You're Gonna Miss Me, Baby

By Sarah Dahnke in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 24, 2007 2:55PM

We've been hearing about director Kevin McAlester's disturbingly intimate look at Roky Erickson's life for quite some time, anticipating the documentary's arrival in the Midwest. And tonight we don't have to wait any longer.

"You're Gonna Miss Me," is a documentary that outlines the story of Erickson, who made his name as lead singer from the 13th Floor Elevators. As the story goes, Roky was arrested in 1969 for carrying one joint. He entered an insanity plea, ended up in a mental hospital and was punished for his multiple escape attempts by being transferred to Rusk State Hospital for the criminally insane. He was given electro-shock therapy and was diagnosed schizophrenic, a label that those closest to him say is inaccurate. The electrical shock to his brain essentially left him mentally disabled, causing Erickson to battle with health problems since he was released from the hospital in 1973.

As we witnessed here in Chicago last summer at Intonation Music Festival, (R.I.P.) Erickson's first concert outside of Texas since 1982, he is finally receiving the proper medical care and has improved enough to embark on a tour around the United States. This movie follows Erickson from the beginning of his popularity as a musician, through his dark period in the mental institutions and into his continuous recovery and rebirth as a musician.

The documentary, hosted tonight by Sound Opinions hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, will include a Q&A with McAlester directly following the movie.

"You're Gonna Miss Me" screens tonight at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10.

"Roky Erickson @ Intonation" photo via get directly down.