If you’ve never seen the glory that is “Fish Heads,” you should probably watch it now. This delightful little music video was made by Bill Paxton (who directed, produced, and starred in it) and the oddball band Barnes and Barnes. Barnes and Barnes consists of Bill Mumy (of Lost in Space and Babylon 5 fame) and his childhood friend Robert Haimer, also known as Art and Artie Barnes respectively.
This strange duo produced two albums on Rhino Records (back when it was a novelty label) for fellow oddball Larry “Wild Man” Fischer. Fischer, who suffers from schizophrenia, was discovered by Frank Zappa, who put out his first album in 1968. He later launched Rhino Records’ recording arm (previously they had just been a retail shop) when they recorded and released his song “Go to Rhino Records.” He also sang a duet with Rosemary Clooney.
Wild Man, first sponsored by Zappa, then by Rhino Records and Barnes and Barnes, helped pave the way for other outsider musicians such as Wesley Willis and Daniel Johnston. He is the focus of the documentary dErailRoaDed.
