Hunter S. Thompson RIP

[LonelyGhost]

Writer Hunter S. Thompson Kills Himself - Police

DENVER (Reuters) - Hunter S. Thompson, the renowned American journalist and novelist who wrote "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself at his Colorado home on Sunday night, police said. He was 67. "We do have confirmation that Hunter Thompson was found dead this evening of an apparent self-inflicted wound," said Tricia Louthis, spokeswoman for the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office. Thompson was found dead at his home outside the ski resort of Aspen. The Sheriff's Office was unable to provide any further details.

 

[wolverine]

I've wanted to read his stuff for a while but never got around to it.

 

[hornydude]

Too bad

This is too bad. The general public will never know what made him do it, probably. Suicide always seems such a sensless waste to me.....but who knows what his issues or motivation was.

From seeing the movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", I could tell the man must have been very intelligent, very complex, and more sensitive than most people are...I think such people suffer a lot in life sometimes.

Anyhow, for those who have not seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I recommend it highly. If you've experimented in the past with various substances of the mind altering sort, it should hit a nerve (I know it did for me....I won't elaborate here )

 

[hardup]

Another movie about Hunter was "Where the Buffalo Roam" starring Bill Murray as Hunter....hysterical at times, Hunter's appearances on Letterman are legendary. He was a very witty, and intelligent guy, it's sad when anyone get's to that point.

 

[Gonzofiend]

This is truly a sad day. He had just recently married and had seemed to be doing rather well. I know some here and elsewhere might not of appreciated his politics or his views on things, but he was truly a gifted writer and political analyst, much better than the dreck from both the left and the right that you see on all the talking head shows.

I can only speculate that maybe he pulled a 'Hemmingway', he thought that he had turned too old and that his writing was suffering. There are also stories that his behavior, while always erratic, had become especially so in the last few months. If he hadn't focused so much on his extra-curricular activities (his drug use) he'd be considered up there with the best of journalists. Anyone who hasn't read something from him should strive to do so and I can promise he'll make you both laugh and think at the same time. This list is not all-inclusive, but covers the main highlights of an outstanding career:
Hell's Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. The Curse of Lono, The Great Shark Hunt, The Gonzo Papers Vols. I,II, and III, Better Than Sex (although I disagree with the title , and a whole lot more, too many to print here.

My only solace is that he outlasted both Nixon and Reagan, and if there is any justice those two will be forced to watch from the bowels of Hell as Hunter is lifted into and through the Golden Gate. Of course, since I am a confirmed atheist, I don't even get that hope. And no, I am not trying to turn this thread political, but since Hunter so despised those two, I took this shot for him in his honor. Please, let's leave it at that and not divert the thread. I'll be happy to debate about both Nixon and Reagan and if someone wants to then please start another thread. Besides, he was also critical of Carter and especially Clinton, so he was an equal-oppurtunity basher. His eulogy of Nixon is one of the funniest yet hate-filled things anyone will ever read, I suggest it to anyone except Nixon fans.

I am now, and forever, a Gonzofiend. Mahalo Hunter, and rest easy big man. You were too crazy too live, and too rare too die. You stomped mightily on the terra and left awfully big shoes too fill.

Selah

 

[Gonzofiend]

Thanks man. The whole Hemmingway thing is kind of a guess, I don't really know why he did it. There is no mention of a note, which is funny since he was a writer. Probably, he didn't want to waste our time with a bunch of self-pity. He could have been in bad health because any fan of his knows what he put his body through with all of his 'bad craziness'. I can't quote it exactly, but in F & L in LV he wrote something like:

"I'm a sweater. I sweat a lot. I mean, an unnatural amount, torrents and rivers of sweat. It's so bad, I told my Doctor about it. After I told him of my daily intake of poisons he said to come back when I could no longer sweat, that the sweat was taking out all of the toxins I had accumulated in my system and as long as I could sweat I would probably be okay. It's when I could no longer sweat that they would build up and I would be totally fucked."

I didn't do justice to the writing, but you get the idea. He was a helluva hombre. Damn I depressed about this. I guess I will try to direct these frustrations into writing, which I have tried on and off but could never really devote myself to. I realize know that time is too short, I'm about to turn 35 and in reality have not achieved anything "Great". In my work I've helped the Mentally Ill and have kept quite a few folks out of Psych hospitals, but I have achieved nothing of a permanent resonance. Of course, I guess most people don't, but that should not halt the attempt at greatness. I got a lot of things to think over and evaluate. Mid-life and a dead hero...well, sucks to be me I guess.

Gonzo

 

[yogi]

Gidget too!

Sandra Dee died at age 61 of kidney disease.

 

[BlueBells]

I didn't know that Hunter was the basis for Duke, but now that its pointed out I can totally see it. I've read a couple of Hunter's books and watched Fear & Loathing in LV; 'they' did an awesome job on the movie it was almost just like the book. I can't really say anything Gonzo didn't already, but this is a sad sad day. Don't judge the man on his suicide, whatever issues he had at the end and whatever your feelings on self-euthanasia, does not negate his ability or acheivments. We'll be missing you Hunter

 

[Marvin]

Terry Gilliam's interpretation of Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was brilliant, together with wonderful performances by Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro.

Peace be with you Hunter, wherever that may be.

 

[Gonzofiend]

A Slight Clarification

I think I have been misunderstood a little. I loved his "gonzo" lifestyle and his use of drugs did not bother me a bit. I think he always slightly exaggerated his use in a bit of dramatic license, at least I hope so, because he claimed to take A LOT of them all at once, so much so that he would require other drugs to get his heart going again. lol A bowl or two has already been blown by me in his honor. So I did not say this to be negative towards Hunter at all, it was late and I was a little tired and sad so I probably was not clear enough.

What I guess I meant is that, while he was pretty mainstream and well-known, it's not like he was on "Face the Nation" or the other talking head shows a lot even though he had the requisite knowledge to be on those programs, and this was only because he was completely honest about his lifestyle while most other journalists hide their private lives.

One of his best exploits was when he told some young Republicans at the Nixon '72 convention that John Chancellor ate acid with him, which Hunter later retracted as a joke. As he said "It looked like those young republicans were about to have a demonstration and I was egging them on". He said Chancellor never forgave him. The same year he pulled the infamous "Ibogaine" stunt on Muskie (he said Muskie was on the drug Ibogaine) and the rest of the media took him seriously. He didn't think anyone would take him seriously because he had flat made up the charge.

Okay, I'll go easy on Fred's bandwidth and cool off on this thread for awhile, but more Hunter quotes are bound to pop up sooner or later.

Gonzo

 

[Gonzofiend]

Hst On Iraq

Oh WW, I forgot about Iraq. He did have some pretty cool stuff about Iraq and Bush in his ESPN Page 2 columns (called "Hey Rube") which still should be archived. Plus they all came out in a collection very recently (last few months) but for the feck of me I can't remember the title. Not too suprisingly he had some strong comments about the Bushes, especially junior and the war that are quite hardcore and funny. Try to find some of this stuff and I'm sure you will be pleased.

Now THIS was my last post on this thread for awhile (after all, there is the 90 second rule-lol), I promise this time I'll be a good boy or I'll let every SP on the board spank me for being naughty.

Gonzo