5 Writers that are Gonzo as Fuck
source: urbandictionary.com
Hunter Thompson: This guy came up with the genre, so he’s gotta top the list. His wild rides through the 60s and 70s were some of the first books that made me want to write. His wildly exaggerated scenes are cut through with piercing honesty like I’d never seen before and it made me believe in the pen’s ability to do what very little else can in this crazy world – and that’s tell the truth.
Jack Kerouac: Kerouac inspired me so much he made me hitchhike across the States when I was 19. His flowy, crazy, funny, stylish prose makes the everyday lives of dropouts seem like the lives of princes and kings. Life ain’t about how much you got, but how you see it.
Ken Kesey: If you’re willing to try experimental antipsychotic drugs and electroshock therapy for your writing, then you deserve a place on this list. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is this dude’s only good book, but it’s one of the greatest pieces of hippie culture out there.
Michael Herr: This guy followed the pen all the way to the front lines in Vietnam and saw the most fucked-up shit you can see. I’ve read a lot of books on the Vietnam War but none come close to the acerbic truths and painfully human depictions this guy manages, all the while styling some of the coolest damn writing you’ll ever read.
Charles Bukowski: Never has alcoholism seemed so appealing and disgusting at the same time. Bukowski turns the dregs of society into Shakespearean characters with his tales of hard living, hard boozing and immoral adventures. You’ll feel like you need a shower after, but damn that guy can bring a tear to your eye with the beauty of his prose.
Also rans – These guys ain’t writers but if you’re into Gonzo, then you should check out:
Louis Theroux: A bumbling British version of Gonzo, this guy interviews the craziest fringes of society.
David Choe: His documentary series Thumbs Up was another inspiration for my ’09 hitchhiking trip.
Andrew Callaghan: All Gas No Brakes and Channel 5 are keeping the Gonzo flame alive, thank fuck.
Old school VICE: Check out their old videos on Youtube from like 2007-2012 – classic Gonzo journalism at its finest.
Read hard. Read wide. Read free.