US comic break stand-up record

A new record has been set for the longest stand-up performance, after American comic Bob Marley completed a 40-hour gig.

He got a huge ovation from his audience in Portland on passing a previous record of 38 hrs and 6 mins, set last year by Australia’s Lindsay Webb.

However, Norway’s Hans Morten Hansen did 38 hrs 14 mins at the Oslo Comedy Festival last month. But still Marley eclipses that.

‘This concludes the first half of my show,’ he said after Guinness officials confirmed he had the record. Eventually he continued for two more hours, finishing at 11pm last night.

Marley says he went 18 hours without repeating any material, and he took one 25-minute break for a nap. Record rules allowed him to accumulate five minutes of break time every hour.

He also had had to have at least ten (awake) people in the audience at all times. When the show opened at 7am on Wednesday morning there were just 11 punters at the Comedy Connection club – but the audience numbers soon mounted.

He also raised an estimated $10,000 for a local children's hospital through his endeavour.

Tommy Tiernan held the record before Webb, with 36 hrs, 15 mins.

Published: 24 Sep 2010