Comedy in the Fast Lane: Sam Kinison’s Rock Star Life

Comedy, Drugs, and Rock ’n’ Roll

Kinison moved to LA in 1980 with the hopes of finding work at the one and only Comedy Store. Like many comics starting out, Kinison was a doorman at the Comedy Store for five years. He explained that he came out to LA, thinking, “I’ve got a couple of years that I can afford to do this; let’s see what we can do.”

Sam Kinison is surrounded by adoring female fans.

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc/Getty Images

It was in LA that Kinison started living like a wannabe rock star. And what comes with the rock star package? Drugs. Lots and lots of drugs. It was the ‘80s, remember? Cocaine was pretty much everywhere.

Sleeping on Bar Tables

With his new hobby, his material started to change. “Folks, I’ve been straight for 17 days… Not all in a row.” He was not doing well. His reverend brother Bill would send him $500 every month. Finally, Bill came to visit him.

Sam Kinison poses with others at The Comedy Store.

Source: Wikimedia

He found his younger brother sleeping on bar tables and snorting simply too much blow. But Sam Kinison and LA were pretty much made for each other. As Bill recalls, “Sam never had a drink until he was 25 years old and got into comedy,” said Bill.