The Changin’ Times of Ike White (2019)

Directed by: Daniel Vernon | 77 minutes | documentary

There are plenty of interesting figures, they have not always become famous. Some have been given that whiff of stardust to be part of their time but disappeared into a black hole, due to bad luck, mental problems and/or bad relationships.
It all applies to Ike White, musician under that name and later acting under the alter ego David Maestro. Afflicted with the dreamy ADD of the artist, a butterfly that searches for its nectar in different ways, but also derailed in an age of drugs and violence. White had already been charged with murdering a store clerk when he was discovered in San Quentin Prison, known for Johnny Cash’s live performances.
He had a talent like Jimi Hendrix as a guitarist and recorded a record in jail in 1971 (Guilty!) with Eric Burdon, lead singer of The Animals; was perhaps a little more blues artist than rocker, and at the end of his life even turned out to be the creative interior designer of his life partner, who was very elderly when White hanged himself.

A bird of paradise, therefore, who did not bind himself, but was imprisoned for 19 years; also recorded a solo album in it with recommendations from Stevie Wonder, and after his release under a different name, ran off to move in with an old lady and live a life as a crooner, under the name David Maestro. WTF. He didn’t want to be found like Ike White, and was on the run from himself. At the same time, White was someone of his time, in which many succumbed to excessive drinking and drug use, besides Hendrix also Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison.

Vernon does not venture too much into an image of the time, despite abundant archive material. He prefers to look back with an interesting series of intimates, including expired lovers, colleagues and cellmates. Everyone has a good word or a tear to spare for Ike White, and that is more remarkable in view of the described life course than the fact that no one knows his name. He doesn’t even have a Wiki page.