Zola ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ Bear Blog

Bill Hicks: playing vinyl backwards/the Devil’s music

The below is verbatim from the book "Love All The People: Lyrics, Letters, Routines", which I highly recommend; this is originally from one of his performances at the Vic Theatre, Chicago, USA, in November 1990, which was later released as an HBO video special in 1991, titelled "One Night Stand".

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Remember this shit: if you play certain rock albums backwards there's satanic messages? Let me tell you something, if you're sitting 'round your house playing your albums backwards, you are Satan. You needn't look any further. And don't go ruining my stereo to prove a fucking point either.

'Come here, come here, listen. (makes snorting, growling noises) Can you hear that? Listen.' 'Hey cut it out. That's brand new, man. What the fuck are you doing?" 'No, shut up. Listen, real close. (growling) Can you hear that? It's crystal clear. "Satan is lord, Satan is lord." It's like he is in the room.' (makes growling noises again) 'Oh my God, you're Satan, Aargh!'

Satan! Ruiner of stereos, destroyer of needles! Because, listen, I've got an idea. It's time to make a bold admission, all right? Because for the last ten years we've seen the rise of conservatives and fundamentalists and other forms of (takes deep gasp) fascism, OK? Who try and tell us what to believe and what to think. I've got a bold admission if you're one of those people, are you ready for it? They say rock 'n' roll is the devil's music. Well, let's say that we know for a fact that rock 'n' roll is the Devil's music. And we know that it is for sure, OK? At least he fucking jams!