JRE 0 · October 5, 2022

Rolling Stone Founder Jann Wenner Remembers Hunter S. Thompson

journalismhistorymusicpoliticsculture

Who is Rolling Stone Founder Jann Wenner Remembers Hunter S. Thompson?

Taken from JRE 1877 w/Jann Wenner:

Topics and Timestamps

01Jann Wenner founded Rolling Stone in 1967 and built it into a cultural institution covering music, politics, and counterculture
02Wenner had a close working relationship with Hunter S. Thompson and published some of his most iconic journalism
03Rolling Stone became the voice of a generation by covering the Beatles, Vietnam War, Watergate, and the rise of rock and roll
04Wenner discusses how Thompson's gonzo journalism style revolutionized political and cultural reporting
05The conversation explores the intersection of music, journalism, and politics during America's most turbulent decades
06Wenner reflects on building a media empire that captured the zeitgeist of the counterculture movement
▶Jann Wenner discusses founding Rolling Stone magazine in 19670:00:00
▶Wenner talks about his relationship with Hunter S. Thompson and commissioning his work0:12:30
▶Discussion of gonzo journalism and how Thompson revolutionized political reporting0:25:45
▶Wenner reflects on Rolling Stone's coverage of major historical moments and cultural movements0:38:20
▶Conversation about the intersection of rock and roll, politics, and cultural change in America0:52:00

The Show

Jann Wenner sits down with Joe to talk about founding Rolling Stone magazine in 1967 and his decades-long relationship with Hunter S. Thompson. Wenner built Rolling Stone from nothing into one of the most influential publications in American history, becoming the definitive source for music journalism, political coverage, and counterculture reporting during the most transformative era in modern history.

The conversation centers on Thompson's impact on journalism and how his gonzo style changed the game. Thompson brought a first-person, subjective approach to reporting that was revolutionary at the time. Rather than pretending objectivity was possible, he put himself directly into the story, making the writing itself part of the narrative. This approach revolutionized how people thought about journalism and what was possible in the form.

Wenner reflects on Rolling Stone's role in documenting major historical moments, from covering the Beatles and the explosion of rock and roll to reporting on Vietnam, Watergate, and the political upheaval of the 1960s and 70s. The magazine became a cultural artifact that captured what was actually happening in America, not just in politics but in music, drugs, counterculture, and the generational shift that was reshaping the country.

The interview explores how Thompson and Wenner understood that rock and roll wasn't just about music. It was about a worldview, a politics, a way of living that represented fundamental changes in American society. Rolling Stone gave voice to that movement and made it impossible for the establishment to ignore what young people cared about and how they saw the world.

Wenner discusses the practical realities of building a media company during this period, the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity while growing a business, and how the magazine managed to stay relevant across multiple decades of cultural change. The conversation touches on the relationship between commerce and art, between selling magazines and actually mattering culturally.

Best Quotes

“Hunter understood that journalism could be subjective, that the writer's perspective and experience was part of the story itself”

— Rolling Stone Founder Jann Wenner Remembers Hunter S. Thompson