Hunter S. Thompson

Recently, I was reminded of this renegade gonzo writer with the recent release of the group The Band of Heathens. They dedicate the song "LA County Blues" to his memory. I was introduced to his writings when I was around 18 years old. He set for me an example of not putting up with the hypocrisy of governments and institutions. This of course put me in a course that was ripe for strife. Some things are are worth fighting against like the falsehoods put out by a corrupt entertainment system. Motivational posters have made an impact to some. Here are some based on famous sayings of HST. I saw him lecture back in 1988. He was late, of course, but he came out with a quart bottle of Chivas Regal and a toy that he picked up at the airport. He rambled incoherently for a hour and half. He was exactly as portrayed in his books. You can't be more out front than that. It is a real shame that he ended his life the way he did though.

The strange connection between Hunter S. Thompson and the Grateful Dead goes back to two different books both written at the same time: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolf and Hells Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs by Hunter S. Thompson. The two authors met and arranged a meeting between the Hells Angels and The Merry Pranksters at Ken Kesey's place at La Honda. This party forged a bond that continued for many years after the fact. The meeting of Bikers and Hippies took a huge thumping at Altamont, but you will always count on some bikers as being deadheads.

Music for today:

Bob Dylan
February-March 1961
East Orange, NJ
Gleason Tape

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
November 30, 2008
Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
listen here (lots of christmas music throughout performance)

Fleetwood Mac
January 30, 1970
The Warehouse
New Orleans, LA
listen here (put in the search engine Fleetwood Mac)

Hot Buttered Rum
November 20, 2008
East Hartford Community Center
East Hartford, CT
listen here (not the same recording that I have)

David Hidalgo & Louie Perez
November 29, 2008
State Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
listen here (Put David Hidalgo in search engine on site. It will come up as the first show.)

Grateful Dead
March 28, 1993
Knickerbocker Arena
Albany, NY
listen here