Self-proclaimed gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson left in his wake a legendary “too weird to live, too rare to die” existence, chronicled to bedlam perfection in his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and its subsequent film adaptation.
Just as Thompson was a renegade in his own genre, tattoo artists are equal trailblazers when it comes to revolutionizing Thompsons’ work in under-the-skin art.
Starting with the iconic twisted grin of Raoul Duke, cigarette dangling from his mouth, bat country behind him and the Vegas strip reflected in his sunglasses, Fear and Loathing tattoos spiral out into a cacophony of beloved images and references only true blooded fans will recognize and seize upon. The rest of the world may just scratch its head in confusion, which is exactly what Hunter S Thompson would have wanted.
Living on the edge is not for the faint of heart, and less so for those who lack the panache to make it look good. Thompson was the godfather of neo literary misfits, and his Fear and Loathing is a testament to all gonzos, of all walks of life, to let their freak flags fly. Wherever you choose to wear your Fear and Loathing tattoo, wear it with pride and a slightly crazed smile–because you deserve to live long and weird, and in the company of those who are happy to jump in the passenger seat and go along for the ride.
