August 19, 2005
Hunter S. Thompson - A Gonzo Memorial
Hunter S. Thompson, a unique writer until his suicide six months ago, will be remembered in an appropriately unique memorial ceremony at his Woody Creek home this Saturday. His cremated remains, about the size of a basketball, have been mixed with fireworks and packed into 34 mortar tubes that will be blasted by a cannon about 300 feet into the air. Guests should have those little drink umbrellas to keep the ashes from floating into their margaritas at this solemn occasion.
The service, the cost of which has been estimated at $2 million, is being covered primarily by Johnny Depp, who played Thompson in the 1998 movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Lyle Lovett, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a Japanese drum group, and someone with a flute will perform in this event being called "Hunterpaloosa." I guess the guests who can't perform will have to settle on bringing covered dishes.
Thompson once said, "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Well, as some might say, whatever works. However, there are prices to pay and sometimes those prices are paid by the people who are closest.
Thompson had strong political beliefs and hated Richard Nixon. Given Hunter Thompson's values and death: if he thinks that Richard Nixon resides in hell, then maybe Thompson will join him--with his hell being stuck with Nixon through eternity. Now, that would be a fitting conclusion to this, but I wouldn't wish that on Nixon--nor Thompson either.
Posted by GM Roper at August 19, 2005 03:30 PM | TrackBackDamnit, Woody, you left out where to get tickets!
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 19, 2005 06:34 PM
Jim, if you can contribute $2 million like Depp or sing like Lyle Lovett, I might be able to sneak you in.
What do you say when the fireworks are blasted with his remains? Do you go ooooooh, ahhhhhhhhhh, ...ohhhhhhh! Does that seem like an appropriate way to send someone off--so to speak? Is this the grand finale? Do you give everyone sparklers to wave around during the service? This just isn't like any funeral I've attended.
This is a guy who killed himself; but, he first called his wife on her cell phone, asked her to hold, set the phone down, and fired the gun so that she could hear it when he died. If someone did that to me I'd be more inclined to flush the ashes into a cess pool rather than honor the final wishes with a grand party.
I know that some people will say something like 'that was just the way he was" and "this is the perfect and fitting end to his life." I would say that it probably likely that he was extremely self-centered and didn't care about those close to him. I don't respect men like that, no matter how many books they have written.
So, people can remember the parts about his life that they liked, but it's fitting to remember the dark side and be open about it. That's what he would do.
Posted by Woody at August 19, 2005 08:12 PM
"So, people can remember the parts about his life that they liked, but it's fitting to remember the dark side and be open about it. That's what he would do."
Exactly.
Posted by jim hitchcock at August 19, 2005 08:22 PM
In other words, really going out with a bang?
Posted by Mustang at August 19, 2005 09:39 PM
That's bad, Mustang...but funny.
Posted by Woody at August 19, 2005 10:18 PM
