Died On This Date (June 15, 2011) Wild Man Fischer / Unconventional Singer-Songwriter
themusicsover Larry “Wild Man” Fischer
November 6, 1944 – June 15, 2011
Wild Man Fischer was a cultish singer-songwriter whose unconventional music and actions could be attributed to mental illness. He’s been called severely paranoid schizophrenic, manic depressive, and an acid casualty. Fischer was kicked out of high school for singing in class, and at 16 was institutionalized after attacking his mother with a knife. Upon his release the following year, he landed on the streets of Los Angeles where he continued to sing his outlandish songs to pedestrians at just 10 cents each. Another venue he enjoyed was Dodger Stadium where he serenaded fans while selling peanuts. He also entered area talent shows, and it was at one of these that he caught the attention of Solomon Burke who took him on tour with him. By the late ’60s, Fischer was hanging out along West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip where he opened for the likes of Iron Butterfly and Bo Diddley. He was soon spotted by Frank Zappa who recorded his first album, An Evening With Wild Man Fischer in 1968. He went on to perform with Art and Artie Barnes and recorded additional albums on his own through the ’80s. His 1975 Go To Rhino Records was the first album ever released by the esteemed Rhino label. Throughout his career, Fischer worked with such luminaries as Linda Ronstadt, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Tom Waits, and oddly enough, Rosemary Clooney, with whom he dueted on 1986’s “It’s A Hard Business.” In recent years he has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, while making other random appearances. He is also the subject of a recent documentary, Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Wild Man Fischer. Wild Man Fischer was 66 when he passed away on June 15, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released, but he was reportedly suffering from heart issues.
What You Should Own
Owsley “Bear” Stanley was a sound engineer and former notorious LSD cook who was reportedly the first to manufacture large quantities of the drug. His high-quality LSD, often given away for free, became plentiful in the San Francisco area during the mid ’60s so is credited for being an essential piece of the hippie movement. As a respected sound engineer, Stanley was employed by (and also helped finance) the Grateful Dead. He met members of the group during Ken Kesey’s famed acid tests of 1966 and became their first sound man. He also co-designed their iconic “Steal Your Face” skull logo with Bob Thomas. It was Stanley who developed the advanced high fidelity live sound system used by the Grateful Dead. He also helped launch Meyer Sound, the respected concert sound system manufacturer. During his years with the Grateful Dead, Stanley started the practice of taping the band’s rehearsals and live shows – this lead to the phenomenon of audience-generated tapes that spread well beyond the Dead. He also made countless live recordings during the ’60s and ’70s of such acts as Jefferson Airplane, 
Brian Cole’s first foray into show business was as a stand-up comic and actor, eventually joining the Association as bassist. The group had two pop hits with “Along Comes Mary” and “Cherish.” Their other claim to fame was that the were the opening act for the legendary 1967 Monterey Pop Festival which first introduced many to the Who, 
