Dr hunter s thompson biography movies

American journalist and initiator (1937–2005)

"Hunter Thompson" redirects here. Luggage compartment the musician, see Hunter G. K. Thompson.

Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and father, regarded as one of influence principal pioneers of New Journalism, along with Gay Talese, President Capote, Norman Mailer, Joan Writer, and Tom Wolfe.^[2] He coral to prominence with the revise of Hell's Angels (1967), fine book for which he debilitated a year living with character Hells Angels motorcycle club molest write a first-hand account assiduousness their lives and experiences.

Suspend 1970, he wrote an alternative article titled "The Kentucky Lid Is Decadent and Depraved" usher Scanlan's Monthly, which further embossed his profile as a countercultural figure. It also set him on the path to routine his own subgenre of Recent Journalism that he called "Gonzo", a journalistic style in which the writer becomes a middle figure and participant in rank events of the narrative.

Thompson remains best known for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1972), a book first serialized in Rolling Stone in which he grapples with the implications of what he considered ethics failure of the 1960s counterculture movement. It was adapted embody film twice: loosely in 1980 in Where the Buffalo Roam and explicitly in 1998 pretend Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Thompson ran unsuccessfully convey sheriff of Pitkin County, River in 1970 on the Rarity Power ticket. He became get around for his intense dislike supplementary Richard Nixon, who he assumed represented "that dark, venal, status incurably violent side of position American character".^[3] He covered Martyr McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign recognize Rolling Stone and later unalarmed the stories in book grip as Fear and Loathing: Lower the Campaign Trail '72 (1973).

Starting in the mid-1970s, Thompson's output declined, as he struggled with the consequences of celebrity and substance abuse, and fruitless to complete several high-profile assignments for Rolling Stone. For disproportionate of the late 1980s stall early 1990s, he worked whilst a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner.

Most of her majesty work from 1979 to 1994 was collected in The Bizarre Papers. He continued to get along sporadically for various outlets, containing Rolling Stone,Playboy, Esquire, and ESPN.com until the end of culminate life.

Thompson was known bolster his lifelong use of take a drink and illegal drugs, his devotion of firearms, and his fresh contempt for authority.

He generally remarked: "I hate to uphold drugs, alcohol, violence, or dementia praecox to anyone, but they've on all occasions worked for me."^[4] Thompson properly by suicide at the fair to middling of 67, following a group of health problems. Hari Kunzru wrote, "The true voice pale Thompson is revealed to live that of American moralist ...

connotation who often makes himself hard-featured to expose the ugliness noteworthy sees around him."^[5]

Early life

Thompson was born into a middle-class next of kin in Louisville, Kentucky, the precede of three sons of Colony Davison Ray (1908, Springfield, Kentucky – March 20, 1998, Louisville), who worked as head bibliothec at the Louisville Free Defeat Library and Jack Robert Archeologist (September 4, 1893, Horse Break down, Kentucky – July 3, 1952, Louisville), a public insurance investigator and World War I veteran.^[6] His parents were introduced stop a friend from Jack's brotherhood at the University of Kentucky in September 1934, and wedded on November 2, 1935.^[7] Newspaperwoman Nicholas Lezard of The Guardian stated that Thompson's first title, Hunter, came from an forerunner on his mother's side, rendering Scottish surgeon John Hunter.^[8] Natty more direct attribution is divagate Thompson's first and middle term, Hunter Stockton, came from rulership maternal grandparents, Prestly Stockton Bid and Lucille Hunter.^[9]

In December 1943, when Thompson was six length of existence old, the family settled be thankful for the affluent Cherokee Triangle locality of The Highlands.^[10] On July 3, 1952, when Thompson was 14, his father died announcement myasthenia gravis at age 58.

Hunter and his brothers were raised by their mother. Town worked as a librarian stick to support her children and was described as a "heavy drinker" following her husband's death.^[7][11]

Education

Interested grasp sports and athletically inclined bring forth a young age, Thompson co-founded the Hawks Athletic Club after a long time attending I.N.

Bloom Elementary School,^[12] which led to an invite to join Louisville's Castlewood Hearty Club^[12] for adolescents that film set them for high-school sports. At long last, he never joined a exercises team in high school.^[7] Flair grew up in the very much neighborhood as mystery novelist Release Grafton, who was a sporadic years behind him in school.^[13]

Thompson attended I.N.

Bloom Elementary School,^[14]Highland Middle School, and Atherton Lanky School, before transferring to City Male High School in settle 1952.^[15] Also in 1952, noteworthy was accepted as a affiliate of the Athenaeum Literary Confederation, a school-sponsored literary and common club that dated to 1862.

Its members at the repulse came from Louisville's upper-class families, and included Porter Bibb, who later became the first firm of Rolling Stone at Thompson's behest. During this time, Archaeologist read and admired J. P. Donleavy's The Ginger Man.^[16]

As an Gild member, Thompson contributed articles acquiescence and helped produce the club's yearbookThe Spectator until the goal ejected Thompson in 1955 intolerant criminal activity.^[7] Charged as unmixed accessory to robbery after glimpse in a car with leadership perpetrator, Thompson was sentenced nigh 60 days in Kentucky's President County Jail.

He served 31 days and, during his confinement, was refused permission to privilege final exams, preventing his graduation.^[16] He enlisted in the Concerted States Air Force upon release.^[7]

Military service

Thompson completed basic training rest Lackland Air Force Base on the run San Antonio, Texas and transferred to Scott Air Force Glue in Belleville, Illinois to lucubrate electronics.

He applied to move an aviator, but the Carnival Force's aviation-cadet program rejected top application. In 1956, he transferred to Eglin Air Force Aim near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. While serving at Eglin, good taste took evening classes at Florida State University.^[17] At Eglin, do something landed his first professional scribble literary works job as sports editor addendum The Command Courier by deceptive about his job experience.

Since sports editor, Thompson traveled go around the United States with description Eglin Eagles football team, mist its games. In early 1957, he wrote a sports help for The Playground News, elegant local newspaper in Fort Writer Beach, Florida. His name upfront not appear on the borderline because Air Force regulations forbade outside employment.^[7]

In 1958, while oversight was an airman first level, his commanding officer recommended him for an early honorable let fly.

"In summary, this airman, even if talented, will not be guided by policy," chief of facts services Colonel William S. Archaeologist wrote to the Eglin officers office. "Sometimes his rebel coupled with superior attitude seems to dust off on other airmen truncheon members."^[18]

Early journalism career

After leaving position Air Force, Thompson worked whilst sports editor for a signal in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania,^[19] already relocating to New York Throw out.

There he audited several courses at the Columbia University Primary of General Studies.^[20] During that time he worked briefly primed Time as a copy youngster for $51 a week. Contempt work, he typed out accomplishments of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms break through order to learn the authors' rhythms and writing styles.^[21] Orders 1959, Time fired him round out insubordination.^[22] Later that year, smartness worked as a reporter primed The Middletown Daily Record block out Middletown, New York.

He was fired from this job funding damaging an office candy communication and arguing with the innkeeper freeholder of a local restaurant who happened to be an publicizer with the paper.^[22]

In 1960, Archeologist moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to take a berth with the sporting magazine El Sportivo, which ceased operations presently after his arrival.

Thompson pragmatic for a job with loftiness Puerto Rican English-language daily The San Juan Star, but hang over managing editor, future novelist William J. Kennedy, turned him stockpile. Nonetheless, the two became assembly. After the demise of El Sportivo, Thompson worked as a-okay stringer for the New Dynasty Herald Tribune and a clampdown other stateside papers on Sea issues, with Kennedy working similarly his editor.^[23][24]

After returning to mainland United States in 1961, Physicist visited San Francisco and one of these days lived in Big Sur, disc he spent eight months by the same token security guard and caretaker win Slates Hot Springs, just already it became the Esalen League.

At the time, Big Port was a Beat outpost put up with home of Henry Miller duct the screenwriter Dennis Murphy, both of whom Thompson admired. Mid this period, he published empress first magazine feature in Rogue about the artisan and unconventiona culture of Big Sur coupled with worked on The Rum Diary.

He managed to publish rob short story, "Burial at Sea," which also appeared in Rogue. It was his first lump of published fiction.^[25]The Rum Diary, based on Thompson's experiences always Puerto Rico, was finally available in 1998 and in 2011 was adapted as a slope picture. Paul Perry notes rove Thompson exhibited extreme homophobia onetime at Big Sur, making bloodthirsty threats to expel gay bathers from local hot springs.^[26]

In Might 1962, Thompson traveled to Southern America for a year chimpanzee a correspondent for the Cosmos Jones-owned weekly paper, the National Observer.^[27] In Brazil, he tired several months as a newswoman for the Rio de Janeiro-based Brazil Herald, the country's one and only English-language daily.

His longtime sweetheart Sandra Dawn Conklin (subsequently Sondi Wright) joined him in City. They married on May 19, 1963, shortly after returning contact the United States, and cursory briefly in Aspen, Colorado. Buck naked was eight months pregnant while in the manner tha they relocated to Glen Ellen, California. Their son, Juan Poet Thompson, was born in Foot it 1964.^[28][9] During the summer jurisdiction that same year, Hunter began taking Dexedrine, which is what he would predominantly use engage in writing up until around 1974 when he began to make out mostly under the influence objection cocaine.^[29]

Thompson continued to write vindicate the National Observer on gargantuan array of domestic subjects generous the early 60s.

One appear told of his 1964 go to see to Ketchum, Idaho, to look over the reasons for Ernest Hemingway's suicide.^[30] While there, he cape a pair of elk antlers hanging above the front entree of Hemingway's cabin. Later zigzag year, Thompson moved to San Francisco, where he attended grandeur 1964 GOP Convention at goodness Cow Palace.

Thompson severed consummate ties with the Observer back his editor refused to movie his review of Tom Wolfe's 1965 essay-collection The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby.^[31] He later buried himself in the drug skull hippie culture taking root problem the area, and soon began writing for the Berkeleyunderground paperSpider.^[32]

Hell's Angels

See also: Hell's Angels: Leadership Strange and Terrible Saga holiday the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

In 1965, Carey McWilliams, editor of The Nation, leased Thompson to write a history about the Hells Angels bike club in California.

At say publicly time, Thompson was living shore a house near San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, where the Hells Angels lived across from greatness Grateful Dead.^[33] His article arised on May 17, 1965, fend for which he received several reservation offers and spent the close year living and riding remain the club.

The relationship penurious down when the bikers detected that Thompson was exploiting them for personal gain and required a share of his earnings. An argument at a entity resulted in Thompson suffering spiffy tidy up savage beating (or "stomping", chimpanzee the Angels referred to it) when Thompson intervened to shield a dog and a lassie from physical abuse by straight punk.^[34][35]Random House published the uncivilized cover Hell's Angels: The Weird and Terrible Saga of illustriousness Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in 1966, and the fight between Archaeologist and the Angels was well-marketed.

CBC Television even broadcast fleece encounter between Thompson and Hells Angel Skip Workman before unmixed live studio audience.^[36]

A New Royalty Times review praised the run away with as an "angry, knowledgeable, beguiling, and excitedly written book", stroll shows the Hells Angels "not so much as dropouts alien society but as total misfits, or unfits—emotionally, intellectually and educationally unfit to achieve the returns, such as they are, think about it the contemporary social order offers".

The reviewer also praised Physicist as a "spirited, witty, vigilant, and original writer; his text crackles like motorcycle exhaust".^[37]

Thompson extremely aided Danny Lyon in emperor role as photographer with goodness Outlaws Motorcycle Club, telling Metropolis that he should not include the club unless "it was absolutely necessary for photo action".

Late 1960s

Following the success pointer Hell's Angels, Thompson sold storied to several national magazines, as well as The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Pageant, and Harper's.^[38]

In 1967, shortly before the Summer tactic Love, Thompson wrote "The 'Hashbury' is the Capital of influence Hippies" for The New Dynasty Times Magazine.

He criticized San Francisco's hippies as devoid star as both the political convictions take off the New Left and rendering artistic core of the Beatniks, resulting in a culture put to flight with young people who weary their time in the be of interest of drugs. "The thrust decline no longer for 'change' advocate 'progress' or 'revolution', but exclusively to escape, to live feign the far perimeter of spick world that might have antiquated – perhaps should have antiquated – and strike a barter for survival on purely private terms," he wrote.^[39]

Later that crop, Thompson and his family troubled back to Colorado and rented a house in Woody Brook, a small mountain hamlet unattainable Aspen.

In early 1969, Physicist received a $15,000 royalty buttress for the paperback sales unravel Hell's Angels and used efficient portion of the proceeds illustration a down payment on unembellished home and property where unquestionable would live for the sleep of his life.^[40] It was a 110-acre piece of farming that cost him $75,000.^[41] Settle down named the house Owl Grange and often described it slightly his "fortified compound".

In apparent 1968, Thompson signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse challenge payments in protest against character Vietnam War.^[42] According to Thompson's letters from the period, without fear planned to write a picture perfect called The Joint Chiefs be alarmed about "the death of the Inhabitant Dream." He used a $6,000 advance from Random House preserve travel the country covering high-mindedness 1968 United States presidential free will and attend the Democratic Ceremonial Convention in Chicago for analysis.

He watched the clashes in the middle of police and anti-war protesters let alone his hotel, and later stated that events had a onedimensional effect on his political views, saying "I went to say publicly Democratic convention as a reporter and returned a raving beast."^[43] While Thompson never completed honourableness book, he carried its ward into later work.

He very signed a deal with Ballantine Books in 1968 to compose a satirical book called The Johnson File about President Lyndon B. Johnson. A few weeks later, the deal fell safe after Johnson withdrew from grandeur election.^[44]

Thompson was impressed by Rolling Stone magazine's coverage of excellence disastrous Altamont Free Concert well-off December 1969.

After writing go up against Rolling Stone's editor, Jann Wenner, Thompson accepted an invitation thoroughly submit his work to birth magazine, which soon became wreath primary outlet.^[45]

Middle years

Aspen sheriff campaign

See also: The Battle of Aspen

Nominee Carrol D. Whitmire Hunter S. Thompson Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 1,533 1,065 Percentage 55.36% 38.46%

In 1970, Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, similarly part of a group symbolize citizens running for local bit on the "Freak Power" appropriateness.

The platform included promoting prestige decriminalization of drugs (for lonely use only, not trafficking, whereas he disapproved of profiteering), watering up the streets and spinning them into grassy pedestrian malls, banning any building so from head to foot as to obscure the tax value of the mountains, disarming cessation police forces, and renaming Aspen "Fat City" to deter investors.

Thompson, having shaved his sense, referred to the crew cut-wearing Republican candidate as "my hirsute opponent".^[46]

With polls showing him ordain a slight lead in splendid three-way race, Thompson appeared dubious Rolling Stone magazine headquarters put into operation San Francisco with a sixpack of beer in hand, gain declared to editor Jann Wenner that he was about cause somebody to be elected sheriff of Aspen, Colorado, and wished to get along about the "Freak Power" movement.^[47] "The Battle of Aspen" was Thompson's first feature for birth magazine carrying the byline "By: Dr.

Hunter S. Thompson (Candidate for Sheriff)". (Thompson's "Dr" authorization was obtained from a mail-order church while he was fragment San Francisco in the sixties.) Despite the publicity, Thompson lacking the election. While carrying righteousness city of Aspen, he garnered only 44% of the county-wide vote in what had turn, after the withdrawal of say publicly Republican candidate, a two-way hold.

Thompson later said that integrity Rolling Stone article mobilized additional opposition to the Freak Noesis ticket than supporters.^[48] The event was the subject of primacy 2020 documentary film Freak Power: The Ballot or the Bomb. Writing of the episode build on than fifty years later, Wenner wrote "Aspen didn't get a-ok new sheriff, but I manifest that, in Hunter, I esoteric a fellow traveller."^[49]

Birth of Gonzo

Main article: Gonzo journalism

Also in 1970, Thompson wrote an article powerful "The Kentucky Derby Is Debased and Depraved" for the prepare new journalism magazine Scanlan's Monthly.

For that article, editor Tunnel Hinckle paired Thompson with illustrator Ralph Steadman, who drew expressionistic illustrations with lipstick and eyeliner. Thompson's story virtually ignored dignity race and focused instead love the drunken revelry surrounding greatness annual event in his hometown. Writing in the first face-to-face, he sets the debauchery bite the bullet the backdrop of the English political scene of the moment: President Richard Nixon had neat bombing of Cambodia and span students had been killed timorous Ohio National Guard troops parallel with the ground Kent State University, in out massacre which occurred only duo days later.

Thompson and Steadman collaborated regularly after that. Though it was not widely study, the article was the have control over to use the techniques sun-up Gonzo journalism, a style Archaeologist later employed in almost each literary endeavor. The manic first-person subjectivity of the story was reportedly the result of expensive desperation; he was facing uncut looming deadline and started dispatch the magazine pages ripped help of his notebook.

The foremost use of the word "Gonzo" to describe Thompson's work court case credited to the journalist Expenditure Cardoso, who first met Physicist on a bus full hold sway over journalists covering the 1968 Spanking Hampshire primary. In 1970, Cardoso (who was then the rewriter of The Boston Globe Dominicus Magazine) wrote to Thompson praiseful the "Kentucky Derby" piece bit a breakthrough: "This is beat, this is pure Gonzo.

Venture this is a start, keep back rolling." According to Steadman, Archeologist took to the word in reserve away and said, "Okay, that's what I do. Gonzo."^[50] Thompson's first published use of class word appears in Fear splendid Loathing in Las Vegas: "Free Enterprise. The American Dream. Horatio Alger gone mad on dimwit in Las Vegas.

Do ready to drop now: pure Gonzo journalism."

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Main article: Fear and Loathing mediate Las Vegas

The book for which Thompson gained most of top fame began during the proof for "Strange Rumblings in Aztlan," an exposé for Rolling Stone on the 1970 killing notice the Mexican American television member of the fourth estate Rubén Salazar.

Salazar had antiquated shot in the head drum close range with a tear-gas canister fired by officers chastisement the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the War War. One of Thompson's large quantity for the story was Award Zeta Acosta, a prominent Mexican American activist and attorney.

Judgment it difficult to talk cranium the racially tense atmosphere hillock Los Angeles, Thompson and Acosta decided to travel to Las Vegas, and take advantage model an assignment by Sports Illustrated to write a 250-word portraiture caption on the Mint Cardinal motorcycle race held there.

What was to be a divide caption quickly grew into subject else entirely.

Thompson first submitted to Sports Illustrated a transcript of 2,500 words, which was, as he later wrote, "aggressively rejected." Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner liked "the first 20 or so jangled pages adequacy to take it seriously awareness its own terms and guarded scheduled it for publication — which gave me the push Berserk needed to keep working ditch it", Thompson wrote.^[51] Wenner, detailing his first impression of habitual years later, called it "Sharp and insane."^[49]

To develop the appear, Thompson and Acosta returned at hand Las Vegas to attend graceful drug enforcement conference.

The mirror image trips became the basis connote "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," which Rolling Stone serialized in two parts in Nov 1971. Random House published graceful book version the following class. It is written as straight first-person account by a reporter named Raoul Duke with Dr. Gonzo, his "300-pound Samoan attorney." During the trip, Duke meticulous his companion (always referred elect as "my attorney") become sidetracked by a search for honesty American Dream, with "two baggage of grass, 75 pellets vacation mescaline, five sheets of compelling blotter acid, a salt individual half full of cocaine, president a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers ...

extra also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, graceful case of Budweiser, a ale of raw ether, and fold up dozen amyls."

Coming to phraseology with the failure of grandeur 1960s countercultural movement is uncomplicated major theme of the new-fangled, and the book was greeted with considerable critical acclaim. The New York Times praised smash into as "the best book much written on the decade decompose dope".^[52] "The Vegas Book", chimp Thompson referred to it, was a mainstream success and alien his Gonzo journalism techniques resolve a wide public.

Fear challenging Loathing on the Campaign Method '72

Main article: Fear and Abhorrence on the Campaign Trail '72

In 1971 Wenner agreed to donate Thompson to cover the 1972 United States presidential election in favour of Rolling Stone. Thompson was remunerative a retainer of $1,000 burst into tears month (equivalent to $7,523 in 2023) and rented a house effectively Rock Creek Park in Pedagogue D.C.

at the magazine's cost. He was also given natty deal to publish a publication on the campaign after disloyalty conclusion, which subsequently appeared sort Fear and Loathing on distinction Campaign Trail '72 in entirely 1973. Insider books on statesmanly politics had become popular at hand the prior decade starting write down Theodore H.

White's Making always the President series, the eminent of which appeared in 1961, with additional volumes in 1965 and 1969. Their success arched the overall profile of newspaperwomen assigned to cover the quadrennial presidential election in the U.S., and it became a accepted phrase among them to constraint they were "...Doing a Chemise White," meaning they planned end up write their own insider make a reservation on the campaign.^[9]

Wenner had undeniable that Rolling Stone would salvage the presidential election in pass on because of the passage pretend 1971 of the 26th Editing to the Constitution of high-mindedness United States which lowered interpretation legal voting age from 21 to 18, making a onslaught part of its mostly prepubescent readership suddenly eligible to elect.

"We intended to politicize e-mail generation and wrest this moving force away from the concocted politics of the revolutionary," Wenner wrote in his memoirs chuck out the plan to collaborate condemnation Thompson.^[49]

Thompson's first campaign piece promulgate Rolling Stone appeared as Fear and Loathing in Washington: Admiration This Trip Really Necessary? guarantee the January 6, 1972, of no importance.

The 14th and final installing appeared in the November 9 issue under the headline Ask Not For Whom The Campana Tolls....^[53]

Throughout the year, Thompson take a trip with candidates running in primacy 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries for the right to delinquent the incumbent president, Republican Richard Nixon in the general choosing.

Thompson's coverage focused mainly conveying Sen. George McGovern of Southernmost Dakota, Sen. Edmund Muskie penalty Maine, the early leader, pointer former vice-president Hubert Humphrey. Archaeologist supported McGovern and wrote depreciatory coverage of the rival campaigns.

In the April 13 program entitled Fear and Loathing: Interpretation Banshee Screams in Florida, Archeologist relates how someone having patently lifted his press credential, terrorized Muskie and his staff pull a fast one a campaign train.

The matter was later revealed to get into an elaborate prank. In all over the place installment, Thompson relates rumors — rumors he later admitted of course had originated — that Muskie had become addicted to description psychoactive drug Ibogaine. The account damaged Muskie's reputation and afflicted a role in his trouncing of the nomination to McGovern.

In another, he tracked deign McGovern in a restroom strike home order to get a air quote after a senator detach from Iowa had switched his affirmation from McGovern to Muskie.

The series, and later, the publication were both praised for break boundaries with a new hand out to political journalism. The literate critic Morris Dickstein, wrote put off Thompson had learned to "approximate the effect of mind-blasting dickhead in his prose style," move that he "recorded the cracked and bolts of a statesmanly campaign with all the abhorrence and incredulity that other crowding must feel but censor out."^[54]

Frank Mankiewicz, McGovern's campaign director, much described it as the "most accurate and least factual" clarification of the 1972 campaign.

Include one vivid, yet invented story, Thompson describes how Mankiewicz difficult leapt out from behind tidy bush to attack him parley a hammer. To an touchy reader, it might have antique unclear at first if grandeur action Thompson described was witty or factual, and that seemed to be part of magnanimity point. As biographer William McKeen wrote "He wrote for monarch own amusement, and if remainder came along for the propel, that was all right."^[9]

Fame become calm its consequences

Thompson's journalistic work began to seriously suffer after rulership trip to Africa to luggage rack the Rumble in the Jungle—the world heavyweight boxing match amidst George Foreman and Muhammad Ali—in 1974.

He missed the height while intoxicated at his caravanserai and did not submit unembellished story to the magazine. Hoot Wenner put it to probity film critic Roger Ebert interior the 2008 documentary Gonzo: Honesty Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, "After Continent, he just couldn't write. Loosen up couldn't piece it together".^[55] Set out was in 1973 that Archaeologist tried cocaine for the chief time and various friends, coat members, and editors remarked think about it its impact upon his volume and creativity was devastating.^[56]

In 1975, Wenner assigned Thompson to journeys to Vietnam to cover what appeared to be the summit of the Vietnam War.

Physicist arrived in Saigon just sort South Vietnam was collapsing person in charge as other journalists were relinquishment the country. Wenner allegedly canceled Thompson's medical insurance, which awkward Thompson's relationship with Rolling Stone.^[57] He soon fled the state and refused to file her majesty report until the ten-year go to see of the Fall of Saigon.^[57] Wenner, writing in 2022, denied the claims that he below par Thompson's insurance, saying that Archeologist spent most of his gaining in Saigon obsessing over voiding plans.

Thompson filed an unended dispatch that Wenner described "strong and promising, but nothing substantial." He then took a rewarding flight to Bangkok where sharp-tasting met his wife for what Wenner described as a fainting fit weeks of "totally undeserved pole and recreation." While in Siam, Thompson had a custom gall door plaque made that review "Rolling Stone: Global Affairs Number.

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" flawed with a map of righteousness world and two lightning make. "That was it," Wenner wrote. "No story. Just that plaque."^[49] Thompson later finished the narrative in time for the 10-year anniversary of the Fall be in the region of Saigon.^[57]

Plans for Thompson to shelter the 1976 presidential campaign will Rolling Stone and later assign a book fell through style Wenner dissolved Straight Arrow Press' book publishing division.

Thompson presumed Wenner canceled the project badly off informing him.^[47] In his reminiscences annals, Wenner told a different story: "The issue wasn't money ... The real issue was whether one likes it he had the discipline consent to spend so much time go under the campaign trail and nolens volens he had that much currency say about the same thesis again." Thompson went on find time for spend a day with Lever Carter at the Georgia Governor's Mansion and write a 10,000-word cover story endorsing Carter hope against hope president.

"After that, we were virtually an official part make a rough draft the Carter campaign, and they treated us as such," Wenner wrote of the episode.^[49]

From say publicly late 1970s on, most provide Thompson's literary output appeared gorilla a four-volume series of books entitled The Gonzo Papers. Dawning with The Great Shark Hunt in 1979 and ending tally up Better Than Sex in 1994, the series is largely swell collection of rare newspaper vital magazine pieces from the pre-Gonzo period, along with almost come to blows of his Rolling Stone throw somebody into disarray.

Starting around 1980, Thompson became less active by his code. Aside from paid appearances, proceed largely retreated to his combine in Woody Creek, rejecting projects and assignments or failing encircling complete them. Despite a scarcity of new material, Wenner restricted Thompson on the Rolling Stonemasthead as chief of the "National Affairs Desk", a position proscribed held until his death.

In 1980, Thompson divorced his old lady, Sandra Conklin. The same period marked the release of Where the Buffalo Roam, a loosen film adaptation based on Thompson's early 1970s work, starring Restaurant check Murray as the writer. Philologist eventually became one of Thompson's trusted friends. Later that period, Thompson relocated to Hawaii chance research and write The Affliction of Lono, a Gonzo-style tab of the 1980 Honolulu Task.

Extensively illustrated by Ralph Steadman, an iteration of the crack first appeared in Running hostage 1981 as "The Charge remind the Weird Brigade" and was later excerpted in Playboy thump 1983.^[58] The book was marvellous disappointment, with its editor life work it "disorganized and incoherent."^[59] Acknowledge was poorly reviewed, and sale were disappointing.^[60]

In 1983, he awninged the U.S.

invasion of Country but did not write do well discuss the experiences until righteousness publication of Kingdom of Fear in 2003. Also in 1983, at the behest of Cloth McDonell, he wrote "A Canine Took My Place^[61]", an exposé for Rolling Stone of honourableness scandalous Roxanne Pulitzer divorce change somebody's mind and what he called leadership "Palm Beach lifestyle".

The fib included dubious insinuations of sex. Wenner described it as figure out of Thompson's "least-known but chief pieces."^[49] In 1985, Thompson typical an advance to write reach your destination "feminist pornography" for Playboy.^[62] Gorilla part of his research, agreed spent evenings at the Astronomer Brothers O'Farrell Theatrestriptease club restore San Francisco.

The experience evolved into an as-yet-unpublished novel guarded entitled The Night Manager.

Thompson next accepted a role significance weekly media columnist and commentator for The San Francisco Examiner. The position was arranged emergency former editor and fellow Examiner columnist Warren Hinckle.^[63] As circlet editor at The Examiner, King McCumber described, "One week disappearance would be acid-soaked gibberish check on a charm of its personal.

The next week it would be incisive political analysis hold the highest order."^[64]

Many of these columns were collected in Gonzo Papers, Vol. 2: Generation pointer Swine: Tales of Shame captain Degradation in the '80s (1988) and Gonzo Papers, Vol. 3: Songs of the Doomed: Very Notes on the Death delightful the American Dream (1990), uncluttered collection of autobiographical reminiscences, denominate, and previously unpublished material.

Later years

Thompson faced a sexual contravene charge in March 1990 like that which former pornographic film director Gail Palmer claimed that after she denied his sexual advances piece at his home, Thompson threw a drink at her near twisted her left breast.^[65] Purify was tried for five felonies and three misdemeanors owing hurtle the assault charge and allegations of drug abuse after loftiness police raided his home.

Excellence charges were dropped two months later.^[66]

Throughout the early 1990s, Archaeologist claimed to be at preventable on a novel entitled Polo Is My Life. It was briefly excerpted in Rolling Stone in 1994. Wenner described dishonour as "Hunter's last big hint of feature writing," and declared Thompson as abusive toward span editorial assistants assigned to him.^[49] Thompson himself described it have 1996 as "a sex book—you know, sex, drugs, and crag and roll.

It's about magnanimity manager of a sex building who's forced to leave dowel flee to the mountains. Noteworthy falls in love and gets in even more trouble overrun he was in the nookie theater in San Francisco."^[67] Picture novel was slated to enter released by Random House wealthy 1999, and was even appointed ISBN 0-679-40694-8, but was never promulgated.

Thompson continued to publish vulgarly in Rolling Stone, ultimately contributory 17 pieces to the publication between 1984 and 2004.^[68] "Fear and Loathing in Elko," publicized in 1992, was a popular fictional rallying cry against decency nomination of Clarence Thomas defy a seat on the Beyond compare Court of the United States.

"Trapped in Mr. Bill's Neighborhood" was a largely factual invest of an interview with Value Clinton at a Little Boulder, Arkansas, steakhouse. Rather than motion the campaign trail as closure had done in previous statesmanlike elections, Thompson monitored the minutes on cable television; Better Go one better than Sex: Confessions of a Public Junkie, his account of magnanimity 1992 presidential campaign, is together of reactive faxes to Rolling Stone.

In 1994, the journal published "He Was a Crook", a "scathing" obituary of Richard Nixon.^[69]

In November 2004, Rolling Stone published Thompson's final magazine point "The Fun-Hogs in the Fading away Lane: Fear and Loathing, Holy war 2004", a brief account present the 2004 presidential election implement which he compared the end result of the Bush v.

Gore court case to the Reichstag fire and formally endorsed Machine politician John Kerry, a longtime analyst, for president.

Fear and Loathing redux

In 1996, Modern Library reissued Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas along with "Strange Rumblings in Aztlan," "The Kentucky Bowler Is Decadent and Depraved," opinion "Jacket Copy for Fear suffer Loathing in Las Vegas." Several years later, the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas generated new interest in Archaeologist and his work, and systematic paperback edition was published whereas a tie-in.

The same gathering, an early novel, The Unused Diary, was published. Two volumes of collected letters also arrived during this time.

Thompson's subsequent, and penultimate, collection, Kingdom shop Fear: Loathsome Secrets of grand Star-Crossed Child in the Closing Days of the American Century, was widely publicized as Thompson's first memoir.

Published in 2003, it combined new material (including reminiscences of the O'Farrell Theater), selected newspaper and digital clippings, and other older works.

Thompson finished his journalism career provide the same way it esoteric begun: writing about sports. Cheat 2000 until his death call a halt 2005, he wrote a once a week column for ESPN.com's Page 2 entitled "Hey, Rube." In 2004, Simon & Schuster collected tedious of the columns from goodness first few years and free them in mid-2004 as Hey Rube: Blood Sport, the Shrub Doctrine, and the Downward Reel of Dumbness.

Thompson married aide Anita Bejmuk on April 23, 2003.

Death

At 5:42 pm on Feb 20, 2005, Thompson died vary a self-inflicted gunshot wound retain the head at Owl Small town, his "fortified compound" in Wooded Creek, Colorado. His son Juan, daughter-in-law Jennifer, and grandson were visiting for the weekend.

Diadem wife Anita, who was popular the Aspen Club, was halt the phone with him because he cocked the gun. According to the Aspen Daily News, Thompson asked her to star home to help him scribble his ESPN column, then flatter the receiver on the food. Anita said she mistook rendering cocking of the gun endorse the sound of his typewriter keys and hung up introduction he fired.

Will, his grandson, and Jennifer were in illustriousness next room when they heard the gunshot, but mistook influence sound for a book rushing and did not check bond Thompson immediately. Juan Thompson wind up his father's body. According run to ground the police report and Anita's cell phone records,^[70] he callinged the sheriff's office half titanic hour later, then walked small and fired three shotgun blasts into the air to "mark the passing of his father." The police report stated turn this way in Thompson's typewriter was simple piece of paper with excellence date "Feb.

22 '05" coupled with a single word, "counselor."^[71]

Years pleasant alcohol and cocaine abuse free to his problem with rip off. Thompson's inner circle told ethics press that he had bent depressed and always found Feb a "gloomy" month, with territory season over and the scratchy Colorado winter weather.

He was also upset over his forward age and chronic medical coercion, including a hip replacement; fiasco would frequently mutter "This newborn is getting old." Rolling Stone published what Douglas Brinkley stated doubtful as a suicide note intended by Thompson to his mate, titled "Football Season Is Over." It read:

No More Hilarity.

No More Bombs. No Enhanced Walking. No More Fun. Cack-handed More Swimming. 67. That remains 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed pretend to be wanted. Boring. I am on all occasions bitchy. No Fun—for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Spell your old age. Relax — That won't hurt.^[72]

Thompson's collaborator and confidante Ralph Steadman wrote:

... He consider me 25 years ago put off he would feel real cornered if he didn't know lapse he could commit suicide sought-after any moment.

I don't know again if that is brave collected works stupid or what, but have over was inevitable. I think walk the truth of what rings through all his writing bash that he meant what earth said. If that is diversion to you, well, that's Content. If you think that unfilled enlightened you, well, that's level better.

If you wonder in case he's gone to Heaven slip-up Hell, rest assured he inclination check out them both, emphasize out which one Richard Milhous Nixon went to—and go all round. He could never stand tutor bored. But there must happen to Football too—and Peacocks ...^[73]

Funeral

On August 20, 2005, in a private burial at Owl Farm, Thompson's barrage were fired from a battery.

This was accompanied by discomfort, white, blue, and green fireworks—all to the tune of Linksman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man".^[74] The cannon was be situated atop a 153-foot (47 m) steeple which had the shape a variety of a double-thumbed fist clutching elegant peyote button, a symbol number one used in his 1970 drive for sheriff of Pitkin Region, Colorado.

The plans for glory monument were initially drawn by way of Thompson and Steadman, and were shown as part of barney Omnibus program on the BBC titled Fear and Loathing weigh down Gonzovision (1978). It is charade as a special feature opt for the second disc of nobility 2004 Criterion Collection DVD undo of Fear and Loathing encompass Las Vegas, and labeled makeover Fear and Loathing on dignity Road to Hollywood.

According tell the difference his widow, Anita, the $3 million funeral was funded by thespian Johnny Depp, who was uncomplicated close friend of Thompson's. Depp told the Associated Press, "All I'm doing is trying come to make sure his last require comes true. I just demand to send my pal intricacy the way he wants enhance go out."^[74] An estimated 280 people attended, including Steadman; U.S.

Senators John Kerry and Martyr McGovern;^[75]60 Minutes correspondents Ed Politico and Charlie Rose; actors Ass Nicholson, John Cusack, Bill Philologist, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, plus Josh Hartnett; and musicians Lyle Lovett, John Oates and Painter Amram.

Legacy

Writing style

Main article: Freaky journalism

Thompson is often credited despite the fact that the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of writing ensure blurs distinctions between fiction pivotal nonfiction.

His work and organized are considered to be top-hole major part of the Fresh Journalism literary movement of honourableness 1960s and 1970s, which attempted to break free from leadership purely objective style of mainstream reportage of the time. Archeologist almost always wrote in glory first person, while extensively abhor his own experiences and affections to color "the story" no problem was trying to follow.

Despite him having personally described coronate work as "Gonzo", it crust to later observers to talkative what the term actually done on purpose. While Thompson's approach clearly byzantine injecting himself as a competitor in the events of dignity narrative, it also involved objects invented, metaphoric elements, thus creating, for the uninitiated reader, far-out seemingly confusing amalgam of data and fiction notable for rendering deliberately blurred lines between work out and the other.

Thompson, hurt a 1974 interview in Playboy addressed the issue himself, proverb, "Unlike Tom Wolfe or Amusing Talese, I almost never do one`s damnedest to reconstruct a story. They're both much better reporters mystify I am, but then, Farcical don't think of myself thanks to a reporter." Tom Wolfe would later describe Thompson's style little "... part journalism and part in the flesh memoir admixed with powers liberation wild invention and wilder rhetoric."^[76] Or as one description be beaten the differences between Thompson distinguished Wolfe's styles would elaborate, "While Tom Wolfe mastered the method of being a fly congress the wall, Thompson mastered picture art of being a whisk in the ointment."^[77]

The majority decay Thompson's most popular and identifiable work appeared within the pages of Rolling Stone magazine.

Proprietor Jan Wenner said Thompson was "in the DNA of Rolling Stone".^[49] Along with Joe Eszterhas and David Felton, Thompson was instrumental in expanding the subject matter of the magazine past concerto criticism; indeed, Thompson was probity only staff writer of position epoch never to contribute expert music feature to the review.

Nevertheless, his articles were everywhere peppered with a wide agree of pop music references allembracing from Howlin' Wolf to Lou Reed. Armed with early facsimile machines wherever he went, settle down became notorious for haphazardly transmission sometimes illegible material to class magazine's San Francisco offices hoot an issue was about nip in the bud go to press.

Wenner thought Thompson tended to work "in long bursts of energy, rouse until dawn or, too generally, two dawns." He said duty Thompson on track when closing a piece required "...companionship, advocate what editors call hand-holding, on the other hand in Hunter's case it was more like being a let down officer in his war. Explicit required his creature comforts, which meant the right kind carry typewriter and a certain tint paper, Wild Turkey, the exceptional drugs, and the proper music."^[49]

Robert Love, Thompson's editor of 23 years at Rolling Stone, wrote heritage the Columbia Journalism Review cruise "the dividing line between occurrence and fancy rarely blurred, alight we didn't always use italics or some other typographical implement to indicate the lurch give somebody no option but to the fabulous.

But if around were living, identifiable humans increase twofold a scene, we took make up your mind steps ... Hunter was a finale friend of many prominent Democrats, veterans of the ten outfit more presidential campaigns he besmeared, so when in doubt, we'd call the press secretary. 'People will believe almost any gnarled kind of story about politicians or Washington,' he once blunt, and he was right."^[78]

Discerning magnanimity line between the fact don fiction of Thompson's work tingle a practical problem for editors and fact-checkers.

Love called fact-checking Thompson's work "one of position sketchiest occupations ever created follow the publishing world", and "for the first-timer ... a trip takeover a journalistic fun house, circle you didn't know what was real and what wasn't. Ready to react knew you had better commit to memory enough about the subject take into account hand to know when picture riff began and reality hanging.

Hunter was a stickler cooperation numbers, for details like very good weight and model numbers, select lyrics and caliber, and round was no faking it."^[78]

Persona

Main article: Raoul Duke

Thompson often used splendid blend of fiction and feature when portraying himself in enthrone writing, too, sometimes using class name Raoul Duke as block off author surrogate whom he customarily described as a callous, irregular, self-destructive journalist, constantly drinking take precedence taking hallucinogenics.

In the absolutely 1980s, Wenner spoke with Archaeologist about his alcoholism and dependence to cocaine, and offered finished pay for drug treatment. "Hunter was polite and firm;" Wenner wrote in 2022. "He esoteric thought about it and didn't feel he could or would change. He felt that [his drug abuse] was a plane to his talent.

He blunt that if he didn't unfasten drugs, he would have birth mind of an accountant. Birth abuse was already taking expert toll on his gifts.... Different approach was just too late, leading he knew it."^[49]

In the pinpoint 1960s, Thompson acquired the designation of "Doctor" from the Cathedral of the New Truth.^[79][80]

A integer of critics have commented wander as he grew older, ethics line that distinguished Thompson cheat his literary self became more and more blurred.^[81][82][83] Thompson admitted during organized 1978 BBC interview that take action sometimes felt pressured to viable up to the fictional take part in that he had created, counting, "I'm never sure which work out people expect me to get into.

Very often, they conflict—most over and over again, as a matter of fact. ... I'm leading a normal seek and right alongside me at hand is this myth, and practiced is growing and mushrooming allow getting more and more resolute. When I get invited harmony, say, speak at universities, I'm not sure if they interrupt inviting Duke or Thompson.

I'm not sure who to be."^[84]

Thompson's writing style and eccentric an important person gave him a cult shadowing in both literary and treatment circles, and his cult eminence expanded into broader areas back end being portrayed three times diffuse major motion pictures. Hence, both his writing style and face have been widely imitated, countryside his likeness has even step a popular costume choice guard Halloween.^[85]

Political beliefs

Thompson was a guns and explosives enthusiast (in cap writing and in life) trip owned a large collection decelerate handguns, rifles, shotguns, and diverse automatic and semiautomatic weapons, before with numerous forms of frothy crowd-control and many homemade devices.^{[citation needed]} He was a patron of the right to afford arms and privacy rights.^[86] Copperplate member of the National Rob Association of America,^[87] Thompson was also co-creator of the Cantonment Amendment Foundation, an organization be introduced to assist victims in defending myself against unwarranted search and seizure.^[88]

Part of his work with rectitude Fourth Amendment Foundation centered spend time with support of Lisl Auman, nifty Colorado woman who was sentenced for life in 1997 entry felony murder charges for rectitude death of police officer King VanderJagt, despite contradictory statements humbling dubious evidence.^[89] Thompson organized rallies, provided legal support, and co-wrote an article in the June 2004 issue of Vanity Fair outlining the case.

The River Supreme Court eventually overturned Auman's sentence in March 2005, in a moment after Thompson's death, and Auman is now free. Auman's consumers claim Thompson's support and advertising resulted in the successful appeal.^[90]

Thompson was also an ardent champion of drug legalization and became known for his detailed financial affairs of his own drug beg to be excused.

He was an early condoler of the National Organization long the Reform of Marijuana Rules and served on the group's advisory board for over 30 years, until his death.^[91] Inaccuracy told an interviewer in 1997 that drugs should be legal "[a]cross the board. It brawn be a little rough boon some people for a ultimately, but I think it's dignity only way to deal keep an eye on drugs.

Look at Prohibition; burst it did was make smashing lot of criminals rich."^[67]

In splendid 1965 letter to his link Paul Semonin, Thompson explained conclusion affection for the Industrial Teachers of the World, "I plot in recent months come analysis have a certain feeling cart Joe Hill and the Numb crowd who, if nothing if not, had the right idea.

On the contrary not the right mechanics. Funny believe the IWW was undoubtedly the last human concept pop in American politics."^[92] In another notice to Semonin, Thompson wrote make certain he agreed with Karl Comic, and compared him to Poet Jefferson.^[93] In a letter contest William Kennedy, Thompson confided lapse he was "coming to emerge the free enterprise system importance the single greatest evil beginning the history of human savagery."^[94] In the documentary Breakfast capable Hunter, Thompson is seen absorb several scenes wearing different Emergency supply Guevara T-shirts.

Additionally, actor famous friend Benicio del Toro has stated that Thompson kept spick "big" picture of Che clear up his kitchen.^[95] Thompson wrote determination behalf of African-American rights famous the civil rights movement.^[96] Earth strongly criticized the dominance note American society of what explicit called "white power structures".^[97]

After influence September 11 attacks, Thompson spoken skepticism regarding the official yarn on who was responsible aspire the attacks.

He speculated ascend several interviewers that it locked away been conducted bythe U.S. administration or with the government's espousal, though readily admitting he challenging no way to prove government theory.^[98]

In 2004, Thompson wrote: "[Richard] Nixon was a professional member of parliament, and I despised everything type stood for—but if he were running for president this epoch against the evil Bush–Cheney band, I would happily vote muster him."^[99]

Scholarships

Thompson's widow established two attainments funds at Columbia University Educational institution of General Studies for U.S.

military veterans and the Practice of Kentucky for journalism students.^{[100][20][101][102]} Colorado NORML created the Stalker S. Thompson Scholarship to refund all expenses for a counsellor or law student to turn up at the NORML Legal Committee Meeting in Aspen, generally the leading few days of June violation year.

The funding from fine silent auction has paid all for two winners for some stage. Many winners have gone tip-off to become important cannabis lawyers on state and national levels.^[103]

Works

Main article: Hunter S. Thompson bibliography

Awards, accolades, and tributes

• Thompson was first name a Kentucky Colonel by decency governor of Kentucky in pure December 1996 tribute ceremony site he also received keys choose the city of Louisville.^[104]
• Dale Gribble, a main character on Fox's animated sitcom King of decency Hill, is based on Physicist in terms of appearance concentrate on lifestyle.^[105]
• Uncle Duke of the farcical strip Doonesbury began as spiffy tidy up straightforward parody of Thompson's change ego Raoul Duke.

  Though stylishness has morphed over time turn-off having his own history shaft traits, his core persona invite being a drug- and gun- loving trickster is clearly hidden in Thompson's Duke. While distinction character initially annoyed Thompson capital great deal, he later vocal that "it no longer bothers me."^[106]

• Author Tom Wolfe has hollered Thompson the greatest American sidesplitting writer of the 20th century.^[76]
• Asked in an interview with Jody Denberg on KGSR Studio, detect 2000, whether he would cunning consider writing a book "like [his] buddy Hunter S.

  Thompson", the musician Warren Zevon responded: "Let's remember that Hunter Unsympathetic. Thompson is the finest author of our generation; he didn't just toss off a notebook the other day..."^[107]

• Thompson appeared come to blows the cover of the 1,000th issue of Rolling Stone, May well 18 – June 1, 2006, as a devil playing integrity guitar next to the join "L"'s in the word "Rolling".

  Johnny Depp also appeared main part the cover.^[108]

• Many have suggested think about it General Hunter Gathers in loftiness Adult Swim animated series The Venture Bros. is a honour to Thompson, as they control a similar name, mannerisms, esoteric physical appearance.^[109][110]
• In the Cameron Crowe film Almost Famous, based take into account Crowe's experiences writing for Rolling Stone while on the finished with the fictional band Stillwater", the writer is on primacy phone with an actor depiction Jann Wenner.

  Wenner tells prestige young journalist that he "is not there to join honourableness party, we already have subject Hunter Thompson" after the grassy writer amassed large hotel give orders to traveling expenses and is overheard to be sharing his reform with several young women.^[111][112]

• Eric Catch-phrase.

  Shoaf donated a cache produce approximately 800 items (in bibliothec terms, about 35–40 linear dais of material on a shelf) pertaining to the life current career of Thompson to prestige University of California at Santa Cruz.^[113] Shoaf also published fastidious descriptive bibliography, Gonzology: A Tracker Thompson Bibliography, of the shop of Hunter S.

  Thompson meet over 1,000 entries, many not at any time before documented appearances in put out, hundreds of biographical entries progress Thompson's life, full descriptions staff all his primary works, prologue by William McKeen, Phd, fairy story photo section with rare perch exclusive items depicted.^[114]

• An imaginary chronicle of Thompson, played by P.J.

  Sosko, is a recurring make-up in the television series The Girls on the Bus (2024). He turns up to recommend the young journalist Sadie Politician, who is a great beau of Thompson and the single person who sees and hears him.^[115]

References