Derailroaded: Inside the Mind of Larry “Wild Man” Fischer
Wednesday, July 19, 2006 – 7:30pm **Vancouver Premiere**
USA
2005. Director: Josh Rubin.
“An unusually intimate look at how we use art to channel our darkest, most disturbing human tendencies” (K.J. Doughton, Film Threat ).
A journey through the thunderstorms of the mind of Larry “Wild Man” Fischer is the first installment in the Frames of Mind Summer Series examining the life and work of outsider musicians.
An individual with a significant psychiatric
illness, Fischer earned brief fame and lasting cult status with his
earnest, ear-splitting compositions. After being institutionalized at
16 for attacking his mother with a knife, Fischer moved to California
and wandered the streets of L.A., singing his totally unique songs to
passers-by for 10¢ a go. When his eccentric musical stylings caught the
ear of Frank Zappa, Fischer appeared to be on his way to some kind of
success. Zappa produced his first record, An Evening with Wild Man Fischer,
in 1968, and Fisher followed this up with a memorable appearance on
TV’s Laugh-In. He also appeared on the same Rose Bowl bill as Joan Baez
and Janis Joplin, recorded a duet with Rosemary Clooney, and released
three subsequent albums on Rhino Records in the 1970s. But just when
there was reason for hope, Fisher’s chronic instability and delusional
outbursts caused him to burn most of his bridges, most notably with
Zappa after a bottle he threw narrowly missed Zappa’s daughter Moon
Unit .
“As discomfortingly fascinating as listening to a couple’s heated argument at a table near yours in a restaurant” (Joe Leydon, Variety)
Frames of Mind is a monthly film event run utilizing film and video
to promote professional and community education on issues pertaining
to mental health and illness.
Post-screening discussion with Luke Meat , CiTR 101.9FM Music Director.
Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky,
Director of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development,
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.
The Media Sponsor of Frames of Mind is CiTR 109.1FM