In the history of American journalism, Hunter S. Thompson stands out. His unique brand of “gonzo journalism” made him a counterculture icon. But did you know his first book has a strong connection to Central Valley? The wild story behind Hunter S. Thompson’s trip to Madera County, today on KVPR’s Central Valley Roots.
The year was 1965. Thompson was broke living in San Francisco. That’s when The Nation paid him $100 to write an article about the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang. The article was a success, and Thompson got to work transforming it into a book, “Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang,” was published in 1967.
He wound up shadowing the gang and befriended many of their members. So when they planned to gather their members at Bass Lake for a three day “picnic” in July 1965, Thompson followed along in his car…