Today marks the 13th anniversary of the first day the world had to live without Bill Hicks. If you don’t know the man, his work, and his connection to Austin, get moving, and do some research now. Here’s a taster:

“I’m so sick of arming the world and then sending troops over to destroy the fucking arms, you know what I mean? We keep arming these little countries, then we go and blow the shit out of them. We’re like the bullies of the world, you know. We’re like Jack Palance in the movie Shane, throwing the pistol at the sheep herder’s feet: ‘Pick it up.’ ‘I don’t wanna pick it up mister, you’ll shoot me.’ ‘Pick up the gun.’ ‘Mister, I don’t want no trouble, huh. I just came downtown here to get some hard-rock candy for my kids, some gingham for my wife. I don’t even know what gingham is, but she goes through about 10 rolls a week of that stuff. I ain’t looking for no trouble, mister.’ ‘Pick up the gun.’ Boom, boom. ‘You all saw him. He had a gun.'”

This article appears in February 23 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.