The Devil and Daniel Johnston with Noah Bond

Rock Docs

Today's episode is about "The Devil and Daniel Johnston", a 2005 doc about the musician, outsider artist, and revered cult figure Daniel Johnston, directed by Jeff Feuerzeig.

The movie was selected by our guest Noah Bond, who plays drums with many excellent bands including Cut Worms, Bonnie Doon, Sylvie, and Anna St. Louis.

Daniel Johnston was an illustrator, filmmaker, and a musician who wrote and recorded countless beautiful songs, most of which were captured on a home cassette deck accompanied only by his rudimentary piano and guitar. Daniel was a troubled soul. He suffered from bipolar disorder and was hospitalized multiple times.

The film focuses on his upbringing, featuring deeply revealing interviews with his family, as well as the outpouring of art that followed his brief college friendship with fellow artist Laurie Allen, who unknowingly became Daniel's muse. Eventually Daniel found a measure of fame for his music and art thanks to the attention he received from supporters such as Kurt Cobain.

Daniel's life wasn't easy on him or the people around him. The film is a remarkable tribute to him and an enormous accomplishment.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt