MERGED-->RIP Hunter S. Thompson - Page 2

Keocmb · 02-21-2005, 04:05 PM

Hunter S. Thompson, the author who pioneered "gonzo" journalism and became an anti-establishment icon with his 1972 book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself at his home outside Aspen, Colorado, Sunday night, police said. He was 67.

In a statement released to the Aspen Daily News, Thompson's son, Juan, confirmed that the writer had taken his own life.

"On February 20, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson took his life with a gunshot to the head at his fortified compound in Woody Creek, Colorado. The family will provide more information ... shortly," the statement read. "Hunter prized his privacy and we ask that his friends and admirers respect that privacy as well as that of his family."

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" — Thompson's most famous work — detailed the drug-and-alcohol-fueled journey his alter-ego (Raoul Duke) and a Samoan attorney undertook while in Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. The book's biting wit and stream-of-consciousness ramblings — later termed "gonzo journalism" (a phrase coined by Thompson friend and associate Bill Cardoso) because of the reckless abandon with which the author threw himself into the story — made him a counter-culture celebrity in the '70s, and his style was introduced to another generation of fans in 1998, when "Fear and Loathing" hit the big screen, starring Johnny Depp as Duke. Bill Murray had tackled Thompson's life and work 18 years earlier in the 1980 flick "Where the Buffalo Roam," based on a collection of the author's work, and Thompson even served as the inspiration for the character of "Duke" in Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip.

Thompson's other works include "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72," a collection of articles he'd written for Rolling Stone magazine while covering Richard Nixon's re-election campaign in 1972; and "Hell's Angels," his book chronicling the year he spent with the notorious California motorcycle gang.

He is survived by his wife, Anita Thompson, son Juan, daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson William.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/149...headlines=true

~LadyLemon~ · 02-21-2005, 05:46 PM

DaveC · 08-19-2005, 03:15 PM

The funeral is tomorrow morning at Owl Farm in Woody Creek, CO. His ashes will be shot out of a 150-foot tall cannon (shaped like the famous Gonzo fist) directly up into the air to an altitude of 400-500 feet before exploding in a firework shell.

The only song to be played at the funeral will be "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan, at HST's request.

If you want to see what the cannon looks like, get your hands on a DVD copy of Fear and Loathing (the Criterion version) and watch the documentary Fear and Loathing in Hollywood, it's shown at the very end.

Rest in peace, Raoul Duke.

carrieluvv · 08-20-2005, 05:26 AM

is it considered a funeral when they scatter someones ashes?

hmm..learn sumtin new everyday.

what a wild man ...i saw him on conan obrien once and they showed a snippet of when conan visited hunters home- they were out in a field drinkin/gettin drunk and shotting high powered rifles of some sort.

yikes

DaveC · 08-20-2005, 01:54 PM

Well, it's a memorial service. And the latest word from CNN is that it's all going to happen tonight, and that there are going to be performances by Lyle Lovett (who was actually in the movie version of F&L) and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as well, along with readings of Hunter's works.

As I understand it, Mr. Tambourine Man will be played as the actual shooting occurs.

02-21-2005, 04:05 PM	#21
Keocmb Refugee Join Date: May 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,759 Local Time: 05:12 PM	Hunter S. Thompson dies at 67 Hunter S. Thompson, the author who pioneered "gonzo" journalism and became an anti-establishment icon with his 1972 book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself at his home outside Aspen, Colorado, Sunday night, police said. He was 67. In a statement released to the Aspen Daily News, Thompson's son, Juan, confirmed that the writer had taken his own life. "On February 20, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson took his life with a gunshot to the head at his fortified compound in Woody Creek, Colorado. The family will provide more information ... shortly," the statement read. "Hunter prized his privacy and we ask that his friends and admirers respect that privacy as well as that of his family." "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" — Thompson's most famous work — detailed the drug-and-alcohol-fueled journey his alter-ego (Raoul Duke) and a Samoan attorney undertook while in Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. The book's biting wit and stream-of-consciousness ramblings — later termed "gonzo journalism" (a phrase coined by Thompson friend and associate Bill Cardoso) because of the reckless abandon with which the author threw himself into the story — made him a counter-culture celebrity in the '70s, and his style was introduced to another generation of fans in 1998, when "Fear and Loathing" hit the big screen, starring Johnny Depp as Duke. Bill Murray had tackled Thompson's life and work 18 years earlier in the 1980 flick "Where the Buffalo Roam," based on a collection of the author's work, and Thompson even served as the inspiration for the character of "Duke" in Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip. Thompson's other works include "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72," a collection of articles he'd written for Rolling Stone magazine while covering Richard Nixon's re-election campaign in 1972; and "Hell's Angels," his book chronicling the year he spent with the notorious California motorcycle gang. He is survived by his wife, Anita Thompson, son Juan, daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson William. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/149...headlines=true __________________

02-21-2005, 05:46 PM	#22
~LadyLemon~ I Serve Larry's Stick Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Akron Posts: 7,392 Local Time: 09:12 PM	__________________

08-20-2005, 01:54 PM	#25
DaveC Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: mar-a-lago delenda est Posts: 21,522 Local Time: 08:12 PM	Well, it's a memorial service. And the latest word from CNN is that it's all going to happen tonight, and that there are going to be performances by Lyle Lovett (who was actually in the movie version of F&L) and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band as well, along with readings of Hunter's works. As I understand it, Mr. Tambourine Man will be played as the actual shooting occurs. __________________

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08-19-2005, 03:15 PM	#23
DaveC Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: mar-a-lago delenda est Posts: 21,522 Local Time: 08:12 PM	The funeral is tomorrow morning at Owl Farm in Woody Creek, CO. His ashes will be shot out of a 150-foot tall cannon (shaped like the famous Gonzo fist) directly up into the air to an altitude of 400-500 feet before exploding in a firework shell. The only song to be played at the funeral will be "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan, at HST's request. If you want to see what the cannon looks like, get your hands on a DVD copy of Fear and Loathing (the Criterion version) and watch the documentary Fear and Loathing in Hollywood, it's shown at the very end. Rest in peace, Raoul Duke.

08-20-2005, 05:26 AM	#24
carrieluvv Refugee Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: maine Posts: 1,117 Local Time: 01:12 AM	is it considered a funeral when they scatter someones ashes? hmm..learn sumtin new everyday. what a wild man ...i saw him on conan obrien once and they showed a snippet of when conan visited hunters home- they were out in a field drinkin/gettin drunk and shotting high powered rifles of some sort. yikes