Born in Valdosta, Georgia, Bill Hicks was the son of Jim and Mary (Reese) Hicks and had two older siblings: sister Lynn and brother Steve. The family lived in Florida, Alabama, and New Jersey, before settling in Houston, Texas when Hicks was seven. He was raised in the Southern Baptist faith, where he first began performing as a comedian for other children at Sunday School.
Hicks was 16 years old when he started performing stand-up comedy at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas, in 1978. During the 1980s he toured the United States extensively and performed a number of high-profile television appearances. It was in the UK, however, where Hicks first amassed a significant fan base, packing large venues with his 1991 tour. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the age of 32. In the years after his death, his work and legacy achieved the significant admiration and acclaim of numerous comedians, writers, actors and musicians alike. In 2007 he was voted the 6th greatest stand-up comic on the UK's Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and again in the updated 2010 list as the 4th greatest stand-up comic.
Hicks was associated with the Texas Outlaw Comics group developed at the Comedy Workshop in Houston in the 1980s. Once Hicks gained some underground success in night clubs and universities, he quit drinking. However, Hicks continued to smoke cigarettes. His nicotine addiction, love of smoking, and occasional attempts to quit became a recurring theme in his act throughout his later years.
In January 1986, Hicks found himself broke, having spent all his money on a variety of substances. His career soon received another upturn, though, as he appeared on Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special, in 1987. The same year, he moved to New York City, and, for the next 5 years, performed about 300 times a year. On the album Relentless, he jokes that he quit using drugs because "once you've been taken aboard a UFO, it's kind of hard to top that", although in his performances, he continued to extol the virtues of LSD, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. He fell back to chain-smoking, a theme that would figure heavily in his performances from then on.
In 1988, Hicks signed on with his first professional business manager, Jack Mondrus.[citation needed] Throughout 1989, Mondrus worked to convince many clubs to book Hicks, promising that the wild drug- and alcohol-induced behavior was behind him. Among the club managers hiring the newly sober Hicks was Colleen McGarr, who would become his girlfriend and fiancée in later years.[citation needed]
Hicks quit drinking in 1988, as stated in his 1990 album Dangerous on the first track, entitled "Modern Bummer".
In 1989 he released his first video, Sane Man.
In 1990, Hicks released his first album, Dangerous, performed on the HBO special One Night Stand, and performed at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival. He was also part of a group of American stand-up comedians performing in London's West End in November. Hicks was a huge hit in the UK and Ireland and continued touring there throughout 1991. That year, he returned to Just for Laughs and filmed his second video, Relentless.
Hicks made a brief detour into musical recording with the Marble Head Johnson album in 1992. During the same year he toured the UK, where he recorded the Revelations video for Channel 4. He closed the show with his soon-to become-famous philosophy regarding life, "It's Just a Ride". Also in that tour he recorded the stand-up performance released in its entirety on a double CD titled Salvation. Hicks was voted "Hot Standup Comic" by Rolling Stone magazine in 1993. He moved to Los Angeles in 1992.
The progressive metal band Tool invited Hicks to open a number of concerts in its 1992 Lollapalooza appearances, where Hicks once asked the audience to look for a contact lens he had lost. Thousands of people complied. Members of Tool felt that they and Hicks "were resonating similar concepts".
Intending to raise awareness about Hicks's material and ideas, Tool dedicated their triple-platinum album Ænima (1996) to Hicks. Both the lenticular casing of the Ænima album packaging as well as the chorus of the title track "Ænema" make reference to a sketch from Hicks's Arizona Bay album, in which he contemplates the idea of Los Angeles falling into the Pacific Ocean. Ænima's final track, "Third Eye" contains samples from Hicks's Sane Man and Relentless albums. An alternate version of the Ænima artwork shows a painting of Bill Hicks, calling him "Another Dead Hero," and mentions of Hicks are found both in the liner notes and on the record.
In 1984, Hicks was invited to appear on Late Night with David Letterman for the first time. He had a joke that he used frequently in comedy clubs about how he caused a serious accident that left a classmate using a wheelchair. NBC had a policy that no handicapped jokes could be aired on the show, making his stand-up routine difficult to perform without mentioning words such as "wheelchair".
On October 1, 1993, Hicks was scheduled to appear on Late Show with David Letterman, his 12th appearance on a Letterman late-night show, but his entire performance was removed from the broadcast—then the only occasion where a comedian's entire routine was cut after taping.
Hicks's stand-up routine was removed from the show allegedly because Letterman and his producer were nervous about a religious joke ("If Jesus came back he might not want to see so many crosses"). Hicks said he believed it was due to a pro-life commercial aired during a commercial break. Both the show's producers and CBS denied responsibility. Hicks expressed his feelings of betrayal in a letter to John Lahr of The New Yorker. Although Letterman later expressed regret at the way Hicks had been handled, Hicks did not appear on the show again.
Hicks's mother, Mary, appeared on the January 30, 2009 episode of Late Show. Letterman played the routine in its entirety. Letterman took full responsibility for the original censorship and apologized to Mrs. Hicks. Letterman also declared he did not know what he was thinking when he pulled the routine from the original show in 1993, saying, "It says more about me as a guy than it says about Bill because there was absolutely nothing wrong with that."
For many years, Hicks was friends with fellow comedian Denis Leary. But in 1993 Hicks was angered by Leary's album No Cure for Cancer, which featured lines and subject matter similar to Hicks's routine. According to American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story by Cynthia True, upon hearing the album "Bill was furious. All these years, aside from the occasional jibe, he had pretty much shrugged off Leary's lifting. Comedians borrowed, stole stuff, and even bought bits from one another. Milton Berle and Robin Williams were famous for it. This was different. Leary had practically taken line for line huge chunks of Bill's act and recorded it."
The friendship ended abruptly as a result.
At least three stand-up comedians have gone on the record stating they believe Leary stole Hicks's material as well as his persona and attitude. In an interview, when Hicks was asked why he had quit smoking, he answered, "I just wanted to see if Denis would, too."
In another interview, Hicks said, "I have a scoop for you. I stole his [Leary's] act. I camouflaged it with punchlines, and, to really throw people off, I did it before he did." During a 2003 Comedy Central roast of Denis Leary, comedian Lenny Clarke, a friend of Leary's, said there was a carton of cigarettes backstage from Bill Hicks with the message, "Wish I had gotten these to you sooner." This joke was cut from the final broadcast.
The controversy surrounding plagiarism is also mentioned in American Scream: Leary was in Montreal hosting the "Nasty Show" at Club Soda, and Colleen [McGarr?] was coordinating the talent so she stood backstage and overheard Leary doing material incredibly similar to old Hicks riffs, including his perennial Jim Fixx joke: "Keith Richards outlived Jim Fixx, the runner and health nut. The plot thickens." When Leary came offstage, Colleen, more stunned than angry, said, "Hey, you know that's Bill Hicks's material! Do you know that's his material?" Leary stood there, stared at her without saying a word, and briskly left the dressing room.
Exposure
Bill Hicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eee Ex Posure, like a real fine wine
Mmmmmmmm, don't it slide on down
Right on down to the ground,
Don't it sound eeeee exxxx actly like money.....
Honey?
When you're gettin' out you're gonna hear the word
But it's just the facts, just the way it is:
If it's sho-nuff real then it's both show-biz,
How they'll say to you with a big slow grin,
And your hand in theirs, and a fountain pen,
And when they use a big nomenclature like "closure,"
Well, baby, that's just another patois for...
(chorus)
See I was talking jack to this dude in red,
He has this club that the paper said
Was the only place that you had to play,
And if you got that gig it would be all ok.
And he knows, you know, what is in your head,
And he's got your (umm) "things" 'tween a rock and a stone,
So when the dough looks mighty thin, no meat on the bone,
Why he's stuffin' your pockets with...
(chorus)
I got done with the gig, it was four AM,
I was packin' up when the girl walked in,
Rollin' my wires and shuttin' my case,
Not really expectin' some brand new face--
In fact I was hopin' for the guy in blue,
Who'd been back in the office for an hour or two,
Countin' his take 's'what I was figgurin,'
And here comes this honey with a fifth of gin:
Singin' her song, and it sound like...
(chorus)
You know the rest, less you're seventeen,
I was back on the street with a lack of green
And I couldn't find my fingerpicks,
And my car was towed, and there was this dude
Dress up in black, with a jones in his pocket
For the money I owed.
So I just skedaddled on out of there,
And perused my reviews from my easy chair.
And if you want to get rich in the music game,
Just plant yourself out front of the axe,
And don't go round back for love or ambrosia,
Just tell 'em to do it all for.......
(Alt. chorus) Eee Ex Posure, eeee ex posure, don't she look so fine
Eee Ex Posure, for a real good time,
Mmmmmmmm, don't it slide on down
Right on down to the ground,
Don't it sound eeeee exxxx actly like money.....
Honey?
In the song "Exposure" by Bill Hicks, he talks about the music industry and how it can be both glamourous and ruthless. The chorus "Eee Ex Posure, eeee ex posure, don't it sound so fine, Eee Ex Posure, like a real fine wine" suggests that exposure is something that all artists desire, but it can come at a cost. The lyrics talk about how getting exposure involves navigating the "big slow grin" of the music industry professionals who use "nomenclatures" like "closure" as another way of saying "money."
Hicks' experiences with the music industry are highlighted when he talks about a club owner who promises that if the artist gets a gig at his place, everything will be okay. However, once the gig is done, the artist is left with thin pockets and no way out. The music industry is presented as something that takes advantage of artists, but at the same time, it's glamorized in the media.
The song ends with Hicks' advice on how to get rich in the music industry, which is to "plant yourself out in front of the axe," or become the face of the band, and not go around the back for love or ambrosia. In other words, getting rich in the music industry is about marketing oneself and not about making good music.
Line by Line Meaning
(chorus) Eee Ex Posure, eeee ex posure, don't it sound so fine
Exposure sounds great and desirable
Eee Ex Posure, like a real fine wine
Exposure is like a well-aged, high-quality wine
Mmmmmmmm, don't it slide on down
Exposure is easy to accept and embrace
Right on down to the ground,
Exposure goes deep into one's soul
Don't it sound eeeee exxxx actly like money.....
Exposure can be equated to wealth
Honey?
Emphasizes the attractiveness of exposure
When you're gettin' out you're gonna hear the word
When you're entering the music industry, you'll hear about exposure
& it'll drive you nuts and it'll seem absurd,
The idea of exposure for work instead of money is illogical and frustrating
But it's just the facts, just the way it is:
Despite the frustration, that exposure is the norm in the industry
If it's sho-nuff real then it's both show-biz,
Authentic and genuine talent in the music industry always comes with exposure
How they'll say to you with a big slow grin,
People in the industry will trick you with a happy face while they use your skillset for exposure
And your hand in theirs, and a fountain pen,
They will manipulate you into signing contracts for exposure
And when they use a big nomenclature like 'closure,
When they use fancy or obscure words like 'closure,' it's simply another word for exposure
Well, baby, that's just another patois for...
Expressing that no matter how they phrase it, it's still only exposure and not actual payment
(chorus)
Repeat of the chorus describing exposure as desirable and equating it to wealth
See I was talking jack to this dude in red,
Bill Hicks is describing how he was talking to a music club owner
He has this club that the paper said
The club owner's establishment advertised its importance and influence in the industry
Was the only place that you had to play,
The club owner used the club's reputation as leverage to force artists to work for exposure
And if you got that gig it would be all ok.
He convinced artists that working for exposure was the only way to succeed in the music industry
And he knows, you know, what is in your head,
The club owner knows that artists are vulnerable and will take whatever they can get to make it in the industry
And he's got your (umm) 'things' 'tween a rock and a stone,
The club owner has control over the artists and their livelihoods
So when the dough looks mighty thin, no meat on the bone,
When finances are low and there are no other job prospects for artists, they feel like they have to take exposure gigs
Why he's stuffin' your pockets with...
The club owner tries to compensate for the lack of payment with more exposure gigs
(chorus)
Repeat of the chorus describing exposure as desirable and equating it to wealth
I got done with the gig, it was four AM,
Bill Hicks finished performing at a gig in the early hours of the morning
I was packin' up when the girl walked in,
An unknown woman walked into the venue
Rollin' my wires and shuttin' my case,
Bill Hicks was packing up his equipment and getting ready to leave
Not really expectin' some brand new face--
He wasn't expecting to meet anyone new in his drained state
In fact I was hopin' for the guy in blue,
He was hoping for the expected person but instead got someone new
Who'd been back in the office for an hour or two,
The expected person was said to have been in the office counting the money made from the gig
Countin' his take 's'what I was figgurin',
Bill Hicks had anticipated that the person counting the money had made a lot of it
And here comes this honey with a fifth of gin:
Instead, a woman came in with a bottle of alcohol
Singin' her song, and it sound like...
The woman was attempting to impress Bill Hicks
(chorus)
Repeat of the chorus describing exposure as desirable and equating it to wealth
You know the rest, less you're seventeen,
Bill Hicks does not elaborate on what happened with the woman unless you were young enough to be clueless
I was back on the street with a lack of green
Bill Hicks was broke after not being paid for the gig
And I couldn't find my fingerpicks,
He couldn't find his guitar picks
And my car was towed, and there was this dude
Adding to his troubles, his car was towed and he encountered a man who wanted money he didn't have
Dress up in black, with a jones in his pocket
The man was intimidating and appeared to be looking for trouble
For the money I owed.
The man wanted money to pay for something Bill Hicks had not paid for
So I just skedaddled on out of there,
Bill Hicks quickly left the situation without resolving the issue
And perused my reviews from my easy chair.
He read reviews about his musical performances
And if you want to get rich in the music game,
Bill Hicks suggests a sarcastic sentence of advice on how to get rich in the music industry
Just plant yourself out front of the axe,
He suggests positioning oneself at the front of the stage in a band and perform with an instrument like a guitar
And don't go round back for love or ambrosia,
Don't engage in everything surrounding the music, such as love or divine food-like nectar ambrosia, instead prioritizing solely on exposure and fame
Just tell 'em to do it all for.......
Implying to demand to perform for money, but also to leave it to each individual to come up with a good ending for the sentence
(Alt. chorus) Eee Ex Posure, eeee ex posure, don't she look so fine
Alternate version of the chorus which emphasizes the attractiveness of exposure
Eee Ex Posure, for a real good time,
Exposure is promised to lead to a good time
Mmmmmmmm, don't it slide on down
Exposure is easy to accept and embrace
Right on down to the ground,
Exposure goes deep into one's soul
Don't it sound eeeee exxxx actly like money.....
Exposure can be equated to wealth
Honey?
Emphasizes the attractiveness of exposure
Contributed by Amelia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
N30
And then we got his worst joke of all time, Alex Jones.
Vinny V
1:20 Waitress: "Why read when you can flip on the tube"?
1:25 Alex Jones: "BECAUSE IT'S ALL FAKE NEWS!"
Olee _
He looks like Mike Myers impersonating Steve Jobs
Nils Bostelmann
Or alex jones
Hillbilly Tarzan
Bill Hicks is absolutely Alex Jones. I never knew Bill Hicks, but after watching 1 video of people slipping and calling him Bill, finding out he worked or works for Turner and Warner Bros. Alex is a fake
Sik
“I never knew Bill Hicks” all you need to say to let everybody know you got absolutely zero clue about anything anywhere
Peppermint Psaki
That’s poor people in general. Back when I was in retail hell, I worked in a mexican neighborhood and I would bring books. Nearly every customer who noticed my books would exclaim “wow I didn’t know you were in college!” I told them that I wasn’t. They looked puzzled and asked “well, if you’re not in college, then how come you’re reading?” I told them because I enjoyed it. The expression I got back, good lord 🤦🏻♀️ You would’ve thought I just told them that I ate dog turds for lunch🙄
Richys Camera Captures
I had no idea Alex Jones did stand up comedy outside of his own internet show.
Michael De Angelis - The Armchair Priest
@Chris Davet so I purposely havent looked into it knowing what i have to think and say; it makes me nervous either knowing it will be near to impossible or i wont be accepted
Michael De Angelis - The Armchair Priest
@Chris Davet you just had me look further into it but im not sure honestly; i only say this because i’m not to fond of the vatican’s government or of it’s power that it thinks it holds over each catholic person, considering the vatican government itself was only formed for us by a mixture of good and bad peoples 92 years ago. Vatican meaning “divine serpent” in hebrew..
I’m a more of a traditionalist Catholic, where vatican means to prophecy or oracle, and the word Catholic is a way of life and a label at its core meaning “all embracing”; just as Jesus’ arms are all embracing