Those of you unfamiliar with the weird and wonderful musical legacy of Gary Wilson have some studying to do. This Endicott, New York native had taught himself to play half a dozen instruments before grade school. He started recording his own loopy, bizarre pop compositions at age 12 and then, after discovering John Cage as a teenager, started self-releasing the D.I.Y. albums of far-out, eccentric electro-pop experimentation he’s best known for. Between the early ’80s and the early ’00s, the ever-reclusive Wilson went into self-imposed exile. Nobody even knew where to find him. In the past 15 years or so, he’s slowly reemerged, releasing new material and re-releasing older recordings.
Despite his obscurity and the overall weirdness of his music, the legend of Gary Wilson has some found its way to some pretty surprising places. He’s probably still best known for being name-dropped in the lyrics to Beck’s hit single “Where It’s At.” The Residents used to send him fan mail in the ’70s. Electric Six recently released a cover of one of his tunes. He is also, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most far-out, avant-garde musician ever to perform with the Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
“I Love Gary” is from the album Music For Piano, recently re-released by the fine folks over at Feeding Tube Records. The tune pulls at the very fabric of what can constitute a “pop song” until it’s distressed beyond recognition. To celebrate the re-release, this new video was released, directed, and filmed by Vermont native and friend of the Hassle Joey Pizza Slice.
Thanks so much for the writeup on Gary! He’s more active as ever these days with new music and touring. I even spoke with him recently about his collaboration with Earl Sweatshirt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg_iY5FlALo