Bill Hicks

William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, satirist, and social critic. Hicks is often compared to Lenny Bruce and Sam Kinison, and characterized his own performances as "Chomsky with dick jokes." http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/coveringideas/jokes.asp

Legacy

Bill Hicks' influence has been far reaching. The Irish rap-metal band One Minute Silence named two of their songs, "It's Just A Ride" and "If I Can Change" after some of Hicks' work; the former was taken from a video monologue in which Hicks asserted that life is "just a ride", accompanied by video images of a rollercoaster ride. This monologue also inspired Welsh singer/songwriter Jem's tribute "Just A Ride" and was used in The Kleptones song "Last Words (A Tribute)".

Related Topics:
Irish - Rap - Metal - One Minute Silence - Welsh - Jem's - Kleptones

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British Band The Bluetones named their EP Marblehead Johnson after the band that is comprised of Bill Hicks, Pat Brown, Kevin Booth and Curt Booth. The song "Chicks Dig Jerks", with Hicks on vocals, is billed as Marblehead Johnson and appears on Relentless and Rant In E-Minor. A collection of songs was available on CD but is currently out of print.

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Pitchshifter and Adam Freeland have both sampled the same portion of Hicks' stand-up: "You are free... to do as we tell you."

Related Topics:
Pitchshifter - Adam Freeland

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British band Radiohead's seminal 1995 album The Bends was "dedicated to the late bill hicks." (sic)

Related Topics:
Radiohead - The Bends

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Welsh band Super Furry Animals sampled Hicks proclaiming "all governments are liars and murderers" on their live version of "The Man Don't Give A Fuck".

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Fila Brazillia also sampled a part of Hicks' act regarding marketers & advertisers (similar to the one on his Arizona Bay album) in their song "6 Ft. Wasp" off of their album Maim That Tune. Fila Brazillia also dedicated that album "to the memory of Bill Hicks".

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The American band Tool called him "another dead hero" in the inlay of their album Ænima, accompanied by a drawing of the man himself and a dedication. The songs "Ænema" and "Third Eye" are based on his philosophy. While "Ænema"'s lyric "learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona Bay", was inspired by Hick's distaste for Los Angeles, the latter contains samples of his comedy. They also thanked him on their album Undertow, which led to Tool's singer Maynard James Keenan becoming friends with him.

Related Topics:
American - Tool - Ænima - Los Angeles - Undertow - Maynard James Keenan

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The movie Human Traffic referred to him as the "late, great Bill Hicks," and showed that the main character, Jip, liked to watch a bit of Hick's stand-up before going out for a night to "remind me what it's all about".

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Hicks also appeared in the comic book "Preacher", in which he was shown to be an important influence on Rev. Jesse Custer, the book's protagonist.

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In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, Hicks was voted amongst the top 20 greatest comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Related Topics:
2005 - The Comedian's Comedian

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On the fourth anniversary of his death, FOX aired Simpsons episode "The Last Temptation of Krust" with Krusty performing an homage to him with two Hicks evangelists, Janeane Garofalo and Jay Leno.

Related Topics:
Simpsons - The Last Temptation of Krust - Krusty - Janeane Garofalo - Jay Leno

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