Career
He was raised in Oklahoma and later moved to Nevada. Rolling Thunder also figures prominently in Mad Bear (1994), Boyd"s follow-up book to Rolling Thunder, which chronicles the life of Tuscarora medicine man Mad Bear Anderson, a peer and mentor to Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder appears on Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart"s album Rolling Thunder, a 1972 release.
In 1975/76, Bob Dylan organized and headlined the Rolling Thunder Revue, a nationwide series of concerts.
Rolling Thunder himself was said to have appeared at some of the shows (bootleg recordings exist of concerts - such as the ones in Providence on November 4, 1975 - in which Rolling Thunder is introduced, and delivers an invocation). Rolling Thunder"s message, as related through the books about his life, was one of togetherness and inclusiveness.
lieutenant operated until 1985. Visitors over the years included Buckminster Fuller, Mickey Hart and The Grateful Dead, and Tibetan monks.
Rolling Thunder died in 1997 from complications associated with diabetes.
He also suffered from emphysema in the later years of his life. Rolling Thunder"s given name was John Pope. At times he claimed to be part Cherokee and at other times Shoshone or Hopi.
He never provided proof of any Native heritage.
He is criticized for cultural appropriation and misrepresentation, including teaching non-native people made-up ceremonies for money. He claimed the movie Billy Jack was loosely based on his life.
He was a bit player in the film.
