No Cure for Cancer

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No Cure for Cancer
Studio album by Denis Leary
Released	January 12, 1993
Genre	Comedy
Length	45 minutes
Label	A&M Records
Professional reviews
Allmusic link

The script for No Cure for Cancer was published as a book.

No Cure for Cancer is one of Denis Leary's standup routines from the early 1990s. It was made into a television special, a book, and a compact disc, all with the same title.^[1][2] Topics include vegetarians, cigarette smoking, drug use, and political correctness.^[3]

Compact disc

The album was recorded live at Irving Plaza, New York on October 10, 1992 and at Sorcerer Studios, New York.

Track listing

1. "Asshole" – 4:26
2. "Drugs" – 8:24
3. "Rehab" – 4:03
4. "More Drugs" – 7:06
5. "Smoke" – 5:28
6. "Meat" – 4:01
7. "Death" – 5:01
8. "The Downtrodden Song" – 1:22
9. "Traditional Irish Folk Song" – 2:00
10. "Voices in My Head" – 3:37

Personnel

• Denis Leary - Vocals
• Adam Roth - Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Vocals
• Chris Phillips - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic & 12-String Guitar
• Breda Mayock - Violin
• Ger Mayock - Pennywhistle
• C.P. Roth - Keyboards
• Don Castagno - Drums, Percussion
• Pete Mark - Congas

Television special

The television version of No Cure for Cancer was first broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on February 3 1993, followed by Showtime in the United States on February 20.^[4]

DVD

In 2005, the DVD Complete Denis Leary was released. A collection of his most famous stand-up performances including: No Cure for Cancer and Lock 'n Load. Special features include: the music videos for "Asshole" and "Love Barge", and the Making of No Cure for Cancer, a documentary with Leary and others.

Trivia

• Leary makes a reference to the urban legend of Mama Cass choking on a ham sandwich. Cass actually died in her sleep from a heart attack.^[5]

Accusations of plagiarism of Bill Hicks

For many years, Leary had been friends with fellow comedian Bill Hicks. However, when Hicks heard No Cure For Cancer, he felt that Leary had stolen his act and material. The friendship ended abruptly as a result.^[6] At least three stand-up comedians have gone on the record stating they believe Leary stole not just some of Hicks' material but his persona and attitude.^[6][7][8][9] As a result, it is claimed that after Bill Hicks' death from pancreatic cancer, an industry joke began to circulate about Leary's transformation and subsequent success (roughly; "Question: Why is Denis Leary a star while Bill Hicks is unknown? Answer: Because there's no cure for cancer").^[9] Jokes on the album about Keith Richards, Judas Priest, smoking and good men dying young are extremely similar to material that Hicks had been recorded doing for several years.

During a 2003 roast of Denis Leary, comedian Lenny Clarke, a friend of Leary's, said there was a carton of cigarettes backstage from Bill Hicks with the message, "Wish I had gotten these to you sooner." This joke was cut from the final broadcast.^[10]

The controversy surrounding plagiarism is also mentioned in American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story by Cynthia True:

When asked about Leary, Hicks told an interviewer: "I have a scoop for you. I stole his act. I camouflaged it with punchlines, and to really throw people off, I did it before he did."^[12]

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:

References