One of the most fascinating films of last year, You’re Gonna Miss Me ranks among the best in the rock documentary genre. Directed by former music journalist Keven McAlester, the film is an amazing, compelling and intimate portrait of Texas psych-rock legend Roky Erickson, of the band the 13th Floor Elevators.

The film centres around the struggle between Roky’s mother Evelyn and his brothers for custody of the troubled, mentally ill singer (in one haunting scene, he comfortably hangs out in his house with every TV, radio and other noise-making device blaring in a disturbing cacophony). The characters and the story are fascinating, and the music is, of course, great. It’s well worth seeing if you missed it at last year’s Film Pop festival, so it’s good to hear that the movie comes out on DVD this month.

As the film itself featured so much archival material, from old TV appearances to stock surveillance footage of hippies taken by the Austin police, it’s not surprising that the disc features some excellent add-ons as well. There’s uncut footage of live performances, deleted scenes and a couple of follow-up documentaries about the movie’s aftermath and Roky’s emancipation hearing. This is an excellent film and a portrait of a true, strange artist, whether you’re a fan of his music already or not.

by MARK SLUTSKY