Love All the People

By Bill Hicks

Interview by Allan Johnson, 14 September 1989

When you first see Bill Hicks, you immediately think of a college scholar: studious and intelligent-looking, especially when he wears a pair of glasses. Here’s a person you might think is very serious-minded. You probably would never associate Hicks with stand-up comedy.

And then you see him on stage:

‘Jimi Hendrix died in a pool of his own vomit,’ Hicks says. ‘Do you know how much you have to puke to fill a pool?’

Or: ‘Flag-burning really brought out people’s true colors. People were like, “Hey, buddy, my dad died for that flag.” Well, that’s weird, ‘cause I bought mine.’

Or jokes on sex, nonsmokers, former President Reagan and singers Rick Astley, Tiffany and George Michael. And you won’t believe Hicks’ theory on who the anti-Christ is (hint: think ‘oldest teenager’).

Hicks, 27, has always seemed to tell jokes that will bring a start to audiences. His first stand-up performance was at the tender age of 13, at a Baptist camp talent show. Hicks based his act on mostly Woody Allen jokes.

Hicks was ‘this little WASP kid, but I was talking about how rough my childhood was, because that was the angle Woody Allen took, right? But I did that joke … “I was breast-fed from falsies.” And they went “Whooaaa, he said breasts.”

‘They were thrilled to have me,’ Hicks remembers.

Hicks, who is indeed very serious-minded and thoughtful offstage, says that it’s not his intention to offend anyone. He just wants to do an intense brand of comedy and hopefully convey some messages along the way.

‘Here’s what I try and do,’ Hicks explains. ‘To me, there are so many comedians out there. And they’re so prevalent, and they (audiences) see it constantly. I try and give them a twist on it. One way that I do it is by being intense.’

Hicks has a comedy album coming out, taped ‘Caroline’s Comedy Hour’ for Arts & Entertainment, and recently appeared on ‘MTV’s Half-Hour Comedy Hour.’ He has performed on ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ four times and was featured on a Rodney Dangerfield HBO special. Hicks is working at the Funny Firm through Sunday, at 318 W. Grand Ave.

Hicks started professionally in 1979. He was part of the original Houston-based Outlaws of Comedy, which was headed by Sam Kinison.

Kinison, rightly or wrongly, has been lumped in with a growing breed of ‘shock comics,’ a group that will say anything, no matter how raunchy or offensive. One might get the impression that Hicks may belong in that bunch, but he doesn’t see things that way.

‘I don’t wanna be lumped in with anybody,’ Hicks states firmly. ‘I mean, I’m sorry that people have to have a label so they can feel better about their description of the world.’

Hicks stands out from shock comics in that his routines contain intelligent humor, whereas others will just sputter anything that they feel will get a laugh.

Performing earlier this week in Chicago was Andrew ‘Dice’ Clay, who has drawn criticism for his material on women and gays, among others. How does Hicks feel about Clay?

The man who explains in no uncertain terms what hotel housekeepers will find if they jerk open his door when the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign is out simply says, ‘“Dice” Clay is not my cup of tea.’