Wesley Willis was a figure of compulsory interest to anyone who met him or heard his music. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Willis gained notoriety in Chicago and other cities during his span as a musician for such bizarrely humorous songs as “Casper the Homosexual Friendly Ghost” and “Rock n’ Roll McDonalds”.

Often plagued by his schizophrenia, Willis would sometimes unwillingly engage in ‘warhellrides’, verbal and sometimes physical bouts with demons, prompting him to pen vulgar songs in hopes the demons would leave him alone. Still, Wesley was just as well known for the kindness and warmth he extended to fans, often head butting them as a sign of affection.

When Wesley died of leukemia at age 40, filmmakers Chris Bagley and Kim Shively had been filming and stockpiling footage for years for a documentary about Willis. That footage has finally been edited and prepped for release as “Wesley Willis’s Joyrides.”

• View the trailer for Wesley Willis’s Joyrides on YouTube

• Visit the film’s website

Wesley Willis’s Joyrides plays at the SXSW Festival this week.