Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008    Text size: 

Well, it was bound to happen eventually because of his age or history of substance abuse, but we just lost one of the greats of our time. George Carlin was not only an outrageously funny man, but he was one of the main motivations for the Sik World that you’ve come to know and love.

It’s pretty safe to say that if it hadn’t been for him, we wouldn’t be us. Of course there’s the rock n’ roll lifestyle and all the bands that have made us what we are, but it was George that taught me the art of vulgarity. He was a master of language, dirty language.

I can remember countless hours that I spent laughing to tears listening to “A Place for My Stuff” on my Walkman (what we used to call an iPod) or trying to memorize his “Seven Words You Can’t Say on TV”. We all may learn bad words from the older kids when we’re young, but it was George Carlin who taught me how to use them as tools of communication and humor, not just as thoughtless substitutes for more acceptable adjectives, nouns or verbs.

A few years ago, I got my hands on the contact info for George and dropped him a line to offer some of our product to thank him for his inspiration. He not only took me up on my offer (he wanted a “Fuck Christmas” T-shirt), but was kind enough to send an autographed copy of his book “Braindroppings” with the very short but eloquent inscription “To Jaysun, Get Fucked. George Carlin,” which I still consider one of the most thoughtful and nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.

In our lives, we’re exposed to a few people who help to guide and shape our direction and personality and, if we’re lucky, they lead to good places. His impact was much more subtle than your average rockstar, but George Carlin truly was just that for me. He led me to you, and it’s fuckin’ great to be here.

Do yourself a favor and take a moment to watch some of his old videos on YouTube and don’t forget that you lived during the life of a true master of the arts, the art of vulgarity.

In closing, always remember the words of wisdom that George was caring enough to share with me — get fucked.

Jaysun Chall
President, Sik World Productions

James Wright
james@kerosenemedia.com