Daniel Johnston performing 'True Love Will Find You In The End (feat. Lucius)' Live on KCRW

An all-star band of musicians join cult favorite Daniel Johnston for a live session in our studio. Ben Lee is the bandleader and is joined by Mike Watt, Maria Taylor, Joey Waronker, Guy Blakeslee and members of the Silver Lake Chorus to play a handful of Johnston's songs.

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[lolothesilly]

The comments about how he was a "tortured soul" and "like a child" don't do Mr Johnston justice. He was a human man with very human problems: heartbreak, mental illness, loneliness. He wasn't some unknowable saint. He was painfully, beautifully, openly human, and that shines through in his work. An artist through and through. Putting people on a pedestal dehumanizes them just as much as putting them down does, and Mr Johnston's humanity is perhaps the most characteristic, touching thing about his art.

[everyvillainislemons]

If there’s an afterlife, Daniel is there. Such a beautiful soul. Rest In Peace

[swami]

RIP Daniel, you were the purest man out there

[stephenholland]

This might be the most heartbreaking thing. He looks like he finds it difficult to even be inside his own body, and the saddest part is it's these type of songs he wrote when he was a teenager about how he was going to get to the other side of all his anxieties and heartbreaks and pains and find the love of his life but he never did and yet he's still singing those songs 😞

[xSEEDxLESSx]

"Only if you're looking can it find you" Is one of the strongest lyrics ever written.

[Chio]

We will miss you so much, Daniel. Don't be sad, I know you will...

[jaw]

This is one of the best songs ever written

[johnfair]

You guys do not what it is like for me to watch this. Danny was my teenage friend. I used to stay all night at his house and he would stay at mine. We would hang out in his parents basement which was his place. He would sit and draw with me at a table and play the piano. I would strum along with my guitar. To know him then how he was (Like he was on the MTV appearance) and to see him like this is heart breaking for me. The last time I seen him was in New Orleans at his show. He wasn't looking at me and his brother Dick took me back stage. I said Mr. Johnston I am a big fan of yours. He looked up and said, "John you got big!" We talked about those years together and he remembered things I had forgotten about. We talked about the tape he made me and how things were for my home life and when he brought the tape to my house. We gave each other a big hug and he walked off to leave the theater. Seeing him so far gone from the Danny I knew was horrible for me. I wanted to help him be that guy again, but there was no way for that to happen. I know I will see him again when it is my turn to leave and he will be that Danny.

[thebandsoul]

Daniel didn't find love, Love found Daniel. That speaks more loudly than any marriage certificate ever will. R.I.P. Daniel Johnston

[jclfsfg]

RIP, Daniel. I hope you now have the same peace that your music has given to so many. May your beautiful soul and spirit always be remembered.

[alexredfield]

I like his voice here, it's very calming. I think he developed a better technique over the years. Of course I love his voice from the early years too

[goofballbiscuits]

Discovering artists posthumously is so heartbreaking. At least in the digital age, we will be able to hear him forever. I wish we could hear all the tapes he made for people. What a soul...

[ThatTalkingDogGuy]

Let go of the sad and listen. With all of his obvious struggle, his voice is possibly more on key than it was in his youth. Compare this to other performers who are aging without his challenges. Their voices are deteriorating. They are killing themselves with drugs and alcohol (some literally). Look at those like Syd Barrett who we lost, disappearing into obscurity due to illness, and be thankful and proud of Daniel for continuing to create and perform for us. Whenever I see or hear him performing, I think he's not just gifted. He, himself, is a gift.

[brandonjackson]

Whats sad is im 29 almodt 30. Im also bipolar and i identify with the uncontrollable shakes and body movements he had. It breaks my heart cause i canidentify and it sucks so bad. Tardive dyskinesia is a form of parkinsons amd psychitric medications that are prescribed for conditikns like bipolar and schizophrenic can cause it. I also like poor Daniel was on high doses of lithium carbonate. As well as Risperdal, Haldol, Seroquel, Depakote, Saphris, Lamictal, and many many others that are horrible but people with these conditions like us have to take them. Im also on parkinsons meds. Cause i also would have this shake. Its so bad. I wish it on no woman or man. I hope Daniel is in a MUCH much better place, and he deserves it after the hell he endured. When he passed i swear i lost a part of myself. He was my only inspiration. I love you Dan. RIP my beautiful brother.

[DrummerComplex]

A pure soul who came to this corporeal realm to live a tortured life, and in so doing, warm the hearts and minds of millions. I hope he comes back as a good looking man with the same heart of gold he left with. Maybe he was chosen to be in so much fucking pain so that the rest of us can learn to love each other just a little more. Love you guys

[capitalj]

This man saved my life when I was in my 20s. I’m almost in my 40s now and true love did find me in the end and because of him I didn’t give up when I thought about it. If you know my drift, he was inspirational. He spoke to me in a way that no one else could with the sound of musicand I will forever be grateful to him and can’t wait to give him a big hug in heaven.

[stevefaure]

Daniel was a rare gem. On the one hand, just barely hanging on as musician in the trained, practiced sense of the word. A rudimentary musician. But he could turn a phrase and create a unforgettable melody with the best of them. And while his singing is frayed and battered here he has a great sense of timing. A real genius.

[nwolife]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[jasonfranks]

Just now I am learning of this man and his work...
This is a simple song, that is more powerful than most I've heard

[warehouse]

What you found and what you gave was a gift.

You will be missed.