Mar 28 2007
In Memory of Mitch
I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.
— the late Mitch Hedberg, comedian and actor
My recent viewing of Walk the Line reminded me that we lose far too many artists to drugs. No, Johnny Cash didn’t die from drug use (directly, anyway), but he arguably came as close to death as any survivor.
This also made me wonder whether certain artists would have produced the same quantity or quality of work without drugs. I’m sure some would have reached new heights without a debilitating addiction dragging them down, but I also suspect that some wouldn’t have enjoyed the same popularity without drugs. It’s anybody’s guess whether that’s due to drug-induced inspiration or controversial publicity.
I’m sure everybody can name at least one artist who faded from the limelight as soon as he or she quit abusing drugs. At the very least, a certain spontaneity is lost. Robin Williams, while still a talented actor, lost much of his stand-up edge when he got clean.
This is the second anniversary of the death of a lesser-known comedian named Mitch Hedberg. Sadly, he died of a drug overdose on this day in 2005. I had never heard of him until I picked up an old issue of Entertainment Weekly in our company’s break room about a year ago (sometimes I get caught on my lunch hour without a book). The article summarized his career and included glowing praise from fellow comedians, as well as quotes from his body of work.
I since have watched re-runs of Mitch’s act on Comedy Central, because stand-up comedy is one of my favorite sources of entertainment. I still didn’t recall ever seeing him — surprising considering that Friday night’s “Comedy Central Presents” lineup for years was a staple of our TV diet. Some of his bits are reminiscent of Steven Wright, but without the monotone delivery.
Some sound like they were ripped straight from his hallucinations.
My apartment is infested with koala bears. It’s the cutest infestation ever. Way better than cockroaches. When I turn on the light, a bunch of koala bears scatter. And I don’t want’em to. I’m like, “Hey, hold on fellas. Let me hold one of you. And feed you a leaf.”
None of this is to suggest that drug abuse is a good thing for anybody, nor that Mitch couldn’t have been successful while sober. From the days of opium dens, however, its influence over artists cannot be denied.
Instead of going on about how truly funny Mitch was, I’ll finish with a few more Hedberg classics.
“Alcoholism is like, a desease. But it’s like, the only disease you can get yelled at for havin’. ‘Dammit, Otto! You’re an alcoholic! Dammit, Otto, you have Lupus!’ One of those two doesn’t sound right.”
“Last week I helped my friend stay put. It’s a lot easier than helping someone move. I just went over to his house and made sure he did not start to load s*it into a truck.”
“Do you believe in Gosh?”
“I haven’t slept for 10 days. Because that would be too long.”
“The thing that’s depressing about tennis is no matter how good I get, I’ll never be as good as a wall. I played a wall once. They’re f*ckin’ relentless.”
There are more quotes on the bottom of Wikipedia’s page about Mitch.
(This piece originally was on the front end of “How Much Would You Give for Your Art?” I decided the two should stand alone, even though they are loosely related.)
I don’t remember him either Mark.. but there’s many comedians out there that I’m sure I don’t know.
Some of my favorites were Sam Kinison (believe that?), almost all of the original “Not ready for prime time players” from SNL like John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Lorraine Newman, Steve Martin (that wild and crazy guy).. etc.
Belushi… now there’s one I believe still woulda been funny off drugs… but sadly, we’ll never know.
Mark….Interesting post. I was first introduced to Mitch on Satellite Radio. Hilarious guy. He had a guy playing bass guitar in the background during his act, which sort of added to his ability to differentiate himself.
His delivery was what made him unique. This will probably be viewed as racist, but since the world has already turned too PC for me, I’m going to say it anyway. The first few times I heard him on Sat. Radio, I pictured a black guy. His inflection just gave me that visual. And then the first time I saw him, and he was a white long haired hippy looking guy, I had to re-wire my brain to the new image.
In some instances, I think the drug use, and sad ending, stamps people with the “tragic artist” syndrome. Many times they seem to gain even greater fame after death, and strangely it’s usually regardless of whether it’s from something they could have prevented (drug use), or a freak accident (plane/helicopter, or car crashes).
I’m a Jimi Hendrix fan. I wasn’t for years, because I was really only exposed to many of his songs that incorporate feedback and noise, that weren’t representative of his body of work. He’s seen as a tragic figure. However, if he were still alive ala B.B. King, would he have nearly the status that he has now as a guitar god and rock legend? How could he? His playing chops never would have measured up to SRV, and to suggest that Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Monte Montgomery, and many others don’t possess superior technnique and skills, is short-sided in my mind. Yes, every one of them has borrowed from what Jimi Hendrix did…no question about that. However, I think if he was still alive, he would have some accolades as being an innovator of the “electric sound,” but he wouldn’t have nearly the iconic status that he has in death. As others had slowly borrowed from him and others before him, and had taken guitar playing to new heights, his glow would have been dulled over time IMO.
But he’s always be Jimi Hendrix…KING of rock guitar. Strange, the whole “larger than life” star thing.
hey mark, thanks for the comment on my blog.
we saw mitch live once. he opened up for dave attel and lewis black and he pretty much put both of them to shame. i have never laughed so hard at a stand up act in my life.
in celebration of mitch’s life, here’s my favorite:
Dave - I’m a fan of all those folks, too. Kinison was hilarious, and is another example of an artist leaving without a chance to say goodbye.
Charles - In fact, Mitch’s delivery was off-putting for me at first. I grew to like it, though, when I realized how funny his material was. I can understand why you might mistake him for a black guy, just listening to him.
Good points about Hendrix as compared to other guitarists who are still alive. Then we have somebody like SRV, who was amazing and also died young. So, he should be a superstar of immense proportions now that he’s gone, but he’s not. I guess Hendrix’s race had a lot to do with his name remaining so widely recognized. He was seen as someone who broke new ground for blacks. And, I think we can all agree, he did.
maltese - I’ll keep dropping by when I can. I’m glad you checked in over here.
That’s great that you saw Mitch live, and that he stole the show. Thanks for the quote. Too funny.
Dave, if there was one comedian I simply couldn’t stand, it was Sam Kinnison. He was one sick, mysogonystic bastard. (Just had to get that out there.)
Charles, that didn’t sound racist at all. And I know exactly what you mean about his sound. I’d read a bunch of his stuff before I ever saw him on a broadcast of any sort. And as funny as his material is, it is WAY funnier when he delivers it the way he does.
And, oh yeah, Mark… since this is your blog and all. I think I’d be way funnier on drugs, but then I’m never going to find out because I’m too high on life. Yeah, that’s right, I said ‘high on life.’
But if I ever feel like I have a really good book deep down inside of me, well, I’ll see if I can find me a really discrete surgeon because I don’t want to have to tell the story of how THAT got there more than once.
Simon - What’s the procedure called? Novelectomy?
As far as saying you’re “high on life?” It’s okay to say corny things here, if anywhere.
I watched Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours on Classic Albums tonight. Each of the members said how screwed up it was when they were making it, but that they never would have finished it if were not for the fighting and drugs.
The scenes where they run through the different tracks on each song were unbelievable. There is some messed up stuff in the background. When put together it was pure magic.
They are all sober and seem to get along now. Interestingly, they have not put out anything worth listening to since.
I keep coming back to this post, Mark. I start to comment and then I realize I have way too much to say to put it all down here. Maybe I’ll use it for blog fodder later.
I rilly rilly miss Mitch. I am probly one of his oldest fans, and I don’t mean agewise. I was truly shaken when he died.
Thanks for remembering him here.
Simon, I’m with you on the Sam thing. I have a friend who spent some real-life time at a party with Sam and said he was a sick b*st*rd.