Wild Man Fischer
Biography
Lawrence "Larry" Wayne "Wild Man" Fischer was an American street performer known for offering erratic, acapella performances of "new kinds of songs" for a nickel or a dime each on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Most of his life was spent homeless or institutionalized, and he later became regarded as "the godfather of outsider music". In 1968, he recorded a double album, An Evening with Wild Man Fischer, that was produced by Frank Zappa for the Bizarre label.
Known For & Full Filmography4 Titles
Movie - 1987, 2h 15m • as Self
Long-form Barnes and Barnes piece featuring a handful of music videos, sketches, and assorted weirdness.
Movie - 1971, 2h 15m • as Self (archive footage)
Produced for Dutch television and directed by Roelof Kiers, this documentary offers an observational portrait of musician and composer Frank Zappa in the early 1970s. Filmed at Zappa’s home and during rehearsals and performances with the Mothers of Invention, the program combines interviews, backstage scenes, and concert footage recorded at the Fillmore West featuring Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. Alongside performances and informal conversations, Zappa reflects on his musical influences, creative methods, and views on American culture and politics while working on projects such as 200 Motels.
Movie - 2005, 2h 15m • as Self
A documentary on the life and music of manic-depressive, paranoid-schizophrenic cult music icon Wild Man Fischer.
Movie - 2012, 2h 15m • as Self
Documentary about the rise and fall of Frank Zappa's record labels, Bizarre and Straight which featured a collection of acts that included: Alice Cooper, The GTOs, and Wild Man Fischer.