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ice queen colorado
Sep 2000
time: 22:37
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Hunter Thompson's ashes fired from cannon
Sun Aug 21, 7:17 PM ET
DENVER, United States (AFP) - US writer Hunter Thompson got the send-off he wanted when his cremated ashes were shot into the sky at his Colorado home amid fireworks and cheers in a ceremony befitting his over-the-top journalistic career.
The "gonzo journalist" and gun lover had been in failing health and shot himself to death on February 20 at his home near Aspen, Colorado, the posh ski resort dotted with multi-million dollar homes.
The ceremony was a private affair, but television pictures showed a tower - about as tall as the Statue of Liberty topped by a clenched fist with two thumbs -- and fireworks as the writer's ashes were scattered about a hundred meters up into the air.
Nobody knew exactly why he wanted such a strange send-off, but odd behavior was no stranger to the writer best known for "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," about a drug-hazed automobile trip through the American Southwest.
The book was made into a movie in 1998 starring Johnny Depp, who became a close friend of Thompson's and who funded construction of the tower.
Depp, other celebrities and about 300 other close friends and family were expected to attend the ceremony.
Thompson said in a 1978 BBC documentary that he wanted the cannon send-off, prompting family and friends to start planning the event soon after he died.
Saturday was the six-month anniversary of his death at 67.
The Kentucky-born Thompson created "gonzo" journalism -- a form of story telling where the author is part of the story in the 1970s.
But besides his creativity, he was also known for hard living, and after his ashes were scattered the mourners were then expected to head to the bar until the wee hours of the morning.
While the ceremony was private and security at the Aspen compound was heavy, fans of the late writer showed up in the area anyway just to soak up the ambiance.
Locals planned their own farewell to the writer known to start his morning with a drink and a cigarette.
"He'd be drinking all the time. In the morning he'd pour a glass of scotch, smoke a cigarette, eat devilled-eggs and go from there," said Troy Hooper, associate editor of the Aspen Daily News.
One of Thompson's famous lines covered all the vices. "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
Dubbed the "Gonzo Blastoff" party, the gathering was expected to include readings from Thompson's books.
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22-08-2005 09:25
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