Today (Feb 26th 2009) marks the 15th anniversary of the death of legendary American comedian Bill Hicks.
I first started listening to Hicks when I was around 13 years old; my parents had two of his albums, Flying Saucer Tour and Dangerous. I’d often heard Hicks’ name mentioned around the house, as my parents and other family members were fans of his; but I had always been forbidden from listening to his work because my parents thought it was a little too mature for me at my age.
Luckily for me, I decided “to hell with them” and started listening to Flying Saucer Tour. At the time, I gotta admit, I really only found the dick jokes funny because I wasn’t really at the age to understand Bill’s political material. My parents obviously weren’t pleased that I took to listening to Hicks, but they accepted the fact that they couldn’t change it and let me keep on listening.
As I grew older, my love for Hicks’ material grew. My parents being heavily political, I eventually came to understand just what Bill was saying to us. You could say that his words spurred my interest for politics and current events.
As I eventually learned more and more about Hicks, I learned of the circumstances surrounding his death. I mean, the guy knew he had pancreatic cancer and still continued his material! One of the truly inspiring things for me, though, has always been his last words:
I was born William Melvin Hicks on December 16, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. Ugh, Melvin Hicks from Georgia. Yee-har! I already had gotten off to life on the wrong foot. I was always ‘awake’, I guess you’d say. Some part of me clamouring for new insigts and new ways to make the world a better place.
All of this came out years down the line, in my multitude of creative interests that are the tools I now bring to the Party. Writing, acting, music, comedy. A deep love of literature and books. Thank God for all the artists who’ve helped me. I [...] these words and off I went – dreaming my own imaginative dreams. Exercising them at will, eventually to form bands, comedy, more bands, movies, anything creative. This is the coin of the realm I use in my words – Vision.
On June 16, 1993 I was diagnosed with having ‘liver cancer that had spread from the pancreas’. One of life’s weirdest and worst jokes imaginable. I’d been making such progress recently with my attitude, my career and realizing my dreams, that it just stood me on my head for a while. ‘Why me?!’, I would cry out and ‘why now?!’
Well, I know now there may never be any answers to those particular questions; but maybe in telling a little about myself, we can find some other answers to other questions. That might help our way down our own particular paths, towards realizing my dream of New Hope and New Happiness.
Amen.
I left in love, laughter and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit.
February 7th, 1994
Hicks was characteristically known for his angry personality on stage; a trait best showcased on the Rant in E-Minor album released after his death. But the finality of his situation changed something in him; he took to embracing life as much as he could in the time that was available to him. His characteristic gun-slinger coat and hat were retired for more vibrant, colourful clothes and his act was lighter than before.
For those of you who know a little about Hicks’ life, you’ll undoubtedly know of his censored Letterman performance shortly before his death. After fifteen years, Letterman sat down with Bill’s mother on his show and apologized for the censoring of Bill’s act. Then he showed it. While I applaud his actions, I have to ask why the hell did it take fifteen years for this to happen? I guess we’ll never know.
Bill’s attitude to life, even when he knew he was going to die, and his philosophy concerning life in general has always been inspirational to me, helping me through the rough patches in my life. It’s a shame he died, because we need someone like him all the more now. Someone who isn’t afraid to tell the truth. But, like Bill says: it’s just a ride.
The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think that it’s real, because that’s how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills, and it’s very brightly coloured, and it’s very loud and it’s fun for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: is this real, or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us. They say “Hey! Don’t worry, don’t be afraid, ever, because, this is just a ride.” And we… kill those people. Ha ha ha. “Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride. Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry. Look at my big bank account and family. This just has to be real.” It’s just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok. But it doesn’t matter because it’s just a ride. And we can change it anytime we want. It’s only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings and money. A choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourselves off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Here’s what you can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defense each year and instead spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, for ever, in peace.
So take today to remember Hicks in your own way and commemorate the passing of a truly amazing individual.
Go in love, laughter and truth.
James.
We were never disapointed you started listening to Bill, just thought that as a tender young inncoent (yeah right and you with teh 666 mark on his head!) might be a little young for goat boy! Either that or you might get some ideas from it!
Hicks was truly a genius and is still sorely missed. At least we still have Biafra and Mark Thomas but Hicks just had something else.
To be fair though, Thomas hasn’t done much since the MTCP.
Not on the TV but I believ he has been doing some radio.
Still out there doing his own style of investigation too. Cgeck out http://www.markthomasinfo.com/
This is a better tribute than I possibly could have ever come up with. Mind if I link you? Too late, I did. ;D