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Bill Hicks
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pencil on paper
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21cm x 30cm
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unframed
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Sold
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£4 per print plus P&P
The American stand-up comedian, satirist and musician, whose humour challenged mainstream beliefs, aiming to ‘enlighten people to think for themselves’.
The second ‘Man in Black’ born in Georgia, raised in Houston, Texas was drawn to comedy at an early age by the likes of Richard Pryor and started performing aged just 17yrs. Worried by his behaviour his parents took him to see a psychoanalyst, who according to Hicks, declared after one visit ‘… it’s them, not you!’
At aged 21yrs, wanting to push the boundaries, having never touched them before, he experimented with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. With some success with his act he quit drinking in 1988 but continued to smoke, the activity forming part of his routine. In 1987 he had moved to New York and over the next five years, performed upwards of 300times per year.
Having released his first live CD Album, Dangerous, he went on Tour, a huge hit in the UK and Ireland in 1991, releasing his second live album, Relentless. He appeared on the David Letterman Show, many times, the twelfth on October 1 1993 famously pulled in its entirety. Although Letterman later expressed regret at the way Hicks had been treat, he did not appear on the show again. Letterman apologised to Hicks’ mother, who appeared on his show in January 2009 and ran the whole routine.
Sadly he died of pancreatic cancer, aged just 32, leaving a legacy that endures today … he
was listed as the 6th greatest stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central, along side of Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, etc. Hicks authored a short prayer shortly before his passing, to be released as his last words, ending with the words: ‘I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit’.
One of his quotes gives you taste: ‘We live in a world where John Lennon was murdered, yet Barry Manilow continues to put out f****** albums. God dammit! If you’re gonna kill somebody, have some f****** taste’