Introduction
Remember the legendary song “Pancho and Lefty”? While it topped the charts in 1983 for Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, its true genius lay with its author, the enigmatic Townes Van Zandt. His haunting melodies have graced films like “The Big Lebowski,” and his songwriting prowess earned him accolades from music titans, from Bob Dylan to Waylon Jennings. So, why did this universally lauded artist spend most of his life in obscurity, battling poverty in a secluded shack, devoid of modern amenities? For decades, his story has been shrouded in mystery, but now, his son is finally shedding light on the truth.
The “Townes Van Zandt Saga” is a kaleidoscope of conflicting narratives. Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, his ex-wife, his manager – everyone seems to possess a unique piece of the puzzle, each with their own gains and losses at stake. Was he truly betrayed by his loved ones, left destitute and abandoned? Or was a deeper, more personal struggle at the root of his tragic circumstances? To unravel this complex tale, we must delve into the lives of those closest to Townes, hoping to piece together something akin to the truth.
Our journey promises a wild ride, featuring disgruntled rock legends, bizarre practical jokes, and even unsettling references to self-amputation. Buckle up, because this is going to get intense!
A Complicated Relationship with the Bard: Townes and Bob Dylan
Steve Earle famously declared Townes Van Zandt the “best songwriter in the whole world,” a statement he was willing to defend by standing on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in cowboy boots. But did you know Townes and Bob had a rather strained relationship? Dylan was a fervent admirer of Van Zandt’s work, repeatedly attempting to collaborate with him. Yet, Townes consistently declined, valuing his artistic independence over the allure of celebrity. Their paths eventually crossed in Austin, where Dylan’s persistence finally led to a brief, private audience. Ever humble, Townes famously quipped about Earle’s bold claim, “I’ve met Bob Dylan’s bodyguards, and if Steve Earle thinks he can stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table, he is sadly mistaken.”
The Mentor and the Student: Steve Earle’s Devotion
Being a friend of Townes Van Zandt was no easy feat. He was undeniably brilliant, talented, and charming, but also, at times, incredibly challenging. Steve Earle, a close confidant, learned this firsthand. Townes, a former poetry student, once urged Steve to read the colossal “War and Peace.” After months of struggle, Steve finally completed the 1200-page tome, only to discover that Townes himself had never read it, simply believing it would be good for Steve. Despite these eccentricities, Earle’s admiration never wavered. He penned the heartfelt “Fort Worth Blues” in his friend’s honor and even named his son Justin Townes Earle, a testament to his profound respect.
The Wives: Janine and the Battle for Legacy
Townes’s personal life was as complex as his music. His third wife, Janine, became pregnant while he was still legally married to his second. Under pressure from his mother, Townes married Janine, a bond that, despite divorce, endured throughout his life. Today, Janine is at the forefront of a contentious battle for control of Townes’s musical legacy and financial assets. Some allege she exploited Townes during his lifetime, while others claim she’s simply protecting his interests.
Accusations suggest Janine persuaded Townes to sign away his publishing rights and recording royalties, leaving him with only a truck, a motorcycle, and a boat. Conversely, Janine vehemently blames Townes’s long-time manager, Kevin Eggers, for exploiting him. She claims their separation was a strategic move to shield the family from any legal repercussions of Townes’s impulsive behavior, and that he later yearned to remarry her. Adding another layer of intrigue, some friends assert Townes was planning to marry a different woman he met in Germany shortly before his death.
The Manager: Kevin Eggers – Villain or Visionary?
Janine points the finger squarely at Kevin Eggers, Townes Van Zandt’s manager and record label owner, as the true antagonist. Eggers was undeniably present during Townes’s triumphs and his darkest hours, even housing him when “Pancho and Lefty” was written. Janine contends that Eggers, too, sought to profit from Townes’s work after his passing, citing the release of 14 albums of unreleased music without the estate’s permission. However, Eggers maintains he was the only one willing to continue recording Townes after others distanced themselves, driven by a desire to share his vast musical catalog with the world.
The Son’s Perspective: JT Van Zandt’s Truth
So, who holds the key to the truth? We turn to JT Van Zandt, Townes’s eldest son, born in 1965 to his first wife, Fran Peterson. Though Townes wasn’t a traditional father figure, he made genuine efforts to connect with JT. For years, JT remained silent about his father’s struggles, but now, he’s finally speaking out. He often visited his father, experiencing a stark contrast from his mother’s structured life. Despite his father’s unconventional ways – the “funky smell,” the unreliable truck, the house without electricity – JT cherished their time together. He remembers feeling like “the coolest guy in the world” when with his dad. Sadly, JT recounts the sparse attendance at his father’s funeral, a poignant reflection of the isolation Townes often experienced. Regarding the ongoing dispute between Janine and Kevin, JT’s perspective offers a crucial, unbiased viewpoint.
The Missing Piece: A Childhood Trauma
There’s one more critical piece to Townes’s story, a traumatic event from his early life that may have set him on his tumultuous path. Born into a wealthy Fort Worth family, Townes defied their expectations of a career in law or politics, choosing instead to follow his passion for music after seeing Elvis on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
College proved challenging. Townes grappled with binge drinking and depression, eventually receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. While manageable with medication and support, his parents’ next action had devastating consequences: insulin shock therapy. This controversial procedure, akin to electroshock therapy, involved inducing a coma with insulin injections. Intended to “fix” his mind, it tragically shattered his long-term memory, leaving him forever changed. This profound trauma sheds light on much of Townes’s later behavior, including unsettling statements like, “There’s been times when my hands… I have the feeling, a very strange feeling, that if I had a machine and could just chop my hands off, then everything would be fine.”
Considering this early trauma, it’s a miracle Townes achieved what he did, touching countless lives with his music. His life, like his songs, is both beautiful and heartbreaking. But Townes Van Zandt leaves us with a profound lesson: often, it is the most broken among us who have the most profound gifts to share.