Why I love Bill Hicks.......

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Yes well, I've had some time to think about Bill Hicks and why I got so annoyed last time he was mentioned. The fact that I heard him on the radio today for 2 hours while I was stuck in flood traffic didn't do any harm either. Anyway I thought about writing an article but I've been snowed under with gig previews and the second "chapter" of my "book" which is going ok actually but growing and growing.

I hate lots of things about his shows, but more than anything else I hate the audience. I hate the way the more they laugh the further he seems to go, and the more they clap the less it seems to appease him. In fact each time they laugh or clap I feel like I've been hit across the face.

I don't really agree with any of Bill Hicks' political views, as any of you who "know me" might have noticed. Some of them are just damning indictments for the sake of damning indictments. In fact the part I like the most about Bill Hicks, and the part which makes me smile aswell as feel a little sad, is when he sighs into the microphone as the laughs subside and says "I don't know". He's just the ultimate negative celebrity, and it is genuine, he does piss himself off by thinking these things and the fact that other people find his rants so funny just makes it all the worse.

I guess hating Bill Hicks, especially now, a few years after I first got into him, would be easy. I hate the way his anti marketing thing is interpreted, I guess going to college has allowed me to see a vivid picture of how he could be the ultimate student comedian. But I can think of very few artists with whom I ever empathised, in fact it's a totally ridiculous notion to me, "I can relate to their lyrics" always struck me as a silly thing to say, even post "Lazy", but Bill Hicks sighing after making a "joke" is just gut wrenching to me.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:02 (twenty-three years ago)

That's pretty bleak I suppose, I don't mean to paint myself as embittered or something, I'm quite happy, but bah you get the idea anyway.

{also I just remember the part of his set where he imitates a person he meets in a bar "hey bill quit talkin' bout kennedy, hey come on bill! quit pokin' fun at that, hey bill quit bein' down on everythin'")

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually be interested to hear what Dan Dregan thinks of Bill Hicks. I owe you a mail Dan if you're reading.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:06 (twenty-three years ago)

thanks, ronan. that's the first favourable take on hicks that's made sense to me. otm, as they say.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:14 (twenty-three years ago)

i heard some of that show as well,and it also got me thinking about bill hicks...when i first heard bill hicks i thought he was the greatest thing ever,and then when i watched one of the videos recently i found some it just kind of embarrasing...i'm still trying to make up my mind...
off to watch larry sanders now,will post more in an hour or so...

― robin (robin), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I have a love-hate relationship. I find him extremely funny at times, extremely sharp, but by god he is pleased with himself at times. He is smug about his radicalism, his intelligence, even his taste in rock. It's when he seems to be thinking things through that he's most interesting.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Part of the pleased-with-himself thing is part and parcel of the stock stand-up comedy strategies he deployed. He wasn't nearly as "groundbreaking" as everybody says - it was more that he executed classic timing and rhetoric - a "comedian's comedian" - and the sighs are included in this, Ronan - with leftish politics (STILL a rare combo)

I think if you go at it from the point of view that his wicked logic and comedy was a springboard for saying some really profound shit you're going to be disappointed. His politics were the groundwork of references he drew on to make jokes that really could have been about almost anything.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 21 October 2002 21:44 (twenty-three years ago)

I totally agree with Martin; like during one show going "this one's gonna fly like a fucking stealth bomber...that's bill's stealth humour: your radar cannot detect it" regardless of actually how funny the joke is. But ultimately the lincoln log/sock drawer, his sketch on "cops", jay leno etc etc. redeem him entirely. And sometimes the sort of smugness is incredibly funny. "Here's love connection; watch this and get fat and stupid. By the way, keep drinking beer you fucking morons."

― naked as sin (naked as sin), Monday, 21 October 2002 22:01 (twenty-three years ago)

It sounds like he would have been indisputably classic if he'd popped his own balloon a little more often... moved from public policy to personal policy... who knows?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 21 October 2002 22:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Hicks was never much of a "celebrity" while he was alive. His anti-consumerist/"Chomsky with dick jokes" shtick is indeed what every single lefty college student in the U.S. sounds like, which would be a drag except that he redeems himself by a) being more creatively offensive than any college student I know, b) letting his essential decency and humanity shine through. No one ever said "fuck you" with more love in his heart than Bill Hicks. This may seem sentimental and gooey next to George Carlin's nihilistic "fuck everything" persona, but notice that everybody knows who Carlin is and Hicks couldn't even get a G-rated version of Rant In E-Minor past the NBC censors.

What I like most about him is his absolute refusal to pander to the audience. When they cheer some point he's made he's just as likely to reverse on himself. ("I have the weirdest style though don't I? 'Bill, you do a little joke that's kinda funny and then you start telling us you hate us!'")

Anyway, the following two moments completely redeem him from dud-ness, no matter how annoying his fans might be:
1. "If anyone here is in marketing...kill yourselves."
2. (on "gays in the military") "ANYONE DUMB ENOUGH TO WANNA BE IN THE MILITARY SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN. End of fucking story."

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 21 October 2002 23:35 (twenty-three years ago)

But Justin those two are rub!

The second one is a good line but then he has to put "End of fucking story" after it and he just sounds like people who start their posts "TWO WORDS:"

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 21 October 2002 23:48 (twenty-three years ago)

the best line from "gays in the military is:
excuse me, AREN'T Y'ALL FUCKING HIRED KILLERS.

― ejad, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 00:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I know 'round these parts it's considered very immature to not embrace the age of All Marketing All The Time but I really enjoy Hicks' advertising=prostitution rants. As has been noted his timing is pretty unbelievably sharp.

― J0hn Darn13ll3, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 01:05 (twenty-three years ago)

well, i dont even know who he is / was.........is he dead?
did i miss something 'great'?
by the sound of it, possibly not.

― donna (donna), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 04:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Okay, those two lines aren't so great on their own, I mainly like what follows:

1. "Gee, Bill's going for that anti-marketing dollar! That's really smart!"
2. "I don't want any GAY PEOPLE hanging around me while I'm killing kids! I just don't wanna see it!"

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 04:32 (twenty-three years ago)

i like:

"'Hey Bill we dont like you makin fun of us Christians like that'....then, forgive me"

plus the Goatboy stuff obviously

― blueski, Tuesday, 22 October 2002 10:32 (twenty-three years ago)

John I don't even care what his viewpoint *is*, I get the same kind of rash from his delivery as I get from listening to 'Talk Radio' or reading Richard Littlejohn or looking at websites which have a separate section for 'rants'. The facts that he's funnier and he's coming from a left-libertarian p.o.v. are cosmetic to me cause I have such an allergy to the style.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 22 October 2002 10:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Have u heard any of his stuff or have just read quotes cos that ain't the way to go, baby ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-);-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

― naked as sin (naked as sin), Wednesday, 23 October 2002 09:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Here is a transcription of one of his shows:

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/orwell/93/bill.html

Much is based on current events of the time, but it's still funny, like:
==========
I guarantee you that Reginald Denney, that truck driver. Never gonna stop again as long as he lives.

Could be an old woman with a baby carriage crossing the road, he's: Urrr, urrrrr.

"Not today, baby."
==========

Hmmm...I wonder what kids who don't remember this stuff will think of Hicks. I was listening to Tom Lehrer's _That Was the Year That Was_ and realized that I probably missed a decent amount of the political humor because of my ignorance.

― Ernest P., Wednesday, 23 October 2002 17:07 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Bill Hicks and Jesus, soulmates. (Scroll down about two thirds through the article.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 23 February 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

if you can't appreicate bill hinks it's because you no longer have the ability to look beyond the mainstream media bullshit to see truth from fiction. Basically "you are a sucker of satin's cock".

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

no, i just can't handle the truth. no truth-handler am I.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Who is Bill Hinks and what is his relation to Bill Hicks?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Love to suck some satin cock. It's so smooth and cool.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

(I love, that is)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey with a name like VengaDan Perry you would spend time analizing the spelling of names rather the content. Watch out for the cum shot.

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not surprised at all that VengaDan Perry analizes things.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain't pretty."

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Then analize the content..(no wonder you have problems finding humor)what was the content? oh yeah you blinded by the propaganda and are a sucker of satin's cock.

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"blinded by the propaganda"

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

pro·pa·gan·da: the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
: ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

bill hicks is spinning in his poor man's grave

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Would dictionary.com count as part of the mainsteam media bullshit?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Bill Hicks tee-shirts now available in HMV, anyway. His pop cultural significance factor is now somehow as high as The Sweeney. That's just wrong.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

if bill didn't want the masses to hear his message he would not have been getting up on stages sreaming for reform.

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

reform of what?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

or did he want grand funk to reform?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

He should have screamed for Bodyform. Like in that advert.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"sream" = "slow-ream"

(Sorry, that's just me analizing your content.)

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

government war policices, the drug war, the church's role in society, the capitalist machine at the cost of human life. stuff like like that. have you even heard him?

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

haha dude i went to college in the mid-late 90s...i could recite whole passages from memory

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

do you think that he had good points that should be addressed and just didn't think he was funny or do you disagree with what he was saying?

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

all three!

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

funny aside; you think that he had good points and you disagree with what he was saying?

― damine shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

yes.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks for your deep thoughts on the topic

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

my pleasure

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Two years from now, this could be the new Alex in NYC.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

only not funny or smart.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

or self-aware

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

at all

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, he can join the Legion of Substitute Alex in NYCs.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

worst superhero team ever!

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Honor the fire!" would be the best battle cry, though!

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"Honor the low-lit flame!" If Alex weren't helping take care of his new baby he'd eat this guy for breakfast.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

hope ye're all enjoying your circle jerk

― [email protected], Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

If you're randomly seeking out a message board on which to resurrect an old thread to tell strangers they're propaganda-blinded sheep, you've got soggy biscuit written all over you.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Damien is probably only about fifteen - ease up chaps.

Memo to D Shannon: please extensively read the archives of internet message boards or mailing lists before deciding to contribute to them.

― Venga, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

half daMIEN, half biscuit

― Kingfish Balzac (Kingfish), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

well all, i had a lovely day. i realize now that you are not just jotting down a few lines but instead have dedicated many hours of many days to this chat room. . this was a one day thing for me just a chat room i came accross while serching the web. its sad. you have no lives and thats fine. enjoy

― damien shannon, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"chat room"

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I am glad this thread happened without me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 00:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Bill Hicks>this thread (barely)

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, hes not ironic enough for me.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"analize"

― g--ff (gcannon), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 06:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there anyone here who (1) agrees with Bill Hicks' politics but (2)still doesn't think he's funny?

It seems to me that all of you who get pissed off listening to the jokes and don't find him funny (but say it isn't the politics) - all of you who say he's 'arrogant' or not 'self-aware' - are actually just upset by the politics and pretend that it's his bad delivery or defective personality. Are you afraid that if you just say, "I can't listen to Bill Hicks' because he spouts political opinions I don't share" that you'll show yourselves to be intolerant?

― run it off (run it off), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 06:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Hicks' politics are great, and he's funny 90% of the time. But sometimes, he just got overwhelmed with anger and it's not funny, it's very sad. But that illustrates, to me, why he was a great comic. Even when it isn't funny, he still cares about the material, and I care.

All the comics who've been ripping him off for the last decade (Denis Leary, David Cross, etc.), when they aren't funny just aren't funny. There's no heart.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 07:02 (twenty-two years ago)

His politics suck Satan's cock, but he is funny. His anti-anti-smoking jokes are funny as. "If you're smoking through a hole in your neck, it's probably about time to quit." and I have shamelessly leeched the "two lighters a day" gag on several occasions.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Saying that, I downloaded two albums at the weekend of his, and coincidentally it was an early one and a late one. The eraly one was funny and witty and clever and Bill Kicks vs the people and great. But in the second one, he seemed to turn into a characiture(sp?) of himself - still ranting and raving, but playign to the crowd, rather than being antagonistic.

So, for selling out (when you put yourself up as decidly anti - selling out), dud.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I think he may have once been funny, but has been ruined for me by his fans, many of whom seem to treat him like some sort of second coming.

Political comedians don't really do much for me, even when they broadly share my lefty views. I like my politics carefully argued, not painted in great big tribal brushstrokes to get an easy laugh.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Many of his fans are simply much poorer comedians.

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

ricky 100% otm.

― toby (tsg20), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

had he not died in 1994, surely the last 10 years would have killed him.

― Kingfish Balzac (Kingfish), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes the world sucks Bill, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

taking a lot of acid and listening to shit blues rock apparently

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:52 (twenty-two years ago)

that's what the countekulcha was all about maaaaannn!!!!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

or, at least, Austin in the mid-late 80's (apparently.)

― Kingfish Balzac (Kingfish), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't forget the pouting.

Also, Ricky very much OTM.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

1: listens to bill hicks
2: learns to think for self
3: sees through mainstream media propaganda bullshit
4: discovers that sucking satin's cock = good not bad

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

5: discovers "having a life" = bad not good

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

LESS PROSTELYTIZING MORE ANALIZING

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

It's just too perfect that Dan was accused of analizing. I don't think damien was real. "damien" => anagram of "I, Me, Dan." The shannon was a red herring.

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

let the music play

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

it's gotta be up front
Go to be so close to trust
it's gotta be up front
Go to be so close to trust

― Kingfish Balzac (Kingfish), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Political comedians don't really do much for me, even when they broadly share my lefty views. I like my politics carefully argued, not painted in great big tribal brushstrokes to get an easy laugh.

this is OTM everyone?

If you want your politics carefully argued, then you don't want it in art, music, poetry, fashion, television news or on ilx, not to mention comedy!

If, on the other hand, you understand that politics is just a matter of recognising the social connections of ordinary practices, and that all these things are already political, then politics isn't a specialist discipline that needs a special sort of discourse. Politics in comedy, like politics in protest songs, doesn't have to be well-argued to be good. And it certainly doesn't have to be well-argued in order to justify being there! Politics for Bill Hicks is a subject matter, like sex and smoking are. I don't hear anyone here complaining that Bill hasn't done any scientific research into the effects of nicotine before making jokes at the expense of tobacco manufacturers.

― run it off (run it off), Thursday, 8 April 2004 07:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Carefully arguing things is boring. I want absurd, vitriolic generalizations that fall apart on closer inspection. I would have liked Bill Hicks better if he actually did have dick jokes though, I mean, what, is he too good for dick jokes?

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I really have no opinion on Bill Hicks, I just like making fun of people who can't spell.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 8 April 2004 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

speling = the tule of the MANN!

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 8 April 2004 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

BLIMEY! Mark S! Have you finished yore BUK?

― Ricardo (RickyT), Thursday, 8 April 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

There was this joint Bill Hicks/Kurt Cobain tribute show on Radio One that I've just been listening to on the bus home. It was pretty good, mixing up Bill Hicks snippets and Nirvana songs. And I hate Nirvana, so much I tuned over to BBC London during especially crap bits. It was pretty out there for the Radio One, even if it was on at 1AM.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 9 April 2004 00:04 (twenty-two years ago)

See, I'm normally bothered by the generalizations/broad strokes thing too (cf. Rage Against the Machine, the Beastie Boys' political attempts, etc.), but Hicks never fell into that. He was fairly pointed in what he thought/opposed.

"All criticism no solution" complaints (whether it's Chomsky or Hicks or Zinn, etc.) are pretty much always bullshit, though.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 9 April 2004 00:21 (twenty-two years ago)

hicks had a solution ("everyone should take more drugs," basically), it just wasn't really a very useful one.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 9 April 2004 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear that Satan's foreskin is as smooth as a heaping slice of red velvet cake, just like Elvis' was.

Of course, I don't know nothing about that 'cause I root for the big G.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 9 April 2004 01:19 (twenty-two years ago)

no...pun intended?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 9 April 2004 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

ALL PUNS INTENDED MOTHAFUCKA

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 9 April 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

seven years pass...

Does Ronan still think this?

― http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/195836283765954576_BP2n7jKw_f.jpg (admrl), Monday, 5 March 2012 22:23 (fourteen years ago)

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