The Song of Hiawatha

The Song of Hiawatha [OV] USA 2026, R: Jeffrey Wengrofsky with Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Wayne Kramer, 93 min, followed by Q&A with the New York director

The Song of Hiawatha is a feature-length documentary chronicling the life and (high) times of Hiawatha Bailey, a queer political activist and musician of African-American and Native—American (Creek) Ancestry, and arguably the first black hippie.

The film Traces Hiawatha's Path as Part of the African-American “Great Migration” from the Deep South to Detroit in the 1950s, “Turning on” to LSD and Joining a Commune in 1965, Becoming the Only African-American Member of a Revolutionary Cadre in 1968, Getting Busted and Serving a Four-Year Prison Term, Forming a Musical Outfit in Prison, and His Adventures as the Vocalist of the Cult Heroes since 1978.

Cast features a select array of rockers, two former FBI 10 Most Wanted, and Activists: Hiawatha Bailey, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Wayne Kramer, John Sinclair, Niagara Detroit, Cheetah Chrome, Maxie Chanel, Pun Plamondon, Professor Judson Jeffries, Leni Sinclair, Genie Plamondon, David Fenton, Ivan Kral, Cindy Hudson, Lawrence Livermore, John Brannon, Jennifer Holiday Chanel, and Deniz Tek. Documents include a letter from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, an FBI report, a landmark Supreme Court decision, a contract signed by John Lennon, previously unreleased music by Hiawatha with the Cult Heroes (including a live performance), and many never seen photos.

Soundtrack features music by The Cult Heroes, The MC5, The Rationals, Static, and Pure Hell, with additional scoring by Elan Portnoy (Fuzztones).

Aspects of this production are psychedelic, so smoke 'em if you got 'em. Can you dig it?