Wesley Willis dead at 40

[vsp]

<a href="http://www.empty-handed.com/archive/2003_08_22.html#000986">Text of the announcement</a> (the Alternative Tentacles site is somewhat slashdotted).

For those who did not know of Wesley, he was:

* six-foot-five, three-hundred-plus pounds
* diagnosed with chronic paranoid schizophrenia through much of his adult life
* once homeless, selling drawings on the streets of Chicago
* known to deliver headbutts as a friendly greeting
* a prolific recording artist, with over 20 albums on his discography, all performed in his signature style (i.e. Wesley ranting about whatever was on his mind with his Casio keyboard providing the melody, always ending with an advertising slogan)
* someone who did things his way and didn't give a rat's ass if anyone else was offended, which puts him one up on most people.

Rock on, Chicago.