Music for the obsessed!

I'm trying to gather some entertaining anecdotes of full-blown musical obsession.  Think along the lines of Brian Wilson listening to the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" thousands of times while he locked himself away in the late 60s.  Or, as Alex Ross mentioned a few years back, the terminally ill cancer patient who listened only to Arvo Pärt in his final days.  Or Frank Booth in Blue Velvet and his 'candy colored clown' drug; or Lester Bangs' infatuation with the record Astral Weeks, or the night Bix would've slept in the streets if he didn't get to hear Bessie Smith sing once more.  Stories like these have always shown to me the real gusto in music. I identify more and more with those who crazily glom on to one chord or progression and have to sit in their filth for days wondering why; less and less can I understand the record store clerk type in High Fidelity who never listens to a record more than once.  Input would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. 

Comments

[dave]

I think it's interesting Bryant for sure. But I also believe it says more about the persons state of mind than the actual subject of their obsession. Now I'm not saying that you have to be certifiably insane to listen to "Be My Baby" 1000 times, but it doesn't hurt.

[bryant]

perhaps, but i always thought they were hearin' something we didn't; maybe some bizarre 'state of mind' of theirs which approximates that of the artist/composer.

[dave]

looks like we have a 'chicken or the egg' situation.

[pdx]

I've just finished watching a documentary on Daniel Johnston called 'the devil and daniel johnston' - and would highyl recommend that. He's often compared to the same disturbed genius as Brian Wilson and Wesley Willis. In the documentary, and throughout his life - Johnston was completely obsessed with one woman - Laurie Allen. He was also a manic-depressive, who came from a very religious family, and had frequent bouts of full-blown psychosis. The curious thing about Johnson, however - is he was almost a counter-obsessive as far as music goes. For example, he had no idea who Brian Wilson was for most of his life - even though they shared much in common in terms of having an ear for melody, composition and harmony. Rather, Johnston was driven by, well, the devils he felt were chasing him. It's a pretty interesting documentary.