Bill Hicks

will sort it out... thanks.

I'd never heard of the guy until I saw him on the Paramount Comedy Channel late one night, that was the night Denis Leary was NOT on the Comedy Channel. I've also leafed through that book and looked at some stuff on the web. There are a lot of web sites with mp3 files of him speaking. I wouldn't say he was a genius, but much of it is quite funny. He is part of a long tradition of "outlaw" comics in America. Probably Dick Gregory, the black comedian/activist and sometime weightloss guru, is the best early example I can recall off-hand. And this was in the 1960s. Think about it. There was a movie in the late 60s of live performances of a comedy troup called The Committee. Very similar stuff. Even some of the very early Second City and Saturday Night Live stuff is along similar lines. But Hicks is quite good. Like most drunks, he played it out to the dead end.

I read most of this while stood up in Ottakars the other lunch. Which made me feel that it wasn't particularly substantial, but all of the extracts of Bill were wonderful and it sent me home to listen to Relentless. I'd love to put some Bill on the front page, but it would be tricky to find an appropriate bit. "People say to me 'hey Bill, Ir-aq had the fourth largest army in the world'... Yeah, but after those first three armies, there's a real big F**king drop-off. The Hare Krishnas are the fifth largest army in the world. And they already have the airports. I'm thinking they're the larger threat. " I still firmly believe that Dennis Leary should be shot and killed, perhaps in that game-show format Hicks came up with. Tonight folks, we're going to hunt and kill Marky Mark.

reading it at the mo....agree that it is a little insubstantial, but worth it as the man was a genius.....

How about, "What you reading for?" from the waffle house thing. Can't remember the whole quote off the top of my head. That could go on the front page easily enough. Agreed on the Dennis Leary point too.

Yeah the waffle bit great. And the wife and sister thing come's striaght after it on my cd.

always loved the way he took on pro-lifers.....to paraphrase the great man...if they are so pro life, they should be linking arms outside graveyards...

He's so funny he makes me want to spit. Sorry about that, just had to say it. I feel better now.

just finished the book...the description of his death was very moving....really regret not getting to see him live, I remember when he came to London and meaning to get a ticket...but not being a.r.s.e.d to buy a ticket, and thinking there would be another chance.....a one off...and denis leary should have his balls cut off and used as ash trays for baltantly stealing hicks act...

Ive never heard of Bill Hicks... is this a terrible thing? *hangs head in preparation*

Yes, it is a terrible thing, but fixable. Relentless, on CD or tape (I prefer tape myself) - listen specifically to why the only way movies can get better is to use terminally ill people as stuntmen, why his biggest fear is dying and having his mum come to his house to tidy up his room, why the Beatles had to pull Ringo down from the ceiling with a rake to sing Yellow Submarine, why it's you people dying of nothing that are screwed and most importantly why it's none of your f***ing business what I read, eat, drink, or put in my body. "I don't know if any of you've ever watched CNN for about eleven hours. I wouldn't recommend that at all..."

He rocks! Was a genius. Got Relentless on video and watch at least some of it every week. He was downright funny, political, non ethical and crude. I was going to buy the book but didn't know if I should. Now I think I wont buy it. I got the Bill Hicks Story on video so that is enough for me. Goat Boy anyone?

The joke, not describable here, that finishes with, "... watching an empty stage." Oh yes. I think the best introduction to the man is the Channel 4 documentary which is available on video I think.