After Bill Hicks performed the final show of his career at Caroline’s on Broadway, NYC on January 6, 1994, he moved back to spend his final weeks with his family in Little Rock, Arkansas. The previous summer he had been diagnosed with late stage liver cancer and knew he didn’t have much time left. He spent the final weeks rereading JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
I suppose if I knew death was imminent I’d want to immerse my mind in stories about hope, peace and faith too. Especially stories that end with ascending Earth to go to a mystical land of healing and beauty before traveling off into the great unknown.
On February 7th, 1994, Bill wrote his last words to the world:
"I was born William Melvin Hicks on December 16, 1961 in Valdosta, Georgia. Ugh. Melvin Hicks from Georgia. Yee Har! I already had gotten off to life on the wrong foot. I was always "awake," I guess you'd say.
Some part of me clamoring for new insights and new ways to make the world a better place.
All of this came out years down the line, in my multitude of creative interests that are the tools I now bring to the Party. Writing, acting, music, comedy. A deep love of literature and books. Thank God for all the artists who've helped me. I'd read these words and off I went - dreaming my own imaginative dreams.
Exercising them at will, eventually to form bands, comedy, more bands, movies, anything creative. This is the coin of the realm I use in my words - Vision.
On June 16, 1993 | was diagnosed with having "liver cancer that had spread from the pancreas." One of life's weirdest and worst jokes imaginable. I'd been making such progress recently in my attitude, my career and realizing my dreams that it just stood me on my head for a while. "Why me!?" I would cry out, and "Why now!?"
Well, I know now there may never be any answers to those particular questions, but maybe in telling a little about myself, we can find some other answers to other questions. That might help our way down our own particular paths, towards realizing my dream of New Hope and New Happiness. Amen. I left in love, in laughter, and in truth and wherever truth, love and laughter abide, I am there in spirit."
On Saturday, February 26th, 1994, Bill died. He was only 32 years old.
