RIP Kinky Friedman

[Trionyx]

A funny, irreverent, satirical, serious and thought-provoking icon of country/western music has died. Many of his songs at first were simply funny but the underlying messages were frequently poignant.
They Ain’t Amakin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore

 

[gunhilltrain]

A funny, irreverent, satirical, serious and thought-provoking icon of country/western music has died. Many of his songs at first were simply funny but the underlying messages were frequently poignant.
They Ain’t Amakin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore

He ran for governor of Texas in 2006. This is a parody of Merle Haggard. He's also likely the only person to write a song about Austin mass shooter Charles Whitman.

 

[AchtungNight]

I voted for him as Governor. He has been inspiring to me on many occasions. He will be missed.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I voted for Kinky too

 

[NoTalentHack]

Man, I loved Kinky. Damn shame.

 

[Bramblethorn]

He ran for governor of Texas in 2006. This is a parody of Merle Haggard. He's also likely the only person to write a song about Austin mass shooter Charles Whitman.

Harry Chapin's "Sniper" seems to be based on Whitman, though it's fictionalised and doesn't name the shooter. Also in rather poor taste.

He gets a name-drop in Tom Wait's "Down There By The Train", written for Johnny Cash, though that one's just a passing mention alongside Dillinger, Booth, and various others.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Harry Chapin's "Sniper" seems to be based on Whitman, though it's fictionalised and doesn't name the shooter. Also in rather poor taste.

He gets a name-drop in Tom Wait's "Down There By The Train", written for Johnny Cash, though that one's just a passing mention alongside Dillinger, Booth, and various others.

I never heard "Sniper" before. I wouldn't call it tasteless, but rather pointless and overblown. A fictionalized version of the incident might have worked as prose, but it's a terrible song.

 

[jehoram]

Don't forget his career as a mystery writer, inserting himself as the main character. I still think of the "rain room" when I get into the shower.

 

[offkilter123]

I started writing a story several months ago for the hammered event in which the MC (an army CID agent) is wearing a Kinky tshirt from the Armadillo World Headquarters when he reports for duty. I put it aside last year but Kinky’s death has me going back to it. I loved his mystery novels and his column for Texas Monthly.

It’s a sonofabitch getting old. Almost all my musical and literary heroes have passed and I can find very little common ground with the newer generations.

Oh well, as we used to say on the army: FIDO, Fuck It, Drive On.

 

[Trionyx]

Almost all my musical and literary heroes have passed

Willie’s next, from the sounds of things. Hope not, though.

CNN News

 

[gunhilltrain]

Willie’s next, from the sounds of things. Hope not, though.

CNN News

I suspect that will we see a lot of famous people, now reaching or passing 80, who will pass soon. RIP Martin Mull, for example.