American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story

by Cynthia True

Description

Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman -- add Bill Hicks to that list of brilliant, fearless comics. Just emerging from underground cult status when he died at age thirty-two, Bill Hicks spent most of his life making audiences roar -- and censors cringe -- with biting social satire about everything from former president George Bush to rock stars who hawk diet Coke. His nervy talent redefined the boundaries of comedy in the '80s and won him a list of admirers that includes John Cleese, show more George Carlin, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. This posthumous biography reveals for the first time what made Bill Hicks tick -- what made him laugh, what pissed him off, and what he saw as his ultimate mission: to release people from their prison of ignorance. From his first comedy gig at Bible camp to his infamous cancellation on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cynthia True portrays an artist whose outrage, drive, and compassion fueled a controversial body of work that still resonates today. show less

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2 reviews

TommyHousworth 269 reviews

Bill Hicks is hard to capture on the page. But, I came away with a better understanding of his brilliance and his frustrations after reading "American Scream".

There hasn't been a voice in comedy like him since. "American Scream", if nothing else, makes you appreciate that fact.

Feb 5, 2022 (Edited)

smurfwreck 79 reviews

My 2 cents: This is a great look at a really funny man that the world lost way too soon. If you haven't heard of Bill Hicks I suggest picking up his DVD.

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apparatchik 3 reviews