BOB FLANAGAN

today is BOB FLANAGAN'S BIRTHDAY. HE WOULD BE 59.

BOB FLANAGAN, (december 26, 1952-january 4, 1996)

 Was an American performance artist, comic, writer, poet, and musician.

He was born in New York City on December 26, 1952, and grew up in Glendale, California. At a young age he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a condition which would influence his art and ultimately claim his life. He studied literature at California State University, Long Beach and the University of California, Irvine. He moved to Los Angeles in 1976.

 In 1978, he published his first book, The Kid is the Man. 
He also worked with the improv comedy group The Groundlings.

On January 4, 1996, he died of cystic fibrosis, aged 43.

He was the subject of the documentary SICK: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997) a film by Kirby Dick, which films the final years of Bob's life.

While some of his performances were notable for acts of extreme masochism

 (on at least one occasion he hammered a nail through his penis,
 while cracking jokes), he also wrote humorous songs, many of them intended as much for children as adults.

He briefly appeared in Michael Tolkin's The New Age as one of the alternate lifestylers encountered by Peter Weller's character.

His latest posthumous piece by Sheree Rose entitled Bobaloon, was shown in Japan, featuring a 20 foot tall inflatable Flanagan complete with pierced penis, ball gag and straitjacket.

Bob is survived by  the love of his life, his wife, fellow artist & dominitrix~ SHEREE ROSE.

all photos courtesy~ sheree rose- copyright