John Massis
Encyclopedia
John Massis was a Flemish
bruiser
and teeth-acrobat. His real name was Wilfried Morbee.
Massis specialized in bending iron with his teeth. He also performed stunts where he lifted cars, pulled trains and stopped motorbikes and even helicopters and hot air balloons with his teeth. This resulted in several entries in the Guinness World Records
book. He even stopped 4 small sport planes of lifting off in 4 different directions..
In 1980 he started pirate radio "Radio Superstar" and also recorded the song "John Massis de krachtpatser" ( And again in 1987 he recorded "Zet er je tanden in", with Willy Sommers.
In 1983 he also funded a political party called positieve radicalen in Dutch or positive radicals.
Because of his unknown and therefore untreated diabetes condition Massis was found by the local police in a delirium. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
With waning media interest and diabetes undermining his condition, He committed suicide
at the age of 48 officially on the 12th of July 1988. To make a statement he actually committed suicide on 11th of July = Flemish National Day. He was found only the day after by his sisters Godelieve and Erna Morbée .
He had a few roles too in the Flemish films "The Leeuw Van Vlaanderen" (1984) and "Merlina"
In 2004 Johan Heldenbergh performed a play based on Massis' life: Massis, the musical.
In 2005 he became number 172 on the list of the most famous Belgian ever in history.
He was also a source of inspiration for cartoon drawer Pirana in the 80's to draw "Het Land Zonder Tanden" (1986). He was also a good personal friend.
As also in the Kiekeboe-album "De spray-historie" (1988) with cartoon character "John Massif"
In 1999 the band "Noordkaap" referring to John Massis called their album Massis
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
bruiser
Bruiser
Bruiser normally refers to:*A big husky man.Bruiser may also refer to:*Bruiser , an indie rock trio that features ex-Local H drummer Joe Daniels.*Bruiser , a motion picture from veteran director George A...
and teeth-acrobat. His real name was Wilfried Morbee.
Massis specialized in bending iron with his teeth. He also performed stunts where he lifted cars, pulled trains and stopped motorbikes and even helicopters and hot air balloons with his teeth. This resulted in several entries in the Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
book. He even stopped 4 small sport planes of lifting off in 4 different directions..
In 1980 he started pirate radio "Radio Superstar" and also recorded the song "John Massis de krachtpatser" ( And again in 1987 he recorded "Zet er je tanden in", with Willy Sommers.
In 1983 he also funded a political party called positieve radicalen in Dutch or positive radicals.
Because of his unknown and therefore untreated diabetes condition Massis was found by the local police in a delirium. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
With waning media interest and diabetes undermining his condition, He committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at the age of 48 officially on the 12th of July 1988. To make a statement he actually committed suicide on 11th of July = Flemish National Day. He was found only the day after by his sisters Godelieve and Erna Morbée .
He had a few roles too in the Flemish films "The Leeuw Van Vlaanderen" (1984) and "Merlina"
In 2004 Johan Heldenbergh performed a play based on Massis' life: Massis, the musical.
In 2005 he became number 172 on the list of the most famous Belgian ever in history.
He was also a source of inspiration for cartoon drawer Pirana in the 80's to draw "Het Land Zonder Tanden" (1986). He was also a good personal friend.
As also in the Kiekeboe-album "De spray-historie" (1988) with cartoon character "John Massif"
In 1999 the band "Noordkaap" referring to John Massis called their album Massis