Wesley Willis is dead.

[Miss Modular]

I don't believe this. From Alternative Tentacles:

Alternative Tentacles

08/22/03: Rock Star Wesley Willis Dead at 40

Dear Friends and fellow Wesleynauts,
We are deeply saddened to report that one of our artists, Wesley Willis passed away yesterday, Thursday, August 21st. Wesley will be greatly missed by all that had the privilege to know him, as well as the fans who have been fortunate enough to experience his genius.

Wesley was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) at the end of 2002, and had to undergo emergency surgery on June 2nd to identify the source of, and to suppress internal bleeding. It is not clear if this bleeding was related to his leukemia or not, and the exact cause of death is still unknown. Wesley had been recovering at a Hospice in Illinois, and since the surgery his health had deteriorated rapidly.

His songs were simultaneously disturbing, hilarious, blunt, and intoxicating. Wesley's sheer excitement and unaffected honesty about every cultural phenomenon, defined his music as truly individual, and truly punk rock.

Wesley released well over 50 albums - 3 of which are on Alternative Tentacles, and a 4th, entitled, Wesley Willis Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (CD) had already been scheduled for release in October of this year.

For more information on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, please visit http://leukemia-lymphoma.org .

Currently there are no plans for any funeral service but we will inform you if there will be.

A few years back, I tried to get one of his videos on TRL, but it didn't work.

DAMN YOU CARSON, YOU MASSIVE TOOL!

[Protoclown]

I'm not really very familiar with him or his work except for only hearing one or two songs, but that sucks.

[Bennett]

I will never forget when I met Wesley Willis. He was staying at a high-school friend of mine, who used to be in some bands around detroit. Once after seeing Wesley play, my friend told him that if he came back to detroit, he could stay at his place. Wesley promptly took said friend's phone number, and on his return to detroit took my friend up on his offer.

I went over and Wesley busted out the keyboard and put on an intimate show. My souveneirs are not only photos of the evening, but also an original W.W. lyric sheet (laminated from Kinko's and everything), for a song that Wesley decided not to record. It was entitled "Save the Animals," and Wesley had dropped the song because he decided instead, "...fuck the animals!!!" He then told me to "...get these demons off my back!!!"

This is very very sad news

[Dixie]

[Jixby Phillips]

fuck.

This is so depressing

[Jeanette X]

[CaptainBubba]

Rock and Roll McDonalds.

[Cap'n Crunch]

I thought he was funny.

[KILLADEUCE]

RIP ?-2003


"CUT THE MULLET"
Do something about your long, filthy hair
It looks like a rat's nest
Do something about your mullet
Get out the hair clippers, jerk
Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet

Get the rat's nest off your head
Get that crazy-ass mother off your skull
Take your ass to the barber shop
Tell the barber that you're sick of looking like an asshole

Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet, Cut the mullet

The mullet is the reason why people hate you
They are sick of looking at your nappy weed-sack
Nobody wants to look at you with that mullet on your head
Why don't you cut that mullet, you numbskull

Rock over London, rock on Chicago
Insure One, it's the insurance superstore

[slavemason]

I was fortunate enough to be shown the proper technique of butting a man's head by the master. Apparently it's very important to look a person in the eyes as you butt their head.
Earlier in the evening Wesley told me that he would "bust a cap in my motherfucking ass." He had been listening to the Ghetto Boys.
What a great show, he still had the Fiasco. I saw him a time or two later with the keyboards. He had gotten so big, it was scary. He sounded like a bear when he was breathing. The grunting and such.

Pop That Pussy, Pop the Pussy

say Rah! Rock over London, Rock on Heaven...

[slavemason]

Diet Pepsi. Uh Huh!

Discover Card, It Pays to Discover

[Ninjavenom]

[Big Papa Goat]

[Jixby Phillips]

A couple years ago I wanted to see him live, but the only friend I had who could drive me couldn't go because his mom sucks. It pissed me off because it was like a month before his 18th birthday and she treated him like a kid all the way up to the bitter end. He moved out on his 18th birthday.

Fuck I wish I could have gone I remembered the rumors about him having a brain tumor not too long ago and had the same thought.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I saw him live on Easter a couple of years ago. That was my bestest Easter holidat ever.

But seriously, I hate to be the dickhead, but couldn't we see this coming??? When I saw him, he was HUGE. I mean, he was big even by Wesley standards. Do you think the crew that carted him around was concerned about his weight, or do you think they felt it was part of his charm....?

[Sethomas]

When I see a morbidly obese person, my first thoughts aren't that leukemia is about to get him.

These are truly sad times.

[Anonymous]

I always think it's ironic when overly-religious people die young. But this time it isn't as funny :<

[Snake Shadow CobrA]

Rock OVer LOndon, Rock on Chicago, WHEATIES BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS

[Domo Kun]

Everytime I see a Ford Winstar I start singing his song. I really didn't know this many people knew who he was. Thats rad. He played here at Coo's Cafe and the tickets were 1 dollar. Lets jsut say it was the best dollar ever spent.

-Domo

He can't be dead, it musn't be true. He is the best.

[Perndog]

They should dedicate the 2003 MTV VMAs to Wesley. His music is a hell of a lot better than half of the nominees.

[Miss Modular]

If anyone lives in the Chicago Area and is interested in going to a wake:

There will be a viewing on Wednesday, August 27th from 4-9pm at the John Rago & Sons
Memorial Chapel in Chicago, IL.

John Rago & Sons Memorial Chapel
721 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
60612
tel. (773) 276 6056

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "John Rago & Sons Memorial Chapel" (check or money order) mailed to above address to help defray memorial & burial costs. Thank You.

[sspadowsky]

It makes me sad that I probably lived in walking distance from the guy and never got to meet him.