Larry Wayne Fischer American singer-songwriter Date of Birth: 06.11.1944 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Mental Health Struggles
2. Discovery and Underground Recognition
3. Friendship with Frank Zappa and Bizarre Records
4. Later Career and Collaborations
5. The Fischer King and Smegma Collaboration
6. Final Performances and Documentary
7. Death and Legacy

Early Life and Mental Health Struggles

Larry Wayne Fischer was born on November 6, 1944, in Los Angeles, California. At the age of 16, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after attacking his mother with a knife. Later diagnosed with severe paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Fischer escaped from the institution and roamed the streets of Los Angeles, earning money by singing his unconventional songs to passersby for 10 cents.

Discovery and Underground Recognition

Guitarist Frank Zappa discovered Fischer and produced his first album, "An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" (1969), a chaotic collection of 36 tracks. Fischer became a cult figure on the underground concert circuit, earning the unofficial title "godfather of outsider music."

Friendship with Frank Zappa and Bizarre Records

Frank Zappa and Bizarre Records released "An Evening with Wild Man Fischer" in 1969. Despite their friendship, an incident where Fischer threw a can at Zappa's young daughter, Moon, resulted in Gail Zappa, Frank's widow, refusing to release it on CD.

Later Career and Collaborations

In the 1980s, Fischer collaborated with comedy rock duo Barnes & Barnes, releasing two albums, "Pronounced Normal" (1981) and "Nothing Scary" (1984). He also appeared on national television in "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and was featured in a comic book titled "The Legend Of Wild Man Fischer." In 1986, Barnes & Barnes wrote and produced "It's A Hard Business," a duet featuring Fischer and Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of actor George Clooney.

The Fischer King and Smegma Collaboration

In 1999, Rhino Records released "The Fischer King," a 100-track CD anthology that sold out in mere weeks. The limited-edition boxed set included all Fischer's previously released Rhino material, including his albums with Barnes & Barnes and "Wildmania" (1977), as well as his duet with Clooney. Fischer also made a guest appearance on experimental noise group Smegma's album "Sings Popular Songs" (1974).

Final Performances and Documentary

In October 2004, Fischer appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on ABC-TV. In 2005, Josh Rubin and Jeremy Lubin, known as The Ubin Twinz, premiered their documentary about Fischer, "Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Wild Man Fischer," at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in Austin, Texas. The film was not released on CD or DVD but generated enough interest to prompt Rhino Records to reissue all three of Fischer's albums under their Collector's Choice Music imprint.

Death and Legacy

Larry Fischer made his last concert appearance on August 16, 2006, at the Trunk Space in Phoenix, Arizona. He died from heart problems in Los Angeles on June 16, 2011. Fischer's unique and eccentric style continues to inspire a devoted following of fans and musicians.