This story was originally published on November 3, 1994 in Issue 694 of Rolling Stone

Although Daniel Johnston doesn’t agree with those who call him a musical genius, he accepts their designation. After all, he has been called worse. A decade ago, when Johnston was working at a McDonald’s in Austin. Texas, he spent every free hour and dollar on tapes he would record in his apartment. He would give away the cassettes on the street to pretty girls and anybody else who looked vaguely interested. He would also pester members of...