Relentless by Bill Hicks Review

Bill Hicks (1961-94) will likely be remembered as the greatest cult comic of his generation. I didn't pay much attention to his stand-up routines while he was alive, but a friend of mine turned me on to his direct, abrasive, and thought-provoking style. During his lifetime, Hicks released two albums of his material, and laid the plans for two more. Rykodisc obtained the rights to all four albums, releasing (and re-releasing) the four in 1997.

"Relentless" was the second of two albums that he released in his lifetime, two years after his debut album, "Dangerous," in 1990. The topics covered included on "Relentless" include sex, drugs, music, and politics. In 1992, America had just gotten past the end of the Gulf War (Desert Storm) and the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas. In "Sex On Trial," Hicks takes a look at what might happen if he had to endure a Supreme Court confirmation hearing. The Senate would proclaim him unfit for the Court, but they'd conclude he'd be perfect for their body, given his love of erotic material. In "The War," Hicks referred to Desert Storm as "the Gulf War distraction," and portrayed American soldiers as men who won the conflict, thanks to the wonderful weaponry they acquired from the Sears catalog.

Non-smokers, sober people, and religious fanatics are not spared from Hicks's barbs. He reminds listeners that health advocate Jim Fixx died while jogging, while Yul Brynner, who succumbed from lung cancer, not only lived longer than Fixx, but Brynner also seemed to enjoy his life more. Hicks also notes that some of rock's best music was made by musicians who experimented with illegal substances. He also implores his audience to burn their music collections if they're convinced that all drugs are bad. While Hicks doesn't question the need for religion, he finds it peculiar that some Christians celebrate their faith by wearing a crucifix. He sarcastically compares that practice to people who would celebrate the life of John F. Kennedy by wearing a sniper rifle pendant.

Ironoically, Hicks did some self-effacing monologues about his own mortality, which would come less than two years after the release of "Relentless." He expected to die of lung cancer at the hands of angry non-smokers, but he turned out to be only partially right. He also imagined his parents outliving him, which they did (Mary Reese Hicks, in fact, made a visit to the set of "The Late Show With David Letterman" in 2009, to be a part of the initial viewing of the routine Bill Hicks performed in 1993 which would prove to be his last for the show). Hicks also imagined his mother dying of shock when she learned of the extent of X-rated videos her son had amassed. He told the audience that he'd be going through St. Peter's Gate with his mother spanking him.

The best moment comes near the end of the disc. In "The Sanctity Of Life," Hicks debunks the miracle of birth. He points out that if birth were such a miracle, it wouldn't be happening at every trailer park in the USA. He then depicts a trailer park mom, creating life with a rather dubious cast of men who visit her place. "Relentless" concludes with a song entitled "Chicks Dig Jerks," which Hicks wrote, questioning the taste certain women have in men.

"Relentless" is an album filled with more political incorrectness than the rantings of most other comedians who perform an in-your-face style of comedy. Bill Hicks was not only politcally incorrect, but he flaunted his way in concert. "Relentless" showed a comedian in top form, a thinking man with a unique and provocative vision of the world he observed. I don't always agree with Hicks, but I appreciate his views on life, and I'm glad he had a chance to share his caustic comic commentary with the world. "Relentless" stands as a humorous, yet dark and daring, routine of a man whose words still carry weight, even though its speaker left the stages of this realm years ago.

(This article first appeared, in slightly different form, on Epinions in 2000.)