Theodore Roszak and the Perils of Technocracy

Michael Kramer and I wrote an article for The Nation. It's about Theodore Roszak, the social critic and peace activist who, in a series of articles for The Nation, named the counterculture as well as its chief adversary, the technocracy. Although he was very alert to the link between the counterculture and cyberculture, he saw through the techno-utopianism that has gripped Silicon Valley ever since the 1970s. Big Tech's dark turn, especially its support for Trump, wouldn't have surprised him.

Hunter Thompson and Haight-Ashbury on French TV

I was asked to say a few words about Hunter Thompson and Haight-Ashbury for a French television program called "Invitation au Voyage." Many thanks to Romain Thomassin and his crew for making "La San Francisco d'Hunter Thompson," which is playing on ARTE TV. I've only seen a few clips, which my brother-in-law sent along from Paris, but I gather Romain will screen it at GonzoFest in New Orleans next year.

Lowell Bergman on Electronic Communication and the First Amendment

The OLLI program at UC Berkeley asked me to chat with Lowell Bergman about his latest topic, "The First Amendment Is NOT a Suicide Pact." I've been a big fan of Lowell's work for Frontline for many years. Fanatical readers of this blog may recall that Al Pacino played him in The Insider (1999), which received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Here's the YouTube link for the talk.

Essay on Bob Weir in "Hidden Voices"

I was asked to contribute to "Hidden Voices: Americans with Disabilities in United States History," which was published by the NYC Department of Education this week. It's a resource for K-12 teachers and students in the city's public schools. I focused on Bob Weir, who has spoken about his undiagnosed dyslexia and how it affected his schooling and work over the years. It was an honor to be asked, and I hope the volume will be widely used.

Yet another great class in Berkeley, this time with David Weir. We focused on the Patty Hearst story he wrote with Howard Kohn for Rolling Stone in 1975. That was a blockbuster, but we also learned about Sundance magazine, Salon, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and David's life and times. So glad that worked out. Greil Marcus will visit next week, our final meeting. Pretty cool that these legends live in the area and are willing to share their rich experiences with us. Thanks to the OLLI program at UC Berkeley for making it happen.

Course on Rolling Stone Magazine at UC Berkeley

I'm teaching a course on Rolling Stone magazine at UC Berkeley's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. So far, so good. I've invited three guests: Ben Fong-Torres, David Weir, and Greil Marcus. Ben's visit last week was a big success.

Review of New Ralph Gleason Bio

I was delighted to review Don Armstrong's new Ralph Gleason bio for Alta. Along with other elders like Bill Graham and Tom Donahue, Gleason lifted the profile of the Bay Area rock scene, but he also covered jazz and other popular forms for many years with great sympathy and insight. Along the way, he cofounded the Monterey Jazz Festival as well as Rolling Stone magazine. Thank you for this labor of love, Don Armstrong.

New Books Network Podcast About "Savage Journey"

I chatted with U.S. historian Steven Hausmann about Hunter S. Thompson and Savage Journey. I thought the podcast came out quite well.

Kevin Starr at the Commonwealth Club

I contributed to Redemptive Dreams, a volume about California historian Kevin Starr. It was edited by Jason Sexton and published by Routledge. My piece focused on Kevin's columns in the San Francisco Examiner before he became California's preeminent historian. Jason also asked me to participate in a panel discussion, hosted by the Commonwealth Club, about Kevin and his work. Happily, the Commonwealth Club recorded the discussion.

GonzoFest 2023

Delighted to participate in the tenth and final (?) GonzoFest. Seen here with Timothy Denevi, William McKeen, Margaret Ann Harrell, John Brick, and Ron Whitehead at the High Horse Bar in Louisville. The beautifully restored Vincent motorcycle allowed for a quick exit. I also met Judy Clancy, Matt Hahn, Leland Locke, and Tara Locke; reconnected with Grant Goodwine; and appeared on the "Hunter Gatherers" podcast with Curtis Robinson & Christopher Tidmore. Thank you Ron Whitehead and crew for lashing this whole thing together. Photo by Beth Tudor.