Hunter Thompson was sitting in front of me. We were in the small theater in North Beach. A dark place. I could only see two rows of seats running downhill twenty feet deep into the blackness. It was one of Bob Marley’s first American shows. I was the art director of Rolling Stone and a photographer for international publications like Vogue, Esquire, the Sunday Times of London, People. Hunter was in San Francisco to get paid by Rolling Stone or just to shoot somebody since he never delivered his writing to the magazine in person. He faxed all his stories in and it took days.
Turning to me in that dark little theater, cigarette unlit in a long cigarette holder, Hunter reached back with his pinkie raised and offered me a little white stamp held delicately between his thumb and forefinger like the wing of a butterfly. On the stamp was a line print in blue of Mr. Natural.
“Take it, Mad Dog,” he said.
Thinking of Hunter these few years after his death, I remembered that gift from him but I had forgotten that everyone I know in San Francisco, besides my family there, calls me Mad Dog. Hunter gave me that handle the night he gave me the tab of LSD.
Thompson made a habit of insulting and challenging anyone who could see or hear him. But never me. That little stamp was in my wallet for years. I never dropped that acid. I never actually dropped any. A Mad Dog needs no help. And the tab was my seal of Hunter’s approval.
Thinking back I try to recall what got me so much respect as to actually be labeled crazy-mad. I don’t think of that word in the politically incorrect way. It is a compliment. Like the Beatnik use of crazy as in “crazy, man.” Or to be really different when everyone was really trying to be different. “You are sooooo fuckin’ crazy man.” It was San Francisco.
I had come back to the city from LA. Being from LA was not being from the Bay Area in the 70’s. People in LA are driven. Speedy. I was quite capable of working all-nighters for five days and then going to party for five more. So to the hippies of Haight Ashbury who worked all night with me but then slept it off, I guess I was a mad dog.
The Mad Dog Squad
The first person who correctly identifies all the players in this photo gets a copy of my book,”I Sold Sex, Drugs & Rock n’ Roll”…take a shot
(UPDATE: Thanks, everyone…a lot of great congrats came by e mail so they are not here in the comments section. No winners on the photo contest, although Roman Coppola got 3.5 correct!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
12.9.09 e-exchange:
Nelson: The blog looks great. I wish you still had that tab of LSD.
Mike: Hey, if I had it, I would auction it with Christie’s.
Nelson: I guess money would be good, too. But you could give it to Johnny Depp and film him on Hunter’s acid. That would be one hell of a blog post!
Mike: I think the tab eventually melted into the old rubber in my faux cardboard wallet, both becoming a circular bas relief advertising my unused masculinity.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Mike and Happy New Year!
December 19th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
First visit here, Mike. Liking the stuff you’re posting.
re the Canadians I hear are making the film about you, if they’re some guys in their 30s putting it together, they’re probably going ga-ga.
All the fun of Hunter Thompson without everybody being fucked up on drugs and shots being fired randomly into the ceiling.
Keep this stuff coming.
As the old saying goes, “Anybody who remembers the sixties wasn’t there.”
-rcc
admin Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
jeez. you are right. i forgot to forget.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:04 am
I wish I would have found your site earlier. I found you on Bing. Thanks for the great post!
January 14th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
thanks john.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:39 pm
You’re killing me…I got Thompson and Warren Hinckle…those two are easy, obviously…the other two guys are driving me nuts. Familiar faces, just can’t place them. Dammit!!!
admin Reply:
January 21st, 2010 at 10:24 pm
In the gray suit is Will Hearst lll and the other was the editor of the S.F. Examiner at the time. Will was trying to rebuild it and I was redesigning it.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Fantastic! Just bought a new phone and I can read your website on my phone, it didn’t work on the old phone. Keep up the good work!
admin Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
cool!!
February 15th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Hi there I like your post
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:20 pm
admirable piece of writing. Thiking to translating your writing into chinese for our visitors. Will let you know after I speak to our writers. many thanks.
admin Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
thanks love to have it in chinese. stay tuned.
March 5th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I like the layout of your blog and I’m going to do the same thing for mine. Do you have any tips?
admin Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
timmypedersen@gmail.com he is the best.
admin Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 2:14 am
timmypedersen.com
March 8th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Great articles & Nice a site….
March 19th, 2010 at 8:59 am
I just found your blog. I really enjoy reading your posts.
March 29th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Nice Information! I personally really appreciate your writing. This is a great website. I will make sure that I stop back again!.
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I anticipate reading what you’re planning on next, since your blog is a good read, you’re writing with fire.
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Great post! I like the blog!
admin Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
thanks. more to come.
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I Like this site your article is very nice , Thanks, very interesting article, keep up it coming
admin Reply:
April 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
will do. wake up in fear i can’t but will.thanks.
admin Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
thank you.
April 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
One of my friends already told me about this place and I do not regret that I found this article.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Terrific post – and great domain by the way!
admin Reply:
April 13th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
well thanks very much.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:37 am
Thanks for the update on my No.1 favorite performer. I’ve been a huge fan for four years or more. Just wonderful.
April 13th, 2010 at 6:11 am
Great articles & Nice a site….
April 13th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Let me tell you…without doubt my fave performer right now. What an amazing presence. Just brilliant!
April 13th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Interesting post.
April 14th, 2010 at 12:48 am
Cool…great to find out more about my total favorite celerbrity. Thanks for the helpful information. Kudos!
April 14th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
I’m a new reader and i want to congratulate you for the quality of your article. it’s difficult for non english to find such a good website. keep this quality !
admin Reply:
April 14th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
thank you very much. merci.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:08 am
I’ve bookmarked this because I found it notable. I would be very interested to hear more information on this. Thanks!
April 17th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
I totally love this story. Cheers!
April 17th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Very short, simple and easy to understand stories, bet some more comments from your side would be great
admin Reply:
April 19th, 2010 at 2:19 am
Thanks…more is coming!
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:38 am
I have to say your site is brilliant!
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Numerous thanks for this good post. Please keep up this website as it is a preferred weblog in my reader, with thanks
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Your web page is really worth seeing! Very interesting and it consists of truly remarkable stories.
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Wonderful web page!
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Your website is great! Have a good day.
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Fantastic blog…webmaster, nice design!
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Interesting article. Thank you.
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Great internet site. Thank you.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Hello, I found your weblog in a new directory of blogs. Really enjoying it!
April 24th, 2010 at 12:05 am
Hello. Good post…a fantastic story. With thanks!
April 24th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Hello, I identified your webpage in the new directory of blogs and have really been enjoying it!
April 24th, 2010 at 4:41 am
Your articles are pretty interesting and fact-filled. Have you considered crafting a periodical or anything?
April 24th, 2010 at 6:35 am
Very intriguing, all the things you’ve done and people you’ve worked with!
April 24th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Very intriguing stories about interesting people. You’ve had quite the career!
April 24th, 2010 at 8:39 am
You possess an excellent weblog. Many thanks for your efforts.
April 25th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I anticipate reading what you happen to be planning on next, since your blog is a nice read. You are writing with passion.
admin Reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Thanks! More to come.
April 27th, 2010 at 5:29 am
I love your posts!
April 28th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Love the design of this blog!
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:43 am
A lot of of the comments individuals write are silly and unrelated, and every now and then I wonder if most people honestly read the article content and content before placing a comment. Or if perhaps they simply look at the title of the blog post and send the first thought that pops into their heads! Regardless, it is pleasant to read through smart commentary and writing once in a while rather than the exact same, traditional opinion and perspective which is typically discovered on the web! Keep writing, Mike!
admin Reply:
May 4th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
thanks for the thoughtful words stephanie.
May 10th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
It is a great post…I like it very much.
May 12th, 2010 at 2:18 am
Keep up the good work!
May 15th, 2010 at 6:30 am
Dude.. I am not much into reading, but somehow I got to read lots of articles on your blog. Its amazing how interesting it is for me to visit you very often.
May 15th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Best post ever!
May 17th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Thank you for the great articles. I am very happy to see such great information being shared freely out there.
admin Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
wonderful comment. thanks.
June 6th, 2010 at 1:09 am
hey, I added ur site to my RSS reader. the posts are awesome!