Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. He was known for his flamboyant writing style, most notably deployed in his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which blurred the distinctions between writer and subject, fiction and nonfiction. It became known as gonzo journalism and was widely imitated.

Death

Thompson died at his fortified compound in Woody Creek, Colorado, on February 20, 2005 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 67 years old.

Related Topics:
Woody Creek - Colorado - February 20 - 2005 - Self-inflicted

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Thompson's son (Juan), daughter-in-law (Jennifer Winkel Thompson), and grandson (Will Thompson) were visiting for the weekend at the time of his suicide. Will and Jennifer were in the adjacent room when they heard the gunshot. They reported to the press that they do not believe his suicide was out of desperation, but was a well-thought-out act resulting from Thompson's many painful medical conditions.{{fn|2}} Thompson's wife, Anita, who was at the gym at the time of her husband's death, was on the phone with Thompson when he, unbeknownst to her, ended his life.

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Artist and friend Ralph Steadman wrote:

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:"...He told me 25 years ago that he would feel real trapped if he didn't know that he could commit suicide at any moment. I don't know if that is brave or stupid or what, but it was inevitable. I think that the truth of what rings through all his writing is that he meant what he said. If that is entertainment to you, well, that's OK. If you think that it enlightened you, well, that's even better. If you wonder if he's gone to Heaven or Hell —rest assured he will check out them both, find out which one Richard Milhous Nixon went to —and go there. He could never stand being bored. But there must be Football too —and Peacocks..." {{fn|3}}

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Seven months later, Rolling Stone released what was claimed to be Thompson's final written words, written with a marker four days before his death, The title was "Football Season is over":

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:"No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun -- for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax -- This won't hurt."

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Funeral

On August 20, 2005, Thompson's ashes were fired from a 150-foot cannon of his own design (in the shape of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button) to the tune of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". Red, white, blue and green fireworks were launched along with his ashes. The ashes were fired in a private ceremony. As the city of Aspen will not allow the cannon to remain for more than a month, the cannon will be dismantled and put into storage until a suitable permanant location can be found. There is talk of a public party sometime in the summer of 2006. Johnny Depp, close friend of Thompson (and who portrayed Thompson in the movie adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), financed the funeral, according to widow Anita Thompson. Depp told the Associated Press, "all I'm doing is trying to make sure his last wish comes true. I just want to send my pal out the way he wants to go out." http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001018730

Related Topics:
August 20 - 2005 - Cannon - Peyote - Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man - 2006 - Johnny Depp - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Associated Press

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Other famous attendees at the funeral included US Senators John Kerry and George McGovern, 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley, actors Bill Murray and Josh Hartnett, singers Lyle Lovett and John Oates as well as numerous other friends of Thompson. An estimated 280 people attended the funeral.

Related Topics:
Senator - John Kerry - George McGovern - 60 Minutes - Ed Bradley - Bill Murray - Josh Hartnett - Lyle Lovett - John Oates

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The plans for this impressive monument were initially drawn by Thompson and Ralph Steadman, and were shown as part of an "Omnibus" program on the BBC, titled "Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision". It is included as a special feature on the second disc of the Criterion Collection DVD release of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The video footage of Thompson drawing the plans, and outdoor footage showing where he wanted the cannon constructed were played prior to the unveiling of his cannon at the funeral.

Related Topics:
Omnibus - BBC - Criterion Collection

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"If that's what he wanted, we'll see if we can pull it off," said Douglas Brinkley, a friend and now the family's spokesman, of the ceremony as it was being planned.{{fn|4}}

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