Daniel Johnston

A tribute to the late Daniel Johnston featuring covers from 15 different artists, released for the one year anniversary of the death of Daniel Johnston.

Jean-Luc le Tenia (1975-2011) is the author of more than 1,300 songs, produced in a hurry, minimalist and melancholic. Becoming a true legend during his lifetime in Le Mans, the singer is considered the French Daniel Johnston. From his complex relationships with others, particularly with women, and from his deep psychological suffering, he created songs that many still sing. In this film, enriched by archives and interviews with those who knew him, historian Hervé Guillemain reconstructs the influences, practices and singular journey of a multifaceted artist by placing him in the history of French song and the alternative punk movement, in the landscapes of the city of Le Mans. Between art, psychology and history, Alors je fais des chansons is a film which, by observing the creative process on an individual level, ultimately questions the notion of art brut.

This newly completed work – made after Johnston’s death – constructs a highly revealing portrait of the artist via interviews with his sister, Marjory (who in his later years collaborated with Daniel on his artwork and continues to advocate for and promote his work), a special focus on his drawings, as well as documentation of his last home, a house in Waller, Texas, which he filled with a truly mind-boggling volume of books, records, VHS tapes, and other collections, all of which serve as a kind of self-portrait of a unique mind and sensibility.

Daniel Johnston stars in this psychedelic short film about an aging musician coming to terms with the dreams of yesteryear.

The Cutting Edge first aired in 1983 (a precursor to 120 minutes) on MTV providing viewers with a rare opportunity to intimately voyage the sounds, thoughts, work spaces and living quarters of the most interesting artists on the cutting edge of music. Host Peter Zaremba (of the fabulous Fleshtones) added levity with his wit and love of music and musicians. Artists features in this compilation include R.E.M., Squeeze, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Robyn Hitchcock, Tom Waits, The Blasters, Stan Ridgeway, Husker Du, X, The Alarm, The Fleshtones, Hoodoo Gurus, Jonathan Richman, The Smithereens, The DB's, Let's Active; also bonus appearances by Henry Rollins and Willie Dixon.

This 2005 documentary film chronicles the life of Daniel Johnston, a manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, from childhood up to the present, with an emphasis on his mental illness and how it manifested itself in demonic self-obsession.

Covers the history of the long running All Tomorrow's Parties music festival, utilizing footage generated by the fans and musicians attending the events themselves, on a multitude of formats including Super8, camcorder and mobile phone.

A professional video production of the July 2007 performance of Daniel Johnston at Union Chapel in London.

Artist Ron English travels across the country illegally putting up artwork of President Obama and Abraham Lincoln merged together.

Singer and musician Daniel Johnston sits on a bench in a park and recites or reads or sings a text, while kids are either running around or trying to understand what is going on.

It's just a simple stretch of interviews and images capturing the people who camp out, dope up, drink up, sometimes get naked, and jump into a nearby waterfall, whilst listening to musicians like Daniel Johnston.

A nameless young man travels the country by bus and train, visiting friends and making new ones, having banal conversations, and dedicating his existence to mundane activities.

Shot in 1988 at the home of Half Japanese co-founder David Fair. Daniel Johnston, Jad Fair, Susan Fair, David Fair and Charles Brohawn (The Tinklers) all participate, after Daniel's arrival and a taco dinner prepared by David. Daniel performs some of his classic material, including the astonishing "Don't Play Cards with Satan".

From 1978 a written and directed short film by Daniel Johnston starring his father, Bill Johnston.

One of Daniel Johnston's short films made as a teenager.

One of Daniel Johnston's short films made as a teenager.