Wesley Willis was an American rock singer-songwriter and an artist. Born in difficult circumstances and raised in foster homes, Wesley overcame penury, homelessness and mental illness to become one of the most loved rock icons of his times. Probably as an escape from his dismal family circumstances, Wesley started sketching Chicago street scenes. He loved to look at the city from public buses. His ink-pen sketches have scenes from his bus rides and the buses themselves. He called these rides “joyrides” which he took to stop hearing the demons shouting in his head. Willis suffered from schizophrenia all his life. His mental issues were reflected in the music he wrote once he decided to become a musician. Critics of his music have talked about his preprogrammed music on the keyboard and the repetitiveness of his songs. However, his fans found his songs passionate and honest. Whether it was his sheer size, his typical “headbutt” greeting or his profane lyrics, Wesley Willis always attracted a great deal of attention from fans and media alike and continues to do so years after his death.
