When I released the Blaze Foley documentary film, DUCT TAPE MESSIAH, I struggled to have it shown in festivals and theaters. Blaze’s friend and producer, Gurf Morlix, toured with me and with his help, and the help of his fans, we showed it over 90 times in songwriter clubs, coffee shops, theaters, and bookstores to over 4700 people.
At some of those shows, Blaze’s muse Sybil Rosen accompanied us and read from her book “Living in the Woods in a Tree” about her time with Dep’ty Dawg as he became Blaze Foley, and discovering him after his death. These shows are hugely important to me as I met many people who either loved Blaze’s music or were just finding out about him and wanting to learn more.
Fast-forward ten years later, Blaze has more albums out than I can believe for someone who passed away in relative obscurity, with no albums available anywhere. Three books have been written about him, two movies made (counting the documentary), a huge fanbase around the world including Japan, and the possibility of more books, more albums, and more films!
Not bad for a dead guy, no offense and with all due respect for his talent. He died much too young but he achieved what he always wanted: to die a legend, not a star.
Thanks to a strong fan base and perhaps my foolishness, I’m thinking of producing a second documentary about Blaze, one that in my opinion is more honest about his story, not trying to portray him as a star, and with more archival footage of him performing. Let me know in the comments if this is something you’d like to see, it may spur me to create a story that tries to capture the complicated yet simple soul of Blaze Foley. Peace.
Yes, Yes, YES! More Blaze…
I discovered Blaze in the early part of this year after watching Mike Judge’s Tales From The Tour Bus. Went on to listen to his music and watch the film and documentary. Hearing Live at The Austin Outhouse for the first time was quite an experience. Definitely one of those times you wish you could go back and listen to an album for the first time again and again. I would love to hear more stories about him. What he was like as a person. The good and the bad. Although his image was a tough outlaw he was only human and his lyrics show a very sensitive side. I think that’s one of the brilliant qualities that comes through in his song writing, making it more touching than most records you hear today and why discovering his music had such a profound effect on me.