Kinky Friedman, the rabble-rousing country singer, died on Thursday at the age of 79. A post on Friedman’s official X page shared the news of his passing: “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends. Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Friedman and his band famously taped an Austin City Limits show in 1975, which never aired. That is the only time in the show’s prestigious history that an episode went unaired, according to the show’s executive producer, Terry Lickona, who told the Austin Chronicle, “I’ve seen it many times – it’s a very popular party tape among friends. I think it was a great show, and it might be as offensive today as it was back then.” Friedman’s friend, Cleve Hattersley, shared with the Texas Tribune that the singer had Parkinson’s disease. (People)
