The Bottom Line......

[quantumdriven]

 



   
I've not got the academic chops of you("Gina"), but I've got my ideas on big Danny.

Schizotypal, maybe.
Bi-Polar, maybe.

But more likely is a learned personality disorder.  And also it's very likely that he was born a "Blue Baby" or the OB-GYN damaged Dan's frontal brain lobes with the forceps.

Dan made a leap of faith and proclaimed "I'm am artist" at an early age.  His family allowed him to get away with it.  Damn great story of nurturing and documentation of him.  But if Dan hadn't "Made It" he'd have just as soon murdered them all, sad to say.

Sure there's talent and I respect it, but in effect Dan decided he was "Special" and too good to work, and he got lucky and got away with it.

He was eccentric, sure.  But the time (6 months) with the caravan and the drugs
left their effect most probably.  Danny wouldn't have been the first kid to fry on an initial try at acid or 'shrooms, hey?
************

I say this because I mirror Dan in a way in my life and inability to conform.
I didn't hear of Dan until April of this year, btw.

I shun people and isolate myself, and have huge bitterness at women.
I believe I'm too good to work.

I say I'm a writer, even though I've only sold one piece that was published in Oct of 2004 to Time/Life Inc. for Sports Illustrated.

I live with my widow mother and have no intentions of leaving until one of my novels sells big and I've got major $buck$ to hire whores to come to a place of my own.

My neighbors pay me to do yard work, but I put it off because I'm writing, and boast to them of that (Translation: Leave me the **** alone unless you want to throw your body at me neighbor lady... I'm an "Artist" here.  Screw your lawn, I'll get to it when I want, lol.).

All that being said, I adore the guy.  He was very fortunate in how the Austin, TX music scene embraced him.  His time spent "Networking" at the McDonalds while working there is sheer genius, and a feat that will probably never be successful again for another "Artist."

--Sonney      

[OhJoy]

Thanks for adding the part about "All that being said, I adore the guy" because I really couldn't tell.
You sound jealous.

[K1r0ft]

Dude... you don't have to be ugly.

[Henry Long]

Everything Daniel has achieved in the world of music (and the world of art) has come by way of his tenacity, hard work, following his bliss and his sheer belief in his own personal vision. Add love to the mix, as in the love his family and friends have for him, and I would say Daniel is quite a successful man.

That's not to say it's been easy for everyone concerned, but the proof is in the pudding. And that pudding is 25 + years of musical creation and a catalog of over 600 songs and thousands of works on paper. Not too shabby, and certainly more than just dumb luck.

Oh, one request: Please let's stop with the labeling, okay? At this point, it really serves no one, least of all Mr. Johnston. Thank you for your cooperation...

[madnell]

THE  BOTTOM LINE: Is Your Poor Mother In Danger Of Being Murdered By You???

[billybob]

Sonney, you don't know Daniel, you don't know his life, and you flatter yourself when you claim to have so much in common with him.    I hope you can get your life on track and be happier. 

He doesn't hate women.
He loves people.  He lives at home not by choice but because he's incapable of taking care of himself in the world.  He loves and respects his family and is grateful that they are watching over him.
He has worked in his life, at tedious and difficult jobs.  He did not get a job at McDonald's to "network,"  he did it to eke out a living while making his art.  It was near the place he lived (on his own), and it was a job he could get.
He IS an artist, as much of an artist or more, than anyone I've ever known. 
The only part I agree with is how the Austin scene embraced him, but then again, why wouldn't we?  He is a super-talented songwriter and a hell of a fun guy to be around.  There are any number of cities that would have recognized Daniel's talent and celebrated it.  Daniel was determined to find such a place and he did. 
It was not all luck!

[kung_fu_elvis]

I've been thinking a bit on this before I posted a response...

I don't know about others, but for me, here's a few thoughts.

I like Dan's music, I like his lyrics, I love his art...
I enjoy his distinctive voice, and style.

His personal life, is his personal life.

Yes, there was a documentary that illustrated some of the hard times in his life, but all in all, it was about the Art that Dan creates...

If you want to sit and break down some of his lyrical imagery, great, if we want to discuss his use of medium in art, cool.

But I don't think it's fair to sit back and make 'Armchair Psycological' dianosis... at all.


I'm sure your personal experience has given you some enlightenment... but if you've never met the guy, that's a broad brush you're painting with.

To insinuate that he may have killed his family, suggests more of a disorder with you than Dan... Sorry.

I'm not sure where you grab Dan's bitterness with women, unless you're commenting only on yourself... the two other comments you made regarding women in your post illustrate that.

To write over 200 songs for one woman seems an indication in the other direction.


It's cool if you find some comfort in Dan, it's cool if it gives you some piece of mind...

but to attempt to diagnose someone you've never met, is really not that cool.

[Judgemental Jones]

I'm sure you've consulted with his doctors and proven their various diagnoses wrong? You judge yourself as not being a writer b/c you've only sold one piece. Well, by that standard - Daniel MUST be a talented musician as he's sold hundreds of thousands of albums, sold-out concerts in the US and Europe, etc - by your own standards, you are a hypocrite, and a disgusting one at that. Please stop trying to make someone elses life failures and successes about you - it's not about you. Most of us here won't achieve what he has, and most famous people have some luck along the way. You make me sick with your certainty.

[trashsong]

For your own sake and ours, please read up on basic psychology before you make another post like this one. You're only serving to further stigmatize the mentally ill. One does not decide to be ill in order to get out of work. Maybe that's what you're doing, but don't assume everyone else is the same -- certainly not a talented, successful artist you've never met. Thanks.

[wickedwill]

There aint alot I know but I do know this, Dan loves the ladies!