Tom Forcade

Early Life and Education

• Born in Phoenix, Arizona
• Father died in a car crash during his childhood
• Graduated from the University of Utah in 1967 with a degree in business administration
• Joined the United States Air Force but was discharged after a short period

Career and Achievements

• Founded the underground magazine ‘Orpheus’ and a hippie commune
• Managed the Underground Press Syndicate, later renamed Alternative Press Syndicate
• Founded ‘High Times’ in 1974
• Contributed funding to ‘Yipster Times’ and ‘Punk’ magazine
• ‘High Times’ became a successful publication with a large circulation

Activism and Influence

• First documented activist to use pieing as a form of protest in 1970
• Followed the Sex Pistols on their 1978 U.S. tour
• Used ‘High Times’ to advocate for marijuana as a medical wonder drug
• Ridiculed the US Drug Enforcement Administration in articles
• ‘High Times’ embraced by the young adult market as a cultural bible

Death and Legacy

• Committed suicide by gunshot in November 1978
• Suicide followed the death of his best friend, Jack Coombs
• Had previously attempted suicide
• Bequeathed trusts to benefit ‘High Times’ and NORML

References and Recognition

• Works by authors like Michael Gross, Andrew Arnett, and Martin A. Lee
• Books discussing Tom Forçade’s impact on counterculture and alternative media
• Articles mentioning his activism and influence in the 1970s
• Citations from various sources like New York Times and The Paris Review
• Books detailing his involvement with the Sex Pistols and underground press movements

Tom Forcade Data Sources