Rolling Stone Magazine – Issue No. 96 (November 25, 1971)

Rolling Stone Magazine – Issue No. 96 (November 25, 1971)

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” – The Shocking Conclusion
Duane Allman Memorial Cover | Art by Ralph Steadman | Vintage Counterculture Gem

This is it—the wild finale to one of the most important works of journalism ever published. Rolling Stone Issue #96, dated November 25, 1971, delivers the conclusion to Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, accompanied by a searing, grotesquely brilliant Ralph Steadman illustration that captures the very madness of the American Dream unraveling in neon-lit chaos.

But that’s just the beginning. This issue also features a front-page tribute to the tragic death of Duane Allman, founder and lead guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, following his fatal motorcycle accident. It’s a haunting moment in rock history—immortalized in stunning visual form and sharp editorial prose.

🗞️ Inside This Historic Issue:

• Duane Allman’s Final Days on the Road

• The Five-Year Plan of Donovan P. Leitch

• The Conclusion of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

• Plus: Commentary, satire, and coverage from the golden era of counterculture.

✨ Condition: Near Archival – Museum-Grade Collectible

• Pages are crisp, clean, and remarkably white with minimal yellowing—exceptionally rare for a 1971 newsprint issue.

• No major folds, tears, or moisture damage. The cover colors are still vivid, including the Steadman artwork which often fades.

• Spine is intact and well-bound, with only minor edgewear on the bottom corners.

• Comes with all original content—ads, editorials, and inserts untouched.

• Back page (Saturday Review ad) is also preserved in beautiful condition.

This is the kind of preservation that serious collectors and archivists dream of—a first edition Rolling Stone from the height of its cultural influence, featuring the end of Thompson’s most legendary work and a tribute to a fallen musical icon.