Hunter S Thompson

[grimm]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=526482

DENVER Feb 23, 2005 — Hunter S. Thompson, the "gonzo journalist" with a penchant for drugs, guns and flame-thrower prose, might have one more salvo in store for everyone: Friends and relatives want to blast his ashes out of a cannon, just as he wished.

"If that's what he wanted, we'll see if we can pull it off," said historian Douglas Brinkley, a friend of Thompson's and now the family's spokesman.

Thompson, who shot himself to death at his Aspen-area home Sunday at 67, said several times he wanted an artillery send-off for his remains.


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"There's no question, I'm sure that's what he would want," said Mike Cleverly, a longtime friend and neighbor. "Hunter truly loved that kind of thing."

Colorado fireworks impresario Marc Williams said it's doable.

"Oh, sweet. I'd love to. I would so love to," said Williams, 44, owner of Night Musick Inc. in suburban Denver and a fan of Thompson's writing.

Thompson's wife, Anita, and son, Juan, are looking into the cannon scenario, said Brinkley, who has edited some of Thompson's work.

Brinkley also said Thompson did not take his life "in a moment of haste or anger or despondency" but probably planned his suicide well in advance because of declining health. The author of books including "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was in pain from a host of problems that included a broken leg and a hip replacement.

"I think he made a conscious decision that he had an incredible run of 67 years, lived the way he wanted to, and wasn't going to suffer the indignities of old age," Brinkley said. "He was not going to let anybody dictate how he was going to die."

Thompson had spent an intimate weekend with his son, daughter-in-law and young grandson, the spokesman said.

"He was trying to really bond and be close to the family" before his suicide, Brinkley said. "This was not just an act of irrationality. It was a very pre-planned act."

Family members had no hint that Thompson planned to take his own life, Brinkley said, and he did not leave a note. "There was no farewell salutation," he said.

[Hell Puppy]

Good style points.

[JR]

i don't understand the logic in saying that he planned his suicide well for quite sometime.... yada yada yada... but then continuing by saying that he left no notes or explanations or any way of saying goodbye to his family (i mean, he was an author) and gave no hint of his intentions to anyone around him as proceeded to shoot himself in his own home for his family/loved ones to find the body with blood and brains sprayed all over the place.

that sounds like a spontaneous act to me.

[venturi]

nah, if what they are saying is true then no note was needed. A good author doesn't use extra words. He'd already said what needed to be said. All that was left was the final period (a bullet) to end the book.

[Yug]

Originally posted by JR@Feb 23 2005, 09:59 PM
i don't understand the logic in saying that he planned his suicide well for quite sometime.... yada yada yada... but then continuing by saying that he left no notes or explanations or any way of saying goodbye to his family (i mean, he was an author) and gave no hint of his intentions to anyone around him as proceeded to shoot himself in his own home for his family/loved ones to find the body with blood and brains sprayed all over the place.

that sounds like a spontaneous act to me.

his whole life was a spontaneous act ...

im actually suprised he made it to the age of 67!