Although Leary had been friends with fellow comedian
Bill Hicks for many years, when Hicks heard
No Cure for Cancer, he felt that Leary had stolen his act. The friendship ended abruptly as a result, and was still unsettled when Hicks died of
pancreatic cancer 13 months later, at the age of 32. Over the years, several comedians have publicly stated they believe Leary stole Hicks's persona and attitude, in addition to his material. Jokes on the album about
Keith Richards,
Judas Priest,
smoking and "
good men dying young" are frequently cited as bearing similarities to Hicks's routines. According to
Cynthia True's biography
American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story, after listening to
No Cure for Cancer, Hicks was furious. "All these years, aside from the occasional jibe, he had pretty much shrugged off Leary's lifting. Comedians borrowed, stole stuff and even bought bits from one another.
Milton Berle and
Robin Williams were famous for it. This was different. Leary had, practically line for line, taken huge chunks of Bill's act and
recorded it." In the August 2006
Playboy, an interviewer told Leary, "Much has been written about you and comedian Bill Hicks...People have accused you of appropriating his persona and material." Leary replied: == Charts ==