Leary hits back over Hicks claims

Denis Leary has hit back at renewed claims that he stole material from Bill Hicks.

American circuit comic Joe Rogan, best known for hosting the TV Fear Factor, revived the long-running claims in a recent interview with 'shock jock' Howard Stern.

He said: "Leary stole material from Bill Hicks. It's pretty common knowledge among comedians.

"It's gross, you know. It takes so long to work on a bit. You gotta write it, you gotta try it out, you gotta hone it. Then somebody comes along and snags it. The horrible thing is, some guys steal and then they make it."

However Leary hit back saying: "If Joe Rogan knows of a way to steal enough material to fill an hour-long special, tell him to let me know so I can stop working my a** off.

"And if he spent more time worrying about his own career, maybe he'd have a job that doesn't involve watching ex-bartenders eating worms."

Leary has long been dogged by the accusations that his aggressive, passionate act was more than inspired by the Hicks, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the age of 32.

Many of Hicks's collaborators maintain the comic was angry with Leary, perceiving him to have lifted routines and ideas.

Rogan also accused Robin Williams of the same practice, claiming: "Williams stole a lot of material too. I have seen comics leave clubs when he walks in."

Published: 6 Oct 2003