Posted by Jason Diamond

Today we celebrate the births of two brilliant American crazies, original shock rocker, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, who was born 82 years ago today, and Hunter S. Thompson who was born on this day in 1937.

To celebrate the birthday of the Where Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas author, we offer these videos:

1.  Bill Murray as Hunter in the 1980 film, Where the Buffalo Roam.
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2. Hunter S. Thompson on David Letterman in the late 80s to talk about his life and Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the ’80s.

3. Hunter S. THompson’s ashes being shot into space.

And to celebrate the birthday of the man born Jalacy Hawkins in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929, we offer these testaments to his genius:

1. Less a testament to his genius, more a testament to his ability to make a lot of babies, a 2001 NPR piece on some of the 57-or-so children of Hawkins coming together after his death.

2. Dueling “Constipation Blues” with Serge Gainsbourg.

3. A live version of his classic “I Put a Spell on You.”