The Duke Presents A Buyer's Guide To The Insane Genius Of Bill Hicks
Published June 30, 2004
So, on comes Goatboy, Bill's demented alter-ego, for twenty minutes of supremely disturbing sex-talk. "Goatboy likes little girls", he growls. "It's like a wisp of cotton candy surrounding a paper cut."
You can hear thousands of seats being nervously adjusted, man.
But there's also other, more conventional carry-ons, like the brilliant stuff about JFK, and how you can go and see the book emporium, and how it's really authentic, "cause Oswald's not there."
Also on the video is a rather disappointing channel 4 documentary entitled It's Just A Ride, where Bill's parents, siblings and friends are invited to share their thoughts on the fella. There's also some archive footage thrown in, mostly from TV appearances and also from the Sane Man video, which is only available through the Sacred Cow website.
There's a half-hour HBO special also available on region 2, but this here is the one to go for, man, is what The Duke would suggest.
Bill Hicks - The Essential Motherfucking Literature
At the time of writing, there are only two books devoted to Bill on the market, which is damn well criminal considering there's a dozen published about Justin Timberlake every motherfucking afternoon. It's quality, not quantity, though, and these here two volumes should have you wetting your garments in orgasmic delight.
American Scream - The Bill Hicks Story by Cynthia True
This is the official biography, and it's as comprehensive as anyone could hope for. The tales of a young 13-year-old Bill sneaking out of his bedroom to perform at comedy clubs in the city are filled with pubescent mischief, and the sad fate of "America's greatest unknown comic" makes for heartbreaking reading.
It's also kinda freaky, too. Bill was a fond advocate of hallucinogens, and True relates how he noticed a "strange sensation" in his left hand side after his first mushroom trip, how "it felt not right, like something was wrong". Bill ended up dying of pancreatic cancer. On the left hand side of his torso, man. Freaky shit, is what.
It's also quite melodramatic at the end, but doesn't overdo things. True doesn't need to up the saccharine or anything like that. The image of Bill lying in his parent's home, too sick to speak to them, as Christmas festivities go on in the surrounding suburb, is painfully poignant enough on its own, thank you very much.
Love All The People
This is a collection of interviews, letters, magazine articles and routines penned by the great man himself. It's a bit like reading those Kurt Cobain Diaries or whatever, except that most of this was published in his lifetime, so it's not like we're stealing the fellas skull-gunk unawares.
The Duke (Aaron McMullan to his parents and the clergy) is a Northern Irish writer, performer and insomniac currently residing in London. He is the creator of Mondo Irlando, wherein his scribblings and hollerings can be found. He is currently working towards the completion of his first novel, and his debut "punk / country / folk / whatever" album has recently been released by Ex Libris Records . You can also pop by His MySpace Page and maybe have a coffee and a biscuit.
- The Duke Presents A Buyer's Guide To The Insane Genius Of Bill Hicks
- Published: June 30, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Video: Documentary, Video: Comedy, Culture: Humor and Satire, Books: Nonfiction
- Writer: Duke De Mondo
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- Duke De Mondo's personal site
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so far i have only seen one bill hicks show and it was one of the funniest comedy shows i've ever seen (and i've seen alot)
sadly i think he spoke the truth all too often for the majority of people - that kinda thing makes the average person feel uncomfortable
Hicks was a God among men.
The beauty (and sadness) of his work is that the most insane, surrealistic, sci-fi-like fantasy scenarios he created HAVE ALL COME TRUE -- ie. He actually didn't go far enough in his satires; *reality exceeded his wildest nightmares.
Even Bill would be shocked by the extent that we have digressed and de-evolved.
*I think contemporary news/culture is making it tough to be a satirist these days; none of us can top the unintended humor, absurdity, and insanity of Reality.
Oh, and Duke, thanks for the reviews, but you probably should have added a disclaimer.
"99% of you either won't get it and/or will be so incredibly offended that you ask for you money back.
In either of those cases, do us a favor and...
KILL YOURSELF.
No, seriously...
KILL YOURSELF.
'kay?
'kay."
okay, so what happened to him?
Eric, Bill died of pancreatic cancer in, i believe, 94. which is a damn shame, but also bitterly ironic, considering he spent so much of his career yacking about the virtues of smoking.
"Hi, i'm bill hicks and im dead now..."
FYI, Rykodisc brought out two new Hicks discs a couple years ago with the help of his estate. One of them "Flying saucer tour" is of a BAD show in Pittsburgh. Hicks gets heckled, heckles back, and eventually loses it on the crowd. While I cannot vouch that this is the same "LOSES IT" show the Duke refers to, it's pretty darn great.
Eric and all and sundry, I cannot recommend highly enough "Relentless," for its creepily presicent Gulf War I material. Listening to that album over again last year invited feelings of vertigo and deja vu, especially the parts about we having one soldier over there winning the war by himself using only a weapons catalog... "hey... what's G-12 do?....*foooooosh.....BOOM*... Cool! Pull up G-13!" and the stuff about Bush I suddenly being all belligerent.
Thanks guys - that is unfortunate.
It can now be stated: smoking is bad.
Johno, the flying saucer tour and love,laughter and truth releases that rykodisc released are worth grabbing for sure, but no, they are not to be confused with the Loses It show, but who knows, maybe they'll get round to giving it an official release at some point.
Gulf War I + Bush Sr. is a bizarre prelude to the current debacle, and almost every word still rings true.
"Man, those Iraqis got some awesome weapons."
"How do you know?"
"We looked at the receipts..."
Also, theres a video entitled United States Of Advertising available on the Sacred Cow website mentioned in the article, which is also very interesting, and i believe it was Bill's last interview also.
I have "The Sane Man" video, and it is very good. Unfortunately, with Bill dying 10 years ago at age 33, the control of his estate and copyrights were split between his parents, and his manager, putting a lot of material into legal and distribution limbo (and thanks to Sonny Bono, we only have to wait 65 more years until it enters the public domain).
There was a tenth anniversay appreciation of his career in The Guardian, but over the past couple of months it has disappeared in a site re-organization, so here's an older article.
Duke,
thanks for paying homage to the only man deserving of Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor's torch - Bill Fucking Hicks. So much has been said about him so I won't ramble, but what a perverse, insightful, perscipacious wit - man. Bill was too punk rock for the mainstream to ever understand him so his lack of fame was a fait acompli. However, he still would have given the world much to be afraid of (in a good way of course) had he lived beyond his way too short 30 some years. I still miss him like all of his fans do. Goddamm we need him right now: Just like we need Jesus, John Lennon, Malcom X, and Gahndi. Peace, Brady.
like so many great artists, Bill Hicks is probably more famous now than he ever was when he was alive.
Belive it or not, many of my mates from uni know who he is (was), and appreciate the humour (i live in england, that's what might surprise you)
Jadester, thats not strange at all. I live in northern ireland, man. Bill had much more of an audience in the UK than he did in america, which is, granted, quite odd. But there you go.
heh. thanks pi. I'll take that as a reference to the chigago show, and not a comment with regards the Duke's abilities, which are scientifically proven to not suck, but, in fact, to rule.
Bill Hicks ripped off my act. Lock & load covered the same topics as Love, laughter and truth and was out 4 years beforehand. Bill Hicks is too dry, he wasn't even funny. Just had intelligent ideas. But when it comes to delivery, I am your man.
Who does the smokin' out of a hole in your neck bit better huh??? That's right, bow to my altar. My impressions were heartfelt and real. If only I had been a protestant comedian i'd have made it easier.
surely the fuck not THE denis leary.
Cool. Although i doubt it.
Anyhow, love laughter and truth was recorded quite a while before lock n' load, even if it didn't appear until a couple years ago, what with the felal being dead and all.
Also, you ruled in demolition man.
I thought I was better in Judgement Night myself. And no, I'm not the real Leary you fuck, i'm a hicks loving mick who doesn't believe in praising my idols, rather just take the piss.
i'm a hicks loving mick who doesn't believe in praising my idols
if only those fellas hada taken the same route with the golden bovine. Moses would never have gotten so pissed off had that been the case.
And i knew that you werent mr leary, but just in case, man. Can never be too sure, especially where that plagarisin cat is concerned.
yours,
Duke De Mondo
"a fuck"
Very nice of you to acknowledge that you are a fuck, true fucks don't generally admit it.
I am aware of your work across the net, especially on aicn, and find your taste best suited to mine. Especially when it comes to cannibal movies. I shall spy on you some more.
'I think mama cass said it best when she said hyukffffaaaaaghkoekkoekkoeksplutter...'
Now you see why I am a superior comic to a man with the most insightful and educated views ever. Somebody throw water over me, I'm in danger of becoming too hilarious here.
Next I want you to review GG Allin's 'HATED'. Should you accept, I will have more tasks. Emmanuelle and the last cannibals must come somewhere. Beal feirste must have some kooky shops.
Dennis, nice to hear from you again.
Ok then - Click the links and so on;
I already did Review Hated as well as the astounding GG concert DVD, Raw, Brutal, Rough And Bloody.
As to Emmanuel, i have yet to see that, but i did a piece on D'Amato's earlier Anthropohagus The Beast and, if you haven't already, you might be interested in this article concerning Mountain Of The Cannibal God
Phew. I was gonna email you all that nonsense, but you've only gone and not left an address! Ah well.
Oh, and thank you for the kind words. Makes a fella feel good. oh, and this right here;
"Somebody throw water over me, I'm in danger of becoming too hilarious here." was, ironically enough, very funny. :)
Well done my man. Interesting reads there.
I'd love to hear your opinion on:
Meet the Feebles
Zombie Creeping Flesh
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Dennis Pennis
I'm not the type who leaves addresses. I'm usually content with leaving very lame, very vague comments.
If its any consolation you are the second best reviewer of all ever.
See what you did to me?
Denis, what are you working on now? Playing anywhere tonight? Have you compromised your edge for mainstream acceptance?
Whoever you are, you're right about the Duke, though.
Last time I knew I was doing anything, they got me to sit quiet while a string of B-list celebrities got to insult me in public. Hey, they even made a DVD out of it.
I think I got what I deserved. Obviously I still suck.
If you want a Denis that's good however, go get a (VHS-no DVD yet i'm afraid) copy of Dennis Pennis-R.I.P for the crudest humour youre ever likely to see.
BTW: If you think I'm a hack, take a look at George Carlin. He kills a joke, and then flogs it.
Hyup Laois!
oh, come now man. George Carlin can be very funny. His delivery is a little wooden at times though.
Very funny in Jersey Girl, he was.
Also, thanks for the kind words, and the review suggestions are duly noted. (i tried to watch Meet The Feebles, but gave up after twenty minutes. And Zombie Creeping Flesh is wonderful.)
I love Carlin's story-telling back in the '70s and '80s, sort of a counterculture Bill Cosby, but over the years he has grown ever more bitter and lost the balance he had between the humane and the cynical.
Eric, i totally agree. There's a lack of heart in Carlin's later stuff, a real nastiness that i find it hard to laugh with. The stuff he did about anorexia ("rich cunt don't wanna eat? fuck her") was really stomach-churningly unpleasant.
Ah Duke, come now. How could you not find Meet the Feebles one of the most entertaining movies (of all) ever? The junkie croc was great.
Zombie Creeping Flesh had a fairly solid and funky soundtrack too If I remember.
How about you review Shaolin Soccer? Might not be weird enough for ya. Society is pretty mainstream but weird enough for ya. Man Bites Dog too, but something tells me you did that already.
Review Thriller: A Cruel Picture.
You'll frickin love it.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/16989)
Bill Hicks.
Best
Motherfucking
Comic
Ever.
God, I miss him.
Thank you, Duke.