Hunter S. Thompson is one of America's best known writers. His "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Hell's Angels" are part of the Modern Library, a selection of the world's greatest books. In alphabetical order that puts him right next to Henry David Thoreau. His "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail" is regarded as a masterpiece of political reporting and one of the high points of Gonzo journalism, the form he invented.
During his lifetime he was portrayed in film by Bill Murray (Where the Buffalo Roam) and Johnny Depp (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).Kevin Simonson was friends with the notorious bad boy writer and in addition to his stories will be exhibiting his collection of rare Gonzo paraphernalia at The Living Stage in Hotel RL in Omaha.
Simonson entered Thompson's trusted inner circle at the height of his popularity in the mid-90's. He visited the author several times at his infamous Owl Creek Farm in Aspen, Colorado and interviewed him for such national publications as The Village Voice, SPIN, Hustler and the Aspen Times-Daily. Simonson's book "Conversations with Hunter S. Thompson" was published by the University Press of Mississippi and was a "Top Ten Book" on Los Angeles' "Book Soup" Nonfiction Paperback Bestseller List.
Simonson is included on the "Honor Roll" in Thompson's 2003 book "Kingdom of Fear" and he attended Hunter's surreal Owl Creek Memorial. The three million dollar funeral was funded by Johnny Depp and attended by John Cusack, Bill Murray, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, 60 Minutes correspondents Ed Bradley and Charlie Rose and U.S. Senators George McGovern and John Kerry. At the funeral, Thompson's ashes were blasted from a cannon which sat on top of a 153 foot Gonzo fist statue.
In addition to the Thompson interviews, Simonson has been published in Rolling Stone, Thrasher, Vail Daily and Boys' Life.
Come hear Omaha's resident expert on Hunter S. Thompson and all things Gonzo!