Daniel Johnston PRESS CURRENT NEWS page:   (work in progress)  (updated June 4, 2008)
 
Daniel to tour Europe with John Dear Mowing Club Fall 2008 Daniel will tour a dozen European locations with the Dutch band John Dear Mowing Club as opening show and Daniel's backing band from October 24 through November 13, 2008.   Daniel had toured with this same band in April 2007 for five shows in The Netherlands ending with a joint show in Amsterdam with Das Pop.
Coppertree Records to release vinyl August 11, 2008 U.K. Coppertree Records will release Daniel's albums "Fear Yourself" on a limited edition heavyweight 180gm virgin vinyl LP August 11, 2008.  The LP is available in the U.K. from Coppertree Records or Daniel's web sites www.rejectedunknown.com and www.hihowareyou.com .
Daniel to appear at U.S. folk art festivals 2008 November 21-23 Daniel will attend the Good Folk Festival in Louisville, Kentuky November 21, 22, 23, 2008 and display his art for sale.
August 15-17, 2008 Daniel will attend the Slotin Flok Art festival in Atlanta Georgia August 15, 16, 17 and display his art.  He will also perform daily for the festival.
June 5, 2008
Daniel's first collectible toy is out
The first of collectible vinyl toys from Daniel Johnston is a 3D rendering of the "alien frog" from the cover of his 1983 album "Hi How Are You".   The frog has been popularized by the t-shirts, especially when Kurt Cobain sported it to the 1994 MTV awards.   When asked to explain the character, Daniel said it was "the frog of innocence" and called him by the name of Jeremiah.  That same year, the frog was drawn on the side of the Sound Exchange store in Austin Texas.   Ten years later when the wall was about to be demolished, locals stood up and protested it's destruction, and the owner of the restaurant making renovations agreed to preserve the wall - it is still a favorite photo-taking landmark at 21st street and Guadalupe in Austin, Texas today.   Now At Arms (atarmsnyc.com) has produced about 1,000 3D renderings of the character sitting atop a tree stump (the tree stump also being an important part of Daniel's imagery).

It is a limited run of between 250-350 each of white, yellow, and green.

They are available for $100 from Toytoyo.com CardboardSpaceShip.com (and others) and Daniel's web stores www.HiHowAreYou.com and www.RejectedUnknown.com .  Many brick-and-morter storess will have them also, including the store at the Whitey Museum Of American Art in New York City.
July 2008 tour in Europe with supporting bands / friends of Daniel Johnston  TOUR DATES July U.K./Europe/Ireland shows to feature block-buster backing band!   
"An Evening with Daniel Johnston and friends"
Daniel's U.K., Europe, Ireland shows in July will be supported and backed by
Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse,
Scout Niblett,
James McNew of Yo La Tengo,
Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub and
Jad Fair of Half Japanese!
Daniel Tours U.S. in June 2008 with The Captiol Years and The Hymns June U.S. shows: include New Haven, Brooklyn, Providence, and Philadelphia with  The Capitol Years, and
Richmond, Ashville, Nashville, and Atlanta with The Hymns .  The bands will serve as the opening band and the backing band for the later half of Daniel's performance.   Daniel will continue to be accompanied by his old friend / guitarist Brett Hartenbach at all U.S. shows.
New Releases / re-releases Released in November 2007
    North America re-release of "Discovered Covered"
    Vinyl re-release of Hi How Are You album (includes a free download card for mp3's from www.YipEyeTunes.com)
    Vinyl re-release of Yip Jump Music album (includes a free download card for mp3's from www.YipEyeTunes.com)

Releases in 2008
The album "Lost and Found" (previously released in the U.K. only in 2004) will be released in North America in early 2008.  Recorded in 2003 and produced by Brian Beatty, the album's release in the U.S. was delayed by the release of the movie and the 2006 release of "Welcome To My World" - a "best of" album targeted to new listeners.

As with all his albums, the releases are on Daniel's private label Eternal Yip Eye Music and distributed by Fontana.

For recent album history, see DISCOGRAPHY link on www.rejectedunknown.com .
Daniel's Label Daniel is doing all publishing under his own label "Eternal Yip Eye Music", and marketing and distribution is done through Tom Gimbel and Fontana Distribution.  

By the end of 2007, Daniel will have re-acquired the recording masters for all his albums with the exception of the 1994 Atlantic album "Fun."    

The albums "Rejected Unknown,"  "Fear Yourself," "Discovered Covered," and "Lost and Found" previously held by Gammon Records was re-acquired through Gammon by purchase in March 2007.

Control of "1990" and "Artistic" vice reverted to Daniel from KnitMedia / Shimmy Disc in the summer of 2007.

The live 1999 Berlin concert album "Why Me" - originally on Trikont label - is also know with Daniel's private label.

All these albums will be re-released to keep the albums in print.
Daniel's own DIGITAL distribution Daniel now has his own DIGITAL DOWNLOAD site where you can now purchase from among 425 tracks from 23 albums - many from out-of-print albums.  www.YipEyeTunes.com

Daniel's music is also available from the regular digital download sources, including iTunes, eMusic, and many more..
Daniel's TOUR plans Daniel renewed touring in 2007 and 2008.  His brother arranges touring opportunities, and this year they have a growing tour schedule

For a current list of TOUR DATES see www.rejectedunknown.com/tour/tour.htm

Beginning with the April tour in The Netherlands and Belgium, Daniel's shows utilize local bands to back him up for about half of the show.   The local bands support Daniel in singing many of the older and popular songs that Daniel wouldn't otherwise be singing.

Beginning with the New York shows in May, Daniel's long-time friend Brett Hartenbach has been also joining Daniel on the road.  Brett played with Daniel from some of the earliest recording years (1979) and today is an accomplished professional musician.  His eclectic and skillful guitar is producing some great music-making with Daniel, and Daniel seems to be able to let his hair down a little when performing with his old friend.

The format on the shows for July through September will continue to include Daniel playing solo (guitar and sometimes piano sets), with his friend Brett Hartenbach, and with a local backing band.  This format has consistently produced high energy and rewarding shows.
New albums Daniel has several completed albums which will be released over the next few years.  

The next MAJOR NEW work from Daniel will be existing new material produced in collaboration with several major producers and artists.   Release is expected in early 2009.