Here's a nice tribute to Willis from the Alternative Tentacles newsletter:
"We lost Wesley Willis some time before 9PM Chicago time August 21,
2003. Word is he died peacefully. The likely cause may be heart
failure. Wesley had been battling leukemia for close to a year.
Wesley will go down as one of the most unique songwriters and
entertainment personalities in history. His music, lyrics, drawings,
insight and the way he put them together are like no one else. Ever.
There will never be another.
As I got to know Wesley, what really struck me was his sheer will
power, his unrelenting drive to succeed and over come a horrifically
poor background, child abuse, racism, chronic schizophrenia and
obesity among other things. He was the most courageous person I have
ever known.
Yet through it all he had such a deep, all-encompassing love of life.
Little things, big things. He loved bus rides. He loved watching
trains. He loved writing songs about how much he loved his friends. He
loved travelling to new towns so he could headbutt new friends. Is
there any band he saw that escaped being in their own song about how
much he loved their show? He was so warm, so sweet, so giving. He
could be a handful when he came to visit; but as soon as he left, we'd
miss him immediately.
As his long time friend Dennis Cooper said, "No More Demons." The
voices in Wesley's head can't yell at him and put him down any more.
Wes was deeply religious. He was afraid that if he died he would no
longer get to go see bands play. If there is a hereafter I hope he's
right up front as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, his beloved Otis
Redding and his dear friend Bradley from Sublime "storm the stage" as
the crowd "roars like a sea monster." All opening for Wesley, of
course.
It will be hard now that he's gone, but I'm not going to let myself
stop enjoying the funny stuff, or the look on people's faces when they
first hear "Rock n Roll McDonald's," or the memories of the good times
and Wesley's big adventures. He wouldn't want it any other way.
There are many down times when all I have to do is think of one of his
songs, something he said or simply marvel at his Wesley-isms, and the
clouds part and a smile comes to my face. I think he does that for a
lot of people. He always will.
Rock over London Rock on Chicago Sail on, Wes. I love you.
Jello Biafra 8-22-03"
