Kinky Text

Forget that other guy — WWKD?

by Molly Eichel

Kinky Friedman: Texan. Jew. Musician. Writer. Texas gubernatorial candidate in 2006. Cracking his knuckles for a 2010 run. He's returning to the stage for a rare East Coast performance, and the question remains, now and forever: What would Kinky do?

City Paper: You're going back on tour for the first time in a long time. What kept you away?

Kinky Friedman: I was doing other things like promoting the Animal Utopia Rescue Ranch and running for governor — political things. Then I've been writing books, so all of that has gotten in the way of doing shows. We did a tour this April of 18 cities in Europe — England, Ireland, Scotland and Holland. Most of the shows were sold out, my favorite two words in the English language. Plus, we'll have the new book available, What Would Kinky Do: How to Unscrew a Screwed Up World. Of course, I will sign anything but bad legislation.

CP: One of the criticisms of your campaign is that it was seen as a joke. If you run, how will you rectify that in your next campaign?

KF: The truth is, it took us a year and a half to get over that hurdle, whether it's all a joke or a stunt or comedy thing. I think we're over that. I think if I run again, particularly running as a Democrat instead of an independent and having some basic issues, which in my case would be education, health care and abolishing the death penalty. Start with those three. There's too many politics in politics. We can't wait for the feds to do everything. They haven't done anything. The only thing they've been capable of doing is smoking regulations.

CP: Which you are against.

KF: I'm very against.

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HALF OFF DEPOT

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CP: You'll have to deal with the smoking ban in Philadelphia.

KF: I will deal with it. I fight America on that one. I think it strangles our must precious gift to the world — freedom of expression, freedom to be different, freedom to be who you are. That's the way America should be, without all these rules and regulations like a condo association. They always tell me, "We're doing it for your health, Kinky." And then, of course, I always point out the countries of Spain, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Italy, Greece and France. All of them have much higher smoking rates per capita than America. All of them have longer life expectancies than America. So all we can conclude from this is that speaking English is killing us.

CP: Is there anyone out there now who you think can take on your mantle?

KF: Well, there's this band out of Austin called Shotgun Party. The lead singer is named Jenny Parrott; the songs and their performance is amazing. I guess you could Google them. I don't use the Internet. I think it's the work of Satan. But I've gotten criticism from Willie [Nelson] about not using e-mail. He thinks that keeps you out of the loop of the world. Of course, when he told me that, he was smoking a joint the size of a large kosher salami. Willie's my personal guru. The hillbilly Dalai Lama.

Kinky Friedman

Sun., Aug. 31, 8 p.m., $33, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com