Fairly Answered Questions . . .
Send any and all questions about Bill Hicks to admin@billhicks.com. They'll be answered directly and/or here, as appropriate.
If you wish, you may also send questions or messages to Bill's mom, Mary Reese Hicks, at MaryRH@billhicks.com, to Bill's sister, Lynn Hicks, at Lynn@billhicks.com, or to Bill's brother, Steve Hicks, at Steve@billhicks.com
Q: Is there any record of Bill's last show on Letterman that never made the air?
A: There is a recording but it's not up to us whether it'll ever be shown.
Q: Is Bill's letter to John Lahr available anywhere?
A: Yes, it's printed in full in the book Bill Hicks: Love All The People. Also, Lahr's New Yorker profile article about Bill is reprinted in the book Honky-Tonk Parade.
Q: What were some of Bill's favorite bands/artists besides guys like Hendrix, Stones, Beatles, Hiatt, Elvis? I heard very unclearly he said he loved Steely Dan in some Scotland interview I have, I heard he listened to Zep, etc, just wondering more in depth, and what kind of films did he find interesting, the little things I'm interested in to have answered would be so appreciated.
A: Bill's favorite singers and bands also included Tool, Kiss, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Metallica and Tom Waits. As far as movies, he loved all movies. He spent much of his time on the road going to movies. Every time Steve ever went and visited him they went to at least one movie, such as Godfather III one Christmas Day.
Q: In the Tool song "Third Eye" they use one of Bills lines. Is there any knowledge of him listening to the band?
A: Yes, Bill knew the band and famously introduced them at Lollapalooza in L.A. in 1992. Bill walked out on stage, quieted the throngs, and said "Excuse me, I dropped a contact - can you help me find it?" (rim shot)
Q: Did Bill play any instruments?
A: Yes. He was a good guitar player and also played drums and keyboards/piano.
Q: Where can I get the "Marble Head Johnson" CD?
A: At the moment nowhere, but hopefully soon, somewhere.
Q: Is it possible to buy posters/prints of Bill? And if so where (both in the USA & UK, please)?
A: David Johndrow was the Bill Hicks photographer responsible for many of Bill’s publicity photos, album art, book covers, etc. Click here for contact info regarding prints, etc.
Q: What jobs did Bill have before he got into standup comedy?
A: Bill once explored a career in the fascinating world of fast food, entering the industry at a Wendy's in Houston, and exiting fast. He was also a paperboy for the Houston Chronicle, and sold women's shoes in a Houston department store. Later, he tried his hand at acting in Los Angeles and was cast in a sitcom pilot (Bulba) that was not picked up. Otherwise, it was all pretty much stand-up for Bill since his mid-teens.
Q: I have heard the rumor off and on for many years now that there is a forthcoming movie about Bill's life. What is the status of this project as far as you know? Personally, in the right hands I believe the Bill Hicks story would make an incredible movie, if any movie studio has the balls to do it without Bill's unflinching convictions and philosophy being compromised.
A: The rumor is true. Bill's life story has been optioned and we're very hopeful there will be a movie made.
Q: Has there been any conspiracy theory about Bill Hick's death? As he posed alot of challenges to the powerful discourses of government and media industries, I was wondering whether anyone else had that thought that maybe he was murdered. I have a tendency of over-analyzing things and maybe because I admire the man a lot, I perhaps I want to believe that someone is to blame for his death. It wouldn't surprise me if it crossed the mind of others so wanted to know if it had?
A: Considering that Bill talked a lot about conspiracies, we wouldn't be surprised if some of your fellow fans have thought along those lines, but we don't know of any credible claims. You might find some discussions on the topic in one of the forums.
Q: Where is Billed buried?
A: In the family burial plot in Leakesville, Mississippi.
Q: Did Bill use drugs as a source of intellectual enlightenment or as a recreational habit?
A: He used some drugs to "squeegee" his third eye, but the cocaine, alcohol (both of which he quit in 1988) and cigarettes (which he tried to quit) would probably be closer to "habit".
Q: Where did Bill live and hang out (bars, clubs, etc.) when he was in L.A.?
A: Bill lived in an apartment complex one block off the freeway on Barrington Avenue. He wanted a place he could get to and from LAX easily. Bill was only there when he was not touring so he did not hang out at bars or clubs other than sometimes going to the comedy clubs to perform.
Q: How did Bill start headlining in comedy clubs? Did he work his way up, did he physically go to a club and talk to the booking agent, or did he get an agent with experience to take care of that?
A: Like any other headliner, Bill started as an opening act and worked his way up. His first headlining gig was at the Comix Annex in Houston in about 1978 or 1979. Bill did have a booking agent before he became a headliner.
Q: When we buy Bill Hicks DVD's/CD's where does the money go?
A: Like most other DVDs and CDs, the money is split among the merchant you bought it from, the distributor, the record company(ies), the producer and the artist (not to mention sales tax). In Bill's case, the artist's share (commonly known as a royalty) goes to the company his family set up to own and license Bill's material, Arizona Bay Production Co., Inc. in Little Rock, Arkansas. Some of the proceeds paid to Arizona Bay are donated to one of Bill's favorite charities, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the Heifer Foundation. If the merchant you buy from is the Bill Hicks Foundation for Wildlife Rehabilitation (www.billhicks.org), then proceeds also go to the Foundation in Austin, Texas.