You're Gonna Miss Me

This documentary tells the life story of Roky Erickson; from his career as the lead singer of the psychedelic group 13th Floor Elevators to his spiral into drug abuse, schizophrenia and family problems.

Directed by Kevin McAlester. Released 2005.
Running Time 94 min. Unrated.

REVIEW by LEWIS

Watching documentaries can be a risky business. Sometimes you're pounded over the head with a political/social issue until you either feel guilty enough to join the cause, or so sick of hearing about it so that you become the cause's antithesis. Once in a while though, a documentary comes along that is just a nice, well rounded story that keeps you interested and entertained. "You're Gonna Miss Me" is just that sort of documentary.

This story has everything: sex, drugs, rock n' roll, crazy mother's, rags to riches, and more. The focus of the story deals with Roky Erickson's rise and, as the film described, invention of Psychedelic Rock in the 60's with the band "13th Floor Elevators". Many music heads know of 13th Floor. They did very well in San Fran in the late 60's, and even made an appearence on Dick Clark's American Band Stand. But, like many bands of the era, they decended into a downward spiral of drugs and partying.

When we catch up with Roky today he is a helpless Schizophrenic being cared for his questionably sane mother. Is Roky crazy from drugs, mom, a stint in one of America's wost mental institutions, or is it just the way he is?

This film did a wonderful job at NOT being a VH1 rockumentary, but instead a delicately told story of the life and problems of Roky Erickson. You feel for the family and friends and for Roky. Why can't he just be normal? Why can't he be a musician again? The film also did a wonderful job at gaining archival footage and photos so we can see the change in Roky over the past four decades.

Overall I highly recommend this documentary to anyone, especially lovers of 60's rock or just rock n' roll in general. I also think people with an interest in psychology would find this film fascinating.

LOOK - 8.5 of 10
STORY - 9 of 10
OVERALL - 8.75 of 10


Review by Cinemagirl

I like how this film really looks at the past, present and future of Roky's life. When dealing with his childhood, there are interviews with his mom and four brothers, all of whom are musically talented in some way and have even made their own careers in music. The childhood stories are brought to life with many family photographs, super 8mm film, and later on, Mom's weird home videos.

To flesh out the story of his adult past there are interviews with bandmates, members of ZZ Top, Patti Smith and an MTV host who all discuss the impact the 13th Floor Elevators made on the psychedelic scene in San Fran and elsewhere. There is plenty of footage from past concerts and tv interviews, which really illustrate the state of Roky's mind at the time and the height of musical importance the band has reached. Other past interviews include stories from three of Roky's exes and mental health workers who treated him.

In present time, we see an overweight and despondent Roky, unmedicated, living in a filthy condo in Austin, Texas, and spending his days with his bizarre mother. I will not reveal what occurs as the film moves toward the present, but there is a surprising turn in Roky's life.

Overall, even in Roky's times of deep mental illness and depression in the past and present, there is home video footage and film from the documentarians that shows Roky at his best - playing music. Incredibly, for a person with so many problems and real mental suffering, he can still pick up a guitar and sing, clear as a bell and in-tune, like he never quit. That, for me, points to his innate talent.

I highly recommend renting this film.

STORY: 9
LOOK: 8.5

OVERALL: 8.75