Who was Wesley Willis? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Wesley Lawrence Willis

Died At Age: 40

Family:

father: Walter

mother: Annie Ruth Willis

Born Country: United States

Rock Singers Punk Singers

Height: 6'5" (196 cm), 6'5" Males

Died on: August 21, 2003

place of death: Skokie, Illinois, United States

Cause of Death: Leukemia

: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

U.S. State: Illinois

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1

What was Wesley Willis known for?

Wesley Willis was known for his music career as a singer-songwriter and musician, particularly in the genre of rock music.
2

How did Wesley Willis create his music?

Wesley Willis created his music using a keyboard and drum machine, often recording his songs at home or performing them live at clubs and bars.
3

Did Wesley Willis struggle with mental health issues?

Yes, Wesley Willis struggled with schizophrenia, which influenced both his music and his daily life.
4

How did Wesley Willis gain popularity in the music industry?

Wesley Willis gained popularity in the music industry through his unconventional and raw musical style, as well as his charismatic and eccentric personality that resonated with fans.

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Childhood & Early Life

Wesley Lawrence Willis was born on 31 May 1963, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Walter and Annie Ruth Willis. His parents’ marriage was a turbulent and violent one. There were ten kids in the family, and after their parents separated, they moved to foster homes.

Wesley grew up in several foster homes with his two elder brothers. The rest of the siblings were all in different homes and many of them didn’t get to know each other till they were adolescents.

In the 1970s and 1980s, many of Annie Ruth’s children, including Wesley, moved back with her and started living in project homes. They lived under great financial stress and struggled to feed themselves.

It was while living with his mother that Willis first started hearing voices. It was first triggered by his mother’s boyfriend pointing a gun at him and robbing him of $100. Willis was diagnosed in the late 1980s with paranoid schizophrenia and institutionalized for a while.

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Career

Before he became a musician, Wesley Willis was an artist. As an escape from their dismal childhood, many of the Willis siblings had turned to art. He would sketch on the sidewalks on Chicago braving cold weather and winds and sell his sketches to passers-by.

He caught the attention of John Stulgate, a shop owner in Wicker Park, an area favored by artists. Stulgate invited him to his shop and started buying his paintings to help him out.

The shop below Stulgate’s was an art supply store called ‘Genesis’. Willis started frequenting this store. Though initially apprehensive, the store owner Richard Goldman saw how Willis charmed everyone with his warmth. He let him put up his paintings in the store and also put up a couch for him to nap on.

It was in the early 1990s that Willis decided to become a musician. He had made friends with a few musicians from the Chicago alternative rock scene. He learnt to sing and play the keyboard and arrived on the rock music scene starting as a street performer in Chicago.

Willis’ songs were irreverent; he wrote and sang of everything from traveling in public buses and losing weight to junk food and the voices in his head. There were also unusual concoctions like ‘chicken cow’.

He usually ended his songs with the words “Rock over London, rock on, Chicago”. His music became popular among the underground rock lovers and musicians such as Jello Biafra, White Zombie, Eddie Vedder, Mike D., and Henry Rollins.

In 1991, Willis formed the punk rock band ‘The Wesley Willis Fiasco’ with four thrash-punk-metal musicians. The band soon came to the notice of Rick Rubin, the head of ‘American Recordings’. He fell in love with their music and signed them up for a multi-record contract under the label.

Willis appeared on the debut album ‘Suffersystem’ of the Canadian band ‘Monster Voodoo Machine’ in 1994. The album went on the win a ‘Juno Music Award’. He had also sung about his fellow artists. He loved listening to club bands and had created tribute songs for Ted Nugent, Urge Overkill, Bon Jovi and others.

The Wesley Willis Fiasco broke up in 1996. Willis continued to release albums independently in the ensuing years. He was prolific and released more than 15 albums during the 1990s. Most of these were financed by himself. Many of these albums had his characteristic sketches on their covers.

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Willis’ die hard-fans like Jello Biafra and others compiled his songs from his self-released albums and released them under major labels. Some of the albums were ‘Wesley Willis Greatest Hits Vol 1 and 2’, ‘SpookydisharmoniousConflicthellride’, ‘Fabian Road Warrior’ and ‘Feel the Power’.

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Legacy

In 1998, Wesley Willis as an artist was the subject of the documentary ‘Wesley Willis: Artist of the Streets’ by Carl Hart.

The documentary ‘The Daddy of Rock ’n’ Roll,’ made in 2003, showcased Willis as a musician and his everyday life.

Willis’ artwork received critical acclaim after his death. In 2008, his work was exhibited at the Mohamed Khalil Museum in Egypt.

The physical traits of the character ‘Milan,’ who is a half-brother to ‘Wonder Woman’ in the DC comic series, are inspired by Willis.

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Family & Personal Life

One of Willis’ unique tendencies was “headbutting.” This was how he would greet everyone. As a result, he had a permanent bump on his head.

Willis was constantly haunted by the voices in his head and for this reason, he always wore headphones and listened to rock and roll and heavy metal music.

He also suffered from anxiety and had to take medications regularly. At times, he had to stop playing during his performances and take his medicines.

Among Willis’ friends was Carla Winterbottom. She had offered him a home when Willis had moved out of his father’s flat. He stayed with her until 1998. Winterbottom was a mother figure to Willis, she made him meals and watched out for him.

Bands who had toured with Willis recall that going around with him was like taking care of a young child who had to be reminded to eat properly, maintain personal hygiene, and take medicines. His friends were all very protective of him.

Wesley Willis passed away on August 21, 2003, at the age of 40. He had been suffering from leukemia.

Facts About Wesley Willis

Wesley Willis often incorporated humorous and unusual lyrics into his songs.

Willis gained a cult following for his energetic live performances, during which he would often engage in impromptu freestyle rapping and interact with the audience in a playful manner.

In addition to his music career, Willis was also a talented visual artist, creating colorful drawings and paintings that reflected his imaginative and whimsical style.

Despite facing challenges with mental health issues throughout his life, Willis maintained a positive attitude and a strong sense of humor, endearing him to fans and friends alike.

Wesley Willis had a distinctive greeting that he would often use when meeting people, enthusiastically exclaiming "Rock over London, rock on Chicago!" This catchphrase became synonymous with his cheerful and eccentric personality.

Wesley Willis Biography

You wanted to know

What was Wesley Willis known for?

How did Wesley Willis create his music?

Did Wesley Willis struggle with mental health issues?

How did Wesley Willis gain popularity in the music industry?