Downright Insane Facts About Hunter S. Thompson
Downright Insane Facts About Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson: The man behind Gonzo Journalism and a lifetime of crazy escapades. He was also a brilliant writer and journalist, balancing a career with the kind of antics that would get anyone banned from work ever again.
So, from out of the legend that is Hunter S. Thompson, here are 42 facts about his storied life.
1. Always Thinking Outside the Box
When he was a teenager, Thompson allegedly made an electric go-kart out of a washing machine engine. Sadly, the detergent wasn’t included.
2. Christians Eat Pork, Right?
Back in the early 1960s, Thompson lived in Big Sur, California. At one point, a group of religious fanatics moved next door, much to Thompson’s fury.
He voiced his disapproval by nailing a wild boar’s head to their door and putting the same boar’s entrails in their car.
There’s no record of how quickly they moved again, but since Thompson only had to do it once, we’re betting it was that same week.
3. We Were Somewhere in the Atmosphere
For anyone who suspects Thompson might have slowly grown into his rebel persona, things actually began as early as high school. After he was apprehended for theft while in his senior year, the teenaged Thompson was told to either pick prison or army service. Thompson joined the US Air Force, studying and holding a few different positions until he was honorably discharged in 1958. In one of the greatest understatements ever said, his commanding officer recommended Thompson’s discharge, explaining that “this airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy.”
4. Civil Rights Supporter
Throughout his life, Thompson was an avid supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. According to actor Benicio del Toro (who co-starred in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Thompson kept a large picture of Che Guevara in his kitchen. He also wrote critically of the “white power structures” that existed in American society, and in a letter to his friend, he compared Karl Marx to Thomas Jefferson.
