GONZOTODAY EXCLUSIVE FIRST RELEASE!!! Never Before Published Hunter S. Thompson Photographs and Faxes from Kevin Simonson

Clay:

My office is literally full of archives and I thought it was about time to share some of this stuff with members of the Gonzo Tribe…Some of these items you might recognize but a lot of these pictures and letters and faxes and signed books have never been published anywhere.

-Kevin Simonson

FROM KEVIN:

Hunter & K.P. — Hunter and me at Owl Farm. Hunter’s left hand was wrapped in gauze after he accidentally dropped his cigarette into a steaming vat of chili. He quickly tried to retrieve the cigarette but he ended up scolding two of his fingers. — at HST Owl Creek Farm.

A little background: I first met Hunter in 1990 when I booked him to speak at the University of Nebraska. From that initial meeting we formed a professional relationship and friendship. Over the years I made several visits to Owl Farm and spent countless hours on the phone. Most of the phone calls took place after 2am and my interaction with Hunter created a few problems.

One time he stole the robe from a Lincoln hotel room and I got stuck with the bill. What else? Oh…my fiancee during these “Gonzo Years” pulled the plug on our wedding plans and left the state (after spending six days at Owl Farm…more on that later).

Hunter somehow always made it up to me, though. Simon & Schuster sent me an advance copy of “Kingdom of Fear” and Hunter had included me on his “Kingdom of Fear Honor Roll”.

I met Ralph Steadman in Aspen a few years later and continue to correspond periodically and see him when he makes it to the States. In 2005, I attended Hunter’s Memorial at Owl Farm.[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=”4″]

Biography of Kevin Simonson

Author/Co-Editor of the book “Conversations with Hunter S. Thompson” (University Press of Mississippi) with Beef Torrey. The book features his interviews with Hunter that appeared in the pages of SPIN, HUSTLER and The Village Voice. The book also contains interviews from Playboy, Columbia Journalism Review, Salon.com by such notables as Douglas Brinkley, William McKeen and Curtis Wilkie.

Contributed interview (from SPIN magazine) to “Ancient Gonzo Wisdom” (De Capo Press) by Anita Thompson

Contributed pictures to “Outlaw Journalist” (W.W. Norton & Co.) by William McKeen

Wrote front page feature for the “Aspen Daily Times” during Hunter’s “sex and drugs” trial in 1990.

His Ralph Steadman profiles have appeared in the pages of RAYGUN, Shout!, Omaha City Weekly and The Reader.