The mark on his forehead is a big callus from years of performing his trademark greeting for people he liked: headbutting. See 0:22. The scar on his face is from when he got attacked on a Chicago city bus by some guy with a box cutter. Wes was rambling to himself and the guy thought he was cursing at him.
He passed away in August of 2003. He had a rare form of leukemia at the time and was undergoing treatments for it, but I think he officially died of heart trauma. He was a good-hearted person who went through pure hell during a large portion of his life, and it was sad that he wasn't able to live his dream for many more years. Still missing you 6 years later, Wes. God bless you, man.
Did you guys know he made some pretty sweet artworks of Chicago as well? He associated some of his album covers with them. Some of his pictures reached all the way to Europe and Egypt on art displays.
I've worked with people who suffer from severe psychosis and a lot of them lead lives that alternate between the streets and the hospital. Those with mental illness are not to be pitied. They want to have fulfilled lives just like anyone else. And Wesley did. He considered himself an artist, he made a mark on music and had loyal fans who loved him - they did not laugh AT him or mock him. Sounds like he probably felt himself fulfilled.
I miss him so much. Me and some friends entered a talent show back in junior high and did an impromptu interpretive dance to "Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's". I will never forget that day, it was emotionally scarring, just like his music.
Wesley came into the gas station in Central Illinois that I used to work at. He was in the men's room for about 15 minutes singing at the top of his voice. We could hear him at the counter, and at the Subway restaurant attached to the station. I thought I recognized one of his songs when someone opened the door to the bathroom once. When he came out I asked him if he was Wesley Willis and a huge smile lit up his face and he gave us a little 30 second performance,shook hands with me and left.
Oh Wesley! I hope you're in a better place now. I'm always the last to know. I'll miss your head buts, your passion for your art, your art (Wesley was an exactly sketch artist), and of course your super singe "Fireman Rick". Peace Be With you, Brother.
I'm so fortunate to have been able to receive a headbutt from ol' Wesley at a show in Orlando. That was right after he chugged 8 16oz. glasses of warm soy milk in a row. Priceless show. He stopped in the middle to go "take a piss." I screamed "Rock & Roll McDonald's!!" after every song that show until he finally said, "OK. This next song is called Rock & Roll McDonald's. Now shut the hell up!!" Wesley rocked!
This video is from the enhanced-CD "Greatest Hits - Volume 3" by Wesley Willis & The Dragnews (Alternative Tentacles Records, 2003). The only other video on the CD is Wesley singing "Mothra" live in concert. Hope that helps.
For me, Wes was a way out of the grind of life. It was like entering a whole new planet when I'd sit and just rock to his music. And, he is a symbol of hope for those of us trying to cope with neurological disorders
Wesley played a show at my local venue and broke 3 stairs. He was so nice and apologetic, really took the time to get to know his fans and they're ideas, RIP Two-DoubleU
Wesley wasn't treated like a dog. He was treated like a rock star. His music was all the help he needed. For all great artists, there is some madness. Wesley is just that, but taken to the extreme end of it. I was there, at his shows in the mid to late 90s. I can tell you that his fans loved him. Personally, I feel that Wesley's true genius was in his drawings. At first glance they seem to be very simple and childish. However, when you really look at them, they are very intricate and stylized.
Wesley and I got arested in arvada colorado 2 days after this was shot. the day befor we played a warehouse show on 22 and park. I still hurt from the head butt. Wessly was one of the coolest cats I ever met 101 from 303
I love Wesley Willis. Bless his soul for swearing and making everyone laugh. He was the greatest mentally ill person I've ever heard. And knew how to rock on!
@shimokita2 Sometime in the 1990s, he was getting off of a bus when some dude attacked him from behind with a box-cutter, slashing him across his face and back. It was because Wesley had been cussing out loud on the bus, but he wasn't cussing at the guy who attacked him or anybody else on the bus. He had a mental illness which caused him to hear voices, and he was cursing at them. I know it sounds crazy, but that's the story. The guy who attacked him supposedly drew a prison sentence.
Haha, I never noticed that before. Wesley was a true punk rocker -- he always did and said whatever he felt like and didn't worry too much about what others thought about him, except that I'm sure he did care about making others happy with his music -- which he most certainly succeeded in doing.
The world put huge hurdles in Wesley's way, and despite it all, he refused to live anonymously. A champion over adversity, a unique talent, we miss him
I wish I could've had the honor to greet this man with a headbutt.....anyone that can make it around by word of mouth like he did.....he was almost like some sort of tall tale.....paul bunyan and whatnot......restinpower....
That's awesome! Man i don't care how dumb, immature, rude, vulgar whatever people say his stuff is. He makes me laugh and feel happy. A great man indeed!
I miss ol Wesley, I got to meet him back in 96 must've bumped heads with him 20 times that night. Also smoked up with Brad Nowell of Sublime that night.
WHY? Wesley did what he loved to do, and with a SEVERE handicap. He still became famous, to some degree, and he is, was, and always will be a god damn rock star. You could really whoop a horses ass.
People may have disliked his music for some strange stupid reason, but if you met Wesley Willis, and you said something along the lines of "You suck" you would have the WORLD beating the shit out of you. Seriously. Wesley Willis was probably the friendliest guy Rock N Roll ever knew. And if you had ANY reason to hate him, there was something wrong with you. Period.
HE never needed help. Rock n Roll gave him all the help he needed. He battled his demons until the day he died and rocked over London and Rocked over Chicago. The guy lived a legendary life of cult status and assimilated way more respect than any of us here on this TH-cam comment board will ever recieve. So not to call you an asshole, but think twice, when the world gives us people like Wesley Willis, we understand that theyve carved a niche out for themself which cannot go unnoticed.
My friend is really lucky. He actually got to drive Willis to the airport. I guess the roadies packed up his keyboard and drove to the airport without him, and my friend's older brother drove him to the airport. Wesley was all 'you guys are my new buds. I'm gonna write a song about Denver Colorado.' My friend at first was kinda weirded out by this guy. But yeah Wesley headbutted him hard, and said he'd be back. My friend still has his ticket for the show he was gonna do before he died...
He was doing something he loved. He was an artist, and he did have an audience that liked what he did. I don't know a single person who laughed AT him, most laughed and danced and sung with him. Just like they do with Atom and his Package, Dan Deacon and other eccentric artists. Why shouldn't he have had the right to make money off his art? I don't know about his financial situation, but he got paid just like other artists.
I really don't think it's hard to see how people can think that he's a circus freak and that people just laugh at him. For me, however, he is the personification of self confidence. If he can go out there, perform, and make everyone happy in his unique way, everyone can.
i know it dude i saw him at the rec room of Los Gatos High like, months, before he died. i stood in line to get a head butt and all these teen chicks and hipster pricks got a headbutt and when i got there he kind of looked to the side and muttered "...like to buy a cd?..." i was pissed! was so cool to see him, and i was shocked when he died right after that. best show ever!
![KRK - ชนิสรา Ft.WanMai , N/A [Official MV] Prod. By Sakarin](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C-WMwwYobcU/mqdefault.jpg)
It's amazing how much love folks still have for my brother.
R.I.P. Wesley.
He explained that these songs would "gross out" the demons in his head enough to leave him alone.
This was my uncle. He was one of 10 kids to my knowledge its seven of them left
he headbutted me like 3 times after a live performance. it was so awkwardly awesome.
We all feckin' know Wesley was/is a top man. The world died a death when he passed away...rip
The mark on his forehead is a big callus from years of performing his trademark greeting for people he liked: headbutting. See 0:22.
The scar on his face is from when he got attacked on a Chicago city bus by some guy with a box cutter. Wes was rambling to himself and the guy thought he was cursing at him.
He was a good guy. His music will be enjoyed by many for years to come. Those who don't get it... well, they can get their ass whipped by Birdman.
He passed away in August of 2003. He had a rare form of leukemia at the time and was undergoing treatments for it, but I think he officially died of heart trauma. He was a good-hearted person who went through pure hell during a large portion of his life, and it was sad that he wasn't able to live his dream for many more years. Still missing you 6 years later, Wes. God bless you, man.
God bless Wesley Willis. I love him, his soul & music.
He's conducting research for his lyrics!
I love Wesley Willis.
He's such an inspiration and his music makes me happy
Did you guys know he made some pretty sweet artworks of Chicago as well? He associated some of his album covers with them. Some of his pictures reached all the way to Europe and Egypt on art displays.
I've worked with people who suffer from severe psychosis and a lot of them lead lives that alternate between the streets and the hospital.
Those with mental illness are not to be pitied. They want to have fulfilled lives just like anyone else. And Wesley did. He considered himself an artist, he made a mark on music and had loyal fans who loved him - they did not laugh AT him or mock him. Sounds like he probably felt himself fulfilled.
Why? He's a rock star. I got to see him live on my 18th birthday a few months before he died. It was the most amazing thing I've seen/heard.
3:35, you can totaly see how beautiful his soul is through his eyes
I'd like to see the rest of that Jello Biafra bit. He's amazing.
I miss him so much. Me and some friends entered a talent show back in junior high and did an impromptu interpretive dance to "Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's". I will never forget that day, it was emotionally scarring, just like his music.
I unnoticed it for a good long time... and am just waiting to forget it...
Wesley came into the gas station in Central Illinois that I used to work at. He was in the men's room for about 15 minutes singing at the top of his voice. We could hear him at the counter, and at the Subway restaurant attached to the station. I thought I recognized one of his songs when someone opened the door to the bathroom once. When he came out I asked him if he was Wesley Willis and a huge smile lit up his face and he gave us a little 30 second performance,shook hands with me and left.
Oh Wesley! I hope you're in a better place now. I'm always the last to know. I'll miss your head buts, your passion for your art, your art (Wesley was an exactly sketch artist), and of course your super singe "Fireman Rick". Peace Be With you, Brother.
some one told me to look this guy up on omegle
it would've of been kick ass if wesley willis and daniel johnston got together to make and album.
His music is fun to listen to. That's a great thing!
I'm so fortunate to have been able to receive a headbutt from ol' Wesley at a show in Orlando. That was right after he chugged 8 16oz. glasses of warm soy milk in a row.
Priceless show. He stopped in the middle to go "take a piss." I screamed "Rock & Roll McDonald's!!" after every song that show until he finally said, "OK. This next song is called Rock & Roll McDonald's. Now shut the hell up!!"
Wesley rocked!
i'm just so fascinated by this guy
We're all different and we've all got something to bring to this world. Well done Wesley!
You are a true musical genius!!! RIP my friend..
This video is from the enhanced-CD "Greatest Hits - Volume 3" by Wesley Willis & The Dragnews (Alternative Tentacles Records, 2003). The only other video on the CD is Wesley singing "Mothra" live in concert. Hope that helps.
For me, Wes was a way out of the grind of life. It was like entering a whole new planet when I'd sit and just rock to his music. And, he is a symbol of hope for those of us trying to cope with neurological disorders
Wesley played a show at my local venue and broke 3 stairs. He was so nice and apologetic, really took the time to get to know his fans and they're ideas, RIP Two-DoubleU
"Rock over London, Rock on Chicago."
R.I.P. Wesley WIllis, you were awesome.
I wish I knew of his music when he was alive but Wesley will live on in our hearts. GO WESLEY!
Wesley wasn't treated like a dog. He was treated like a rock star. His music was all the help he needed. For all great artists, there is some madness. Wesley is just that, but taken to the extreme end of it. I was there, at his shows in the mid to late 90s. I can tell you that his fans loved him.
Personally, I feel that Wesley's true genius was in his drawings. At first glance they seem to be very simple and childish. However, when you really look at them, they are very intricate and stylized.
Saw and met him in Denver.
Wesley and I got arested in arvada colorado 2 days after this was shot. the day befor we played a warehouse show on 22 and park. I still hurt from the head butt. Wessly was one of the coolest cats I ever met 101 from 303
I love Wesley Willis. Bless his soul for swearing and making everyone laugh. He was the greatest mentally ill person I've ever heard. And knew how to rock on!
@shimokita2 Sometime in the 1990s, he was getting off of a bus when some dude attacked him from behind with a box-cutter, slashing him across his face and back. It was because Wesley had been cussing out loud on the bus, but he wasn't cussing at the guy who attacked him or anybody else on the bus. He had a mental illness which caused him to hear voices, and he was cursing at them. I know it sounds crazy, but that's the story. The guy who attacked him supposedly drew a prison sentence.
OMG I MISS U WESLEY!!!
Haha, I never noticed that before. Wesley was a true punk rocker -- he always did and said whatever he felt like and didn't worry too much about what others thought about him, except that I'm sure he did care about making others happy with his music -- which he most certainly succeeded in doing.
WOW, He really worked hard and put effor on his music! Forget M Jackson, THIS IS A REAL ARTIST!!!
RIP Wesley
rock over london, rock on chicago wesley lives on forever
The world put huge hurdles in Wesley's way, and despite it all, he refused to live anonymously. A champion over adversity, a unique talent, we miss him
I received a several head butts from Wesley back in 2001. I have still not recovered...
R.I.P. Wesley Willis
I wish I could've had the honor to greet this man with a headbutt.....anyone that can make it around by word of mouth like he did.....he was almost like some sort of tall tale.....paul bunyan and whatnot......restinpower....
I loved his music ^^
That's awesome! Man i don't care how dumb, immature, rude, vulgar whatever people say his stuff is. He makes me laugh and feel happy. A great man indeed!
Me too, I was hoping to catch a show of his someday :(
I miss ol Wesley, I got to meet him back in 96 must've bumped heads with him 20 times that night. Also smoked up with Brad Nowell of Sublime that night.
awesome stuff
as a matter of fact, writing music was his "help" he said it kept the voices out of his head, it was his own personal rehab
We love you Wesley!
WHY?
Wesley did what he loved to do, and with a SEVERE handicap.
He still became famous, to some degree, and he is, was, and always will be a god damn rock star.
You could really whoop a horses ass.
I do miss him. If it wasnt for Napster I would have never heard of him.
I love the part towards the end with the children. That's a funny and awesome man!
This was truly inspiring. I am a better person for having watched it!
i did. in nashville a bit before he died.
HA! that was awesome. I Subscribed! :)
Why the fuck do leukemia take all the nice people :(
Wesley Wilis is da man.
To him, music was his therapy.
..Thus the reason I hope to become a psychologist and include music therapy as an alternative or additional therapy.
I have a pretty big collection. It wasn't easy to come by. I had to get some in Chicago.
I was an original W.W. FIASCO member in 1992.. I was
wesley willis is my hero and the real american dream... if america does exist anymore
I headbutted Wesley Willis & it was in 411VM.
People may have disliked his music for some strange stupid reason, but if you met Wesley Willis, and you said something along the lines of "You suck" you would have the WORLD beating the shit out of you.
Seriously. Wesley Willis was probably the friendliest guy Rock N Roll ever knew. And if you had ANY reason to hate him, there was something wrong with you. Period.
Legendary.
HE never needed help. Rock n Roll gave him all the help he needed. He battled his demons until the day he died and rocked over London and Rocked over Chicago. The guy lived a legendary life of cult status and assimilated way more respect than any of us here on this TH-cam comment board will ever recieve. So not to call you an asshole, but think twice, when the world gives us people like Wesley Willis, we understand that theyve carved a niche out for themself which cannot go unnoticed.
I got headbutted by Wesley in Dallas about ten years ago.
Rock over London, rock on Chicago!
ROCK AND ROLL MIC DONOOWWSS
This video makes me miss Wesley so much.
Rock over Heaven, Rock on, St. Peter! Wesley Willis! He whips the llama's ass!
My friend is really lucky. He actually got to drive Willis to the airport. I guess the roadies packed up his keyboard and drove to the airport without him, and my friend's older brother drove him to the airport. Wesley was all 'you guys are my new buds. I'm gonna write a song about Denver Colorado.' My friend at first was kinda weirded out by this guy. But yeah Wesley headbutted him hard, and said he'd be back. My friend still has his ticket for the show he was gonna do before he died...
wesley is the man
Classic!
Taco Johns is delicious, I live in the southwest now and they have an unholy lack of the fast food joint.
And Wesley Willis is 100% awesome.
His songs were so money you could use them as currency. Godspeed Wesley, hope you're jammin' with James Brown now.
I'm sure he's in heaven headbutting God and Jesus which is good enough for me.
Amen to that!
He was doing something he loved. He was an artist, and he did have an audience that liked what he did. I don't know a single person who laughed AT him, most laughed and danced and sung with him. Just like they do with Atom and his Package, Dan Deacon and other eccentric artists.
Why shouldn't he have had the right to make money off his art? I don't know about his financial situation, but he got paid just like other artists.
a real artist's artist !!!!
R.I.P wesley willis
I'll second that!!!!
R.I.P Wesley we love u.
rock over london, rock on chicago, wheaties the breakfast of champions
"rock over london, rock on chicago...!"
That Taco John's franchise center is down the street from my house! haha
-Ana
This guy is f'n epic
Man Wesley is a music god like Michael Jackson and others
I cant believe its always the good people who has to die
I really don't think it's hard to see how people can think that he's a circus freak and that people just laugh at him. For me, however, he is the personification of self confidence. If he can go out there, perform, and make everyone happy in his unique way, everyone can.
WW ringtone's ... crazy word we live in.
"How y'all doin'. I'm a rockstar."
"Oh boy."
Rock over Londen, Rock on Chicago!
Wesley was a hero, not too much performers make me laugh like that ;)
RIP Wesley!
your music is an inspiration lol
i know it dude i saw him at the rec room of Los Gatos High like, months, before he died. i stood in line to get a head butt and all these teen chicks and hipster pricks got a headbutt and when i got there he kind of looked to the side and muttered "...like to buy a cd?..." i was pissed! was so cool to see him, and i was shocked when he died right after that. best show ever!
I gotta thank Howard Stern for introducing me to the stylings of ole Wesley Willis...
If he isnt in heaven im not sure its a place I would want to be.
He died a few years ago but was a creative mind that was awesome!
Woah wait was that East Bay Ray? Makes perfect sense.