Hunter S. Thompson Interview on Gonzo Journalism (April 16, 1975)

Harrison Salisbury sits down with Dr. Thompson for an interview discussing his writing style and process. Part of the journalism interview series "Behind the Lines."

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[luckyswine]

This could be the best Hunter interview I've seen. He's thoughtful, lucid, not defensive and clearly respects his interviewer.

[Hamigal]

A man who chose to live life to the fullest extreme without guilt or shame. RIP Hunter

[MatSallehTV]

My recent interest is watching interviews from the 60-80s. They are so interesting and captivating. They are normally very composed conversations and it is amazing to see legends in their younger days.

[ShakeDelusion]

"I'm a word freak. I treat words like music."

[gonzorillamusicmoviescomed]

What makes this interview so great is that Salisbury asks questions that really engage and put Hunter to the test.. and his answers are revelatory and more down to earth and direct than I've ever heard.

[joshuanipps]

I love the smile he gets on his face the first time the phrase "gonzo journalism" comes up.

[howlingwolf]

Hunter Thompson was like the Lennon or Hendrix of journalism. He was a raw and intelligent man that screamed honesty and humanity. He wore his flaws without shame or pride and did enough drugs to kill several bull elephants.

[reprehensiblereptile]

Hunter Thompson was an American treasure, unappreciated, underrated, and terribly misunderstood. He was honest, at least. And most "journalists" now, can't even remotely maintain honesty.

[CULtSHORt]

The world has lost the Hunter Thompson breed of human and its a real dull place because of it. It was a very rare breed indeed. The man was a philosopher.

[trapezeoidthreelobed]

This is a great conversation. Hunters not in “performance” mode, so is fairly relaxed. It seems he’s got respect for the interviewer and Salisbury credits Hunter by asking thoughtful questions. Gold standard interview

[FlintSL]

This is an absolute treat. None of the questions are straightforward, I love how they allow Hunter to explore his thoughts. Probably the best interview I've seen with him

[mrnelsonius]

“Campaign Trail ‘72” is the best book about American politics I’ve ever read. You read that, Hell Angels and Fear and Loathing LV… a portrait emerges of a person who REALLY understood what makes America tick, and it’s troubling. He saw our current predicament coming decades ago, it’s all the way back in Hells Angels. I miss him as a writer, for all his faults as a man. Hope you found peace HST. Thank you for the comfort of your work and it’s unwavering truth back in my own young moment of great disillusionment.

[MichaelLaFrance]

The interviewer, Harrison Salisbury, is excellent. I didn't expect such good questions and that much of an open mind from a guy that was quite a bit older than HST in the mid-1970s. I'll have to find out more about him.

[russcox]

That terror and tension when he wrote about drugs was from actual experience with those drugs. He didn't glorify or make it seem mystical, he showed you a more realistic side of drug abuse. Its not always unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes it's waking up in a trashed hotel room, with no clear memory of what had happened the past 24 hours.

[bdmoore]

This guy is a great interviewer; informed and thoughtful. He impressed me as much as Hunter.

[jaredsparks]

Todays journalists don't ask questions like Harrison Salisbury did. Great, in depth interview.

[kurtjimenez]

As a student of journalism I really admire the structure and contol of this interview. Salisbury clearly did his homework and dutifully asked the right questions. If there's any period that I could've interviewed Hunter Thompson, it would have been after the 72 election. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail is, in my opinion, his best work and most provocative.

[paulandrews__]

One of the best interviews I have ever seen. 2 professionals. Not a wasted word. So much better than the vapid clickbait trash we have to put up with today.

[finismalorum]

I haven't seen this one before, thank you for uploading.

[ErichVonNasty]

He could never, and was never sucked into being a diluted version of himself. I think honesty is/was the sticking point and that’s why we still love him.