You're Gonna Miss Me

This is an incredible - and incredibly fu**ed up! - story, beautifully told. I had not heard of Roky Erickson before I saw this film. A friend invited me to a screening without much warning so I had no expectations.

What I discovered was a film that's a tripped out ballad of family dysfunction on a level that is heartbreaking to bear. But it can be really funny too. It's tragic, comic, and mind blowing all at once - and in a weirdly quiet way.

It's the kind of subject matter that could be handled in a way that's glib and wonky. But the filmmakers chose a different route, one that's elegant and thoughtful – be it in the downright hypnotic compositions of the 16mm cinematography (how did they swing that in a documentary?) or the quiet style of the editing (the kind that gives you space to think, to feel) - and it leaves a lasting impression. I saw it over a week ago and keep thinking about these incredible people.

"You're Gonna Miss Me" is troubling, fascinating, captivating and hysterically funny. Do whatever you need to do to see this film; it is a true and singular find.

It has the hallmarks of myth, a touch of Oedipus...a younger brother rescuing his older sibling from his mother... There's craziness, but whether its inherited, or ingested or otherwise invoked, it's hard to tell.

The film is vexingly perplexing, so though I was captivated while watching it, upon reflection it feels a little bit like an ambulance gawk. Contrasting the free recklessness of Roky's Elevator youth with his tentative steps at the end of the film is dizzying. He just seems like a husk of a man through most of the movie.

The image of him turning on all sorts of noise generators in his cramped apartment to help soothe him to sleep. Fascinating.

So I'm glad to read reports here and elsewhere that Roky is if not back, more on track. But I regard them with some suspicion, he's addled innocence seems to invite Svengalis. Footage from the mother's film archives was oddly awesome in a raw, and real outsider...yet creative way. The absent father gets a little screen time, yet a pretty strong indictment in passing. The brother seems caught between a lot of magnetic poles, his own crises rise up...he bites off more than he can chew with Roky...and then as an afterthought we find out he lives next door to said absent father?!?!

Weird is the word...

And I've left out the channeling therapist (you got to walk before you can rock?) and the once-upon-a-time defenders of electroshock and that track suit guy who celebrates with Sumner at the end.

At the end, like any family suffering, I wish them the best, at least some form of solace. And I wonder if Roky ever sort of misses Roky?

After seeing the movie, I still felt I didn't know the Roky Erickson story. Surprisingly little music. Too much focus on Roky's mom. She was unusual but not interesting enough to carry the movie.

The obvious comparison is to the Daniel Johnston documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" - that is the better movie. The decline into schizophrenia is more visible. Note that I am a BIG Roky fan and only a marginal Daniel Johnston fan.

Despite the review, if the movie is showing along with a performance of Roky Erickson and the Explosives - GO SEE IT! It is very interesting to compare the real Roky with the documentary Roky. Also the backing band ROCKS!!

What a marvelous documentary this is, one of the best documentaries I have ever seen, very moving and a very haunting and touching story about a broken family, I have watched this about 6-7 times already and it never gets old, great interviews with musicians who admire Roky Erickson band his contributions to the music industry, I never was into the 13th floor elevators much although they have some great songs, I was always more partial to his amazingly great solo albums specifically the evil one and don't slander me, both of which have been re issued recently on vinyl through light in the attic records, this documentary features some rare and haunting interviews with Roky himself, but the core interest to me in this documentary was his struggles with mental illness and overcoming them through his brother's help and love. I Highly recommend this wonderful documentary!

having seen Roky play at his annual Ice Cream Social at Threadgill's for the last 3 years, I can tell everyone that watches this film that Roky is back and stronger than ever. He kills it live. They had great bands open up the Ice Cream Social each year with the like of Spoon, Secret machines, Minus 5 etc., but something happens when Roky takes the stage. His band is crack and his singing is still killer.

If your ever make it to Austin Texas for South By Southwest, you MUST pay the $30 to and join the fun of the Social. the money goes to Roky's trust fund and the music and people could not be cooler. Kick back on a beautiful day, kick your shoes off and run your toes through the grass and have some free Amy's ice cream.

Then, just as it gets dark, be enchanted by a master of psych rock as Roky kills a 75 set of totally hypnotic and ecstatic music. You will not be sorry.

Cap