The 5th Annual Roky Erickson Psychedelic Ice Cream Social celebrating Electro-Shock Survivors
Come and celebrate with Roky, who has had his legal rights fully restored as of February 23, 2007!
In June, 2001, Roky Erickson’s youngest brother, singer/songwriter and former Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Tubaist Sumner Erickson, was appointed Roky's legal guardian. Sumner established The Roger Kynard Erickson Trust to address Roky's living expenses and other financial needs. From June 2001 until July 2002, Roky lived with his brother in Pittsburgh, where he finally began to receive the support and care he needs. Roky is now back in Austin. Not only has his health continued to improve dramatically, but as of Feb. 23, 2007 the guardianship has been dissolved. Roky is back, a free agent and the rock n' roll muse that he was born to be.
Thursday, March 15th, 2007
Threadgills WHQ, S. Austin, Texas
2:00 PM (DOORS) to 8:00 PM
Jack Blood, host. Featuring ROKY ERICKSON & The Explosives, Spoon, Robyn Hitchcock and Peter Buck (3 pm), Michelle Shocked, Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, Tommy X Hancock, Black Lips, Powell St. John, J. T. Van Zandt & Sumner Erickson of the Texcentrics.
Artist Jim Franklin has created another of his legendary unique designs for the event.
Tickets available at
www.frontgatetickets.com and at Threadgills WHQ at 301 West Riverside Drive * (512) 472-9304
$20.00 General Admission and children 12 and under Free with an adult.
The Ice Cream Social is co-sponsored this year by the Coalition for the Abolition of Electroshock in Texas (CAEST). Many artists have been hurt over the years by the labels and biological treatments of the mental health system. Roky Erickson, Townes Van Zandt and Jim Franklin are Austin music legends who suffered from psychiatric electroshock, also known as electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. Families Rock Productions
http://familiesrock.com is also a co-sponsor.
Roky and Townes’ son, J.T. Van Zandt, are among the musicians who are now publicly declaring their desire to protect future artists from being hurt by electroshock, calling for genuine asylum and compassionate care of artists and other citizens who might be having a hard time in life. Says Roky of being subjected to ECT treatments: “I wish I hadn't had it and it didn’t help me.”
J.T. Van Zandt , whose father also received ECT treatments, says that electroshock should be abolished: "Is it necessary that human beings destroy all things which they do not understand, including the unique mind of the artist. Would it be possible for us to examine our past, learn from the mistakes we have made and actually make positive changes in our behavior. How long does it take to discontinue practices that have been proven to be absolutely detrimental to society and produce only negative consequences. Let us unite to put an end to the barbaric practice of shock therapy."
Electroshock survivor Jim Franklin states: "I had an elaborate statement prepared in my mind, but in 1965 they erased it with an electric eraser."
"Since there is no such thing as mental illness, there can be no schizophrenia. Therefore, no one can be a schizophrenic! Especially Roky (and everyone!)!!! And since this is the truth, then of course there is no reason ever to shock people! No reason... ever! Never was... never will be! AMEN!" - Sumner Erickson
John Breeding, PhD, spokesperson for CAEST, stated: “We are delighted that so many incredible artists are publicly speaking out against this brain damaging procedure called electroshock. I think they are saving lives by letting the public know about this public health danger!”
Lee Spiller, Director of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights and CAEST member, agrees. "Let's look at this for a minute. Roky, Townes, Jim Franklin, they are true icons. They lived ahead of their times. It's amazing that they all got shock treatment for that. Let's dedicate this day to making Austin a safe place, where you can be ahead of your time without having to worry about getting punished for it."
Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson
Austin, TX: As singer, songwriter, and guitar player for the legendary Austin, TX 60`s band The 13th Floor Elevators, the first rock and roll band to describe their music as "psychedelic," Roky Erickson had a profound impact on the pivotal evolution of the music scene when the group was formed and spread this new concept to the West Coast. While later bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Jefferson Airplane were more rooted in traditional acoustic folk music, the Elevators’ unique brand of heavy, electric blues-drenched rock pointed to a new direction for the music of the first “hip” generation.
The Elevators only had one major chart hit, the Roky-penned "You're Gonna Miss Me," but their influence reached far beyond the static world of top 40.
The people that Roky influenced are legion and too numerous to name. ZZ Top, R.E.M., Yo La Tengo, T-Bone Burnett, Julian Cope, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Cramps, The Minutemen, Television, The Cynics, The Lyres, Teisco Del Rey, The Fuzztones, Radio Birdman and many more have recorded or and/or included Roky`s songs in their live sets. In addition to these performers, Roky is an acknowledged influence on such diverse musicians as Robert Plant, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, Mike Watt, Sonic Youth, The Butthole Surfers, Jon Spencer, The Damned, Red Krayola, Pere Ubu, and recent hit-makers The White Stripes.
Among the films that Roky`s songs have appeared on the soundtracks of are: High Fidelity, Drugstore Cowboy, Boys Don't Cry, Hamlet (2000), Return of the Living Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4. While as yet he may not be a household name to some, Roky has enjoyed the support of a uniquely fierce loyal following throughout his career.
Unfortunately, Roky's struggles with drug issues and related problems in living took a serious toll. His 1969 arrest in Texas for possession of a single marijuana cigarette had led to his being involuntarily incarcerated for three years at the Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, where he was subjected to various unhealthy experimental "treatments." Roky has long been referred to as “schizophrenic.” However, this was a total misnomer, as the label points to no real disease, and is useless except for the purpose of coercing people into brain-disabling "treatments." Roky is not, and never was, “schizophrenic.”
After his release in 1973, Roky began his own personal rock `n’ roll mission which revealed him to be a unique and prolific song writer. He has had prolific periods of creativity in the intervening years, along with unfortunate periods of challenged health and diminished productivity.
Happily, today we find Roky in the process of being his own miracle and making an astounding recovery from a two-decade long period of almost total tragedy.
His youngest brother, singer/songwriter and former Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Principal Tubaist Sumner Erickson, was appointed Roky's legal guardian in June, 2001. Sumner has established The Roger Kynard Erickson Trust to address Roky's living expenses and other financial needs. From June, 2001 until July, 2002, Roky lived with his brother in Pittsburgh, where he finally began to receive the support and care he needs. Roky is now back in Austin, where his health continues to improve dramatically.
In September of 2005, after playing a full 50-minute set at his 58th Birthday Celebration in August at Ruta Maya in Austin, he played the Austin City Limit Festival. Roky and the Explosives were the Saturday headliners on the Austin Stage. These historic concerts marked his first full concert appearances in almost two decades.
Now Roky is back and beginning to play venues across the USA. With upcoming 2007 appearances already booked for such prestigious music festivals as Coachella, South By Southwest, the Ponderosa Stomp and Noise Pop, a new generation of Roky fans are set to discover that "one of the greatest singers in the history of R ‘n’ R" is back, and as ferocious a performer as ever!
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