Bill Hicks was regarded as one of the greatest comedians that ever lived by those who saw him. Unfortunately is his home country of America he was virtually ignored. He made a much bigger splash in the UK and was scheduled to have his own television show on British TV when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Comparisons were made with Sam Kinison and Lenny Bruce during his life, but neither are really true. He was more brains than Kinison and funner than Bruce. One of the greatest comedians who ever lived.

Bill Hicks, 1962 - 1994

This man is great. Buy everything he has ever done.

Examples of his comedy:

At his final show: "This is the material, by the way, that has kept me virtually anonymous in America for the past 15 years. Gee, I wonder why we're hated the world over? Look at these fat Americans in the front row - 'Why doesn't he just hit fruit with a hammer?' Folks, I could have done that, walked around being a millionaire and franchising myself but no, I had to have this weird thing about trying to illuminate the collective unconscious and help humanity. F**king moron."

"When two or more people agree on an issue, I form on the other side."

"It's not a war on drugs, its a war on personal freedom is what it is, OK, keep that in mind at all times, thank you".

"Today a young man on acid realised that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration and that we are all one conciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves".

"A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. You think when Jesus comes back he ever wants to see a f**king cross? It's like going up to Jackie Onassis wearing a rifle pendant."

"Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye"

Bill Hicks came out with these comedy albums during his lifetime:

Dangerous
Relentless
Arizona Bay
Rant in E-Minor

There have also been some of his shows released on CD after his death. My favourite of his albums has to be Arizona Bay because of the acoustic guitar and whale music throughout the album.

I suspect Bill Hicks is well known here, but if you haven't heard of him, go buy everything he's ever done, and everything he hasn't.

More on the great man here, and some articles here.

I've only heard his stuff on some Tool song a while back.

I don't like cynical, mean, or swearing comedians, and seeing as he is all of the above, I probably wouldn't like him.

However, you've given us a very good introduction to the man. The only think I'm left wondering is how he died?

He appeared on 2 Tool songs. He was on the song 'Digustipated' on the Undertow album, but I suspect you've heard him on the song 'Third Eye'.

He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 32.

He is only mean and cynical on the surface, however his message is that of love.

As he said to his parents: 'Focus on my message, not my words'.

I've found out about Bill Hicks through Tool. I must say i am very impressed. Bill Hicks in my eyes is a geniuss, no one comes close. its a pitty he was'nt around longer i would have loved to see him. im 15 years old and still i get his way of thinking its much related to mine.

In Tools rendition: "Another dead hero"

If you only see the cynicism and swearing, then you miss the entire point of what he was trying to say. I've been a huge fan of Bill Hicks since I heard Rant in E Minor at a friend's house. Too bad I only started getting into him after he'd died.

Personally, I like everything on his "Flying Saucer Tour" the most.

I am honoured to say that I saw Bill live a year before he passed away.

To me he is the most important comedian of my generation, who spoke to me in a way that no politician, musician or film maker ever has.

He was a genious, who we desperately need now; if you see his pieces on the Gulf War and taking a swipe at Bush Snr, it is spookily similar to the stuff going down now.

I still miss the man.

I didn't know the name right of the top of my head, but after seeing the picture and reading some of his "jokes" (although jokes aren't really an appropriate word here) I know exactly who he is.

He was incredible. His brand of humor was something that I really liked and appreciated. He will be missed.