The late comedian, Bill Hicks would have turned 53 years old today.  Sadly, his life was cut short by pancreatic cancer in February 1994 when he was just 32 years old.  Music fans may have been introduced to Hicks the same way I was.  I noticed that Tool’s 1996 album,  Ænima is dedicated to Hicks, while the song “Third Eye” even contains samples of his material.  From there, I decided to check this guy out, which ultimately led to him becoming my favorite comedian of all time.

The thing that I love about Hicks is how relevant he still is.  This was the case when I started listening to his stuff around ten years ago, and it still holds true today.  He hammered away at the “mediocrity and banality” of the popular music and culture of his time.  He loved musicians that played with passion and soul, often giving kudos to classics like Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.  On the flip side of that coin, he hurled vicious verbal jabs at the shallow garbage of his time... hacks like Rick Astley, Debbie Gibson, Milli Vanilli, and New Kids on the Block, to name a few.  These were artists that dumbed down society, that kept people “stupid and apathetic".  Hey Taylor Swift, I would love to hear what this guy had to say about you!

Bill Hahn’s Bill Hicks suggestions:
Rant in E-Minor
Philosophy: The Best of Bill Hicks

 

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