The world of heavy metal has been invaded by comedians lately. The so-called metal comics Brian Posehn and Jim Breuer to the unfunny Big Jay Oakerson have been performing sets at metal shows lately. Then you have Roadrunner Records signing Doug Stanhope and now Metal Blade Records will be peddling Don Jamieson with a newly announced distribution deal. When is it going to end? Do you really want to see comedians on the road with your favorite bands tour? "Up next is Krieg, but first put your hands together for the comedy stylings of Carrot Top!"
There has only been one comedian worthy of being signed to a metal label and opening for metal acts, and that was Sam Kinison, a true metal comedian.
If Sam were still with us, today would have been his 57th birthday. Born the son of a preacher, Sam grew up in the Midwest and went to school to become a pentecostal minister. Seeing no future in that, he began working at small comedy clubs in Texas. As Sam's comedy career began to take off in the 80's, he surrounded himself with some of the biggest rock icons of the time. Sam was a frequent participant in the alcohol fueled drug binges that were notorious in the 80's rock scene with Aerosmith, Guns n' Roses, Motley Crue, Billy Idol, Anthrax, and Bon Jovi. Sam often did a few minutes of stand up before the nights metal headliner took the stage.
Sam's role in metal didn't stop on the arena stage. Anthrax used his trademark scream in their 1987 song "I'm the Man". Chevelle used one of his rants in the song "Still Running". Bon Jovi featured Kinison in the video for "Bad Medicine" and in Motley Crue's video for "Kickstart My Heart", Sam drove the Dr. Feelgood race car.
After cleaning up his life and going sober, Sam was killed by a drunk driver just six days after marrying longtime girlfriend Malika Souiri. Sam was interred with family members in Tulsa Oklahoma with a grave marker that read "In another time and place he would have been called prophet."
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What is with all these 'metal comedians'?
The world of heavy metal has been invaded by comedians lately. The so-called metal comics Brian Posehn and Jim Breuer to the unfunny Big Jay Oakerson have been performing sets at metal shows lately.