Ongoing History of New Music

Episode: Still More Outsider Music
Host: Alan Cross
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Alan Cross takes listeners on another fascinating journey into the world of "outsider music"—a genre created by artists who exist on the margins of conventional music scenes. Outsider musicians, often self-taught and undeterred by established norms or critical reception, produce music that is raw, unique, and unfiltered. Cross curates a selection of stories and tracks from these unconventional artists, aiming not to mock, but to celebrate their unbridled authenticity and the sheer joy they bring to music-making.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is Outsider Music?

• Definition & Origins:
  Outsider music is comparable to "outsider art," which originated as art brut in 1920s France. It describes creativity unfettered by formal training, tradition, or the need for validation.

  • "[Outsider musicians] are motivated...by the sheer joy of expressing themselves through music. And they don't give a damn about what other people may think." (04:03)

• Traits:

  • Artists may be eccentric, self-taught, untrained, or experiencing various forms of neurodivergence or mental illness.
  • Music is often described as childlike, naïve, sometimes dissonant, but always passionate and honest.

Early Influencers & History

• The term "outsider music" gained traction in the 1950s and 60s, influenced by jazz and later, rock and pop outliers.
• Irwin Chusid, a DJ and journalist, notably curated compilation CDs that brought greater attention to these musicians.

Featured Outsider Artists & Tracks

1. The Space Lady (Susan Dietrich)

• Background: Street musician from Colorado, known for silver helmet, synthesizer, and cosmic covers.
• Notable Work: The Space Lady’s Greatest Hits (2013), unique covers of classic rock.
• Quote:
  "She wore a silver plastic helmet adorned with white wings and a flashing light on top, and she played the accordion." (06:18)
• Clip: "And they all started grooving..." (08:08)—spacey, shimmering reinterpretation of recognizable tunes.
• Status: Still active in Colorado, managed by her grandson.

2. Hasil Adkins

• Background: Multi-instrumentalist from rural West Virginia, rockabilly pioneer, one-man band, and cult figure.
• Eccentricities:
  • Sang extensively about chickens, aliens, peanut butter on the moon, etc.
  • Created dances like the "Slop" for the inebriated, "Chicken Hop," and "Chicken Wobble."
  • Legendary for drinking 8 liters of coffee per day; was known for erratic behavior and brushes with the law.
• Legacy: Inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame after a tragic end.
• Quote:
  "If you're into Psychobilly, the crazier and more amped up version of rockabilly, Hasil Adkins was a pioneer." (09:08)
• Clip: "Do your stuff up on the floor... Come on, baby do a chicken, chicken walk." (10:50)

3. The Amazing Dolores

• Background: West Virginia model turned eccentric performer at age 40; noted for odd costumes and performances.
• Fandom: Supported by Tom Petty’s drummer, Stan Lynch; given her own holiday by Charleston.
• Notable Work: Stop Messing With My Mind (1994) includes strange answering machine messages set to music.
• Quote:
  "She had a fan in Stan Lynch, the drummer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and he helped her record an album in 1994..." (11:53)
• Clip: Lyrics about rats in her home—“there's a rat in my ceiling and a low down rat in my bed.” (12:18)

4. Wildman Fisher (Larry Fisher)

• Background: LA street performer with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; subject of Rolling Stone and Frank Zappa collaborator.
• Career:
  • Famous for acapella performances on the Sunset Strip.
  • Recorded An Evening with Wild Man Fisher (1968) with Zappa.
• Downfall: Creative output ceased after increased medication for his mental illness.
• Quote:
  "Rolling Stone... said the album captured the total being of one strange member of the human community." (13:53)
• Clip: "Merry go round, come..."—simple, direct, and heartfelt. (14:39)

5. Jan Terry

• Background: Petite singer-songwriter dubbed “endearingly bad,” began in a family jug band, later became a limo driver sharing self-made music videos.
• Cult Status: Gained fame after being championed by Marilyn Manson, performing at his parties and opening for him.
• Quote:
  "She got a job as a limo driver. But she never gave up on making music." (15:19)
• Clip: “Get down, Goblin!”—infectious, joyful repetition. (16:10)

6. Jimmy Mitchell

• Background: Blind, mentally challenged singer from Dallas. Produced an 11-track album after winning a karaoke contest.
• Quote:
  "Listen to the utter joy with which this song is performed." (20:08)
• Clip: "Big D little I double L I..."—celebratory ode to Dallas. (20:25)
• Comparison: Style reminiscent of Wesley Willis, another outsider legend.

7. BJ Snowden

• Background: Massachusetts native with deep love for Canada; Berklee College of Music grad.
• Notoriety: Profiled by BBC, MTV, and supported by Fred Schneider (B-52s).
• Notable Songs: Focuses on Canadian provinces, blending enthusiasm with sincerity.
• Quote:
  "Her greatest hits...all involve songs about Canada. She's written many songs about the country and all the provinces." (21:37)
• Clip: "Oh Newfee, that pretty rocky ledge from a distance..." (22:07)

8. Edward Hill (Mr. Trololo)

• Background: Acclaimed Soviet and Russian baritone, music teacher, and symbol of Leningrad.
• Viral Fame:
  • 1976 performance of “I Am Very Glad As I Am Finally Returning Home” (Trololo Song) became an internet meme in 2010.
• Quote:
  "Is Edward Hill an outsider musician? I don't know, but you gotta have something special if you're gonna do something like this on national tv." (23:02)

9. Ya Ho Wha 13 & Father Yod

• Background: Cultish psychedelic band formed in LA’s Source Family commune, led by Father Yod (James Baker).
• Music: Wild improvisations, no rehearsals; albums rare and highly prized.
• Quote:
  “Father Yod stopped participating in 1975 after he died in a bizarre hang gliding accident in Hawaii. Without any experience or training, he just leapt off a 1300 foot cliff...” (27:03)
• Clip: Spiritual, hypnotic sounds from “Because” (1974). (27:49)

10. Sunseed, Nobody, Complete (Regional, Cable TV-era Acts)

• Sunseed: Christian ska band known for exuberant “Jesus is a Friend of Mine.” (29:03)
• Nobody: Lo-fi, poetic Christian group, “the Shags of Seoul.” (29:18)
• Complete: Texas band, clip “Dreaming” salvaged from VHS—pure DIY outsider energy. (30:01)

11. The Nihilist Spasm Band

• Background: London, Ontario group formed in 1965. Pioneers of “spasm bands” using homemade instruments, kazoos, and improvisation.
• Legacy: Opened for Sonic Youth, remain cult figures, documented extensively.
• Quote:
  "In the world of outsider music, a Spasm band is a group that uses mostly homemade instruments. There's plenty of improvisation. Nothing needs to be coordinated or in tune." (31:08)
• Clip: Raw, improvisational sample from “When in London, sleep at the York Hotel.” (32:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Whatever was going on inside their head may have just been a little hard for you to grasp... They just march to their own beat." (02:22) — Alan Cross
• "We shall not judge, and we certainly will not mock. Instead, let us marvel at the joy these people experience at being able to express themselves in such unvarnished, unfiltered, and occasionally primitive ways." (04:23) — Alan Cross
• “It's the human spirit in action...like saying, dance like no one is watching.” (19:32) — Alan Cross
• “Has this episode on outsider music taken you places you've never been before? That was the hope.” (32:56) — Alan Cross

Timestamps for Key Segments

• What is Outsider Music? (02:05 – 06:12)
• The Space Lady (06:38 – 08:25)
• Hasil Adkins (08:25 – 11:02)
• The Amazing Dolores (11:02 – 12:34)
• Wildman Fisher (12:34 – 14:52)
• Jan Terry (15:45 – 16:22)
• Jimmy Mitchell (19:39 – 20:25)
• BJ Snowden (21:12 – 22:21)
• Edward Hill/Trololo (22:21 – 24:28)
• Ya Ho Wha 13 (25:56 – 28:02)
• Sunseed, Nobody, Complete (29:03 – 30:18)
• Nihilist Spasm Band (31:50 – 32:56)

Episode Tone & Closing Thoughts

Cross maintains a respectful and celebratory tone throughout, emphasizing wonder and admiration rather than irony. The episode is full of surprises and is designed for curious listeners who value authenticity and the unexpected.

"Outsider musicians should be admired for their insatiable need to express themselves through music, no matter how it may sound or appear to others." (32:56 – 33:09)

Further Engagement

Listeners are encouraged to:

• Revisit previous episodes on outsider music for even more remarkable stories.
• Suggest other outsider artists for future features.
• Connect with Alan Cross via his website for more riffs on music’s oddest corners.

For anyone interested in music “off the beaten path,” this episode is a rich, generous celebration of true musical freedom and unapologetic self-expression.