RIP William Melvin Hicks

[leighblack]

Bill Hicks' Grave
Originally uploaded by The McRaneys.

Today is, unbelievably, the 15th anniversary of Bill Hicks' death. I was going to try to write something deep and insightful about how much he means to me and how much his work has affected me in my life. But to be honest, I don't think I'd be able to do it without tearing up. Or even to really be able to explain it properly. I don't throw the word 'idol' around in a frivolous manner. But Bill Hicks is indeed my idol. No one has ever made a bigger impact on my life.

Anyhow, I found this awesome photo of Bill's grave site on flickr and wanted to post it. I love that people leave him cigarettes. If I ever happen to accidentally find myself in Mississippi, I would probably do the same thing.

If you don't know who Bill Hicks is, I posted every audio recording I have and a bunch of videos here. I suggest starting with Philosophy. Just keep in mind that he's not Blue Collar Comedy or Dane Cook or anything like that. His comedy is real and honest and brutal. And definitely not for the easily offended.

And I'll leave you with my favorite Hicks quote and really, it's the basis of what he taught.
The world is like a ride at an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it, you think that it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills, and it's very brightly coloured, and it's very loud and it's fun for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: is this real, or is this just a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us. They say "Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because, this is just a ride." And we... kill those people. Ha ha ha. "Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride. Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry. Look at my big bank account and family. This just has to be real." It's just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter because it's just a ride. And we can change it anytime we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings and money. A choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourselves off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one. Here's what you can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defense each year and instead spend it feeding, 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, for ever, in peace.

Comments

[cyberwuzzle.livejournal.com]

Every time you post this I read it with wonder. I've never seen anyone outside my own head encapsulate so well my whole spiritual philosophy. LOL.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

He had an amazing mind and was never afraid to call out people and the media and our government and anyone else that needed to be called out on their bullshit. Which is probably why he was largely ignored in this country and really, still is.

[ripley312.livejournal.com]

Bless you for posting about this. RIP Bill. I imagine he's having a great ol' time in heaven discussing philosophy with John Lennon and sitting in the front row to watch Jimi Hendrix play.

[leighblack.livejournal.com]

=)