High Times Greats

In observance of the anniversary of Malcolm X’s death on February 21, 1965, we’re republishing the following item from the June, 1993 issue of High Times, edited by Steven Hager. On Sunday, February 21, 1965, Malcolm X, a leading spokesperson for the black power movement, was assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. Although at least five men were involved in the execution, only three were ever arrested and their subsequent trial was riddled with irregularities. Despite evidence of conspiracy and cover-up, the official investigation made little attempt to track the real motives behind the murder. Like many of the […]

For the June, 2005 issue of High Times, then-editor Steve Bloom penned a loving memorial in “The Message” section of the magazine, dedicated to the late journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005). Thompson was (and remains) a counterculture icon for his singular, often drug-fueled perspective on American society. He served as an embedded reporter for the 1967 book Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs; ran as sheriff in Colorado in 1970; and his 1971 book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was later adapted into a 1998 film by Terry Gilliam, featuring Johnny […]

This Presidents’ Day, we’re bringing you Peter Gorman’s July, 1988 feature on hemp in colonial times. Hemp was one of this country’s most important crops during the colonial era. Washington was a fanatic seed collector and grower of cannabis; Jefferson, another cannabis farmer, invented a machine to reduce the labor involved in farming the plants; Franklin begged the British Parliament to allow the colonists to keep their cannabis crop rather than turn it over to England. When Harry J. Anslinger, then head of the fledgling Federal Bureau of Narcotics, finally ramrodded Congress into passing the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, […]

For the September, 2005 issue of High Times, Rob Thomas expressed a love for all things marijuana. On the occasion of Thomas’ birthday on February 14, we’re republishing Shirley Halperin’s interview below. The year is 2002, and the multi-platinum Matchbox Twenty are about to release their third album, More Than You Think You Are. As the record’s getting its final touches, I’m invited to listen to some of the tracks at New York’s Hit Factory studio. Coming in, I expect to hear hits—as in hit singles. The engineer blasts songs like “Disease” (co-written by Mick Jagger) and “Bright Lights,” both […]

Back in the ’50s Elia Kazan called him “another Brando,” but within a decade this gifted actor was virtually blacklisted from the screen for daring to organize strikes by performers, speaking out against the Vietnam War and refusing to compromise with the Hollywood establishment. Then, following the culture hero’s artistic triumphs in roles ranging from Richard Nixon in the TV miniseries Blind Ambition to Howard Hughes in Sam Shepard’s play Seduced, Craig Ryes paid tribute to Rip Torn (1931-2019) for the July, 1980 issue of High Times, and he got the last laugh on them all. In honor of the […]

For the March, 1985 issue of High Times, John Howell spent some time down home in Kansas with William Burroughs (1914-1997)—renowned writer, world-class iconoclast, and counterculture guru turned country squire. While he had just signed a deal for seven books, Burroughs was also apparently a “regular guy” who liked to go fishin’. To celebrate Burroughs’ birthday on February 5, we’re republishing the story below. Lawrence, Kansas isn’t a dateline you’d expect for an interview with William Burroughs. After all, this is one of the creators of the original “Beat” scene who made his reputation in such urban centers as London, […]

Best known for his Night of the Living Dead, filmmaker George Romero (1940– 2017) talked to Mike Wilmington and Barry Brown for the July, 1981 issue of High Times. Topics included bucking the Hollywood movie mafia, working with friend Stephen (The Shining) King, and the social structure of zombie society. In honor of Romero’s birthday February 4, we’re republishing the interview below. In the World of Movies, we are in the Age of Horror. The Age of Homicidal Mania. The age of psychos, ghouls, vampires, werewolves and demons of every description. Theater lobbies across America blazon the murderous antics of […]

For the February, 1990 issue of High Times, Peter Gorman interviewed then-National Director for NORML, Don Fiedler (1943-2008). In honor of Fiedler’s birthday February 2, we’re republishing the interview below. This past summer the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws chose a new person to lead the fight for freedom in the battle for legalization. We wanted to find out more about him—what his plans are, what his background is, what the future holds for NORML and the legalization movement—so we sent our Peter Gorman to interview the new NORML National Director, Don Fiedler. PG: You’ve just taken […]