Q&A: Kinky Friedman

He is a novelist, humorist/satirist, columnist, songwriter and musician. He is also a former political candidate, an independent who ran for governor of Texas in 2006, placing fourth behind winner Rick Perry.

Kinky Friedman is known for all of that but even more so for being irreverently outspoken, a trait that, he says, is now pejoratively known as political incorrectness.

Wednesday, he will launch a Midwest speaking/performance tour that opens at Knuckleheads in Kansas City. He spoke recently to The Star about politics and our culture.

Q. What can people expect at your Knuckleheads show?

A. Well, it won’t be politically correct. We’ll do “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and a lot of other stuff that gets lost in the mix. I’ll be reading from a new book called “Heroes of a Texas Childhood.” I’m 66, but I read at the level of a 68-year-old. I’ll talk to people and sign books afterward, books or anything else. I’ll sign anything but bad legislation.

Our culture has changed a lot since you got into this business. What does it look like from your perspective?

Well, little stuff gets blown out of proportion. And if you tell the truth, you get in trouble. Basically, political correctness has drowned our culture to the point where if you and I managed a young Richard Pryor or a young George Carlin or Mel Brooks, we couldn’t get work for our clients. You could not make the movie “Blazing Saddles” today, thanks to so many race-mongers and hypocrites, like Al Sharpton, who decide what is politically correct and what isn’t. As a result we’ve taken a giant step backward, culturally.

But the pendulum will swing. You have to be edgy and miserable to be funny. If you’re a happy American, you’re not going to create anything provocative. A good artist is ahead of his time and behind on his rent. I try to make it all unvarnished and unabridged.

You stepped into the world of politics. Talk about that experience.

I ran for governor of Texas as an independent and got about 600,000 votes — enough to win in most states. There are really no politicians anywhere you can truly admire and respect. I’m calling for term limits on all elected officials. Two terms: one in office, one in prison.

Take the word “politics”: “poly” means more than one; “ticks” are blood-sucking parasites. They’re all former hall monitors who have done politics their entire lives.

There are no Winston Churchills out there. Obama is like the Texas governor, even though they are political opposites. Great politicians and great candidates but neither is a good leader.

In 2006, I compared the Democrats and Republicans to the Bloods and the Crips — two bullies on the playground. People said I went too far. Turns out I was ahead of the times. Today, most Americans agree: Musicians would run the country better than most politicians. We wouldn’t get much done in the morning, but we’d work late and honestly. Being a musician on the road is a much higher calling than politics. One is a pure art.

Technology and the eruption of alternative media have changed everything. What’s your perspective on that?

Yeah, we have a million ways to say something but nothing to say. Jay Leno or Conan O’Brien: Is any of that really funny? Country music is the same way. You and I and another guy set up a 4:45 p.m. meeting and we go into a publishing brothel, the three of us for two hours, and we write some watered-down derivative song.

Music is not as good as it used to be. It’s not even close. Country, rock, anything: The artists aren’t as good, and the music isn’t as good. People like something for a short period of time, then move on. Cultural ADD.

Are there any bright spots?

Well, I’m able to do these shows. They’re fun and I hope they’re enlightening and humorous. I’ll be doing some shows in Australia later this year with Van Dyke Parks. That’s going to be special.

I also got the rights back to my old books, so they can be downloaded or turned into audiobooks. It has been fun reading these books for the audiobooks. I’d forgotten how some of those mysteries ended. It’s refreshing.

What gives you optimism?

Not much. Our culture is pathetic. Really, there ain’t no culture in the culture.

But there are niches and pockets of culture where a lot of creative and extreme expression is exchanged freely; it just rarely penetrates the mainstream.

True. Charles Bukowski still sells. And these shows have been doing well, relatively. I mean, I’m not Garth Brooks. I’m just trying to make people think.

Of the 23 heroes (in his book), only two are still alive: Willie Nelson and Richard Haynes, the Houston defense lawyer.

I figured out why all these people are heroes. They had something in common, all 23 of them. They all experienced so much failure and tragedy and obstacles. They weren’t lucky or privileged. They became heroes by dealing with it and overcoming it.

So I guess that gives me optimism. A guy like me couldn’t win the Texas governorship, but lots of young people voted for the first time in that election, and they voted independent. So there has to be something out there. You know: Blessed is the match that enkindles the flame.

WEDNESDAY

Kinky Friedman performs at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester St. Advance tickets are $25. Visit www.knuckleheadskc.com (816-483-1456).

Comments

[Steve]

At least he's not bitter.

[tim finn]

bitter? maybe angry and disenchanted.

[Musicgal]

After reading his books, I think this is just his shtick. I hope he's just as funny in person tomorrow night.