Bill Hicks
A stand-up comedian, Bill Hicks was born December 16th, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. He died of pancreatic cancer on February 26th, 1994, aged just 32. 1
His routines were noted for their savage treatment of the hypocrisy of government and corporate America. On the 10th anniversary of his death, British MP Stephen Pound tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons commemorating him thus:
"That this house notes with sadness the 10th anniversary of the death of Bill Hicks, on February 26th 1994, at the age of 32; recalls his assertion that his words would be a bullet in the heart of consumerism, capitalism and the American Dream; and mourns the passing of one of the few people who may be mentioned as being worthy of inclusion with Lenny Bruce in any list of unflinching and painfully honest political philosophers." 2
Often dismissed as offensive or obscene because of his material on sex, drugs and Christianity, Hicks actually believed in the tremendous potential of humanity and closed his Revelations show offering the world a choice:
"â¦a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Hereâs what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defence each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace." 3
References
1. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0382805/bio