The late great Wesley Willis is the subject of the feature length DVD documentary “Wesley Willis’ Joy Rides” which is slated for release December 8.

Produced by Eyeosaur and MVD Visual and directed by Chris Bagley and Kim Shively the film features footage from the last four year’s of the schizophrenic artist’s life, culminating with his death due to cancer in 2003.

Willis, known for headbutt greetings and eccentric lyrics, was also a prolific drawer of intricate color ink-pen works.  As a performer he relied on the programed beats of a Technics KN series keyboard to provide background to his unique and powerful words.  Often his songs spoke about and even to the “demons” that haunted him.

“Wesley Willis’ Joy Rides” won the Gold Hugo for the Chicago Award at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival. It premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January 2008, and has since been shown at Noise Pop Film Festival, Hot Docs, SXSW, and The Starz Denver Film Festival. The film includes interviews with friends and family as well as animations of his drawings.

Check out the trailer: