An EveningWith The Dark Poet - Bill Hicks Anniversary Tribute At the Adelphi By Rich Mills

It seems strange to be doing a review of Bill Hicks ten years after his death from pancreatic cancer. On 26th of February 1994, the world became a darker place. However, a legacy of words that has resonated across the years, shows that the man who described himself as a dark poet was a shining light. A genius with a razor sharp wit, who never compromised, and only spoke the truth!

Ten years on, Hicks is as fresh and as prophetically accurate as he was when his ranting performances were recorded. I've been a huge Hicks fan for a long time now, and would in fact admit to have turned into a bit of a Hicks geek! Never a week goes by when I don't listen to all the Hicks recordings that I possess.

So the idea that there was to be a tribute to him excited me no end. Three Hicks fans had the idea of commemorating the 10th anniversary by holding an event at The Adelphi, on De Grey Street. Steve, Chris and John with the help of Paddy from Hull-DOC, who provided the hardware, gave us an evening of Hicks recordings, and concert footage.

The Adelphi was rammed on Thursday evening with lots of familiar faces I was glad to see, and to share what was to be a fantastic evening. Many of the recordings I had heard before. As I said I do have a few recordings myself. The key to the evening for me was the screening of One Night Stand, recorded at the Vic Theatre in Chicago.

An amazing non-stop rant, striking right at the hearts and minds of his audience.

Today, his audience is probably bigger than it ever was when he was alive. Like the film Bowling for Columbine which reveals the sick ironies within modern society, I feel listening to Hicks should be compulsory.

He spoke the truth, the kind of truth a lot of people can't handle. He hit out at the corporate whores and the suckers-of-satan's-cock.. The consumerist culture, organised religion, war and totalitarian governments who he considered to be liars and murderers were effortlessly cut to pieces by his razor sharp words.

I've got to say that I'm still hung-over from the night before, I'm stiting here writing this piece while listening to Hicks. He keeps me grounded, gives me a regular reality check! If you've not heard the him, then I suggest you should take the time to give this unique man's philosophy of life a go.

I can sit here, and struggle with putting this piece together, trying to explain the Hicks experience.

At the end of the day you should.. No you must go and listen to his stuff. You will laugh, you may cringe and it will prick at your conscience on occasion. Hicks preached peace and love, and for the removal of the cancers that blighted humanity.

His legend lives on. I hope that if there is a world beyond this sick-little-one, as Hicks believed there was, then he's sitting there with a smug, satisfied look on his face, smoking a cigarette, still waiting for everyone else to catch-up with him.

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