Hunter S. Thompson Wants To Settle The Score | Letterman

The acclaimed journalist talks about working for a bowling magazine, brings Dave an explosive gift and more.
(From "Late Night," air date: 11/15/82)
#huntersthompson #gonzo #letterman
Subscribe to Letterman: bit.ly/3GeOIAg
Follow Letterman on Social:
Facebook: / davidletterman
Instagram: / letterman
Twitter: / letterman
Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

[@JBBost]

It's like Hunter S. is reading the subtitles of what he's gonna say, lol

[@slowfuse]

he's so self conscious and neurotic, it's probably about true. The words are popping into his mind and he is reading the words

[@justincase2291]

I never realized how well Johnny Depp played his parts until seeing this.

[@anthonymcbride855]

Johnny Depp hung out with hunter S Thompson.

[@jeffclarkofclarklesparkle3103]

Depp spent 2 years shadowing Hunter before the movie to learn every single aspect of his mannerisms

[@tomash9116]

Right? It's one of my favourite films, but when I first saw it, I thought it was a parody. Johnny Depp absolutely became Hunter S Thompson. (Saying that, I also love the Bill Murray portrayal of him).

[@tomjames3758]

@@anthonymcbride855 in his basement

[@pjamdragon1]

Became so close, ​johnny helped “scatter” hunter’s ashes

[@billynotreally3793]

Letterman kept his studio notoriously cold, yet Hunter is sweating his balls off

[@Billosto]

His blood's too thick for the Letterman studio

[@nicholasmoore8629]

How do know

[@yelizaveta1278]

​@@nicholasmoore8629 Re: see "notoriously"

[@MarquetteTheFourchette]

​@@Billostohes never fully been able to explain himself in that clime

[@RaineriRi]

​@@MarquetteTheFourchetteGood one! 😂

[@cpruns4501]

"You have to settle your scores or people get sloppy so to speak" - WOW. I love that:)

[@csedan510]

My GF in 1991 was an assistant to John Cusack, i went to her office one day and she showed me the faxes that HST sent Cusack. They were hardly legible hand written ramblings that came out of the machine on an 8' scroll. Incredible mind he had.

[@King_Trollington_III]

haha interesting

[@rodroller6634]

The fact that Hunter could go on national TV, with Dave Letterman, and hold his own while heavily medicated, (for mortal men), still amazes me. True respect for the man.

[@davidrice3337]

90% of his guests are heavily medicated

[@Originalred04]

Peak David!

[@brianjansen3103]

I think he fit right in, I bet more than half the people working there are self medicated

[@FakingANerve]

@@Originalred04 meanwhile... Hunter peaking on acid.

[@daryl9799]

It's called a loser addict but hey let's put people like this on a pedastil.

[@infowarriorone]

Dave is enthralled. I don't think I've seen HST as comedic as in this interview, though he was always a jokester, a merry prankster, and all that. And he did return as a guest years after this.

[@DaniboyBR2]

So you haven't read his books, they're some of the funniest books ever, some parts of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas had me HOWLING, The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is also a gem in terms of comedy.

[@ibrown3KC]

​@@DaniboyBR2I think hes referring to HST in person not usually being this open and humorous. Like i know in his interview with Conan hed hardly say two words, and only when prompted. Mainly, most likely, because he was absolutely hammered and perhaps even blackout drunk at the time of the interview. But of course, as a writer, Hunter is going to be far funnier and far better at comminicating his thoughts and jokes. As thats the case with nearly all writers. Stephen King is pretty good in interviews and at speaking in general, but when it comes to many writer's, if not most, they are often times awkward or at least no where near as comfortable conversing in person as they are with the written word, of course.

[@DaniboyBR2]

@@ibrown3KC Age kicked him like a mule, he didn't like it and he said so in his farewell note.

[@tonymockeridge338]

Seeing those two together is just wonderful. Thanks for this great piece of priceless gonzo history

[@MrBuketman]

For all the youngsters seeing this for the first time go watch the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

[@dowhatiwantc7637]

@@MrBuketmanthat’s usually how they find him I recommend the bill Murray one “where the Buffalo roam” that one came out way before the Johnny depp one both amazing but I prefer the bill Murray.

[@joshuanipps9106]

Hell yeah. I never really realized how awesome David Letterman was for a significant portion of his time on the air, he always just seemed like the better late show host out of him and Leno, but little pieces like this here and there. I finally realized how fxxxin great he was when Warren Zevon was dying and he gave him an entire show to perform 3 songs and talk with him in all the guest slots. Living Legend. While Carson is probably the undeniable "great" of all the late night talk format shows, Letterman is definitely the most diverse, genuine and respectable one as an artist and human.

[@BeforeAndAfterScience]

@@dowhatiwantc7637 "Hunter? Ain't nobody doin' no huntin' in here! This is a PARTY, not a SAFARI!"

[@specialk3357]

@@joshuanipps9106 Leno didn’t have a tenth of Dave’s passion imo. I agree ☝️

[@jonvia]

Only a legend could bring Letterman a pack of firecrackers

[@JasonKifner]

"Swine" is my new favorite insult.

[@griplimit]

Man… this guy nailed the Johnny Depp impression!

[@DrGonzo3l3v3n5]

Johnny is the way he is now because of Hunter 😂

[@mjfan653]

Some people become crude when intoxicated, some violent, some sleepy, some just spew nonsense. But there is a special kind, who become the wittiest, quickest (in a sense) and most whimsical charmers. And Hunter was a king among them.

[@ingz3768]

I love how Letterman is tiptoeing to not get dissed on a subversive level where he has a hard time to make a comeback. He appreciated his guest in at least that way, giving him props. He makes Thompson make all the work, and dude delivered!

[@erichaynes7502]

This first year of Late Night brought out so many historic guests..this(and Dave of course) is what made such a great show.

[@petermgruhn]

I'm waiting for the historic part to happen.

[@vaporiiz]

@@petermgruhn are you slow? or just young

[@Iam_Dunn]

Imma 54yr old dude from Canada Eh! and when I grow up, I want to have had 0.0001% of the amount of life stories that H.S.T. can talk about! What a trip! ❤ from 🇨🇦 :)

[@0326Hambone]

"No... I dont think ill be back." Haha legend

[@benatkinson5671]

I started watching Letterman in 1993 when he moved to CBS and I was 18 years old, and I liked him a lot. But I never truly appreciated him until I started watching old interviews like this one.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

The nbc years are the best guests

[@williamperkins7318]

Hunter isn't "coked up", he's trippin' balls, as he always was on Dave's show. He's fairly functional for a man on hallucinogens.

[@mantia39]

He loved mescaline I guess.

[@lucasthompson1650]

No, in the years that Late Night and the Late Show were airing and having him as a guest (80s/90s), it was cocaine and hash. Mostly cocaine. And a lot of Chevas Regal, the 12 year old stuff, always with a handful of ice cubes. You're right that he was always fairly functional no matter what he was on. I don't think he ever "quit" anything, so on any given day, sure, he might have had shrooms for breakfast and smoked DMT for lunch, you know, as a palate cleanser. 😅 Edit: in the late 90s, opiate painkillers were added to the mix due to his health issues.

[@lucasthompson1650]

@@mantia39 Everybody loves mescaline.

[@jojomane7023]

He's probably on both.

[@nckgmz83]

😂😂😂😂

[@chemicalbrother7613]

What a great personality that man was! Bigger than life. And seeing this video makes me appreciate Depp's work "In Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas" even more. He was spot on.

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

[@martitinkovich4489]

But it never got weird enough for me..........

[@dakotaroosa1525]

There he goes, one of gods own mutants. Too weird to live, too rare to die.

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

Don’t take any guff from these swine!

[@jennifershimkus4337]

Great biography ❤️ I remember the day he passed, living in Chicago. It was a shock and we named a drink after him at the coffee shop.

[@annasingh5112]

Can anyone imagine Hunter Thompson in this era? The world would not have been able to handle it

[@unknown.mp4]

There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.

[@waynej2608]

​@@unknown.mp4 But, it still never got weird enough for me. 👍

[@JJforShie1]

He was in this era. He only died in 2005.

[@user-er8kz2jg6o]

Truly interesting people no longer exist. Sad

[@zacharytrosch3406]

To be honest, I think the current state of the world would've gotten the better of him. Suicide all over again.

[@garrickragon1232]

Dave was the greatest. I was 15 when the first year of Letterman came out. He was company for this hip but dorky teenager. He and Lou Reed were my heroes.

[@fenz1]

Lou Reed that guy that featured on a Gorillaz song?

[@garrickragon1232]

@@fenz1 yes

[@timwebber8630]

Priceless, a real gem to have this recorded. Letterman was always my favorite, nobody has ever come close to his style, personality, and humor. I miss those late nights watching his show. It was always fun.

[@fletcher932]

He was far more easy going and less ego centric back in this era. Seems more lad back and less scripted.

[@rcadenow7543]

hes far better at old age imo...in his late shows he talked too much and acted like a creep.

[@bobot1981]

Hunter Thompson. A one of a kind American Legend! Dave, too.

[@sitindogmas]

Hunter inspired many of my public appearances while things were melting. the man's EPIC!!!

[@ryanof3004]

Thanksgiving with the whole family on 3 tabs I think were 160ug each hahah, great time and nobody even knew a damn thing!😂😂

[@sitindogmas]

@@ryanof3004 🤣 that's awesome 😃

[@SnakeStAugustine]

"There are certain dark aspects of that contract." 😂

[@josemorenorahn]

Good Lord, I was waiting for this. I miss Hunter, such a wild and beautiful soul.

[@crazycat1345]

He was nothing but a drug attic psychopath.

[@josemorenorahn]

@@crazycat1345 yes he was, and thank God for it

[@R420ISH]

What lord? He and his wife were killed and deleted from existence 23th of May 2013.

[@JaneCooper190072]

Sorry excuse for a man... can't stand animal abusers

[@nanny287]

The ultimate iconoclast. Loved him, and his essays and books. Can you imagine what gems he would be writing about the political atmosphere in America today! Rest easy, Hunter.❤

[@EricSmith-fp4gq]

Miss you Hunter

[@718Anubis]

Hunter S. Thompson is one of my favorite writers.

[@jackrosendale8367]

I think HST would've been more at ease if Dave had let him ignite his gift.

[@buckfuhtt2083]

Never pretend to be something you're not... Sober! Sometimes you have to pretend to be sober.

[@hvitekristesdod]

This man was a hero to humanity. God bless him

[@charlesnavin4482]

Damn; Johnny Depp played him almost perfectly.

[@Elseveno]

Miss the old Dave Letterman show. He was the best.

[@thewurstgarage676]

HST was pretty honest about hating talk show interviews. He was awkward, uncomfortable, and a duck out of water -and he knew it. He was much more comfortable in a cabin in the mountains with an electric typewriter, a high-amp sound system and plenty of Chivas on the rocks. But give him that, and some nights that man could roll thunder.

[@cgbleak]

For a guy who liked to give the impression that much of his writing was a spontaneous, unedited screed, Thompson is surprisingly(?) uncomfortable and discomforting as a talk show host/live storyteller. Whatever he wants us think about how his best writing came to fruition, I get the sense that he was actually a highly dedicated craftsman who took a lot of time and effort to create that edgy, spontaneous feel to his work.

[@jfjnpxmy]

@@cgbleak Dude was a hype job. A limp-wristed word-style hero, same as any other journalist, but with this gonzo badass image to set him apart from the pack.

[@davidowens5898]

@@jfjnpxmy Nah; Hunter was definitely one of kind on the page. You need to go back and read him sgaiin. You missed something........

[@knifelyfe6565]

@@davidowens5898 He doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Obviously a young kid who calls people "dude".lol

[@knifelyfe6565]

@@davidowens5898 Easy to see he didn't read HST's Hells Angels book.

[@collybeans586]

"Why shouldnt I be a little sensitive about these things" This is an amazing argument, would've never thought of saying that 🤣

[@vygen]

So casually.

[@022171]

Dave was extremely patient with Thompson's shenanigans here. 10 years later, he might've been a bit more snarky with him.

[@jonathandaykin3067]

Shenanigans 😆 👍

[@alvarhanso6310]

Perhaps, but it's never a great idea to poke a bear like HST. His idea of fun was shooting at homemade propane bombs.

[@bigt9374]

He was very snarky with Hunter in their last interview

[@lewisc215]

Like you know anything.

[@drdre4397]

​@@lewisc215 You seem like a nice human being. Ever get tired of the constant negativity?

[@user-rj9ui3sz8u]

A supernatural wonderful shy creature this man of higher regard than most.

[@GaryBaird.Photography]

Johnny Deep played this part ingeniously in "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas". To Perfection.

[@bubstacrini8851]

What did this Johnny write ?

[@GaryBaird.Photography]

@@bubstacrini8851 He wrote home, often. 😜

[@TheBeefSlayer]

Makes me realize what a dangerous man Dr. Hunter was. I believe he really did sue that guy. I wouldn’t want to be on his bad side. I’m sure it was easy to get there. God bless you DR. Hunter!!!!! Such an intelligent man with all the time in the world to get even. God help us.

[@harrychapin808]

Yes... he could be very dangerous.

[@harrychapin808]

@@dejuren1367 Ur point?! He "could" be very dangerous. AND he was - 😂 to himself! He blew his brains 🧠 out!! So, life is dangerous. Tell me something I don't know.

[@J-Loe]

He really is a nice guy and an athlete

[@lorip.1110]

HST's Late Night interviews, along with Andy Kaufman's and Harvey Pekar, made for captivating viewing. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

[@alandoane9168]

You have exquisite taste. Those three are the holy trifecta of Letterman Guests. I had the honor of interviewing Harvey Pekar once on the radio, and it was one of the greatest moments of my life.

[@bigt9374]

Olivia reed was up there

[@lucasthompson1650]

Letterman had so many great guests, though. I still remember every appearance by folks like Hunter, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon, Norm Macdonald, Tom Hanks, etc…

[@lucasthompson1650]

@@bigt9374 In a very different way, so is Crispin Glover.

[@VillemarMxO]

Brother Theodore!

[@rabokarabekian409]

Look this up: Hunter S. Thompson's 9/11 Essay Is Still Chillingly Accurate 16 Years Later.

[@TinaObigwebi]

Eh. Not ALL that prescient, and not particularly deep imo. We knew by then it was islam (again). He just happened to be more educated about how shxvtty and barbaric islam is than most Americans.

[@professormacdeezy]

Kingdom of fear is a great book

[@kunkmiceter]

Letterman must have been thinking, "Damn, I have just met my comedic match". 😂

[@decencywarrior9598]

“people get sloppy otherwise “🤣

[@rundoetx]

A true American legend

[@davidwayne5152]

He played Johnny Depp really well!😳

[@MarkMasters...]

Role Model. Legend. Outlaw. Genius.😎

[@robertcrystals]

imagine the emails this maniac would have flung if he was in his prime around 2010

[@johnnypk1963]

Hunters battles w credit card companies r legend…

[@joenewton2021]

He and letterman are great together

[@nobodysfool2232]

What an American gem!

[@drowningpooralice5505]

" your not gonna set these off in here are you" " I could ask you the same thing". This was a great man.

[@jamesswenson6379]

Nothing short of outstanding l followed hunter from.hells angels through fear and loathing in Las Vegas what a writer

[@YanuStepdad]

Thank you for uploading Hunter.

[@hehhehdummy]

there's ice clinking in that mug

[@cynthiamason4069]

Did Hunter ever appear on any other talk show? This is epic!

[@NicholasAShaw]

He was on Conan.

[@SamSinghComic]

Legend

[@TheDarkWizard666]

The cleanest, best pleasure

[@_Peremalfait]

I know a lot of people think Johnny Depp had Thompson down, but the best Hunter Thompson was Bill Murray's Carl Spackler.

[@MrSulfor]

Where the Buffalo Roam is highly underrated.

[@_Peremalfait]

@@MrSulfor Agreed. Murray's Hunter Thompson was spot on.

[@wurb201]

Wild, had no idea this existed!

[@revolvingghost4144]

The best reporter ever

[@matthewmonteagudo679]

Johnny Depp killed it with the fear and loathing

[@mitchellkalina8191]

Trippin nuts 😂😂😂

[@harrychapin808]

Depp essentially captured Thompson's persona was mannerisms... but a little over the top. Thompson's unique way of thinking started back when he was just a kid. He was discharged from the USAF because had had too much rebellious influence over the team of writers he worked with.

[@TheChefmike66]

Sooo good.

[@PeterMilliron]

I wanna know whats in the “edited for tv” segment.

[@margaritakmp]

big same. show us the uncut interview, you cowards!

[@bensullivan]

I was wondering if it was a commercial break they snipped out. But, yeah, would be nice.

[@jasonswearingen4293]

Huge fan of hunter

[@MegaBananafruit]

A legend

[@jojoj3243]

20 century Mark Twain. Tremendous one liners. Some of the best ever written. And an absolute bad ass absurdist stream of conscious with amazing composition and timing in a memorizing cadence. That was Raoul Duke.

[@jodyswallow1008]

Transplant Letterman’s hair on to Hunters head = Comedy Gold

[@Fortwentt]

incredible.

[@sabbyd1832]

Hilarious, thanks for the upload

[@BillyTibb]

This is amazing

[@coache5898]

Dave throwing pencils and note cards and breaking glass

[@DrGonzo3l3v3n5]

Hunter is a LEGEND!!!! That's all I need to say

[@JaneCooper190072]

More like a sorry excuse for a man. I hate animal abusers

[@JaneCooper190072]

There’s a striking moment in the film in which we can see Hunter tormenting his pet bird and you say you sometimes felt like that bird. What did you mean by that? He had that bird, Edward. And he’d rattle its cage or hold it and squeeze it and say, “Edward, there’s no bird god that will save you now.” And sometimes I was the bird. I’d internalize what he was doing to that bird. Because I was the innocent abroad, you see.

[@AbeKenney]

Clearly talking about the Rum Diary.

[@vaultveteran3368]

No-one gunna mention he was most definitely going to try and set off firecrackers on the studio floor if David letterman didn't ask about them 😂

[@Noisivus]

Imagine how many views the hunter Thompson American Express spokesperson ads would get today

[@omefea8501]

Amazing

[@kit2770]

I'm now thinking that the character of Mr. Lahey from _Trailer Park Boys_ was made to look exactly like Hunter S. Thompson.

[@SonderTelly]

I always thought this

[@doublelxp]

The only interview where Hunter seems in his element is the shooting range interview he did with Conan.

[@awesomeblossom1]

41 years ago...

[@blaze4metal]

I really miss this studio setup. Audience cheering/etc wasn't so obnoxious (and relatively tame/polite compared to today).

[@TrashTube-rt9jw]

3:18 was so Raul Duke 😂

[@Jim_L]

Letterman was so nervous and uncomfortable in these very, very early years of his show. It added a certain uneasiness about his interviews, which, for some odd reason, I found appealing. 😃

[@alandoane9168]

Agreed, it adds a rawness and reality to it that the later, slicker years didn't always have. But we also have it back in what Dave is doing now, bolstered by a lifetime of experience and wisdom. I'd give anything to see 2022 Dave sit down with Dr. Thompson for an hour on the Netflix show.

[@Jim_L]

@@alandoane9168 Yes indeed. That would be a fun interview, too.

[@last808]

@@alandoane9168 Or somehow have current Dave interview this Dave.

[@TonyMichaels166]

@@alandoane9168I just read some excerpts in Songs of the Doomed. Pretty crazy

[@Deseko]

The Rum Diary being referenced here is pretty cool

[@st3v3z1]

He reminds me of my grandfather here.

[@chadgazi9454]

GONZO FOREVER 🤘🏽 Freak Power

[@harrychapin808]

"I'm sorry but we're running out of time. Do you think you can come back?" Reply- "No, I can't come back. I'm going to sue you for cutting me short. Where's my ether?"

[@mikehoncho7252]

Devil ether lol

[@GregCurtin45]

Thankfully his writings make a lot more sense. More bizarre than Andy Kaufman.

[@m.r.crumble5794]

Dudes flying

[@Vugen18]

"this is what u have to do" .... lmaoooo

[@davideaston8314]

Depp should've won an Oscar for FALILV!!

[@Nahthanksyouserious]

I feel like depp did an amazing job but i really see so much Micheal Keaton here. Even the way he speaks. I cant unhear or unsee Keaton

[@lukasychtyl1938]

High as a kite🤣🤣🤣

[@lastofthebest5102]

You wanna settle these scores, people get sloppy otherwise. How true. Let Talionis the law of retaliation. Not a suggestion, a law.

[@anonymissed3611]

2:39 Dave's odd teeth licking response.