Kinky Friedman, musical satirist and writer who also ran for Texas governor, dies at 79

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As a lifelong cinephile and avid reader, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kinky Friedman. I have always admired individuals who defy conventions and live their lives on their own terms, and Kinky was one such person. His irreverent wit and fearless approach to writing and music resonated with me, and his impact on both industries will be felt for generations.

Kinky Friedman, a renowned author, musician, and ex-gubernatorial candidate from Texas, passed away on Thursday following a prolonged struggle against Parkinson’s disease. He was 79 years old.

Friend and long-time acquaintance Kent Perkins confirmed to the Associated Press that Friedman passed away peacefully at his family’s ranch close to San Antonio.

“He smoked a cigar, went to bed and never woke up,” Perkins said.

Perkins characterized Friedman as the last individual exhibiting complete freedom in the world, adding that he wrote boldly without fear.

Born on November 1, 1944, in Chicago as Richard Samet Friedman, this charismatic figure gained notoriety for his bold and unrepentant demeanor. This trait drew attention when his band, Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, experienced popularity during the 1970s.

A satirical country band produced tunes like “Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Past the Finish Line of Existence,” “Hurry Up and Put Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Butt in Bed,” and “They Don’t Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore Anymore.”

But the band’s brash nature was apparently not well received by some.

In the essay he penned for Texas Monthly’s September 2001 issue, the musician recounted that in 1973, they faced death threats in Nacogdoches, received bomb scares in New York, and needed a police escort to leave the University of Buffalo due to radical feminist protests.

In the 1970s, Friedman, known for his curly hair and sometimes called “Kinky” or “Kinkster,” joined Bob Dylan on his Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Later in the 1980s, after the decline of his band’s fame, Friedman shifted gears and pursued a new passion: writing.

I’ve written numerous crime novels set in New York City, such as “Greenwich Killing Time” and “Roadkill.” In these stories, I took on the role of the detective myself. At the unfortunate time of my passing, I had authored over twenty books.

I found myself making light of my current employment situation when when I decided to run against Republican Governor Rick Perry in the 2006 Texas gubernatorial race, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

The race grew tense as an old controversy resurfaced against one contender, Friedman. In 1980, he found himself under fire for past comments, which some perceived as racist. However, Friedman defended himself by explaining that his intention behind those remarks was to provoke a response through his sense of humor.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, back in 2006, Friedman openly admitted to the Houston Chronicle that his intention was to offend people. He saw it as an essential aspect of social commentary and satire.

In his political platform, Perry advocated for same-sex marriage (“they deserve the right to experience the same misery we all know as love”) and allowing prayer in schools (“why deny a child the opportunity to express faith?”). However, despite these stances, he came in last place during the election. Contrarily, Perry secured another term in office.

Four years after the race, Friedman shared with The Times his belief that more musicians ought to engage in politics.

As a passionate cinema goer, I’d put it this way: “Musicians would make for an intriguing leadership, wouldn’t they? We might struggle to start our day productively, but we’d pour our hearts into late-night projects. Above all, they’d keep things real.” In the world of musicians, I’ve found a community of authentic individuals. Regrettably, that’s not always the case with politicians.

And he was still proud of his gubernatorial campaign.

“We won that race, by the way,” Friedman said, “every place but Texas.”

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2024-07-18 20:58