Daniel Johnston Forever Young
January 22, 2010Daniel Johnston has battled mental illness to become one of America’s most prolific and loved songwriters. By Dan Rule
’60s/early ’70s
Born in California, Johnston moves to rural West Virginia as a child. It’s clear from an early age that he’s unlike other kids. Intermittently shy and manic, he spends his early years alone listening to The Beatles and poring over Marvel and DC comics.
1970s
Johnston avidly takes to drawing and music and soon begins writing his own Beatles-inspired material on guitar and piano, recording on a boom-box. 1980 Johnston’s often obsessive behaviour takes a turn for the worse: he becomes deeply depressed and self-destructive. He’s later diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. He releases his first, crudely recorded cassette Songs of Pain, replete with hand-drawn packaging.
1983
Despite his illness, he moves to Austin, Texas and is embraced by the eclectic music scene. Releases his classic album Hi, How Are You?
1985
He features on MTV’s The Cutting Edge. Almost overnight, he becomes an underground cult hero.
Late ’80s/early ’90s
Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo and Tom Waits name-check Johnston in interviews. Though his star is on the rise, his mental health becomes increasingly unstable. He releases his classic record 1990 between stints in a mental facility.
1994
A major label bidding war breaks out after Kurt Cobain is snapped wearing one of Johnston’s Hi, How Are You? album t-shirts. Atlantic eventually releases the acclaimed Fun.
1995–2003
With his illness under relative control, Johnston records a string of catchy, intelligent, refreshingly honest pop records.
2004
A Johnston tribute – Discovered Recovered – featuring his cassette recordings and corresponding covers by Mercury Rev, Tom Waits, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Flaming Lips and others is released.
2005
Dutch documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston receives the Director’s Award at Sundance, but the experience leaves Johnston disillusioned.
2006
Johnston’s artwork is included in the esteemed Whitney Biennial.
2009
He releases his reflective, lushly produced new album Is and Always Was.
Is and Always Was is out now though Hub the Label/Albert Productions. Daniel Johnston appears at The Laneway Festival nationally in January. Speakeasy Cinema in Melbourne will present screenings of The Devil and Daniel Johnston - including a Q&A session and live acoustic performance from Johnston himself - on Tuesday, February 2. Tickets $25 through Moshtix. Also visit: hihowareyou.com
