I’m researching and writing for a planned Freaks of Asheville calendar, a brand-new endeavor that will feature the city’s signature “freaks” — or, exceptional eccentrics, if you will. The calendar will be a fundraiser for local nonprofit Arts 2 People, and will debut later this year.

Toward that end, I’m compiling a list of key dates in Asheville freak history: when did certain “freaky” establishments open and close? when did freakish things happen? other milestones in local freak and counterculture history?

Please, come one, come all, and tell us which dates deserve a mention in the calendar.

Thank you!

You’ve got to include Ukiah Morrison. He was one of the highest profile “freaks” in the city thanks to that Rolling Stone article.

Steve Shanafelt - 08 July 2009 04:37 PM

You’ve got to include Ukiah Morrison. He was one of the highest profile “freaks” in the city thanks to that Rolling Stone article.

thats the name that comes to my mind as well. brother chris is a distant second.

October 27, First Asheville Zombiewalk.  only 200 people.  It grew to massive proportions and national coverage last year.  Severely freaky, Dan Burrello started it.

Thanks y’all. Keep ‘em coming. Jodokk: what year did the Zombiewalk start?

Will Peoples was a freak but he joined the main stream in his 50’s..check out the Will Peoples thread…it’s fun..

Will Peoples isn’t a freak. He’s a god among insects.

some asheville freaks, in no order of importance (a work in progress)
by pfkap

ukiah morison, leni sitnik (sp?), carl mumpower, brother chris, the silver lady, chach, that older balding guy who used to have the one long rattail dread in the back who hung out at gold hill, the peace pot microdot guy, johnny,  dredog, the guy who thought he was a cat who used to serve FNB in 2000, Lady Passion, steve and michelle schieve, Jason from sink the fuçker, bookman from namaste, philo…

Gotta start with the old Halloween Freakers Balls. They were a gas.  Heartwood played a few of them.
I’ll never forget one of the posters’ for it…. a dead possum in the road with double yellow lines painted over it. The caption: “The Worlds Not Fair”  (It was during the time the worlds fair was in Knoxville and everybody thought Asheville was going to boom from the offshoot from fair goers)

Craigs Bar- The first openly gay bar (to my knowledge) Opened around 82?

Stone Soup- where the freaks went.( The one where Mellow Mushroom is now)

Not to mention the obligatory mentions of the Squash Pile (old Asheville punk rock club), Vincent’s Ear, What Do You Want (the first place in town you could find Manic Panic when the grunge thing hit) and the ACRC.

John Blackwell is probably appropriate, as is Bob Moog. Oh, and Meat was pretty freaky (the often aggro guy with “El Carne” tattooed on his chest (?) before such things were cool). Also the old Asheville Poetry Slam team (national champs, and we hosted the nationals here in 1994, I think) and Poetry Alive (talk to Allan Wolf for both).

Check with Onca..she’s got an array of costumes that will make you cry..she’s the freakiest and way cool ..she knows where all the bodies are buried..

Here’s the website she runs..the freakiest..

http://www.barakamundi.com/absfest/

Also check out the art freaks at the antiartschool..last thursday of the month at Hooka Joes..Very freaky…1940 Berlin Vibe

i dont know if you’ve lived here long enough to have a relevant opinion…

I know freaks..have you seen my avatar..that’s me on the week ends..and yes I am married to Jesus..on the week ends..

Yes. I make no attempt to question your freakiness, but since youve only lived here for ten minutes or so, your knowledge of asheville freak history seems like it may be more than just a bit limited.

for example, did you know that Ukiah finally got arrested because a lady cop claimed she could see his jewels?

I watched Meat punch two girls in the face once. I hated that guy.