Steve Hughes
So within the course of the first week of Steve playing to the rather flabbergasted Eastern suburbs crowd (they laughed hard but were perplexed with his New World Order tangents), I had to see him twice. On the one hand I was as drunk as a puddle is wet, so I forgot the first outing, but I also had to make sure this wasn’t an oasis in an Aussie desert of brutally unfunny comedians.
The second visit confirmed it - this is one funny man, and a man with a lot to comment on as our Western culture crisis deepens. Acute fears that I too share on the imminent introduction of a cashless society run by faceless “talking machines” and how it seems the obvious yet overlooked antidote is spiritual medicine in the form of hallucinogens. Does all this sound a little familiar? The late great megalith of comedy Bill Hicks also rapped hard about TV as sophisticated enslavement dressed up as entertainment; he also had a lot to say on the war on drugs.
Steve is not, however, to be confused with plagiarising chumps like Denis Leary. Mr Hughes is fresh and has a newer, higher tech enemy the Hicks didn’t have to contend with, that, and this man also has the Australian angle. When I met Steve after the show I apologised in advance for the formidable comparison but then went on to tell him that the set was redolent of Hicks. He recoiled as his modesty belied his confident on stage persona, but fuck it, I’m throwing it out there anyway, this man is about the funniest Australian comedian I have ever seen... I had a chance to ask him a couple of questions, but don’t believe me, I am, after all, struggling with the devil’s drink lately, check him out yourselves for the true review.
Post Modern Ink: Do you find people ever confuse you with Dave Hughes, the guy whose only schtick is his overly occa accent on Rove?
Steve Hughes: Well I’ve been in the UK for the past decade so that hasn’t really been a problem, although if I wear my hair out I can be mistaken for Frank Zappa, Cat weasel, Worzel Gummidge, Rasputin and Jesus Christ.
PMI: Speaking of Rove, you mentioned your contempt for his lack of talent in your set, which I agree with - any other Aussie icons [where icon stands for self appointed TV personality] you plan taking on in your set?
Steve: That’s so not true. I never mentioned his lack of talent; I said he looks like a little rat. I’ve never seen the show as I don’t watch TV in any one’s language. I’ve always had a healthy contempt for the mainstream which is important for the protection of your soul. My comedy would probably be regarded as controversial for TV - the same TV that would then ask you to support the War on terror - you can offend people with jokes but genocide, no problem. Wave your flag and pray to the Gods of Death.
PMI: Before we go any further what is the worst/tedious question you’ve been asked?
Steve: God knows... I’m not interviewed that much.
PMI: So you've spent 10 years in the UK, what’s changed in that time for you?
Steve: Well my age in linear time (though in Heavy Metal years I’m eternal). I’ve gotten vastly better at comedy and performing and, of course, living in Manchester, Northern England, my tan has faded considerably.
PMI: How do you rate Kevin Rudd?
Steve: Well he is a Christian so that should be warning enough to any free-thinking advanced soul.
PMI: How do you compare the British stand-up scene vis-à-vis Australia?
Steve: Without being rude there is no comparison as there is no country on Earth that has a comedy scene like the UK, but there is a price you must pay for all things.
PMI: Who hits your funny bone on the comedy circuit at the moment?
Steve: Alan Carr from the UK I love, although Alan is very famous now so I’m just hoping TV doesn’t turn him shit. Jim Jefferies of course, Reg Hunter, Craig Campbell, Ian Stone, Doug Stanhope - all great. But personally I’m more interested in Metal and a composer from Sweden with a band called Arcana.
PMI: Any all-time comedic influences that you care to mention? Who or what inspired you to get into the craft.
Steve: Well my first love (and still) is music which I do when I get the time, but in hindsight the earliest influence was Bill Cosby; we used to listen to him as kids, me and my mates. Also Dave Allen, then later on it became Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy and Dennis Leary (who we then discovered was just ripping off Bill Hicks).
PMI: What else do you plan to do with your time back in the Great Southern Land?
Steve: I plan to venture out into the vastness of the “Great Southern Land” to stand next to fires, look out at the cosmos and listen for the whisperings of ancient aboriginal elders.
PMI: If you could watch any band at their peak play tonight, which would it be?
Steve: Well that is a difficult choice, Slayer, Metallica and Sepultura at their peak would be one hell of a fuckin’ night of metal mayhem, and a glorious ode to the Gods of metal.
PMI: What do you do when not performing?
Steve: Read, swim, play guitar, listen to music, eat, drink, smoke, laugh, travel, sleep and discreetly stare at hot women in the street.
PMI: What are the perks of your industry and what sucks about it?
Steve: Well if you get the chance to do what you love, it’s very cool, so the perks are simply that and they far outweigh what sucks about it.
Thanks and Hail the gods of Metal and Comedy
