I thought I'd do a quick post and celebrate the life of Bill Hicks, who died 20 years ago today. He is by far my favorite comedian of all time, and I consider him a personal hero. He is a life idol of mine and always will be.
I first discovered him in the pages of my favorite comic book: PREACHER--
Then got all his albums. I got every bootleg I could find. I got all the VHS tapes, then the DVDs. I got every scrap I could from the man just to keep him and his words in my brain.
The dude changed a lot of the ways I see the world. I don't necessarily agree with everything he said, but damn near all of it still resonates with me. You can hear classic bits and even interchange some names here and there and it still applies today. His thoughts about America, pornography, music, war and politics really woke me up when I needed to learn how the world really turns. He was the angry preacher and a poet and we loved him for it.
He also left us some great messages. Including his famous "Its just a ride" speech. I remember it and sometimes it comforts me when I am in my low points. And he had a great bit about Jimi Hendrix, and how sometimes the universe sends us people who show us how its done and then they go away. And he certainly is one of those people who showed us how it was done! And he ended his shows with the best line: "If we took the money that we spend on wars and killing people and instead put it into educating and feeding the people of the world, which it would do many times over... not ONE human being excluded... we could as one race, explore outer space together in peace." Amen sir.
I highly recommend the documentary on him called "AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY" and the book "AMERICAN SCREAM" by Cynthia True.... which I maintain has the best closing line of any book I've ever read. It hits the note and point, perfectly. But you gotta read the whole thing to get it. Please do. Its on my MUST OWN list.
Bill Hicks. Thanks for all you gave us. We still hear you.
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