Live acoustic radio performance from the living legend Roky Erickson !!!
Tracks : 1-When You Get Delighted 2-Warning (Social And Political Injustices) 3-I've Never Thought 4-True Love 5-Love Isn't A Part Time Thing 6-The Looking Glass 7-Don't Slander Me 8-Splash1 9-Cold Night For Alligators 10-Bloddy Hammer 11-The Damn Thing 12-Sing For You 13-I Love The Blind Men 14-I've Never Know This Till Now 15-May The Circle Remanin Unbroken 16-Starry Eyes
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Tracks : 1-Two-Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer) 2-I Think of Demons 3-I Walked With a Zombie 4-Don't Shake Me Lucifer 5-Night of the Vampire 6-Bloody Hammer 7-White Faces 8-Cold Night for Alligators 9-Creature With the Atom Brain 10-Mine Mine Mind 11-Stand for the Fire Demon 12-Wind and More
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BIOGRAPHY Legendary
rock n roll pioneer Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson hails from Austin,
Texas. He is, in the words of music writer Richie Unterberger, one of
"the unknown heroes of rock and roll." As singer, songwriter, and
guitar player for the legendary Austin, TX band The 13th Floor
Elevators, the first rock and roll band to describe their music as
"psychedelic", Roky had a profound impact on the San Francisco scene
when the group traveled there in 1966. While bands such as The Grateful
Dead and The Jefferson Airplane had the their roots in traditional
acoustic folk music, the Elevators unique brand of heavy, hard-rocking
electric blues pointed to a new direction for the music of the hippie
generation. The Elevators only had one chart hit, the Roky-penned
You're Gonna Miss Me, but their influence was far reaching. R.E.M., ZZ
Top, Poi Dog Pondering, The Judybats, T-Bone Burnett, Julian Cope, The
Jesus and Mary Chain, The Cramps, The Minutemen, Television, The
Cynics, The Lyres, Teisco Del Rey, The Fuzztones and Radio Birdman have
all either recorded or played live versions of Roky's songs. In
addition to these performers, Roky is an acknowledged influence on such
diverse musicians as Robert Plant, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Henry
Rollins, Mike Watt, Sonic Youth, The Butthole Surfers, Jon Spencer, The
Damned, Red Krayola, Pere Ubu, and current indie hit-makers The White
Stripes. His songs have appeared on the soundtracks to the movies High
Fidelity, Drugstore Cowboy, Boys Don't Cry, Hamlet (2000), and Return
of the Living Dead. While he may not be a household name, Roky has
enjoyed the support of a small but fiercely loyal cult following
throughout his career.
Unfortunately,
Roky's struggles with drug abuse and mental illness took a serious
toll. His 1969 arrest in Texas for possession of a single marijuana
cigarette led to his being committed for three years to Rusk State
Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where he was reportedly subjected
to Thorazine, electroshock therapy, and other experimental treatments.
Most agree he was never the same after his release. Roky has had
prolific periods of creativity in the intervening years, but
unscrupulous managers and record label executives often took advantage
of his condition, leaving Roky to live in poverty while others profit
from his music.
Happily,
today we find Roky in the process of being his own miracle and making
an astounding recovery from nearly a two-decade long period of almost
total tragedy. His youngest brother, singer/songwriter and former
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Tubaist Sumner Erickson, was
appointed Roky's legal guardian in June, 2001. Sumner has established
The Roger Kynard Erickson Trust to address Roky's living expenses,
medical bills, and other financial needs. From June, 2001 until July,
2002, Roky lived with his brother in Pittsburgh, where he finally began
to receive the treatment and care he needs. Roky is now back in Austin,
where his health continues to improve dramatically. In March, 2005,
Roky made his first public performance in 10 years performing 3 songs
at the Roky Erickson Psychedelic Ice Cream Social at Threadgills in
Austin. He was backed by the Explosives. In September, he is scheduled
to play the Austin City Limits Festival (again with the Explosives)
which will mark his first full concert appearance in almost two
decades! Celebrate as the miracle continues!
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