.
WW: If you ever get some money, for example, let me know for a CD and I'll sell you one right off da bat.
JP: I want the one with "Suck a Caribou's Ass." What was the inspiration for that one? I'll buy one right the fuck now, man! (Kyle hands WW a twenty)
WW: That's the word that I wrote... for my damn demons, that's why I say "suck a caribou's ass." (Pointing to his case full of CDs) Two for twenty. How about three for thirty to start off with?
JP: I can just buy the one with "Caribou" right now.
WW: You'll love it. It has 23 songs on there and it'll rock ya like crazy. (WW hands it to Kyle)
JP: How long did it take you to make it?
WW: It took me at least six hours to make tha rekkid.
JP: Fuck, man. You got perseverance, man.
WW: It took me at least three days to do it.
JP: You're prolific!
WW: At least I'm prolific just like Dr. Frankenstein. At least I'm doin' well just like Frankenberger. At least I'm gonna do it well like fucking Dr. Know. I'm gonna keep busy like Dr. Kuh-No.
JP: How'd ya come up with "Caribou?" Were you up in Canada or somethin'?
WW: I think the words up outta my head and that's how I go on from there. At least I'm gonna keep busy and whip a donkey's ass with a belt.
JP: Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?
WW: Those are my rock songs that I write: "Suck My Dog's Dick," "Shatter my Harmony Music," and "Suck a Horse's Ass." You'll love it.
JP: Hey, gimme my change.
WW: (handing over the change) I just gotta keep busy with my rock n' roll and nothin' can change it.
JP: Are you worried about lawsuits?
WW: No. I'm just keepin' busy and makin' money and stayin' outta trouble and when I work for tha Lord, I work hard for tha Lord.
JP: Jesus is the answer, man.
WW: He wasn't there, it's just a song.
JP: What kinds of girls do you like?
WW: I like all types.
JP: What kinds of girls like you?
WW: A whole lotta girls.
JP: What happened to y' face, man? (referring to serious old scars on Wesley's cheek)
WW: Four years ago, some guy... sliced me on my face. He's in jail servin' 25 years. All I gotta say is I'm a keep busy and those demons try to keep my music away from me.
JP: Who does?
WW: Those demons put me out of harmonization. They keep me out of harmonization. They keep my music out of harmonization. They bring me hell bus rides... in Chicago. [They make me] bust portable CD players and the one I have right now -- I'm not gonna bust that . (He's wearing an Aiwa around his neck. I'm a have my rock n' roll pick me up and not gonna let a demon shoot it down. I'ma have my rock n' roll pick me up and I'm not gonna let a demon shoot it down, but I'm a hear some music pick me up. At least I'm livin' in a good neighborhood. I'm not gonna let a muthafucka control me. I'm gonna have fun in JE-SUS.
Customer: Can you write me up a receipt?
WW: (not responding): At least I'm a musician and I'm gonna make it. I don't wanna hear profanity, I wanna hear harmony music.
