THE AMERICAN WES

The sometimes hostile reception given by the KROQ “Almost Acoustic Christmas” concert audience last December to Wesley Willis--the Chicago street performer who’s become a favorite of alternative-rock stars--didn’t scare off American Recordings, which has signed Willis to a record deal.

The company plans to release one and maybe two albums by the prolific Willis this spring. The challenge is how to present the artist, whose long battle with mental illness is clearly reflected in his songs--mostly either odes to his favorite rockers or rants against social ills--without making him the object of more ridicule.

“There will be people saying terrible things about him, but that’s the way it goes,” says Dino Paredes, American’s director of A&R.; “So you just let him be him. . . . He’s never treated as a human being, but when he is, he rises to the occasion--and then some.”

Even then, though, it’s hard to avoid some problems. KROQ morning deejays Kevin and Bean found that out after insulting Willis during his appearance on their show, where they inadvertently used a term that Willis hears his “demons” say to him. But Frank Murphy, producer of Kevin and Bean’s show, says that it’s all been cleared up and that he looks forward to having Willis return.

“If you allow yourself to get past some of his eccentricities, he really is interesting to talk to,” says Murphy. “I’ve always enjoyed my conversations with him. We did make a mistake and apologized for it.”