Talk:Bill Hicks

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Contents

[edit] Move all Bill's quotations to proper location?

When I started adding quotes from Bill, I was not aware wikipedia had a section specifically for that.. So I propose moving all of Bill's quotes to there and then tidying, deleting doublers, etc. Maybe leave between 3 to 6 (at a maximum) of Bill's quotes on the main page ?

I say, definitely this one.. IMO it totally defines what Bill, his philosophy, his beliefs and his entire career was about.

Bill- "I was told when I grew up I could be anything I wanted: a fireman, a policeman, a doctor - even President, it seemed. And for the first time in the history of mankind, something new, called an astronaut. But like so many kids brought up on a steady diet of Westerns, I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero - that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. And in my heart of hearts I still track the remnants of that dream wherever I go, in my endless ride into the setting sun." (Opening voice-over to Hicks' Revelations special, also quoted in the last issue of Preacher) Dirk Diggler Jnr 10:46, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

Make it so. --Viriditas 14:06, 15 January 2006 (UTC)
  • When people keep adding quotes (IMO usually because they want to get involved without writing any useful, original content) until the article becomes ridiculous, something has to be done... I've had success with removing the quotes section entirely to the talk page (eg Don Vito) and limiting the section to 3 quotes (eg Mitch Hedberg). Wikipedia is not a fansite or tribute and we don't allow dicdefs because we have wiktionary, wikiquote should be given respect too. Deiz 10:29, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
  • Either option—total removal or a firm restriction to three—sounds good to me. Anville 14:28, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
  • Another issue here is that listing a few quotes to illustrate the tone and content of Bill's work is great, this is turning into a script and as these are really "jokes" rather than quotes, which is how Bill made his living and therefore is Bill's intellectual property, having too many could possibly become a copyright issue. I recommend someone who has been editing this page for a while takes a bold step and slashes the quote section to the first or best 3 quotes, then we all pitch in with reverts and direct people to here. I'm a huge Bill fan but don't feel I've had enough input on the article to make major changes. Deiz 12:27, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
Can people all agree on the 'best' three though? I have added one that I thought he was most well remembered for. And can somone please amend it, it is an abridged version from his famous London show. It cut's out a small middle piece.(Halbared 17:39, 11 June 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1 release date

I cannot find a clear source on the release year of Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1. Some sources indicate 2002, others indicate 2003. I've put 2003 in my article on the album Love, Laughter and Truth, while the Bill Hicks article says 2002. Sources across the Internet disagree. Does anybody here know? gspr 12:49, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Don't know about anywhere else, but I'm fairly sure that in the UK Flying Saucer Tour Vol. 1 and Love, Laughter and Truth were released on 11 November 2002. I vaguely remember this as the date they were due be released, it's the release date shown by www.hmv.co.uk and amazon.co.uk, and I don't seem to recall there being any delay in the releases (though admittedly my memory is far from great). --CapitalLetterBeginning 15:06, 22 January 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Bill was a prophet

In the intro I think we should mention that many people believe Bill Hicks to be a prophet of enlightenment, this is not only my view but also the view of many other people and a valid philosophical point. To say that the term prophet is synonymous with the term 'respected and well known religious philosopher' would be a fair definition; while defining Bill Hicks as a respected and well known religious philosopher would also (certainly by the opinion of many people) also be fair. Bill could be described as the first athiest prophet of internal enlightenment. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 87.115.224.60 (talk • contribs) .

To add this to article, we would need a source or a direct citation to make it verifiable, because (according Wikipedia guidelines - articles need Verifiability, not truth). --Johnnyw 03:15, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree with the points made above regarding Bill being a prophet of enlightenment, but he was not an athiest. He frequently spoke of us (all humans) being the holy children of God and also voiced his wishes for a new, less antiquated, religion being founded that was based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. (*If someone recalls which gigs he expressed these views, please add the details.. As I cant remember exactly what show of Bill's I heard these views from.) [Dirk Diggler Jnr]

"Filling up the hump" bootleg has these views and so has "Philosophy The Best Of" [luuk]

Listening to his albums (addmittedly only 2) I've heard no clear proof that he was a Christian, at least during his years of comedy. Sure he may reference Christianity a fair bit, but hey, thats what a lot of atheists/agnostics do as well. Usually because we were raised in that faith and know it better than others, thus feeling able to criticise it with some knowledge of their doctrine. Also in Rant in E Minor he mentions having been raised Christian but does not say that he is still part of that faith. Nearly all the mentions of Christianity and faith in general in his work are usually accompanied by mocking humour, to me that would suggest that he probably wasn't a Christian. Of course it does not necessarily follow that he was an atheist, but it seems more likely. Juan Incognito 22:11, 19 March 2006 (UTC)Juan Incognito

Juan Incognito, Bill wasn't Christian but he did hold Jesus in the same high esteem that he held MLK, John Lennon, et al in. If you listen to 08 - Gifts Of Forgiveness from Rant in E-Minor you will hear at least one clear statement where he confirms his belief in God, also listen to 24 - Time To Evolve which is also from Rant in E-Minor for a similar verification of Bill's belief in God. These tracks are indicators to Bill's philosophy regarding God. The many other tracks you speak of where Bill attacks Christianty with his acerbic wit demonstrate his righteous contempt & anger for what religion has been twisted and mutated into and why this has been done (i.e. to screw ppl out of money and keep them in fear and raise children who will grow up to believe what their parents believe), it isn't God he is mocking.. it's the horseshit man-made propaganda that the Holier Than Thou's expound in the name of God he is mocking.. and very rightly so. I mean look at Catholicism, the fkn Pope sits in the Vatican like some kind of religious Tony Soprano with all the churches kicking back $$$ to him. And people think it's sinful to say the church is run by moneygrabbing cocksuckers. Do you think if Jesus returned to Earth today and was going about doing his Messianic deeds and benevolent, loving teachings.. that at the end of his day he would sleep in a humble, inexpensive dwelling - or do you think he would sleep in a fkn multi-million pound palace while so many human beings around the world are starving and freezing to death. Bill found organized religion to be repugnant, wicked, hypocritical, harmful and stupifying to degree where he would feel like vomiting blood-laced bile. I share these sentiments. [Dirk Diggler Jnr]

Hi Dirk, I'll have a listen to that album you linked, and maybe check out the Rant in E minor chapters you cited. Thanks for the link/info. Juan Incognito 02:41, 23 March 2006 (UTC)Juan Incognito

Hey Juan, you can hear both of the Bill Hicks tracks I mention above at these two MySpace sites.. one of them is officially Bills the other is by a fan (I think).
Official page Bill Hicks at Myspace
Dirk Diggler Jnr 02:54, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

A few thoughts on Bill Hicks being a Christian or an Atheist. Reviewing his bootlegged work as well as his officially released audio and video, he was neither. Bill was a self-proclaimed preacher. In the documentary “It’s Just A Ride” there is a quick segment of Mary Hicks, Bill’s mother, speaking to that point: I said to Bill, you know you are just that far from being a preacher, and he said, 'I am a preacher.'

In the show “Relentless” (not the comedy album, but the video of the same name which was released in a “bootlegged” audio format as “Relentless in Montreal”) Bill asks if “the concept of the Devil still actually exists”. He then poses the question “What could oppose God’s Will?” Answering his own question, he screams “NOTHING! Nothing could oppose God’s Will!” Even with my very limited understanding of Christianity I’m fairly certain being a Christian means you believe in God as well as the Devil. Bill believed no such thing. He repeatedly denounced the idea of a Devil in his act (and interviews) and continually stated his belief that we are all the perfect and holy children of God.

With that in mind, “respected and well known religious philosopher” is a fairly accurate description of the man. -Doc Winston 21:38, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Hey Guys i'm just looking into the meaning of the word prophet. Wiktionary has prophet meaning 'someone who speaks by divine inspiration'. I dunno about divine but he is most certainly an inspiration. Dictionary.com says that prophet means: '2. A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression', which I think also fits the bill (hahahahahh ha ah ha). I'm a newbie to Wiki, is this what is needed as a citation or does it need to be more substancial? i've seen some dodgy links to citations on wiki ie: 9/11 conspiracy sites claiming to be absolute truth etc.Theinnerexits 09:09, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

Hi Theinnerexits, welcome to Wikipedia. =) A citation would need to excplicitly say that "Bill Hicks was a prophet" and nothing less, otherwise it's only made up by ourselves. See Wikipedia:Citing sources and Wikipedia:No original research for more info. Best wishes, Johnnyw talk 09:59, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
Hi Johnny, thanks for the info.... I read further on reliable sources and it kinda rules out most of the websites (blogs/reviews) that cite Bill as a prophet. Well at least I know many people hold him in the same high regard as I do... thanks again...Time to hear some of the gospel... I'm off to watch it's just a ride and relentless.Theinnerexits 13:49, 19 August 2006 (UTC)


Christian no christian, prophet no prophet, I think Bill's message lies beyond that. He relates god to the oneness envelloping all, the one consciousness. Free thinking would be the only way to this transpersonal thruth. Bill tried to cause a stirup for people to figure out things on their own and to know that he knows as less as they. He wanted you to hate and love him at the same time. But to me he is kind of a prophet and he seems more a preacher than a comedian sometimes :). Could there be a valid citation coming from the band Tool? [luuk]

[edit] Removed quotations

And here they are:

  • "Johnny's in the basement mixing up the medicine (LSD), I'm on the pavement thinking about the government. My life in the fucking nutshell." (With the first two lines Hicks is quoting Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues)
  • "They said the same thing when [Bob] Dylan went electric!" (After announcing he had quit smoking and being booed by a crowd.)
  • "I subscribe to Mark Twain's theory that the last person who should be President is the one who wants it the most. The one who should be picked is the one who should be dragged, kicking and screaming into the White House."
  • "I'm sorry if any of you are Catholic. [beat] I'm not sorry if you're offended, I'm actually just sorry about the fact that you're Catholic."
  • On the theft of his material by Denis Leary: "I have a scoop for you. I stole his act. I camouflaged it with punchlines, and to really throw people off, I did it before he did."
  • "I love going to the movies. Now, I'm watching Terminator 2 and I'm thinking 'you know what? There is no way that you will ever be able to top these stunts in a movie ever again. You cannot top this shit.' Unless they start using terminally ill people as stunt men in pictures!" (Hesitant chuckles from the audience) "....well hear me out."
  • At his final show: "This is the material, by the way, that has kept me virtually anonymous in America for the past 15 years. Gee, I wonder why we're hated the world over? Look at these fat Americans in the front row—'Why doesn't he just hit fruit with a hammer?' Folks, I could have done that, walked around being a millionaire and franchising myself but no, I had to have this weird thing about trying to illuminate the collective unconscious and help humanity. Fucking moron."
  • "How much do you smoke a day, dude? Pack and a half? You little puss...Why don't you just put the fuckin' skirt on, and swish around for us? 'Pack and a half, I smoke a pack and a half..' I go through two lighters a day, dude."
  • "..you never see my attitude in the press, that's what bugs me. You never see my point of view. For instance, gays in the military. Now, I dunno how y'all feel about it... here's how I feel about it: Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should be allowed in. End of fucking story. That should be the only requirement. I don't care how many push ups you can do, put on a helmet, go wait in that foxhole we'll tell you when we need you to kill somebody. You know i'm sick of hearing military guys saying "The esprit de corps will be affected, and we are such a moral..." Excuse me, aren't y'all hired fucking killers? Shut up! You are thugs and when we need you to go blow the fuck outta a nation of little brown people we'll let you know. Until then... Where do the fucking military get all these morals? "We are the military; is that a village of children and kids? Where's the napalm? (explosion) I don't want any gay people hanging around me when I'm killing women and kids. I just dont wanna see it."
  • "I'm Bill Hicks and I'm dead now, cause I smoked cigarettes. Cigarettes didn't kill me, a bunch of non-smokers kicked the shit outta me one night. I tried to run, they were faster than I. I tried to hide, they heard me wheezing... Some of them smelled me. But now I'm in heaven... sniffing Yul Brynner's noggin!"
(in this quote Bill is parodying a real life anti-smoking commercial that the actor Yul Brynner made around nine months before his death. The simple-approach commercial shows Yul Brynner speaking directly to the viewers. He says words that are very close to "I'm Yul Brynner and I'm dead now because I smoked cigarettes. Don't die of cancer, give up smoking.")
  • (In relation to a Lynyrd Skynyrd show in Chicago in 1989, in which an audience member continuously yelled "Free Bird!")
Bill: "Hitler had the right idea! He was just an underachiever! Kill 'em all, Adolf! All of them! Jew! Mexican! American! White! Kill 'em all! Start over! The experiment didn't work! Rain 40 days! Please fucking rain to wash these turds off my life! Wash these human waste of flesh and bone off this planet! I pray to you God to kill these fucking people!"
Audience member: "Free Bird!"
Bill: "Free Bird."
(dull muffled sound from the microphone)
  • "I'm a comedian and poet, so anything that doesn't get a laugh... is a poem."
  • "Frightening people man. Bush tried to buy votes towards the end of the election. Goes around, you know, selling weapons to everyone, getting that military industrial complex vote happening for him. Sold 160 fighter jets to Korea and then 240 tanks to Kuwait and then goes around making speeches why he should be Commander-in-Chief because, "We still live in a dangerous world."...Thanks to you, you fucker!"

Well, now we're down to four. Good enough? Anville 15:41, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Yeah think so. Thanks! --Johnnyw 16:53, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
You're welcome! Anville 17:08, 3 March 2006 (UTC)
  • Nice one. Page looks much better. This can become annoying to constantly revert but if enough of us keep an eye out and just zap any new quotes (or remove old quotes if better ones are posted, rotation is good) and put them here it will work pretty well. Deiz 19:42, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

One more:

  • "They lie about marijuana. Tell you pot-smoking makes you unmotivated. Lie! When you're high, you can do everything you normally do, just as well. You just realize that it's not worth the fucking effort. There is a difference."

Anville 14:52, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

And still more:

  • "Yeah you really got my act down good, guys. That'll be great. You know, when I'm done ranting about elite power that rules the planet under a totalitarian government that uses the media in order to keep people stupid, my throat gets parched. That's why I drink orange drink." - Bill Hicks, after being asked to do an advertisement for orange drink.
  • "Real men don't dance. They sit, sweat, and curse." (Love, Laughter, & Truth)

Anville 19:01, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Hicks - the lost hour

Possibly a previously unknown and certainly a very rare recording of one of Bill's sets performed after he learned his final appearance on David Letterman was completely censored from the broadcast, is available to download in it's entirety and free from the art site 'Frequency23.org'. I hope you guys like it. [with love, Dirk Diggler]

[Bill Hicks - the lost hour - 5th October 1993|http://frequency23.org/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,104/catid,4/]

Source : [www.Frequency23.org|http://frequency23.org/content/view/105/]

Contributed by michael cummings
Saturday, 04 March 2006

If the ideas of Bill Hicks are important...if his values are what we want folks to spend more time with...then we need to work on his legend in concert, a concerted effort...Howard, am I using this technology label right? You talk about orchestrated noise and this morning you posted about the book The Republican Noise machine, so I'm working on a Bill Hicks story to help folks have the "reasons to believe" Bill Hicks is legendary. I'm giving them what they might want to repeat to their friends...

Something to give a shit about...


Bill Hicks (December 16, 1961–February 26, 1994) is considered one of the most influential comedians of the 20th century. However, he is far better known in Europe and Canada than in his homeland of America. His outspoken candor kept him from widespread fame and mass media attention. However, his legend is building.

Each year, on the anniversary of his death, fans around the world help his ideas evolve by asking, What would Bill Hicks say?

New material emerges that honors his memory. This year, some authentic new material surfaced. For many fans, this is a momentous find. While eBay offers hundreds of hours of his material...there were three hours that ardent Bill Hicks fans craved to hear.

On 1 October 1993, Bill Hicks did his twelfth gig on the David Letterman show. What the audience in the studio didn't know was that Bill Hicks had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Later that night, Bill Hicks became the first comedian censored from CBS' Letterman show. Perhaps fitting for the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where Elvis Presley was censored in 1956. But, while Presley wasn’t allowed to be shown below the waste, Hicks was made to disappear.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have censorship in America.

As reported in The New Yorker, Letterman greeted Hicks as he sat down on the couch with, "Good set, Bill! Always nice to have you drop by with an uplifting message!" But, there was trouble in the air and Letterman knew it. Letterman went to commercial with, "Bill, enjoy answering your mail for the next few weeks."

Back in his hotel, Bill stepped out of the shower to answer the phone. Robert Morton...the Letterman show was not running his set.

Bill was terminally sick and knew it. He imagined his Letterman show to be his swan song...what he would be remembered for. In many ways he might have been right. This debacle brought him more attention in The United States than his previous 11 Letterman appearances combined.

In the next few days after the censorship, Bill Hicks performed three shows ranting harder than ever before. These three "post-Letterman shows" as they've been called, have long been thought not captured. This last week, one of these three historic shows has just emerged, the middle show from 10/5/93, recorded by an audience member who happened to be an audio engineer. There is a brief gap in the recording at the one-hour mark when he switched tapes, but the quality is as high as can be expected from a covert recording.

This historic performance is available in its entirety as a completely free download from the art site Frequency23.org. The download can be found on the second page of Mutant Media Gallery entitled "The Lost Hour".

Bill Hicks has been popularized by such bands as TOOL and Radiohead, cartoonists Jeff Danziger and Martyn Turner; writers Neal Pollack, Robert Newman, and A.L. Kennedy; and essays by Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Thanks for the link! Is there any reason this cannot be linked under Bootlegs? That Nate Guy 22:06, 18 May 2006 (UTC)
Noticed the link was added. I've changed the link to point directly to the appropriate page (though not directly to the mp3) and also changed the link style to match the rest of the links. That Nate Guy 01:59, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dennis Leary

I suggest the paragraph:

Some reports have indicated that Hicks canonized Dennis Leary as his rightful successor, in the weeks before his death. This included giving Leary the right to use his existing material.

is removed from the main article. We have no proof (by means of references) that Bill gave the permission for Leary to use his jokes so by wiki standards it should be removed. Secondly it implies that the jokes were used after Bill's death, but "No Cure For Cancer" was released before he died. Paul Tew 04:40, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

God, Bill would never have done that! He was apalled and aghast that Leary nicked his material word for word!
Certainly reading American Scream by Cynthia True would confirm that. I didn't feel it was my place to remove the comment without discussion first. Paul Tew 17:15, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

== Photos ==nathan is the man


cool till I clicked it and saw it up close and saw how badly the face has been pasted onto another body! Think I'll touch that up in Photoshop and keep myself a copy of the better version ;)

if you look in the description of that image, it says "A fan art image inspired by the 1991 'Revelations' performance in London, England" Elijya 07:04, 30 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] fawning tone of the article

I have a serious problem with the fawning tone of the article. The authors are obviously hard-core Hicks fans. Nothing wrong with that, but it should be a biography, not a hagiography. Hicks was not without his detractors (Yes - I am one of them). [James A. Walsh] —This unsigned comment was added by 24.111.18.50 (talk • contribs) .

Any specific suggestions? Constructive criticism is always welcome.. --Johnnyw 13:49, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

i suggest that all f you read between the lines on this bill hicks bullshit - saw he and denis leary perform together during one of their dual performances at caroline's in the eighties before either was famous and they were trying to prove clubowners who already thought their acts were too similar wrong and they did it in spades - hicks opened first show leary opened second they touched on exactly the same subjects with hilariously different takes on each and my party and everyone else in the room went home happy. i am a fan of both. one guy died. one lived on - if denis stole bill's act - where did denis get the rest of his material / talk show appearance material / hbo specials / comedy central specials / movie scripts / tv scripts. pointing fingers at the guy who lived is inane and easy. how about pointing one at a guy who didn't make it and was envious. there are tons of comedians thru the years who have done this. gene baylos - a famously funny comic of the clubs in the late forties accused jerry lewis of stealing his body movements - i forget the guys name but there was a black comic who accused pryor of stealing his attitude once he revolutionized his act and redid it in the early seventies - there's always a bitter comic in a comedy club - most times more than five or six - this one - bill hicks - just happened to die and become an icon. listen to the work. read between the bullshit journalism and 'eyewitness' accounts.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 207.96.22.227 (talk • contribs) 04:37, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] removal of "philosophy" section

I removed:

Bill Hicks was often asked to advertise products, only to turn down all offers. Bill did not believe that the art of stand-up comedy was only a jumping-off point to a larger career. Most other comedians at the time would start doing sitcoms or commercials, but Bill believed in and practiced the art of stand-up. His goal was to educate the American public. He wanted to get people to understand that things were going on all over the world, not to trust everything that you hear on television, and to break the local masses out of their provincial ways of thought. Bill used stand-up comedy as a medium because he said that "the truth is much easier for people to handle if you wrap it up in jokes." Near the end of Bill's life, Bill's mother started to understand and listen to Bill's work more. One day she told Bill that he was so good that he could be a preacher. To this Bill responded by saying "But Mom, I am a preacher, don't you see?"

This cannot be included as is since it is highy biased; see Wikipedia:NPOV about this before reinserting a strongly modified version. You cannot jump to your own conclusions (see Wikipedia:NOR) but need to cite sources to make it verifiable (see Wikipedia:Verifiability)! Also, the text is supposed to be an encyclopedia, which basically means that we only sum up what has already been said by (reputable and/or reliable) thirds and nothing else. Anything that goes beyond cannot be included (see Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not#Wikipedia is not a publisher of original thought). Thanks for your attention.. --Johnnyw 09:44, 3 April 2006 (UTC)

I think sources can be found for a decent amount of that text. I know for a fact he rejected endorsement offers. I left a request on the author's talk page for a source the other day, because I think most of that is true and I would like it to be backed up. Elijya 14:54, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
Yes. He used his attitude to endorsements in his act. Such as the 'orange drink' routine.(Halbared 17:37, 11 June 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Place for Bill's official MySpace?

I see the link has been removed from the main page already. So isn't Bill's official MySpace URL an appropriate link to have on his official wikipedia page? I say it is. It gives people who perhaps do not know or own any of Bill's material to hear it from a legitimate and legal source. [www.myspace.com/billhicks|http://www.myspace.com/billhicks] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Dirk Diggler Jnr (talk • contribs) .

  1. What makes it "official"?
  2. What about it provides any more information that isn't found at the site maintained by Kevin Booth? -- Rsm99833
What about the audio clips available at myspace? Dunno about the videos, since they require registration, but I tried to access the multimedia section at billhick.com, which led me to the sacred cow multimedia archive. All sections there relating to Bill are "under construction", with no end in sight. I guess hearing a couple of full length Bill Hicks bits are worth linking to?> --Johnnyw 18:41, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
PS: All the clips at the dark times audio archive at billhicks.com is "are temporarily offline." as well.. --Johnnyw 18:45, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
If you want the audio/video clips, they're all available at Kevin booth's web site (sacredcow.com). I still find it odd that a dead guy can put up an "official" myspace account. Rsm99833
Well, Kevin Booth operates and maintains everything official to Bill Hicks. He's not mentioned it. Plus, Myspace has a lot of "official" web pages, that have proven to be fraudulant (I've had more than one instance of "official" Jello Biafra & Alternative Tentacles myspace sites shut down). So to have a site claiming to be "official" on Myspace w/o some sort of validation doesn't mean too much. Rsm99833 16:42, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

You are totally right, all apologies sir. Dirk Diggler Jnr 14:46, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Hick's Influence on Music

I have just added the info on Bill Hick's dedication by Radiohead. I was hoping that someone could add to it, the dedication within the album is shared between Bill Hicks and Indigo, I do not know what it is meant by Indigo. I am hoping someone can help. If I have posted this in the wrong place, please delete. My apologies, since this is my first contrubution to this website.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Christratocaster (talk • contribs) . 06:35, 23 April 2006

Looks fine, no need to apologize! Thanks for your contribution.. Although I must say I cannot help with the Indigo-issue, since I do not own a copy of The Bends.. --Johnnyw 11:33, 23 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Suggestion for small edit to main page text

How about changing the following paragragh, to what follows next.. (?) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Dirk Diggler Jnr (talk • contribs) .

Hicks is often compared to Lenny Bruce and Sam Kinison (the latter a contemporary and friend), and characterized his own performances as "Chomsky with dick jokes".

Hicks is often compared to Lenny Bruce and Sam Kinison (the former being a childhood hero and inspiration for Hicks, the latter a contemporary and friend), and characterized his own performances as "Chomsky with dick jokes".

Looks good, do it. -Quiddity 20:42, 30 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Bill Hicks' bootleg archive & the Len Belzer interviews

[Bill Hicks' bootleg archive & the Len Belzer interviews|http://www.countsofthenetherworld.com/mp3s/billhicks/index.html]

Enjoy, love Dirk Diggler Jnr 20:49, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the link. But do you think a list of all known Bill Hicks bootlegs (audio and video) should be added to the article? In the same way there is a discography section, do you think there should be a bootleg section? The fact that Bill is no longer with us it makes his bootlegs all the more noteworthy. That link could be added too I suppose. HumphreyB 14:46, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
As entered in the list of bootlegs
  • Queens Theatre Early Show
  • Queens Theatre Late Show
    and
  • London, England - Early Show (1992)
  • London, England - Late Show (1992)
are in fact the same show - 2 part live bootleg at the Queens Theatre, 17th May 1992, and Filling Up The Hump is also sometimes referred to as Live at Igby's Frisco 1993 as Bill's last intended performance, which has diferently sectioned track list. A-Doo 15:37, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ænima/Ænema

Just a minor change. The tool album is called "Ænima" while the song in question is called "Ænema".
Enaku 13:21, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] missing "Chomsky with dick jokes" citation link

There used to be an external link next to the line in Bill's bio paragraph that says Bill described his routine as "Chomsky with dick jokes", the link took you to the webpage that confirms the above statement.. but the external link is gone I noticed. Anyone know when and why it was removed? Thanks. Dirk Diggler Jnr 11:10, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

It got removed in this revision (diff). The actual citation had ended up at the end of another sentence and was removed because, as Michael Dorosh explains in his edit summary, it appeared to be irrelevant. I've reinstated it now. --CapitalLetterBeginning 21:09, 22 May 2006 (UTC)


[edit] 'Cringe Humor' a Hicks-esque stand-up comedy website

Cringe humor

This web site is very interesting, educational and offers lots of downloads, interviews and pics of up and coming, recent and grand-master comedians. It also champions free speech and is an opponent of censorship. It is certainly worth a visit and also worth bookmarking.
The biography it features on Bill Hicks (presently) has more scope and depth than Bill's entry at wikipedia and so is a handy cross reference place to compare wiki's details on Hicks against.
I did create a page for 'Cringe Humor', but apparently it is not a valid subject for the encyclopedia and will be deleted in 5 days.. so I am placing the link to it here on Bill's discussion page to make others aware of it's existence.. as the site in question (C.H.) offers information on Bill Hicks that is not available at his wikipage. (it also offers information and downloads from around 18+ other comedians.. some very new, some deceased) Dirk Diggler Jnr 10:25, 2 June 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Bill Hicks : A Slight Return

Has anyone heard of the play in London right now? Bill Hicks : A Slight Return. I saw it last week, its amazing. It's basically a play that lasts 1hr 10mins that imagines what Bill would say were he to return to earth now for one night only. It done with the upmost respect for Bill and his works, its well researched, well written, well acted and absolutely f**king hilarious. Surely this play must deserve a mention here somewhere or even its own wikipedia entry? Some1? Any1?

I'm not very adept at writing articles but I have lots of info and images is any1 needs any help? It's got alot of press over here in the UK and I was almost in tears by the end of it because its so heart-warming towards the end. It really does pay alot of respect to Bill.

It's a witty name for the show too.. Slight Return is the subtitle name of a classic Jimi Hendrix track, whom Bill was a massive fan of. (song "Voodoo Chile") Dirk Diggler Jnr 11:32, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

hate to be a nit picker, but the song is Voodoo Child (Slight Return). On the same Hendrix album ([Electric Ladyland]), there's a 15 minutes blues jam called Voodoo Chile. Just need to seperate the two. (For the record, Hendrix is my favourite muso, and Hicks my favourite comedian) - Mbatterham 05:53, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Hicks Tribute Song Featured On a 2006 Album

the UK artist, charlie dore, on her 2006 album 'cuckoo hill' has a song named after and about bill hicks. ("When Bill Hicks died")

[Charlie Dore]

you can hear and/or legally download the song to keep for free, from her myspace page at this link ;

Charlie Dore's "When Bill Hicks died"

-an ex-wikipedia editor.


[edit] Biography

I notice that the Biography section covers some posthumous events. Shouldn't these be in the Legacy section? (Except, perhaps, for the mention of Arizona Bay and Rant in E-Minor being released in 1997, as they were the first posthumous releases.) --CapitalLetterBeginning 12:13, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

I strongly support that. If I post this comment wrong somehow forgive me, but I just made my first contribution at all. -- rorschach23

[edit] Criticism, as loathed as it is

I've read through the archived talk of "flamewar on criticism section" and think there's been sufficient time for a cool-down and to suggest that a new and fresh criticism section be included? This would need to be written with minimal bias either way, very matter-of-fact. I don't see why pro-Hicks would see this as such an affront as the man himself didn't seem afraid of criticism... should I source that statement? I'm "pro-Hicks" so maybe that counts. Anyway, I'd like to throw it out there that at least a brief list of who he pissed off, why and what sort of objections there were would do well to give it the balance an encyclopaedia entry requires. Has a criticism section been completely ruled out forever on this article? Judging from past reactions though, I think that we a mature discussion and fair amount of agreeance before bothering to put anything up there. - and you will know know me by the trail of dead. 04:33, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] drugs

I have made a couple of changes regarding the use of the word "drugs", as well as detail about Hicks Drug use.

I changed one occurance of "drugs" to "mood altering substances", partly for variety, as "drugs, drugs, drugs" gets boring, and partly because of the overuse/misuse/confusing use of the word by our culture. "Just say no to drugs!", but prescription drugs, oh, they're OK. Nasty substances like crack, PCP, and heroin are "illegal drugs", but so are potentially useful medicinal plants/fungi, like many psychedelics and marijuana. Even though Hicks denied using drugs in later years, he evidently considered psychedelics and marijuana useful, as he talked about them often in routines. --Bill Huston (talk) 23:53, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Bill Hicks Foundation for Wildlife

Does anybody know what kind of association this foundation (which is also listed in the external links section) has with Bill Hicks (other than using his name and pictures to raise money)? Are they in any way authorized by him or his family? I couldn't find any real answers on their site (other than that he liked animals...) --Frescard 18:42, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bill Hicks the singer/musician

Everyone knows bill has always had a passion for music and started writing and recording his music later in his career.

Does anyone have any of the recordings? the lyrics? I would love to cover some of his stuff. 202.6.129.2 17:15, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

He's not much of a lyricist:
"The Wizards have landed
With plans for a perfect world
A new beginning
For all you boys and girls
They bring with them
The wisdom of the ages
Directly from the lips
Of the sages." (Rant In E-Minor)
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