Hunter S. Thompson Wanted Remains Fired From Cannon
Friends Plan Private, Public Ceremonies
POSTED: 7:20 am MST February 23, 2005
ASPEN, Colo. -- Close friends and family of Hunter S. Thompson will hold a private gathering March 5 at the Belly Up bar in Aspen to honor the author.
A public ceremony is planned for this spring or early summer.
Thompson, who wrote "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and other works of Gonzo journalism, committed suicide Sunday evening in his Woody Creek home near Aspen.
Some admirers and friends are making interesting tributes to Thompson. Two anonymous fans called the bar in the Hotel Jerome Monday in Aspen and gave their credit card numbers so bartenders could buy a drink for anyone who mentioned Thompson's name.
And actor Johnny Depp and others are searching for a cannon and researching firing techniques to grant the author's wish that his ashes be fired into the sky.
Depp starred in the movie version of "Fear and Loathing" and was a friend of Thompson.
Meanwhile, Thompson-related items are hot sellers on the Internet auction site eBay. By 5 p.m. Tuesday, eBay had 1,800 bids placed on 601 items related to Thompson.
The items include a 5-inch tall action figure of Uncle Duke, the Doonesbury character based on Thompson.