EVEL Knievel RIP

[TroyGFC]

EVEL Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, has died at the age of 69.

He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.

Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.

His death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel.

Immortalised in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil", Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.

Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years, he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products.

Thousands came to Butte, Montana, every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."

His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.

[Pseudo]

... He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980. ...

Rest in Pieces, Evel.

[smac]

... He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980. ...

Rest in Pieces, Evel.

Indeed, they can scatter his remains prior to cremation.

[rogernumber10]

Every boy, of a certain age group of which I'm in themiddle of, all wanted to be Evel at some stage when they were growing up. ICON of the 70s

[JAS]

Very sad loss...a true showman...RIP

My current tv listings mag has a Christmas preview...one show they were planning to put on is 'Richard Hammond meets Evel Kinievel'. Hope they decide to go ahead and show it as a tribute.

Regards
JAS

[therisingblues]

He sure got a lot of living done in those 69 years.
How he ever got back on a motorbike, let alone attempt a stunt after some of those hideous crashes is unbelievable. Some people were just cut from a different tree to the rest of us normal folk I think.
Had a browse on You Tube and there is plenty on there, seeing a human body bouncing around like a sack of rubber balls doesn't look natural somehow. I like this little tribute a kid put together where the great stuntman gets up pretty well after slamming his bike, though it is still very reminiscent of the Caesar Palace crash.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=fxgm5uM64hc&feature=related

Something I am sure all us who can remember Evel can relate to.

[JAS]

Excellent clip theri...well spotted

Did you take a look at his other two clips...'Rocket Jump' and 'Great Escape'...very funny. I can remember my kid brother desperatly wanting one of those stunt bikes when they first appeared back in the 70's.

Regards
JAS

[therisingblues]

Just had a look now JAS. Poms are funny people IMO. Loved it!
I'll try not to get too far off track by saying that it shows what a great character Evel was to have inspired such tributes.

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

EVEL Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, has died at the age of 69.

Yeah, I can read the paper too!

Reckon his hearse is gonna attempt to jump 10 buses?