Wesley Willis was a unique and prolific musician and artist who gained a cult following in the 1990s. He was known for his quirky and humorous songs that often praised his favorite bands, products, and celebrities, as well as his colorful and detailed drawings of Chicago streetscapes. He was also diagnosed with schizophrenia and chronic myelogenous leukemia, two conditions that affected his life and career. In this article, we will explore how Wesley Willis died due to complications from leukemia, and how his legacy lives on in the outsider music scene.
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What is Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia?
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells. It occurs when a genetic mutation causes the bone marrow to produce too many abnormal white blood cells, called leukocytes. These leukocytes crowd out the normal blood cells, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, fever, night sweats, weight loss, bleeding, infections, and pain in the spleen or abdomen. CML is usually diagnosed in adults, and it can progress from a chronic phase to an accelerated phase and then to a blast phase, which is the most aggressive and life-threatening stage
According to the American Cancer Society, CML can be treated with drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which block the activity of the abnormal protein that causes the leukocytes to grow. TKIs can help control the disease and improve the survival rate of patients with CML. However, some patients may develop resistance to TKIs or experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, rash, muscle pain, liver damage, or heart problems. In some cases, patients may need other treatments such as chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, or clinical trials
When Was Wesley Willis Diagnosed with CML?
Wesley Willis was diagnosed with CML in late 2002, according to a press release from Alternative Tentacles, the record label that released some of his albums He underwent emergency surgery on June 2nd, 2003, to identify the source of internal bleeding However, his condition worsened and he was admitted to a hospice in Illinois
On August 21st, 2003, Wesley Willis died due to complications from CML in Skokie, Illinois. He was 40 years old His death was mourned by his fans, friends, family, and fellow musicians who admired his creativity and courage. Jello Biafra, the founder of Alternative Tentacles and former lead singer of Dead Kennedys, said in a statement: “He was a one-of-a-kind phenomenon. If there ever was a musician who had earned the right to be called a genius and an inspiration to all who knew him or heard him sing or play keyboards or draw pictures or just talk about life as he saw it.”
How Did Wesley Willis Influence Outsider Music?
Outsider music is a term that refers to music that is created by artists who are self-taught or have little or no formal musical training or exposure to mainstream music. Outsider musicians often have unconventional styles, techniques, lyrics, or themes that reflect their personal experiences, visions, or beliefs. Outsider music is usually considered raw, original, authentic, and sometimes bizarre or disturbing by mainstream listeners.
Wesley Willis was one of the most prominent and prolific outsider musicians of his time. He recorded over 50 albums and 1000 songs between 1989 and 2003 using a Technics KN keyboard with auto accompaniment features. His songs were mostly spoken in an MC style and partially sung in a nasal and out-of-tune manner reminiscent of punk rock vocals. His lyrics were often humorous and absurd, covering topics such as mental illness (which he called “hell rides”), consumerism (“Rock N Roll McDonald’s”), violence (“I Whupped Batman’s Ass”), politics (“Rock Saddam Hussein’s Ass”), or praise for his favorite bands (“Veruca Salt”, “Silverchair”, “Alice in Chains”). He also had a signature phrase: “Rock over London, rock on Chicago!” followed by a commercial slogan such as “Budweiser: The King of Beers”.
Wesley Willis also fronted his own punk rock band called The Wesley Willis Fiasco during the 1990s. The band played live shows with Willis singing over loud guitars and drums while wearing colorful outfits and headbutting fans as a sign of affection. The band released two albums: Spooky Disharmonious Conflict Hellride (1994) and Rock Power (1996). The band also collaborated with other artists such as Mike Patton, Henry Rollins, and Steve Albini.
Wesley Willis was not only a musician, but also a visual artist. He produced hundreds of intricate, unusual, and colorful ink-pen drawings, most of them depicting Chicago streetscapes. He frequently sold his drawings on the street for between $20 and $40. He also drew portraits of his friends, celebrities, and fictional characters. His drawings were exhibited in several galleries and museums, and some of them are part of the permanent collection of the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.
Wesley Willis gained a large cult following in the 1990s, especially after the release of his Greatest Hits album in 1995 on the Alternative Tentacles label. He was admired by many indie rock musicians such as the Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Beck, and Nirvana. He also appeared on several TV shows such as The Jenny Jones Show, The Howard Stern Show, and MTV’s Oddville. He was the subject of two documentaries: Wesley Willis: The Daddy of Rock ‘n’ Roll (2003) and The Wesley Willis Fiasco: A Documentary (2005).
Wesley Willis was a unique and influential figure in the outsider music scene. He created music and art that expressed his personality, emotions, and worldview in an honest and original way. He overcame many challenges and hardships in his life, such as poverty, abuse, schizophrenia, and leukemia. He inspired many people with his creativity and courage. He was a one-of-a-kind phenomenon who rocked over London and rocked on Chicago