The impending, and further, cannonization of Duke.

2/22/05
Report: Thompson requested loud send-off
By Troy Hooper/Aspen Daily News Staff Writer


It turns out the dean of gonzo isn't through holding class.

One of Hunter S. Thompson's last wishes was to have his cremated
body blasted out of a cannon onto his property at Owl Farm, George Tobia
Jr., an East Coast entertainment lawyer who has represented the author for
the past 15 years, told the Boston Globe this week.

Friends of Thompson confirmed the wish to the Aspen Daily News
on Tuesday, although one source said there are discussions under way that
could be even "more exciting" than what the Boston Globe reported. Details,
however, were unavailable.

Other pilot discussions are underway to commemorate his life's
work.

Meanwhile, a commemoration for Thompson's close friends and
family has been scheduled on March 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Belly Up
nightclub in Aspen, a.k.a. Fat City - the name The Good Doctor initially
prescribed to owner Michael Goldberg. A family spokesman said, "You know who
you are" if you should attend.

A public celebration of Thompson's life is planned for early
this summer.

No suicide note was found in the kitchen of Owl Farm where
Thompson shot a .45-calliber into his head at about 5:42 p.m. and instantly
died, according to Sheriff Bob Braudis, who said he had "zero" inkling his
good friend was on the verge of killing himself in discussions the two had
in recent weeks.

But in the Boston Globe report, Thompson's attorney said
preparations were being made.

"This was definitely not spur of the moment," Tobia said. "He
arranged to have things dealt with, and he wanted his family close by, but
he didn't want anyone to know - he didn't want anyone to try to stop him."

During the last few years of his life, Thompson, 67, suffered
from a mounting list of ailments that included breaking a leg in Hawaii
during a trip to his hotel suite's mini-bar, coping with an artificial hip
and spinal surgery. Even so, the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" author
remained mostly upbeat with his friends.

But, as his books and his neighbors can attest, Thompson's
personality was volatile.

"He came up to the house a few times when I was sleeping and
left things to scare me," said Grammy-winning musician Jimmy Ibbotson, who
lives up the road from Owl Farm, and is known for creating his own wild
stories. "He left what looked like a human foot in front of my door. It was
fake, but I was scared to death."

As a budding writer, Thompson deeply admired Ernest Hemingway,
who fatally shot himself in 1961 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, at the age
of 62. Hemingway's death clearly echoed in the minds of those familiar with
Thompson's writings.

"The strength of his youth became rigidity as he grew older. He
was an old, sick, and very troubled man," Thompson wrote in a piece entitled
"What Drew Hemingway to Ketchum."

"The illusion of peace and contentment was not enough for him,"
wrote Thompson. "So, finally, and for what he must have thought the best of
reasons, he ended it with a shotgun."

Thompson's body was cremated in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday. The
day before, his son, Juan Thompson, 40, placed a CD of favorite songs that
Hunter had edited and titled: "Where were you when the fun stopped?" in back
of the hearse that carried him to Farnum Holt Funeral Home. The playlist
included songs by Warren Zevon, a longtime friend and political ally of
Thompson who died of cancer last year.

Zevon once discussed his relationship with Thompson to VH1.

"The first exchange we ever had was about 10 years ago, when my
daughter and I arrived in Aspen. I said, 'Dr. Thompson, I've got the most
terrible headache you can ever imagine. I don't know what to do at this
altitude.' He said, 'Acid.'"










Old memories. I've assisted with several post-mortems in that funeral home.
The local hospital had no morgue when I was there. And I've done amateur
guitar and vocal sets many nights at a local bar called Lotta Tomatta. Jim
Ibbotson used to come down and play once in a while. Nice guy to sit in
with.

--
Stev Lenon 91B20 '68-'69
When the dawn came up like thunder