Judge: I WILL NOW FORMALLY CALL 74876
IN THE MATTER OF ROGER KYNARD ERICKSON,
MOST WELL KNOWN AS ROKY ERICKSON. YOU MAY PROCEED.
- Woman: COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME, SIR? - SUMNER ERICKSON.
- MR. ERICKSON, DO YOU KNOW ROGER KYNARD ERICKSON? - YES.
- Woman: AND HOW DO YOU KNOW HIM? - HE' S MY BROTHER.
- Woman: IS IT YOUR DESIRE TO HELP YOUR BROTHER? - Sumner: YES.
MY BROTHER SHOULD NOT BE LIVING IN POVERTY...
...HAD OUR MOTHER BEEN DOING THE RIGHT THING.
HE NEEDS PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE.
HE NEEDS HIS LIFE BACK
AFTER 35 YEARS OF TRAGEDY.
Judge: WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE?
EVELYN KYNARD ERICKSON.
Man: AND WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO ROKY?
I' M HIS MOTHER.
( reading statement ) "HOW DO I CONFRONT LIES AND INNUENDOS
WHICH HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT ME?
MY SON DON BROUGHT HOME
FIVE LITTLE CERAMIC HEADS.
EACH ONE WITH A TEAR DROP ON THE LEFT CHEEK.
HE SAID, ' THESE HEADS REPRESENT YOUR FIVE SONS.'
LAST WEEK, I DECIDED TO MOUNT THESE FIVE HEADS IN CLAY,
PUTTING A LARGER HEAD IN THE MIDDLE, WHICH REPRESENTED ME.
THE NEXT MORNING,
MY FACE HAD CRACKED.
THIS SHOWED ME MY TOTAL GRIEF AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY SONS.
I WAS BROKEN.
( guitar playing )
OH YEAH!
OH, BABY
YOU' RE GONNA WAKE UP ONE MORNING
AS THE SUN GREETS THE DAWN
YOU' RE GONNA WAKE UP ONE MORNING
AS THE SUN GREETS THE DAWN
YOU' RE GONNA LOOK AROUND IN YOUR MIND, GIRL
YOU' RE GONNA FIND THAT I' M GONE
YOU DIDN' T REALIZE
OH, YOU' RE GONNA MISS ME, BABY
OH, YOU' RE GONNA MISS ME, CHILD
YEAH, YEAH
Billy Gibbons: ROKY ERICKSON, TO THIS DAY,
IS ONE OF THE OUT-AND-OUT WILDEST ROCK SINGERS.
THE TALENT BEHIND ROKY' S VOICE
IS THE MYSTERY FACTOR THAT NO ONE COULD TOUCH.
TO THIS DAY, HE STANDS ALONE,
AND IS REVERED
AS SUCH AN UNUSUAL ARTIST
BECAUSE HE HAD THE GIFT OF THAT WONDERFUL VOICE.
IT WAS JUST CRAZY.
OH YEAH!
Chet Helms: JANICE JOPLIN TOOK A LOT OF HER STAGE PRESENCE
IN THAT FEELING THAT YOU WERE GONNA GET HIT
WITH A FLYING TONSIL AT 300 YARDS.
THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE INFLUENCE OF ROKY ERICKSON.
Patti Smith: MY 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS RECORDS
WERE CONSTANT COMPANIONS.
IN THOSE DAYS, YOU HAD YOUR RECORD PLAYER,
AND YOU JUST PULLED THE ARM OVER,
SO YOU COULD JUST LISTEN TO IT OVER AND OVER.
I WOULD JUST LISTEN TO IT OVER AND OVER
AND WRITE AND FALL ASLEEP.
AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS STILL PLAYING, YOU KNOW.
Gibbons: EVERY MUSICIAN HAD SO MUCH RESPECT
FOR THIS CRAZY THING THAT THEY WERE COMING UP WITH.
THE ELEVATORS WERE THE BIG HEROES.
THEY WERE THE GUYS.
THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULDN' T MAKE IT.
WELL, HERE IT IS.
WHOO!
MYSTERIOUS, HUH?
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HUH?
YEAH, I GOT A WEIRD THING TODAY.
A LETTER.
OKAY NOW, YOU SAVE IT OR WHAT?
- Evelyn: THIS IS YOUR CONFIRMATION-- - YEAH, OKAY.
IT SAYS, "YOU ARE IN THE RUNNING
OF A SELECT GROUP OF OUR CUSTOMERS
WHO BY ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS, COULD WIN $21,000,000.
THAT IS THE LARGEST PRIZE EVER TO GO TO ONE WINNER,
AND HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY."
YEAH, THAT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD DEAL, DOESN' T IT?
HOW IS YOUR FAMILY DOING? PRETTY GOOD?
- Interviewer: THEY' RE DOING WELL, THANKS. - GREAT.
NOW, THIS SAYS, "AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SUPER PRIZE,"
AND THAT' S THE ONE WE WANT. SO THIS IS WHAT YOU--
THIS IS THE ONE YOU PUT ON IT? OH, GOSH.
NOW, HOLD ON. WE JUST LEAVE THAT THERE.
YOU DON' T NEED TO GET IT.
IT SAYS, "SAVE THIS PHOTO OF WHAT YOU' RE GONNA SEE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THIS IS--
I DON' T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
JUST GIVE IT TO YOU? YEAH, I SEE.
- THAT' S KIND OF FISHY WISHY. - Evelyn: THIS THING SOUNDS TOO COMPLICATED.
Roky: OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
CAN I HAVE THIS?
- Evelyn: YEAH. - OH BOY, THAT' S GOOD, MAN.
- YOU PUT THE MONEY IN HERE, RIGHT? - YEAH, IT' S A BANK.
AND YOU KEEP IT.
IT NEEDS A NOSE, SEE?
AND A HAT.
HUH? WHAT?
AT SOME OTHER FLEA MARKET MAYBE WE' LL PICK UP THE NOSE.
YEAH, YEAH. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO GIVE ME?
I CAN' T THINK OF ANYTHING.
HUH?
BETTER WHEN YOU TRY TO SENDING??
FROM THE EGG INTO THE FLOUR
ALPHA INFORMATION SENDING??
STATES WITHIN THE HEAVENS SHOUT...
John Ike Walton: WE WERE TWO SEPARATE GROUPS.
WE HEARD ROKY PLAY, AND STACY SAID,
"IF WE CAN GET THAT GUY WE' LL GO SOMEWHERE."
AND THEN WE ALL STARTED JAMMING
AT TOMMY' S HOUSE ONE NIGHT. TOMMY SAID,
"LET' S CALL THIS ' PSYCHEDELIC ROCK' ."
SLIP INSIDE THIS HOUSE AS YOU PASS BY
DON' T PASS IT BY...
Gibbons: HAVING STARTED OFF WITH A FIERCE BACKBONE
FROM R&B AND BLUES,
THEY TOOK IT INTO A NEW REALM,
BRANCHING OUT WITH SOME OF THE WILDEST ARRANGEMENTS.
- ( electric guitar playing ) - ( siren wailing )
Roky: TOMMY WAS A BIG JUG BAND FAN.
HE WOULD PUT A MICROPHONE NEXT TO THE JUG TO AMPLIFY IT,
AND HE' D GO...
( crowd cheering )
HEY, GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE YOU?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF LUNG POWER TO DO THAT?
- YEAH, YOU HAVE. - SO YOU CAN GET DIFFERENT SOUNDS OUT OF THAT TOO, HUH?
YEAH, YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO BLOW PRETTY STRONG.
WHO IS THE HEAD MAN OF THE GROUP HERE, GENTLEMEN?
- WELL, WE' RE ALL HEADS. - ALL RIGHT.
SO "13th FLOOR ELEVATORS", LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
Roky: IT WAS REAL STRANGE FOR THE ELEVATORS
TO BE THE ONLY ONES DOING THIS-- FEEDBACK,
AND STANDING ON YOUR AMPLIFIER,
BANGING YOUR GUITAR. AND HEAR GROUPS LIKE THE WHO AND THE YARDBIRDS
WHO WOULD BE DOING THAT TOO. THAT' S WHEN WE SAID, "MY GOD!
THESE CATS ARE IN ON IT."
WE JUST CLICKED RIGHT ON. IT WAS LIKE TAKING OFF FOR OUTER SPACE.
( guitar playing )
CHAOS ALL AROUND ME
BUT I CAN HEAR YOU SINGING
IN THE CORNERS OF MY BRAIN...
Clementine Hall: ROKY WAS SO ACCESSIBLE,
AND RIGHT IN YOUR FACE IN THE SWEETEST WAY.
SO JOYFUL, AND CHILDLIKE,
AND PLAYFUL,
AND ALSO GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT, WHICH DIDN' T HURT.
...EVERYTHING IS QUIET
BUT THE SONG THAT KEEPS ME SANE
Clementine: HE WAS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU--
REALLY THRILLED TO KNOW YOU, AND YOU CAN' T RESIST IT.
IT' S THE MOST INTOXICATING THING IN THE WORLD TO BE AROUND.
I WANTED TO HAVE HIM IN MY LIFE.
I WANTED TO HAVE HIM AS A FRIEND.
AND EVERYBODY DID THAT.
MALE AND FEMALE ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
Dana Gaines: ROKY' S FAME WAS GOING NATIONWIDE.
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT WAS THE ELEVATORS.
IT WAS JUST PACKED, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS JUST THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,
INCREDIBLE MUSIC YOU HAD EVER HEARD.
I WAS JUST STANDING THERE AT THE STAGE
JUST HUNG ON EVERY WORD THAT ROKY PUT TO MUSIC.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
...IF YOU FEAR I' LL LOSE MY SPIRIT,
LIKE A DRUNKARD' S WASTED WINE,
DON' T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
Gaines: SO I GOT INTO WANTING TO MEET HIM.
AND INSTEAD OF SEEING A MATURE, RUGGED,
BOB DYLAN, NEW YORK, YOU KNOW--
I SEE THIS SWEET LITTLE BOY.
SEE, THERE IT IS.
OH, MAN. I' M JUST SITTING HERE.
I' M JUST GOING TO RELAX OR SOMETHING.
( TV droning )
( electronic tune playing )
( radio static )
( electric music playing )
( country song playing )
( all sounds blaring )
Roky shouts: OKAY, I' M GONNA LAY DOWN NOW.
( all sounds blaring )
Evelyn' s voice: HE FALLS ASLEEP WITH ALL THAT STUFF ON.
IT' S WHEN I TURN IT OFF THAT HE WAKES UP.
WE SPEND FOUR HOURS EVERY DAY TOGETHER.
I' M THE ONLY ONE HE' LL ANSWER FOR.
I WANTED TO TELL MY STORY.
I FELT LIKE EVERYBODY' S VERSION
OF WHO I WAS WAS INACCURATE.
I MEAN, THEY WERE JUDGING ME BY MY CHILDREN.
SO I STARTED COLLECTING PICTURES.
AND FOR THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS,
I PASTED THEM UP ON CARDBOARD.
ROKY AND DON.
HIS BROTHER.
I' D WRITE OUT PARTS OF THE STORY AS I WENT ALONG,
TRYING VERY HARD TO REASSURE MYSELF
THAT I HAD BEEN A GOOD MOTHER.
NOW, IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS A LITTLE BIT BOY CRAZY.
AND THIS IS ROGER, MY HUSBAND.
WE MARRIED IN 1944.
HERE ARE THE FIVE BOYS.
IT WAS LIKE A SUMMER CAMP HERE.
( laughs )
AND THERE' S ROKY.
THIS IS DON.
THERE' S DONNY.
AND THIS IS MIKEL.
AND HERE' S BEN,
MY FOURTH SON.
AND SUMNER IS THE FIFTH SON.
WE NAMED HIM "SUMNER" AFTER REVEREND SUMNERS
AT CHURCH.
I HAD HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS
WHEN I WAS 12, AND I WAS BAPTIZED.
I PROMISED GOD
THAT I WOULD GIVE HIM ALL MY SONS.
THIS WAS 1962. ROKY' S PLAYING GUITAR, AND WE' RE ALL LISTENING.
THAT' S THE ONLY TIME HE SEEMS COMPLETELY HAPPY.
( guitar playing )
Roky' s voice: I' LL TELL YOU, I' VE BEEN INFLUENCED
BY LITTLE RICHARD,
AND JAMES BROWN. HE SCREAMS.
I' VE BEEN GETTING INTO SCREAMING
LIKE THAT REAL THING THAT HURTS YOU.
I WONDER WHERE HE IS, YOU KNOW?
I' D BE IN CHURCH,
THERE WOULD BE CERTAIN SONGS
THAT WOULD JUST KNOCK ME OUT, LIKE "O HOLY NIGHT."
THERE WERE SOME ROCK AND ROLL SONGS, MAN.
LIKE PLUGGING IN YOUR FAVORITE STATION.
YEAH
YEAH, THAT' S RIGHT, BABY
IF YOU' RE EVER FEELING DOWN
THAT' S RIGHT, BABY, IF YOU' RE EVER FEELING LOW
YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL ON
YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO
Clementine: ROKY COULD PRODUCE MUSIC WITHOUT EFFORT.
IT JUST POURED OUT.
THE BAND COULDN' T LEARN TO DO THEM FAST ENOUGH,
BECAUSE THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY COMING OUT OF BOTH EARS AT THE SAME TIME.
OH YEAH
OH, DO YOU FEEL IT FEEL IT FEEL IT?
OH, DO YOU FEEL IT, BABY?
YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO GOOD
OH, DO YOU FEEL IT FEEL IT FEEL IT?
John: AFTER WE GOT TOGETHER,
WE PLAYED FOR A WHILE,
WE RECORDED THE "PSYCHEDELIC SOUNDS" ALBUM.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE HIT IN SAN FRANCISCO.
HEADING FOR THE CEILING, I' M UP OFF THE FLOOR
I' VE BROKEN MY HORIZON,
?? MY DOOR
NY HEART SWELLS??
??ON THE PLANE
AS YOU BEND DOWN, YOU HEAR THE SOUND, THE MOVEMENT OF A TRAIN
Gibbons: THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THE IMPACT
THAT THE ELEVATORS WOULD HAVE
THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAN MUSIC SCENE.
THE BANDS OF THE BAY AREA
WERE STILL DRAWING UPON
A MORE FOLK-BASED KIND OF THING.
WHEN THE ELEVATORS SHOWED UP,
THINGS CHANGED REAL QUICK.
I' VE GOT LEVITATION
GOT LEVITATION
Jim Franklin: ROKY WAS NOT SEEN AS A LEADER,
BUT HE WAS SEEN AS A JEWEL.
EVERYONE REGARDED HIM
AS A RARE TALENT.
ANYONE WHO TRIED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM UNDERSTOOD
THAT HE WAS NOT OF THIS WORLD.
SO HE HAD A LOT OF RESPECT.
HE WAS A GUY PERMANENTLY TRIPPING.
AND THEN, APPARENTLY TOMMY HALL
ADDED SOME TEMPORARY TRIPPING TO IT.
Mikel: TOMMY WANTED TO CREATE THIS UTOPIA IN HIS OWN MIND.
YOU KNOW, WHAT DRUGS TO TAKE, AND WHEN TO TAKE THEM.
MESCALINE IN THE MORNING. LSD AT NIGHT.
AND ROKY WORSHIPPED THAT. HE DID.
- WELL, YEAH. - HE DID.
ROKY' S SECOND ACID TRIP...
HURT HIM.
IT HURT ME TOO.
TOMMY GAVE US TOO MUCH.
WE O.D.' d.
I HAD A REAL BAD TRIP AND SO DID HE.
BUT HE DIDN' T ADMIT THAT HE HAD A REAL BAD TRIP.
HE KEPT ON TAKING THE ACID,
THINKING EVERYTHING WOULD GET BETTER.
I QUIT.
I DIDN' T WANT ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES, MAN.
WITH THE WALLS DISSOLVING.
I FELL OFF MY DRUM STOOL.
WE WERE PLAYING. WE WERE JAMMING.
I' M SITTING THERE, JAMMING ALONG TO PLAYING "BEFORE YOU ACCUSE ME"
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHAM-- THIS HIT ME
AND I JUST FELL BACKWARDS, AND I FELL OFF MY DRUM STOOL.
I ALMOST BROKE MY NECK. I WAS CRAWLING AROUND ON THE FLOOR.
I CRAWLED OUTSIDE.
BUT HE CAME AND GOT ME,
AND TALKED ME INTO COMING BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE.
I WAS SCARED,
BUT STACY, TOMMY, AND ROKY WERE NOT SCARED.
AND CONSEQUENTLY, THEY GOT IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.
( phone ringing )
Answering machine: Please record your message after the beep.
( beeps )
( music playing )
Roky: Mommy, would you return my call please?
This is Roky. I' ll call you back.
Thank you.
( beeps )
Evelyn: ON APRIL 1st, 1968,
ROKY CAME HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO.
HE HAD BEEN SUPPOSED TO PLAY A WHOLE WEEK,
SO HE CAME HOME. HE WAS EXHAUSTED.
HE WAS IN THE BACK YARD
JUST SORT OF SPEAKING GIBBERISH.
HE WAS COVERED WITH SORES.
HE SAID, "I' M UNCLEAN."
I REMEMBER JUST TELLING HIM TO GO GET IN THE TUB.
I DUMPED ABOUT A CUP OF TIDE IN THERE.
DR. KERR-- K-E-R-R,
TOLD ME THAT ROKY WOULD BE A VEGETABLE
THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
SCHIZOPHRENIA.
IT' S A BROAD TERM THAT COVERS A WHOLE MANIFESTATION
OF UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR.
I THOUGHT NAME-CALLING WENT OUT WITH THE DARK AGES.
AND HERE THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, LABELING.
HE COULDN' T HAVE ANY PHONE CALLS OR VISITS.
TOMMY HALL HEARD ABOUT IT
AND HE WENT AND TOOK THE DOOR OFF OF THE HINGES, AND ROKY ESCAPED.
THEY HITCHHIKED TO CALIFORNIA.
Clementine: HE STARTED HEARING VOICES.
THE VOICES WERE TELLING HIM HORRIBLE THINGS.
HE SAID, "IF I COULD JUST STOP ALL THE DAMN NOISE
THAT' S IN MY HEAD, I WOULD BE SO HAPPY."
A BUNCH OF US WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE BEACH IN SAN FRANCISCO,
AND LET THE WAVES POUND ON HIM. IF YOU HELD HIM IN FONT OF THE WAVES
SO THAT THE WAVES WOULD HIT HIM REALLY HARD,
THEY WOULD LITERALLY KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO HIM.
Gaines: AND THAT' S WHEN THE BAD DRUGS STARTED SEEPING INTO OUR LIVES.
ROKY STARTED DOING THIS HEROIN.
ONE NIGHT, HE GAVE ME $13.00,
AND SAID, "GO GET ME SYRINGE WITH SOME HEROIN IN IT."
I SAID, "I' M NOT GOING TO DO THIS."
AND HE SAID, "PLEASE, GO DO THIS."
AND THIS CHICK THAT HAD RED HAIR, HER NAME WAS CHRISTINE,
- SHE SAID, "OH, I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GET IT." - I WENT, "TSST."
AND THIS HUGE SOUL BROTHER
ANSWERS THE DOOR. SHE SAID, "OH, MY FRIEND HERE,
HER BOYFRIEND WANTS A SYRINGE,
AND SOME HEROIN, AND SHE' S GOT $13.00."
AND THEY GO, YOU KNOW,
"THAT' S NOT ENOUGH TO GET A SYRINGE AND HEROIN."
AND I GO, "OH, WELL THAT' S OKAY. WE' LL JUST GO."
BUT THE GUY CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND US.
I LOOK OVER, AND THIS CHICK' S PASSING OUT.
HE JUST SHOT HER UP.
AND SHE' S GONE, AND I' M THERE ALONE.
ONE MAN TAKES MY ARM,
AND THE OTHER MAN SHOOTS ME UP.
AND I START
GOING UP REAL FAST.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I' M TELLING THIS MAN STANDING IN FRONT OF ME,
"I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH."
AND I JUST START THROWING UP
AND CRYING, AND I' M SCARED.
I HEARD ONE OF THEM SAY TO THE OTHER ONE,
"SHE' S O.D.' d."
I REMEMBER BOTH OF THESE MEN ON EITHER SIDE OF ME
FOR HOURS, WALKING IN A CIRCLE.
WALKING ME, WALKING ME. HE SAVED MY LIFE.
HE PUT IT IN DANGER, BUT HE SAVED IT.
SO HE HANDED ME A NEEDLE
WITH SOME HEROIN,
AND HE SAID, "I' M WALKING YOU HOME."
HE WAS SO LIKE CHRIST.
I GO IN, AND ROKY SAYS,
"WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?"
THE NEXT TIME I REMEMBER,
I DON' T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY DAYS WOULD GO BY.
AND I CAN' T STAND UP,
BECAUSE I' M SWEATING SO BAD.
GEORGE AND ROKY WALK INTO MY APARTMENT,
AND GEORGE SAYS, "I' M TAKING ROKY BACK TO AUSTIN.
HE' S SICK." AND I SAID, "I KNOW HE' S SICK.
HE' S GOT SERUM HEPATITIS.
I' VE GOT IT TOO."
WE HAD GOTTEN IT FROM THAT SYRINGE.
SO HE CAME BACK TO AUSTIN.
THAT' S PRETTY MUCH WHEN ALL THE HEARTACHE WITH THE LAW STARTED.
Harvey Gann: AFTER THE YOUNGER GENERATION
IN THE LATE ' 50s AND ' 60s
STARTED USING DRUGS, WELL, THE TENDENCY WAS
TO JUST MORE OR LESS SLAP THEM ON THE WRISTS.
THE COURTS WERE VERY LAX ON THEM,
AND THAT WAS A COMPLETE 180 DEGREES
FROM WHAT THEY DO TO THE HARDENED CRIMINALS.
IF THEY GOT CAUGHT WITH A FEW STICKS OF GRASS,
WELL, HE COULD LOOK FOR FIVE YEARS REAL EASY.
I' VE KIND OF FELT LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE SACRIFICED
A FEW OF THE KIDS WITH A FIVE YEAR LICK OR TWO,
AND IT MAY HAVE GIVEN THEM AN IDEA. "HEY, DON' T FOOL WITH IT."
SHE LIVES, NO FEAR
DOUBTLESS IN EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS
Burt Gerding: EVERYBODY KNEW THAT ROKY WAS STONED ALL THE TIME,
AND THAT ROKY WAS DROPPING ACID.
THAT ROKY WAS SMOKING DOPE.
THE VICE SQUAD WAS VERY INTERESTED IN HIM,
BECAUSE HERE WAS A GUY THAT THEY KNEW WAS DOING IT.
Evelyn: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I HAD A PHONE CALL,
AND HE SAID, "I THOUGHT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
THAT ROKY WAS ARRESTED
AND IS IN JAIL."
GREAT SADNESS AND STRESS
ENTERED OUR WHOLE FAMILY.
Mikel: AND THAT ALL STEMMED FROM A LITTLE MATCHBOX OF POT.
SOMEHOW ROKY ENDED UP WITH THE BLAME.
IT PROBABLY HAD TO DO WITH HOW BAD THEY WANTED ROKY ERICKSON.
Evelyn: THEN HE WENT TO TRIAL,
AND AN ATTORNEY IN AUSTIN GOT HIM OFF ON INSANITY,
FIGURING THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER FOR ROKY
TO BE IN A HOSPITAL THAN IT WOULD BE JAIL.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF IT.
AND THEN I CAME TO VISIT HIM ONE DAY, AND HE JUMPED THE FENCE,
AND WE JUST TOOK OFF.
THE AUTHORITIES FROWNED ON THE FACT
THAT ROKY WOULD DISAPPEAR FOR A WEEK OR SO.
THEY' D ALWAYS RE-ARREST THEM. THEY' D KNOW WHERE HE' D GO.
HE' D GO TO DANA' S HOUSE.
ARREST HIM AGAIN, TAKE HIM BACK TO THE HOSPITAL,
SHE' D GO IN THERE AND GET HIM AGAIN, NOT REALIZING
THAT THEY COULD SEND HIM TO A MAXIMUM SECURITY
MENTAL HOSPITAL.
AND THEY DID.
Bob Priest: YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD DAYS,
THEY' D TAKE THEM OUT AND HANG THEM OR WHATEVER HAVE YOU.
BUT IN MODERN DAY TIMES,
THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.
SEND HIM TO RUSK. SAY HE' S CRAZY.
YOU SEE, AFTER THEY HAD THE RIOTS UP THERE,
PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO WORK THERE.
THE RIOTS, I UNDERSTAND, WERE PRETTY BAD.
Jack Ball: IT WAS A BLOODY, BLOODY MESS.
THE WARD DOCTOR, THEY CAPTURED HIM.
THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE HIM E.S.T. TREATMENTS.
ELECTRIC SHOCK TREATMENTS, LIKE HE HAD GIVEN SOME OF THE PATIENTS.
THEY SAID, "WE' RE GOING TO SHOCK HIM UNTIL HE SHITS."
Bob Priest: IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH ON HIM,
REALLY AND TRULY.
MOST OF THE TIME,
ROKY WOULD HAVE A YELLOW LEGAL PAD,
AND HE' D BE SITTING IN THE HALLWAY SOMEWHERE WRITING MUSIC,
REAL WEAK, OR SLUMPED DOWN LIKE THAT.
HE WAS A REAL NICE LITTLE GUY.
HE DIDN' T HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO SAY.
HE WANTED TO WRITE HIS MUSIC.
HE WANTED TO PLAY HIS MUSIC,
AND THAT' S ALL.
AT LEAST IT TOOK HIS MIND OFF OF WHERE HE WAS, YOU KNOW?
Jack Ball: WHEN I FIRST INTERVIEWED ROKY,
I HAD TO DRAW EVERYTHING OUT OF HIM,
TO FIND OUT WHAT HIS INTEREST WAS.
I TOLD HIM WE WERE FORMING A BAND.
Priest: THE BASS PLAYER-- HE HAD KILLED TWO SMALL CHILDREN,
RAPED THE MOTHER,
AND STABBED HER WITH A PEN KNIFE THING.
PUT ONE OF HER EYES OUT.
ANOTHER ONE WAS INVOLVED IN A RAPE
OF A YOUNG BOY DOWN IN HOUSTON YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
AND THEY MURDERED HIM TOO, BY THE WAY, AFTER THEY RAPED HIM.
ANOTHER ONE...
HAD KILLED HIS PARENTS, AND ONE OF HIS SIBLINGS.
HE PLAYED GUITAR.
THE LITTLE GUY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE GANG RAPE OF THE BOY
PLAYED A TAMBOURINE.
ROKY WAS THERE FOR SOME KIND OF MINOR CHARGE.
NOW, YOU TELL ME IF THAT MAKES SENSE,
BECAUSE IT DOESN' T.
Roky: I FELT LIKE A MALE JANE EYRE IN THAT PLACE,
BECAUSE-- THIS IS IN RUSK. RUSK CONCENTRATION CAMP.
YOU KNOW, WITH A DOCTOR,
ALL I HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO WITH EVERY TRIP
WAS "YOU' RE STILL INSANE."
HE SAYS, "SON, YOU' VE TAKEN OVER 300 LSD TRIPS,
AND YOU MAY HAVE REGRESSED,
SO WE DON' T KNOW ABOUT LETTING YOU OUT OR NOT."
LET ME EXPLAIN WHERE MY MEMORY HAS GONE.
"ALL RIGHT, ROKY, WHAT' S THE DATE?"
"WHY DO I HAVE ANY NEED FOR KNOWING THE DATE? I' M NEVER GONNA GET OUT."
SO I WOULD JUST FORGET.
I WOULD JUST SAY, "WELL, ROKY, YOU' RE IN HERE FOREVER,
YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT REMEMBER ANY KIND OF SUCCESS YOU' VE HAD,
OR ANYTHING-- THAT YOU' RE A TALENTED ROCK AND ROLL SINGER--
FORGET IT. JUST FORGET IT, MAN,
BECAUSE YOU DON' T HAVE A CHANCE."
( theme music playing on TV )
We now return to the Monster Movie Marathon.
WE WERE RUNNING LATE TODAY.
- I JUST GOT ROKY HERE. - ALL RIGHT.
I TOLD HIM, IF IT WAS GOING TO UPSET HIM, I' D--
YEAH.
Paul Drummond: SO WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO RECENTLY?
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING--
- BEEN TAKING IT EASY, MAN. - YEAH.
A LOT OF INSECTS IN MY HOUSE.
REALLY?
FLYING INSECTS OR CRAWLING INSECTS?
- I GOT A BUNCH OF GOOD MAIL TODAY. - DID YOU?
YEAH, FROM SOME RENTAL STORE THAT HAD A CONTEST GOING.
Evelyn: IT' S A SHOE BOX.
Drummond: I GOT SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR YOU, ROKY.
- Roky: THEY' RE SAFE THOUGH, HUH? - Drummond: THEY' RE SAFE.
OH, WOW, YEAH.
Evelyn: WHAT IS IT?
Roky: WELL, THEY' RE EXACTLY--
THEY' RE CALLED "BOOTS."
- SANDALS. - YEAH, BOOTS.
LOOK, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SAY "BOOTS"?
I KNOW HOW TO SAY "BOOTS", BUT THOSE ARE SANDALS.
- ( all laughing ) - WHOO!
Jabber Jaw: HELLO.
- Roky: NOW, DID YOU PUT BATTERIES IN IT? - Evelyn: YEAH.
Jabber Jaw: Now, did you put batteries--
Roky: OH, HOW DID YOU GET IT TO DO THAT?
Roky: THAT' S STRANGE, ISN' T IT?
That' s strange.
OH MY GOD, THAT' S WEIRD, ISN' T IT?
WELL, THAT' S GOOD.
Drummond: YOU CAN' T PLAY US ANY TUNES NOW THEN AT ALL, CAN YOU?
YOU DON' T KNOW ANYTHING ON THE-- YOU CAN?
OH, YEAH, WELL, I' D LIKE A PIANO,
BUT YOU KNOW, THEY ARE GARGANTUAN, AREN' T THEY?
I TELL YA.
Drummond: THIS IS THE PART OF THE BOOK
I WAS TRYING TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR OLD BAND.
OH, YEAH, IT' S PRETTY WEIRD.
- PRETTY WEIRD STUFF. - WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH THAT?
- I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK. - OH NO, I DON' T.
Roky: OKAY, I' LL SEE YOU, THEN. YOU ALL TAKE IT EASY!
Drummond: SEE YOU, ROKY.
DON' T DO ANYTHING THAT YOU DO NOT WANNA DO.
Casey Monahan: THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, THERE' S ALWAYS BEEN PEOPLE
THAT HELPED HIM OUT, AND I WAS ONE OF THEM,
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HE GOT TIRED OF.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHY HE LOST INTEREST IN MUSIC LIKE HE DID.
BUT IT WAS PROFOUND,
FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS, NOW,
HE JUST HAS THIS LITTLE BIT OF HUMAN CONTACT WITH HIS MOM,
AND PEOPLE IN CONVENIENCE STORES,
AND THE MAIL.
CAN YOU SEE THIS ONE?
WHO IS THAT TO?
ALFRED HITCHCOCK.
P.O. BOX 40, VERNOY, NEW JERSEY.
I MEAN, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE LIVED OUT IN DEL VALLE.
WHERE YOU COULDN' T EVEN WALK AROUND INSIDE THE HOUSE.
THERE AS A PATH LEADING FROM THE FRONT DOOR
INTO HIS BEDROOM,
AND THEN A MUCH SMALLER PATH
LEADING INTO THE BATHROOM, AND THAT WAS IT.
IT WAS LIKE LIVING IN A LIBRARY OF JUNK MAIL.
AND FREE GIFTS.
I MEAN, THERE WERE NOTEBOOKS IN HIS HOUSE,
WHERE HE HAD LOGGED ALL OF THIS JUNK MAIL.
ALL OF THESE LETTERS THAT HE HAD WRITTEN,
AND ALL OF THESE LETTERS THAT HE HAD RECEIVED.
I MEAN, PAGE AFTER PAGE IN THIS NOTEBOOK.
SO THAT' S WHEN I SAID,
"YOU' VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SON, MRS. ERICKSON."
YEAH, JUST BEEN RELAXING HERE.
HAVING A GOOD TIME WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE.
Roky: ALL RIGHT, Y' ALL,
YOU' RE GONNA GET A SPANKY-WANK.
Evelyn: HE JUST SEEMS JUST CONTENT
TO BE ALONE.
PEOPLE WANT TO GET WITH HIM,
AND HE JUST WON' T LET ANYBODY
INTO HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW.
Interviewer: DO YOU KNOW WHY?
NO.
Sumner: I' M GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL SUNDAY.
SUMNER WILL BE HERE UNTIL SUNDAY? WOW, THAT' S GREAT.
NICE TO GET SOME TIME WITH YOU. WANNA TO GO OUT TO EAT?
OH, I DON' T KNOW.
I' M NOT INTO THAT MYSELF.
I' D RATHER BE AROUND THE HOUSE.
I WISH IT WAS THE HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
IT' S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN, ROKY. I MISS YOU.
Roky: YEAH, I WISH I HAD KNOWN YOU ALL WAS COMING.
I' D HAVE BAKED A CAKE. BUT LIKE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW...
Mikel: LOTS OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE DAYS
TRIED TO SAY, "OH, WELL, THE REASON ROKY IS THE WAY HE IS
IS BECAUSE HE HAD SHOCK TREATMENT.
OH, NO, THE REASON WHY ROKY IS THE WAY HE IS IS BECAUSE OF ACID.
OH, NO, THE REASON WHY ROKY IS..." YOU KNOW.
NOBODY CAN KNOW,
AND DIAGNOSIS DOESN' T DO ANY GOOD.
WHAT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IS IF HE COULD BE STABILIZED RIGHT NOW.
( applause )
I' M FORTUNATE.
I FOUND A REAL QUICK APTITUDE IN MUSIC.
I WON MY JOB WITH THE PITTSBURG SYMPHONY WHEN I WAS 18.
- I JUST FLEW STRAIGHT. - ( tuba playing )
I HAD TO STAY AWAY FROM AUSTIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I WASN' T HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOTHER,
BUT PEOPLE HAD BEEN ASKING ME FOR A DECADE,
"HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE SITUATION ON ROKY?"
SO I DECIDED I WOULD VENTURE BACK.
IT PRETTY MUCH SHOCKED ME.
TALK ABOUT JUST PLAIN MEDICAL CARE.
HOW ABOUT GET A PHYSICAL? HOW ABOUT GOING TO THE DENTIST?
AND THEN IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF HE GOT TO A PLACE
HE WANTED TO PERFORM AGAIN. NOT TO CRITICIZE MY MOM,
BECAUSE I KNOW SHE HAS VERY GOOD REASONS FOR DOING WHAT SHE' S DOING,
BUT I JUST DON' T THINK IT' S THE BEST ROUTE
TO REALLY HELP ROKY RIGHT NOW.
Evelyn' s voice: I REALLY DON' T TRUST DOCTORS
OR A PSYCHIATRIST.
I HAD WRITTEN A BUNCH OF NOTES ABOUT IT.
I STARTED WRITING SEVERAL TIMES
ABOUT MY IDEA ABOUT PSYCHIATRISTS.
THERE' S A TV SITCOM--
"FRASIER."
"FRASIER' S A PSYCHIATRIST
WHO HAS A RADIO ADVICE SHOW.
HIS BROTHER, NILES, A PSYCHIATRIST ALSO,
HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OF HIS OWN
WHICH HE IS UNABLE TO SOLVE.
THEY BOTH HAVE FAILED MARRIAGES.
THEY BOTH ARE POMPOUS AND SUPERCILIOUS.
BOTH HAVE NEGLECTED THEIR SPIRIT LIFE.
THEY NEVER MENTION A SUPREME BEING.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KNOWLEDGE
NOT BEING TURNED INTO WISDOM."
I THINK DEPRESSION IS NORMAL.
ANYBODY THAT SAYS THEY' VE NEVER BEEN DEPRESSED IS REALLY CRAZY.
Interviewer: DOES ROKY TAKE ANY MEDICATION?
Evelyn: NO.
I JUST DON' T BELIEVE IN DRUGS.
I' VE BEEN TRYING TO TEACH HIM INDEPENDENT LIVING,
AND AS LONG AS I' M ABLE TO HELP HIM
IN SMALL WAYS,
- ( door shuts ) - HE CAN DO IT.
- ( Roky laughing ) - Roky: CHASE THE BALL.
THIS IS YOUR BALL, SAM. LOOK!
YOU WANT IT? OH, YOU WANT ME TO HAVE THE BALL?
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH IT, MAN?
- THAT ISN' T HER BALL, ROKY. - HUH?
WHY DON' T YOU GO GET HER BALL?
HERE, PUT IT IN HERE.
- Roky: YOU WANT THE BALL? - PUT IT IN HERE.
( piano playing )
I' VE SEEN YOUR FACE BEFORE
I' VE KNOWN YOU ALL MY LIFE
AND THOUGH IT' S NEW, YOUR ??HAPPINESS CUTS ME
LIKE A KNIFE
AND I' M HOME
I' M HOME...
Jegar Erickson: SHE' S DEPRIVED ME OF 24 YEARS.
SHE TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE DIDN' T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, ALL THESE EXCUSES.
I WOULD WALK ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN
IN THE SUMMER IN AUSTIN.
I' D GO OVER THERE, AND I' D SEE HER,
AND FOR SOME REASON I CAN' T SEE MY DAD.
FOR SOME REASON I CAN' T SEE MY DAD.
SHE SAYS SHE DOESN' T BELIEVE IN MEDICATION.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON' T AGREE WITH IT, FINE--
BUT DON' T SIT THERE AND BE HIS DECISION MAKER.
SCHIZOPHRENIA IS NOT A MAJOR FEAR ANYMORE.
IT' S NOT SOME DARKNESS,
SOME MONSTER THAT NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE.
THAT' S HER OWN FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL.
Evelyn: I WAS GETTING OLDER,
AND I HAD NO WEALTH.
AND I THOUGHT, "THE ONLY THING I CAN REALLY LEAVE MY FIVE SONS
WERE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT."
( Evelyn singing )
I THOUGHT, "I COULD GO AHEAD AND DO A MOVIE.
I CAN MAKE UP MY OWN STORY
WHERE I WAS THE QUEEN,
SO I THOUGHT OF THIS FAIRY TALE.
I WAS HOPING
THAT WOULD BE MY HERITAGE TO THEM.
( Evelyn singing )
I TALKED TO ROKY, WHO WAS LIVING WITH ME AT THE TIME,
INTO BEING A PART OF IT.
Don Erickson: Roky...
you have on the Breast Plates of Righteousness,
- and now you shall receive the Whole Armor of God. - Okay.
And Roky, now I place on your head
the Crown of Salvation.
Thank you.
Evelyn: All hail Roky,
king of the Beasts!
All: All hail Roky,
king of the Beasts!
All hail Roky,
king of the Beasts!
IN RUSK STATE HOSPITAL.
CERTIFICATE OF DISCHARGE.
THEY HAD A BIG JURY TRIAL.
Tommy: JOHN HOWARD WAS HIS ATTORNEY,
AND HE WENT TO VISIT RUSK,
AND JUST TOUR THE GROUNDS.
HE SAW ROKY THERE,
AND HE REMEMBERED ROKY.
ROKY' S CHARGE WAS POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.
THIS WAS AFTER IT HAD BEEN DECRIMINALIZED
TO A MISDEMEANOR.
HE WENT IN THERE,
AND HAD A SANITY TRIAL FOR ROKY,
AND HE GOT OUT OF RUSK.
Evelyn: AFTER HE GOT OUT OF RUSK,
I SUGGESTED THAT HE WRITE
SOME WORDS THAT WOULD HELP HIM
TRY TO GET RID OF THE HORROR
THAT HE HAD SEEN THERE.
( electric guitar playing )
TWO-HEADED DOG TWO-HEADED DOG
I BEEN WORKING IN THE KREMLIN WITH A TWO-HEADED DOG
TWO-HEADED DOG TWO-HEADED DOG
I BEEN WORKING IN THE KREMLIN WITH A TWO-HEADED DOG.
Gaines: WHEN HE FIRST GOT OUT,
ROKY STARTED GETTING REAL PARANOID.
HE HAD HIS SONGS ALL THE TIME.
WE HAD THEM IN A SUITCASE.
ONE DAY, HE STARTED ERASING "JESUS"
AND PUTTING "BEELZEBUB."
AND WE HAD A BIG FIGHT.
( guitar playing )
CHILDREN NAILED TO THE CROSS
PAIN DOES NOT LOOK ??OVER HELL
CERTAINLY IS NOT A SPELL
SWEET WAVES SWELL
Roky: I' M INTO THIS HORROR BAG
WITH ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC AND I CALL IT "HORROR ROCK".
ONE TIME THIS DISC JOCKEY, HE ASKED ME QUESTIONS
LIKE, "THEY ALL LEAVE THE HORROR MOVIE, BUT YOU DON' T, DO YOU?"
Interviewer: DID YOU HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH THESE KINDS OF DEMONS
- WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD? - Roky: I' VE GONE THROUGH THREE CHANGES.
I THOUGHT I WAS A CHRISTIAN,
THEN I WAS WITH THE DEVIL. I SIGNED MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE, WHERE I KNOW WHO I AM.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I' M A MONSTER.
I FEEL LIKE I' M THE ROBE OF MANY COLORS.
SPOKE OF IN THE BIBLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, A DEMON, A GREMLIN, A GOBLIN,
A VAMPIRE, A GHOST,
AND AN ALIEN WITH A BRAIN ABOUT THIS BIG.
WELL, THAT' S GOOD.
( acoustic guitar playing )
THE CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN
WHY IS HE ACTING SO STRANGE?
HE WOULD HAVE MOMENTS OF LUCIDITY.
ALTHOUGH HE WASN' T COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE, HE' D AT LEAST BE LUCID,
AND HE WOULD TALK LIKE HE HAD BEFORE.
AND THEN HE' D FALL BACK INTO ONE OF THESE THINGS
WHERE HE WAS VERY PARANOID. HE KNEW HE WAS BEING WATCHED,
LISTENED TO ALL THE TIME. DAY AND NIGHT, EVEN WHEN HE SLEPT.
RIPPED HIS ARMS OFF
AND THREW THEM ON THE GROUND...
Peggy Underwood: ROKY KEPT SAYING THAT HE WAS AN ALIEN,
AND HE THOUGHT THE EARTHLINGS WERE ZAPPING HIM.
SO WE WENT TO A COUPLE OF DIME STORES
AND WE GOT SOME LASER GUNS
TO ZAP THEM BACK.
HE KEPT COMING BACK AND SAYING THAT THEY WEREN' T WORKING,
SO I DECIDED THAT IF WE PREPARED A DOCUMENT WITH A GOLD SEAL,
SWEARING THAT MAYBE THEY' LL GO AWAY, AND THEY DID.
...WITH THE ATOM BRAIN.
HE HUNTS WITH THE BEASTS
BECAUSE OF HIS SHARP TEETH
THE DEVIL ??
??
WHITE GRACES WHITE FACES
ALWAYS HAUNT ME SO BEAUTIFULLY
Byron Coley: THERE ARE VERY FEW GUYS
WHO MADE A GOOD TRANSITION
FROM REALLY MONSTER RECORDS IN THE ' 60s
TO REALLY MONSTER RECORDS IN THE 70s OR THE EARLY 80s.
THERE ARE ALMOST NONE.
HE CAME BACK IN A NEW SHAPE
THAT WAS AS GOOD AS THE SHAPE IN THE 60s.
Thurston Moore: THERE' S SOMETHING REALLY INNOCENT ABOUT IT,
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT' S JUST FLYING OUT OF HIM.
IT DOESN' T SEEM VERY CALCULATED.
EVEN THOUGH IT' S CONCEPTUAL A LOT OF THE TIMES WITH HIS THEMES,
HE JUST SEEMS REALLY FREE.
??
Gregg Turner: I SAW HIM IN 1975
PLAY AT THE PALOMINO.
IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE.
I MEAN, HERE IS THIS DISHEVELED,
SORT OF I' M-AN-ALIEN- FROM-MARS CREATURE--
POSSIBLY SUB-ARTICULATE, BUT IT WASN' T CLEAR.
GETTING ONSTAGE, AND JUST COMING TO LIFE
IN A WAY THAT JUST KNOCKED EVERYBODY OVER.
IT WAS LIKE A FAKE BURNOUT.
YOU KNOW, WHICH IS "REAL" AND WHICH IS "MEMOREX"?
IT' S, LIKE, THE GREAT THING ABOUT ROCK AND ROLL TO BEGIN WITH.
IT WAS LIKE A SPORTING EVENT WHERE YOU DIDN' T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE REAL THING PLAYING ITS ANGST OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO COLORFUL
?? UPON DRAGON...
AND THEN HE DISAPPEARS AGAIN. HE' S IN AUSTIN.
SOMEBODY SAW HIM. SOMEBODY DIDN' T SEE HIM.
HE' S JUST THIS MYSTERIOUS FIGURE, YOU KNOW?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIM? HE' S THE GREAT LOST VOCALIST OF ROCK AND ROLL.
I' VE GOT A BITE OF THE DEVIL IN ME??
YOU ABOUT READY, MOTHER?
Evelyn: NO, I' M DRINKING A SLIMFAST.
( TV blaring )
- I THINK I' LL PUT ON-- - HUH?
LET ME PUT ON A FEW MORE CLOTHES TO GO TO THE STORE.
- CHANGE MY CLOTHES TO GO TO THE STORE. - PUT ON THE RITZ, HUH?
Roky: YOU DON' T KNOW OF A LITTLE ANSWERING MACHINE
THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE VOICE OF THE PERSON CALLING.
INSTEAD, IT JUST TAKES THE TALKING.
THE SPEAKING ON IT, YOU KNOW.
YOU CAN HEAR THAT, BUT YOU DO NOT HEAR THEIR VOICE TALKING TO YOU.
I WONDER-- THEY DON' T HAVE THAT YET, DO THEY?
( phone ringing )
Evelyn: IT' S SUMNER.
HELLO?
UH-HUH.
WHO?
WELL, IF ANYBODY' S UPSET, IT' S ME.
I' LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
I GUESS THAT' S IT.
Virginia Sumners: WELL, I FEEL VERY DEFINITELY
THAT THE TIME HAS COME, EVELYN, FOR YOU
TO LET THESE BOYS TAKE OVER.
OH, THEY ALL OFFER IT.
IT' S UP TO ROKY, REALLY,
TO OPEN UP HIS HEART.
I WOULD LIKE MORE INVOLVEMENT,
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS REALLY SMALL THESE DAYS.
I' M TWO AN A HALF HOURS AWAY. I' M REALLY HOPING, MOM,
THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE DRUGS THAT CAN REALLY HELP ROKY,
DRUGS THAT ARE SUPERVISED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.
THESE DRUGS SOMETIMES HIDE ALL YOUR FEELINGS,
- SO YOU REALLY CAN' T GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MEMORIES. - THOSE ARE THE OLD DRUGS.
I CAN' T FORCE HIM TO TAKE ANY STUFF.
Sumners: DOES HE EVEN TAKE HIS PILLS ANYMORE?
NO.
HE DOESN' T TAKE ANYTHING.
Sumner: WELL, IF YOU CAN ALLOW, THEN WE CAN FIND
- PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS-- - I' M NOT STOPPING ANYBODY.
HE' S DOING THE STOPPING.
IT' S NOT ME. PEOPLE DON' T HAVE TO HATE ME.
I HATE PARKING IN THE SUN.
I WAS IN THE SHADE WHEN I FIRST CAME.
IT' S KIND OF EMBARRASSING TO ME.
I MEAN, I THINK THEY WANT
TO GET HIM OUT PLAYING AGAIN.
I JUST DON' T THINK ROKY IS READY.
NOW, IN THE TRUST,
IT SAYS "THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY
SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE TRUSTEE
IN ITS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION,
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SUCH PHYSICIANS
OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AS THE TRUSTEE SHALL DETERMINE
TO BE APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
NOW IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE FULFILLED
MY DUTIES.
YOU WANNA READ THAT THERE? HUH?
- Roky: DID YOU RENT ME THIS HOUSE, MOTHER? - Evelyn: YEAH.
Roky: YOU HAD A VERY VERY FAT KID WITH YOU AT THE TIME.
- I' M FAT, AREN' T I? - Evelyn: NO.
YOU KNOW I HAVEN' T DRIVEN A CAR IN 20 YEARS?
Evelyn: IT HASN' T BEEN THAT LONG.
- WELL, I DON' T KNOW. - YOU HAD A CAR IN ' 84.
THAT LITTLE BLUE--
I' M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT' S NEVER DONE THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, YOU THINK YOU CAN CHECK ME OUT OF THIS PLACE?
YEAH, SURE.
OKAY, I WANT YOU TO GO AHEAD AND ASK THAT FAT GUY,
YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT CAME IN WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE BATHROOM?
I WANT YOU TO TELL HIM THAT ROKY ERICKSON' S IS OVER HERE.
HE' S LIVING HERE, AND YOU' VE CHASED ME OUT OF TWO HOUSES.
I' D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT SOMETHING.
JUST BECAUSE THIS GUY HAS HIS TWO POLICEMEN STANDING OUT IN THE YARD,
THEY THINK THEY OWN EVERYTHING. THEY GOTTA TELL YOU
WHEN YOU CAN BREATHE, WHEN YOU CAN LIVE, WHEN YOU CAN DIE.
SHIT, MAN. ALWAYS STICKING A NEEDLE IN YOUR ARM.
I CAN' T FIND MY CIGARETTES NOW.
CAN I HAVE ONE?
IT JUST GOT HOT ALL OF A SUDDEN.
I JUST HAVE TO RELAX.
I THINK I' M ALL RIGHT.
THAT' S WHAT I HAVE TO THINK.
I DON' T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
Renee Harden: ROKY NEVER EXPLAINED HIMSELF. HE NEVER EXPLAINED ANYTHING.
IF YOU COULDN' T FIGURE IT OUT,
THAT WAS JUST TOO BAD FOR YOU.
THAT' S PRETTY MUCH WHAT MADE OUR PERFECT RELATIONSHIP NOT PERFECT ANYMORE.
IT' S LIKE A GOAL OR A LIFELONG DREAM
TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE ACID WITH ROKY ERICKSON,
THE HERO OF PSYCHEDELIC ROCK.
THAT WAS ALL A LOT OF FUN,
BUT THERE CAME A POINT WHERE WE HAD TO HAVE OUR OWN PLACE.
I HAD TO WORK,
AND THE PROBLEM WAS ROKY WOULDN' T SLEEP.
HE WAS BORED,
AND HE WANTED ME TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT WITH HIM.
I GUESS, AFTER A WHILE,
I BEGAN TO FEEL THE STRAIN OF TAKING CARE OF HIM.
HE DID MANAGE TO BREAK UP WITH ME.
IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER I GOT PREGNANT.
THAT WAS ALL HIS IDEA.
I DIDN' T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT KIDS MYSELF, BUT HE DID.
SO I GOT PREGNANT,
AND WE HAD TO GO RIGHT TO AUSTIN AND TELL EVERYBODY.
WE HAD BEEN ARGUING ON THE WAY,
AND I WAS DRIVING, AND I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN,
AND HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED OFF.
THAT WAS IT.
I THINK HE WENT THROUGH SO MUCH
WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,
THAT HE FIGURED WHEN HE GOT OUT
THE WORLD OWED HIM A LITTLE LEEWAY.
A LITTLE-- YOU KNOW.
HE WANTED TO DO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO,
AND SCREW EVERYBODY ELSE.
THE BEAST IS COMING
TO YOUR WORLD
Holly: I THINK ROKY IS EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE
IN MANY WAYS
WITH HIS PSYCHOSIS.
THE BEAST IS COMING
LOOKING BACK AT IT, I COULD HAVE SEEN IT
BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GOT MARRIED.
BUT OF COURSE,
I WAS NOT EVER WILLING TO BELIEVE
THAT I WAS NOT JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.
NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER??...
HE WAS VERY MUCH A SOCIAL BEAST THEN WE STARTED DATING.
THEY WERE DEVELOPING NEW MEDICATIONS
WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER,
SO WE FOUND A MEDICATION WHERE WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SIDE EFFECTS.
IT SAYS IN THE BIBLE...
I WILLINGLY GAVE UP EVERYTHING TO BE HIS SUPPORT.
HE WAS REALLY HAPPY.
IT LASTED FOR A GOOD TWO YEARS.
THAT' S WHEN I FOUND OUT HE WAS USING AGAIN.
THE SPEED.
NOT TAKING HIS MEDICATION.
FINDING IT BEHIND THE MATTRESS.
HE DIDN' T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.
I WAS SO ANGRY.
I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS ANOTHER WOMAN.
I FELT LIKE HE HAD--
IF HE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH SOMEBODY ELSE,
THAT' S WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO ME.
I FELT, "HOW CAN YOU BETRAY ME,
AND US, AND EVERYTHING WE' VE BUILT?"
FOR...
A HIGH.
SO I LEFT.
I JUST WENT OUT THE DOOR, GOT IN THE CAR,
AND DROVE OFF.
THIS IS ROKY AND HOLLY WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED.
THEY BROKE UP.
I NEVER DID FIND OUT WHY.
HE CAME OVER TO LIVE AT MY HOUSE.
Evelyn: I' M GONNA LET THIS RUN TWO MINUTES.
OKAY, DID YOU START RECORDING ALREADY?
- I JUST STARTED. - OKAY, WHAT?
- I' VE JUST STARTED, - OKAY.
- BUT THE FIRST PART I PROBABLY WON' T USE. - OH YEAH, RIGHT.
SO I' M JUST GONNA LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
OKAY.
( acoustic guitar playing )
FOR YOU
I' D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU
FOR YOU
THERE AIN' T NOTHING I WOULDN' T DO FOR YOU
YOUR BEAUTY MAKES THE SUN RISE FOR YOU
THE MOON ALSO SHINES FOR YOU
FOR YOU, FOR YOU
FOR YOU I' M COOKED ??TO YOU SO RARE
YOU ARE AND SOMEONE' S THERE
TO BELIEVE ME, NEVER LEAVE ME
WITH YOU THERE' S SO MANY NEW THINGS TO BE DONE
FOR YOU
WITH THE TEARS IN MY EYES FOR YOU
HAPPINESS AND LOVE MEETS MY CRY FOR YOU
ALONE IN MY ROOM FOR YOU
I' M BROUGHT OUT OF THE GLOOM FOR YOU
FOR YOU, FOR YOU
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
Evelyn: GOT ANOTHER ONE?
Roky: YEAH, OKAY.
Monahan: HIS LAST REAL SHOW
WAS AT THE RITZ IN FEBRUARY OF 1987
WITH THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS.
Gibby Haynes: HE DIDN' T WANT TO COME TO THE GIG,
AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO TO THE STORE
AND GET SOME CANDY OR SOMETHING.
SO HE GOT IN THE CAR WITH THEM,
AND THEN THEY PULL UP AT THE BACK DOOR OF THE RITZ,
HUNG A GUITAR ON HIM, AND PUSHED HIM ONSTAGE.
( guitar playing )
??
YEAH, I JUST DECIDED THAT I DIDN' T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.
Interviewer: WHY?
I DON' T KNOW.
ARE YOU GLAD?
I GUESS SO.
I DON' T LIKE THIS PLACE THAT MUCH.
NOW I JUST DON' T LIKE IT.
DO YOU NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE WE COME BY?
NO, I WAS JUST SAYING I' D LIKE TO BE IN MORE OF...
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PLACE.
Monahan: A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO HELP HIM OUT
HAD TO REACH A POINT
OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTROL HIM,
OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO ENJOY HIS COMPANY.
CERTAINLY HIS MENTAL SITUATION HAS CREATED MANY VACUUMS.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU WANNA SEE
AND WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU WANNA HEAR.
Mikel: SHE WAS AGAIN SPEAKING FOR ROKY
WITHOUT LETTING US SPEAK TO ROKY.
"I DON' T KNOW. YOU DON' T NEED TO ASK ROKY THAT."
Sumner: "ROKY' S BEING BOTHERED BY YOU, SUMNER."
I MEAN, THAT' S BASICALLY WHAT SHE SAID TO ME.
Don: I' VE BEEN TOLD THAT ABOUT ME.
Mikel: WELL, THAT' S WHAT WE HAVE TO NIP.
"ROKY," I SAID, "OH REALLY? LET ME TALK TO HIM. I WANT TO ASK HIM.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT' S BOTHERING HIM? OH NO, IT' S NOT YOU.
IT' S HIM." YOU KNOW, AS A CHILD,
SHE TRIED TO PICK MY FRIENDS. I IMAGINE SHE DID THAT FOR YOU TWO GUYS.
- SURE, YEAH. - SURE, I HAD BAD INFLUENCES.
AND THAT' S WHAT SHE' S DOING NOW. SHE' S TRYING TO PICK WHO' S GOING TO BE AROUND ROKY.
Don: YOU HAD A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH MOTHER.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR HER TO TRUST ME.
BUT ISN' T THAT KIND OF STRANGE?
IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR YOUR MOTHER TO TRUST YOU?
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO TRUST HER?
WE' RE NOT FOCUSING ON EVELYN ERICKSON.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON ROKY ERICKSON. THAT' S THE STRUGGLE.
Don: MIKEL, I' M NOT TRYING TO GET INTO "STRUGGLE MODE".
I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE I' M COMING FROM,
- BUT I' M JUST SAYING MOTHER-- - SHE WILL NOT TURN IT OVER.
SHE HAS NOT TURNED OVER ROKY.
Don: THIS IS REALLY THE TIME. DON' T YOU THINK, SUMNER?
WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO AN INTERVENTION.
WELL, THAT' S BEEN TALKED ABOUT,
IT' S GETTING TO THE POINT WITH ?? INTERVENTION.
THERE' S ALMOST A CERTAINTY.
Don: WHEN I FIRST GOT SOBERED UP,
THEY USED THIS TERM, "KING BABY."
KING BABY IS THE ONE THAT RULES THE ROOST.
HE JUST DOES EVERYTHING,
AND EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD COMES TO THE RESCUE OF KING BABY.
KING BABY CAN DO ANYTHING.
SO KING BABY HAS ALL THESE CARETAKERS COME IN
EVERYBODY' S LIKE, "OH, POOR ROKY. OH, GOD."
OH, I HATED IT.
AFTER I REALLY CAUGHT ON THAT I HAD BEEN, IN MY OWN WAY,
KIND OF WANTING PEOPLE TO COME SAVE ME,
THEN AFTER A WHILE, PEOPLE WOULDN' T DO THAT.
AFTER I TRIED TO KILL MYSELF,
I THINK IT WAS 1987 OR 1988.
MY MOTHER CALLED.
I DON' T KNOW HOW MANY PILLS I WAS ON.
SHE SAVED MY LIFE AGAIN.
SHE TOOK ME INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THERE WAS VIOLENCE
FROM THAT CHILDHOOD JEALOUSY AND ENVY.
I FELT LIKE NO MATTER WHAT I DID,
ANY 12 STEP PROGRAM WOULD NOT CURE ME.
' CAUSE THAT DEPRESSION WAS WAY BEYOND DEPRESSION FOR ME.
( piano playing )
Roky: "I KNOW THE HOLE IN BABY' S HEAD.
I KNOW THE HOLE IN BABY' S HEAD.
I LIVED TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY IN AN OLD HOUSE.
I HAVE A BIG FAMILY. I HAVE LOTS OF BROTHERS AND LOTS OF SISTERS.
I HAVE LOTS OF BABY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL OVER THE HOUSE
CRYING, SCREAMING, CRAWLING, AND PLAYING IN DANGEROUS AREAS.
MOANING AND WAILING LIKE DIRTY DISARRAYED TOYS.
THEY FALL DOWN A LOT. MY MOTHER AND FATHER FIGHT ALL THE TIME.
MY MOTHER LEAVES THE HOUSE DIRTY ALL THE TIME.
I' M ALWAYS FEEDING THE BABIES.
ALWAYS LEAVING THE BABIES CRYING AND SCREAMING
WHILE SHE CRIES ALL THE TIME.
AND THEN SHE LOOKS UP FROM THE BED, SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS,
HOPING SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS HER.
MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS EXTREMELY REAL INTROVERTED.
ALWAYS COMING IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.
NIGHT AND DAY, NEVER SPEAKING TO ANYONE.
NEVER SPEAKING TO NO ONE,
AND NEVER SPEAKING TO ANYONE.
I LIKE TO THINK EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT IN MY OLD HOUSE,
MY OLD DARK HOUSE, BUT I KNOW IT ISN' T.
I' VE ALWAYS HAD BAD FEELINGS
ABOUT ALL THE GARBAGE AND DIRT AND DARKNESS
AND SPIDER WEBS AND BAD SMELLS,
AND BAD FEELINGS SCARE YOU.
THEN AS MORE TIME WENT ON,
I STARTED THINKING THAT MAYBE THERE COULD BE WEIRD THINGS
THAT COULD LAY DORMANT IN THE OLD DARKNESS
OF THE OLD DARK HOUSE.
SO I TRIED TO THINK WHAT THESE THINGS COULD BE.
THEN I GOT TO THINKING
THAT MAYBE SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.
SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT THEY COULDN' T TALK ABOUT.
SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE TOO STUPID TO UNDERSTAND,
??AND SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE TOO QUIET OF
TO BE KNOWING OF THAT IT WAS BAD.
AND THEY JUST CARRIED ON THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE
UNTHINKING OF ANYTHING DIFFERENT.
WHAT' S HAPPENING?
OH, MY GOD.
I KNOW THE HOLE IN BABY' S HEAD."
( Evelyn singing )
Evelyn: I WAS LIKE CINDERELLA WHEN I WOULD GO OUT AND SING.
NO MORE DISHES FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS.
NO MORE MESSES. NO MORE BICKERING.
??
AFTER THE FIFTH SON IS BORN, I' M IN SAD SHAPE.
AT THE AGE OF 38, I WAS FEELING LIKE 100.
SO I QUIT DRINKING.
I WAS STARTING A NEW LIFESTYLE FOR MYSELF.
THAT' S WHEN I STARTED DOING YOGA.
I COULDN' T CONVINCE ROGER.
HE HAD ALREADY HAD TWO OR THREE DWIs.
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS MY SIXTH CHILD.
I' D JUST SAY, "QUIT DRINKING."
HE WOULDN' T TALK TO ME.
ROGER WOULDN' T TALK TO ME.
IT WAS LIKE, LIVING WITH...
A STONE MAN.
IT WAS A TIME OF BEING VERY MUCH ALONE.
VERY MUCH ALONE.
THAT' S WHEN I TOLD HIM I' M WITHDRAWING SEXUALLY,
AND I STARTED SLEEPING ON THE ROOF.
THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
Don: THE FAMILY WAS OUT OF CONTROL.
THERE WAS PROBABLY SO MUCH GOING ON.
THERE WAS PROBABLY A PART OF HER, FOR SURVIVAL,
SHE PROBABLY STUFFED HIM AWAY,
AND IT REALLY DOESN' T FEEL LIKE THEY EXISTED.
SHE DID SAY ONE TIME THAT SHE REMEMBERED
GOING IN THE BEDROOM ONE TIME,
AND ONE OF MY BROTHERS WAS IN THERE WITH DAD.
I DON' T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.
I DIDN' T REALLY WANT TO GO SPECIFIC ON THAT.
OUR OWN DIVORCE PAPERS
WITHOUT PAYING A LAWYER.
- Interviewer: YOU DID IT ALL YOURSELF? - YEAH.
I WROTE IT IN CALLIGRAPHIES.
AT LEAST, I TRIED TO.
YOU REALLY LOVE YOUR CHILDREN MORE THAN YOUR HUSBAND LATER ON,
BECAUSE YOU' RE SO INVOLVED WITH THEM.
I THINK ROKY PROBABLY KNOWS ME MORE--
KNOWS ME FROM MY INNER CORE
BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
( trumpets playing )
Sumner: WELL, SEE, I HAD DECIDED EARLY ON IN MY LIFE
THAT I WAS JUST GOING TO GET OUT.
THE HOUSE THAT I ENDED UP
HAVING TO SPEND MY GROWING UP YEARS IN
WAS DETERIORATING QUICKLY.
TO COMPLETE UNLIVABLE CONDITIONS.
I' D HAVE TO MAKE NOISE TO GO INTO THE KITCHEN.
I' D SAY, "HEY," SHOUT, DO SOMETHING, SCARE THE RATS OFF,
SO THAT I COULD GO IN AND GET SOME FOOD.
I' VE DONE 10 YEARS OF PRETTY INTENSIVE THERAPY.
I NEEDED IT.
MY MENTOR BELIEVES THAT I' M A MIRACLE TO BE WHO I AM.
TO HAVE KEPT MY LOVE IN TACT.
THANK GOD I DID, BECAUSE I NOW KNOW THAT I' M READY
TO GO AND GIVE IT WHATEVER IT TAKES
AND GET ROKY WHAT HE NEEDS.
THEN HE CAN MODEL HOW I DO MYSELF.
THEY SAY YOU CAN' T BUY HAPPINESS.
WELL, I FOUND A GREAT THERAPIST
AND SPENT MY MONEY THERE, AND I BOUGHT HAPPINESS.
Sumner: NON OF US REALLY HAD A FAMILY.
THAT' S MY OPINION.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS A BIG PART OF YOUR STUFF.
YOU JUST COULDN' T BELIEVE
THAT ALL OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE
WERE THE DANGER.
ROKY CHOSE TO GO CRAZY.
FOR HIM IT WAS A SOLUTION.
Therapist: OKAY, LET' S START YOU ON YOUR BACK.
YOU JUST SAY THE FIRST THING THAT POPS IN YOUR MIND.
DON' T LET BIG SUMNER
AND HIS BRILLIANCE GET IN THE WAY.
COME OVER HERE.
TELL ROKY WHAT YOU COULDN' T SAY THEN.
( stammers )
( sobbing )
I HATE IT THAT YOU' RE HERE, ROKY.
THAT KILLS ME. IT KILLS ME.
THAT YOU HAVE YOUR GRIEF AT THE HORROR
THAT THIS LIFE CAN BE TO SOMEONE LIKE ROKY.
THEY FRIED HIS BRAINS OUT.
AND YOUR MOTHER' S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THAT THAT WAS TRUE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
NO ONE' S GONNA GET YOU.
NOT WHEN I' M AROUND.
Sumner: YOU KNOW, THE GUY' S IN LONDON WRITING THE BOOK
ABOUT THE ELEVATORS,
AND HE WANTED ME
TO GET YOU TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS
FOR THE BOOK.
YOU GOT SOME HAIR ON YOUR...
WHAT IS THAT?
- PULL IT OUT! - NO, IT' S CONNECTED.
- WELL, PULL IT OUT. - GOTTA SHAVE. NO.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
( laughing )
THAT' S WHAT SONS ARE FOR.
OKAY, PAUL' S FIRST QUESTION WAS--
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT WHEN ROKY HAD TO LEAVE TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL
FOR LONG HAIR?
I THINK EVEN BACK IN THOSE DAYS,
IF SOMETHING DISPLEASED ME VERY HIGHLY,
I MANAGED TO ERASE IT OUT OF MY--
I DON' T RECALL.
WHAT PRESSURES DID ROKY' S IMPRISONMENT PUT ON THE FAMILY?
I GUESS THAT IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS.
YEAH.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU' D CHANGE
IF YOU HAD TO DO IT AGAIN?
I DON' T KNOW WHAT, REALLY.
I MEAN, I' M SURE I WENT WRONG
A LOT OF WAYS, A LOT OF ASPECTS...
BUT WHERE IT WENT AND HOW I DON' T KNOW.
I THINK HE GOT A LOT OF HIS WORDPLAY FROM YOU.
HIS WHAT?
WORDPLAY.
THERE' S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
OKAY, GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
( guitar playing )
I PROMISE, I PROMISE
MY GREEN AND BLUE EYES TO YOU
I PROMISE, I PROMISE
MY GREEN AND BLUE EYES TO YOU
FOR YOU I COOL THE STREETS WITH THE WIND AT NIGHT
IN THE DAY I BEAT FOR THE SUN THE COBBLESTONES
THE DUAL ??
I PROMISE.
- ( beeps ) - Evelyn on answering machine: Roky just called,
and he had said someone was banging on the door,
and I said, "Well, don' t let them in."
Sumner had two policemen with him,
so they' re going to haul him off to Shoal Creek.
I just think this is awful.
( beeps )
YOU DIDN' T KNOW THAT HE WAS PLANNING ON DOING THIS?
NO!
I MEAN, THINK WHAT THOSE MEXICAN PEOPLE ARE THINKING.
YOU KNOW, POLICEMEN COMING UP
AND HAULING ROKY AWAY.
HE HAS TO LIVE THERE.
SUMNER, THIS IS DONNY.
I' M REALLY, REALLY ANGRY AT YOU.
I WISH YOU' D ANSWER YOUR PHONE, AND TALK LIKE A MAN ABOUT THIS,
BECAUSE I' VE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT.
I FEEL LIKE I WAS USED TODAY--
ASKING ME WHERE SHE WENT.
( sighs ) GIVE US A CALL.
COME ON, FACE THE MUSIC. CALL MOTHER.
CAN' T YOU CALL HERE? BE A MAN.
Judge: I WILL NOW CALL FOR THE GUARDIANSHIP APPLICATION
OF ROGER KYNARD ERICKSON.
AN APPLICATION FOR GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON AND ESTATE.
IS THE APPLICANT READY TO PROCEED?
Female attorney: WE ARE, YOUR HONOR.
I WANT TO HELP EMPOWER HIM.
I' VE TERMED IT A CRUSADE
JUST TO GIVE ROKY FIRST OF ALL HIS WELLNESS,
HIS LIFE. SECOND OF ALL, GIVE ROKY BACK HIS MUSIC.
( sniffs ) HE HAS ABSCESSES
IN HIS MOUTH THAT THREATEN HIS LIFE.
HE NEEDS THE CARE THAT HE DESERVES.
Attorney: I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER, YOUR HONOR.
Judge: MR. CONOR?? DO YOU HAVE SOME TESTIMONY?
Conor: YES, YOUR HONOR. SINCE I WAS APPOINTED IN JANUARY,
IT TOOK SOME TIME TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION WITH MY CLIENT.
HIS PREFERENCE IS TO BE LEFT ALONE.
WHEN ASKED IF HE DID HAVE TO HAVE A GUARDIAN APPOINTED,
WHO WOULD HE WANT, AND HE INDICATED THAT HE WANTED HIS MOTHER.
Evelyn: HERE' S WHAT I DID.
IT' S ALL NOT VERY GOOD,
BUT THAT' S WHAT I DID.
IT SEEMED VERY SYMBOLIC AT THE TIME.
THE NEXT STATEMENT IS THE TRUE REALITY
OF THE SITUATION IS THAT I' VE BEEN HELPING
ROKY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY THE PAST 11 YEARS.
I' M NOT THE ONE KEEPING ROKY FROM GETTING HIS MEDICATION.
I DON' T BELIEVE IN IT.
I WOULD RATHER SEE THE PSYCHIATRIST BE MORE HUMANE,
AND USE HOLISTIC METHODS,
LIKE TEACHING YOGA,
WHICH GETS YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT.
JUST GOOD HEALTHY LIVING.
Judge: AFTER LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY,
THE COURT DOES FIND
THAT ROGER KYNARD ERICKSON
IS IN NEED OF A GUARDIAN,
AND THAT SUMNER PERRY ERICKSON, IS QUALIFIED.
I' M GOING TO APPOINT YOU, SIR,
AS GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON WITH FULL AUTHORITY.
NOW, WE CAN GIVE HIM WHATEVER MEDICATION.
IT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE HIS SCHIZOPHRENIA GO AWAY.
I' LL SAY THIS TO YOU, MS. ERICKSON--
I DON' T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IDEA OF ROKY DOING YOGA,
BUT THAT' S NOT GOING TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEM.
NOW, WE HAVE A BROKEN FAMILY.
IT' S A FAMILY THAT NEEDS
TO GET BACK TOGETHER.
SO YOU' RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR MOTHER.
YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH YOUR MOM, AND MAKE SURE
THAT YOU HAVE APPROPRIATE PERSPECTIVE.
SO LET' S LOOK FORWARD TO THAT,
AND LET' S DO THE BEST FOR ROKY.
Sumner: I REALIZED OVER THE LAST YEAR
THAT I' M THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD HAVE DONE THIS.
I BELIEVE THAT MY BEHAVIOR WILL GIVE HIM, IN MANY WAYS,
AN ANCHOR,
AND HE CAN BECOME COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.
THE COURT GAVE ME PERMISSION TO TAKE ROKY TO PITTSBURG.
I' VE BEEN REALLY LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
THAT ROKY WILL BE ON THE PLANE WITH ME
WEDNESDAY AT 5:10.
HE ASKED ME TO CUT HIS HAIR.
IT WAS HARD TO GET THE SCISSORS,
BUT ONE OF THE MEN SNEAKED HIM INTO HIS ROOM,
AND PUT A SHEET ON THE FLOOR,
AND I STARTED WHACKING OFF HIS BIG, ENORMOUS,
GLOB OF HAIR.
( phone ringing )
IT' S ROKY.
( phone continues ringing )
WHAT TIME IS IT? 3:25.
HELLO?
I WONDER WHY HE DIDN' T SAY ANYTHING.
HELLO?
ROKY?
YOU THINK THAT WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING "GOOD BYE"?
( "Silent Night" playing )
A LOT OF ENERGY GOING OUT IN HERE.
Sumner: HE' S JUST DOING TREMENDOUSLY.
IF I WOULD HAVE SAT DOWN A YEAR AGO,
AND DREAMED UP MY WILDEST HOPES,
I COULDN' T HAVE WRITTEN UP ANYTHING AS GOOD AS WHAT' S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
Man on phone: You know, that' s terrific. Healing up, is he?
Sumner: YEAH, HE JUST IS IN EVERY WAY.
- That' s terrific. - HE' S BEEN ON THE MODERN MEDS SINCE MAY,
WE GOT ALL HIS DENTAL WORK DONE.
IT WAS A BIG THREE HOUR SURGERY.
HE DIDN' T HAVE MUCH TO TRY TO SAVE,
SO THE SURGEON JUST WENT IN THERE AND...
- ...pulled them all out. - YEAH.
HE' S ALSO SEEING--
I HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL MENTOR WHO HAS BEEN MY THERAPIST
FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, AND ROKY IS SEEING HER THREE TIMES A WEEK.
I MEAN, IN A WAY, HE' S ALMOST FULLY PRESENT.
I MEAN, IT COULD BE THAT HE' S COMPLETELY BACK.
Cartoon character on TV: She was the most beautiful girl in the world!
( dishes clacking )
DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE MARTIAN
THAT WENT TO A GAS STATION
AFTER HE LANDED,
AND WALKED UP TO THE GAS PUMPS,
AND SAID, "WHAT' S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL LIKE YOU DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?"
( both laughing )
- Therapist: SO ROKY, COME WALK FOR ME, - OKAY.
AND LET ME SEE WHAT YOUR WALKING REFLECTS.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I ASK YOU TO WALK?
- I GUESS TO RELAX ME. - NO.
AS AN EXTRA FAVOR TO ME?
YEAH, BUT WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE I' M LOOKING FOR
- WHEN I WATCH YOU WALK? - Roky: IF I' M NATURAL?
Therapist: OKAY, WHILE YOU' RE DOING THAT,
LET' S SEE WHAT YOU CAN GET
IN THE WAY OF JUST WHAT I' D CALL
LIKE A MARCHING.
- ( stomping ) - THIS KIND OF THING.
BIG ONES.
REALLY LIFTING THOSE KNEES. YEAH.
LIFT THEM HIGHER.
YEAH, AND STOMP HARD.
NOW, SUMNER, COME IN FRONT,
AND DO IT,
AND DON' T YOU THINK ABOUT IT EITHER.
YOU TRY TO IMITATE HIM.
HIS RHYTHM AND HIS--
OKAY, COME ON BY HIM, AND AS HE COMES BY, YOU JOIN HIM.
- OKAY. - OKAY, GOOD.
Therapist: THERE IT IS. NOW, JUST LET YOUR ARMS HANG.
THAT' S IT, EASY. THAT' S GOOD.
- ( laughs ) - GOOD!
- HEY, ROKY... - Roky: YES?
WHAT' S THE FIRST THING YOU WANNA DO WHEN YOU GET HOME?
Roky: GO TO MY MOTHER' S HOUSE.
- Therapist: GO TO YOUR MOTHER' S HOUSE. - Roky: YES.
Therapist: AND THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
PROBABLY JUST RELAX THERE AND TALK TO MY MOTHER.
WELL, YOU' LL HAVE A LOT TO TELL HER.
YEAH, YEAH. ( laughs )
( piano playing )
Evelyn: ??
I CALLED, I SAID,
"I WANT TO TALK TO ROKY AND SEE HOW HE IS."
SUMNER SAID, "IT' S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS."
OH, I LIKE THIS CAR.
ISN' T THAT A GREAT CAR?
( laughs )
I HAVE A BUNCH OF PICTURES AND LETTERS
THAT ARE READY TO GO ON THE CARDBOARD.
I GUESS YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MEMORIES.
YOU KNOW, YOUR MEMORIES CAN SAVE YOU.
IF YOU DREDGE UP ENOUGH OF THEM.
YEAH.
- YEAH. - YEAH. YOU LIKE THAT IMAGE OF YOURSELF?
- YEAH. - YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS LOOKING COOL.
IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN BLOCK OUT THE SUN
FROM SHINING IN MY WINDOW EARLY IN THE MORNING?
YEAH, YEAH. I' LL HOP TO IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF THESE IDEAS AREN' T FUN FOR YOU,
THEN DON' T DO THEM, BECAUSE--
YOU BROUGHT THAT UP A LONG TIME AGO, AND I' M SORRY.
- IT JUST GOT LOST IN MY HEAD. - OH YEAH, OKAY.
Cartoon voice: LET GO!
Sumner: I' VE BEEN STRUGGLING A LOT
TO MAKE SURE I STAY OUT OF THE NUTHOUSE,
AND OUT OF THE POOR HOUSE.
MY ORIGINAL KIND OF NAIVE THOUGHTS
WAS THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR,
TELLING ME HOW CAN THEY HELP.
MEANWHILE, I SOLD MY CAR TO TRY TO MAKE THE ENDS MEET.
I DON' T BELIEVE THAT IN THE END,
IT' S GOING TO BE A STORY ABOUT "ROKY GOT BETTER,
BUT HIS POOR BROTHER CRACKED UP AND WENT BANKRUPT. "
NOW AFTER I' VE LIVED WITH ROKY FOR A YEAR,
I CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND BETTER
WHAT IT TOOK FOR HER TO KEEP DOING
WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR ROKY.
- YOU REMEMBER WHAT WE DID THE LAST TIME? - NO.
WE TALKED ABOUT--
I ASKED YOU
IF YOU HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN,
THE WHOLE OF YOUR LIFE,
- WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? - YES.
- DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID? - NO.
- YOU SAID, "NOT A THING. NOTHING." - OKAY.
GOOD, NOT A THING.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING WE DID
WAS I SAID, "WOULD YOU SING A SONG?"
- AND YOU SAID, "YES," AND YOU SANG A SONG. - YES.
WOULD YOU SING ANOTHER ONE?
- OKAY. - OKAY.
Therapist: THERE YOU GO.
( acoustic guitar playing )
GOODBYE, SWEET DREAMS
ONCE HAD A HEART
THAT COULD NOT BE TOLD
BUT NOW THESE DREAMS
HAVE GROWN SO COLD
GOODBYE, SWEET DREAMS
ONCE ?? IN LOVE
MY LOVE ?? BURN
GOODBYE, SWEET DREAMS
( Sumner laughs )
- BEAUTIFUL. - THANK YOU.
I NEED TO CUT MY NAILS.
YEAH, YOU DO.
BUT I DID ALRIGHT.
( cartoons on TV )
( rock music playing )
??
INTO A WORLD THAT' S MORE LOUSY THAN BEFORE
?? OUT THE WINDOW FROM THE NEWSPAPER TO THE DOOR
IT' S TIMES LIKE THESE, LUCIFER
??
OH, THE WIND AND MORE THE WIND AND MORE
THE WIND AND MORE
WHO' S A BETTER ?? THAN THE WIND AND MORE
GOBLINS ??
??
IT' S TIMES LIKE THESE, LUCIFER
??
OH, THE WIND AND MORE THE WIND AND MORE
THE WIND AND MORE
?? THE WIND AND MORE?
STARRY EYES, HOW CAN I GET TO YOU?
MY TRUE LITTLE??
STARRY EYES, WHAT CAN I SAY OR DO
FOR YOU, MY LITTLE STARRY EYES
STARRY EYES FOREVER ?? HIGH
WHEN I' M ALONE I HEAR THE ??
I WISH THAT I COULD REACH OUT AND TOUCH YOU
BUT KNOWING YOU' RE THE ONE
TO GREET ME AND MEET ME
??
STARRY EYES, STARS THAT FALL ON ME??
STARRY EYES
STARRY EYES FOREVER STARRY EYES
OH YEAH
ALRIGHT!