Although he was recently named Musician of the Year at the 2007-08 Austin Music Awards, Roky Erickson could also be called the Comeback Kid. An honest-to-goodness living legend, Erickson helped put Austin on the rock n roll map with his pioneering 60s band the Thirteenth Floor Elevators a troupe that also pretty much invented psychedelic rock. But in 1969, not long after the Elevators signature song, the Erickson-penned Youre Gonna Miss Me, spawned who-knows-how-many garage rock bands across America, a plead of insanity to dodge a 10-year prison term for a minor drug charge landed Erickson in a mental hospital. Having previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Erickson was subjected to shock therapy and Thorazine treatments, which would prove to have a long lasting damaging effect on his mental health. After Ericksons release in 1972, fellow Texas legend Doug Sahm helped him relaunch his career by producing the definitive versions of Ericksons blistering Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer) and beautiful Starry Eyes. But despite several more brilliant (and harrowing) recordings through the rest of the 70s and into the 80s, Erickson seemed destined for the same sad fate as Pink Floyds Syd Barrett. The 1990 tribute album Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye, featuring R.E.M., ZZ Top, Primal Scream and others, helped keep his legacy alive, though, and beginning in 2001, Ericksons health and good fortune began a steady incline. He made his triumphant return to the stage at the 2005 Austin City Limits Music Festival, and hes been rocking steadily ever since at festivals around the world. Erickson is currently working on a new record with ZZ Tops Billy Gibbons, who made a guest appearance at Ericksons debut taping of TVs Austin City Limits late last year.