DESCRIPTION:
Larry "Wild Man" Fischer live at the Key Club in Hollywood, California on July 7th, 2001. Picture is of Larry with Barnes and Barnes around 2007. Video footage can be seen in the documentary "Derailroaded."

(Melrose Larry Green Introduction)
My Name Is Larry
I'm The Meany
Go To Rhino Records
Derailroaded
Frank
See Me, Feel Me (The Who)
Monkeys Versus Donkeys
The Bouillabaisse
Do The Wild Man
The Leaves Are Falling
In My Room (The Beach Boys)
Corner Of Faith
It's A Hard Business
Don't Be A Singer
"Hopefully Howard Stern Will Never Attack Me"
Jimmy Durante
I'm Working For The Federal Bureau Of Narcotics
I Light The Pilot
Yesterday (The Beatles)
Outside The Hospital
Oh Linda, No Laurie
Merry Go Round
(Melrose Larry Green)
Jennifer Jones
Nobody's Happy
(Melrose Larry Green again)
"Think I should make an album with Eric Clapton?"
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The Mope
Corner Of Faith

Taper:
A friend and I found Larry eating a cheeseburger and fries in the lounge area of the Key Club, before the show. We introduced ourselves and I told him I had been a big fan of his music for about twelve years. "You have my records?" he asked. I told him I had all his records. He eyed me warily and then after a moment said, "I have a new song." I asked him what it was called, and he stood up and belted out:

"RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...
JUST AROUND THE CORNER...
STANDS THE CORNER OF FAITH!"

And then he was sitting down eating his meal again. It was a moment I will never forget.

This was the first time Larry "Wild Man" Fischer had performed onstage in many years; he was the opening act for Daniel Johnston, and Rhino Handmade had just released the box set "The Fischer King" two years prior. (In fact, I believe this was his second-to-last performance, the final one being in Phoenix, Arizona on August 2006.) He was introduced by Melrose Larry Green, who as I recall, was running for Mayor.

Larry brought an out-of-tune acoustic guitar on stage with him, occasionally struming it or using it for percussion. He spent most of the performance pacing back and forth on the stage, and tried to leave several times. A friend of his (who can be heard yelling "FISCHER!") was sitting at the edge of the stage, preventing him from leaving prematurely. As I understand it, he needed to perform for a certain amount of time (20 or 25 minutes) or else he wouldn't get paid.

After the show was over, Larry came out and we talked with him some more. He forgot where he had left his guitar and became very worried; I offered to go backstage to look for it. I went downstairs into the bowels of the Key Club and found it resting against a wall, next to a dressing room where Daniel Johnston was conducting an interview, surrounded by cameras and reporters who hung upon his every word.

I brought the guitar back upstairs to Larry, who was extremely relieved that he hadn't lost it. It was a truly memorable experience.

Larry Fischer passed away due to heart failure on June 16, 2011. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see him and meet him. Rest In Peace, Wild Man. You were truly one-of-a-kind.