Hunter S. Thompson blasts off with help from fans

[yetiking333]

i agree with pyran. i was in jail at the time. thanks guys.he is my fav author

[hairyvirgin]

what kind of fucking cannon was that?!

I saw multiple shots

[chiasma23]

My brother, Tyler Franklin, took and uploaded this video, and he is no frat boy. As an enormous HST fan, he was excited, as was everyone there. He passed away this past April and i know that this experience was definitely a highlight of his all-too-short existence. Thank you all for the positive and encouraging comments. RIP, Tyler. Thank you for doing this and sharing this moment with everyone. Hope you're sharing some scotch with the good Doctor.

[TheDancediva725]

this maybe really ignorant and i apologize for all you fans......but i dont get what just happened......

[cesarvivas]

@TheDancediva725

hunter s thompson asked to be cremated and have his ashes shot out a fist shaped cannon. this is his funeral.

[Barbaragreene1]

Johnny Depp arranged and paid for Dr Hunter S Thompson's Funeral Request..

[yetiking333]

@Barbaragreene1 no shit

[Barbaragreene1]

@yetiking333 No need to be nasty!1 What is wrong with people???

[pagliaccinodlemantra]

3:39 Dr Gonzo its a Spirit in the Sky :D

[Frogtalkin]

He finally got out of bat country!

[TheAdamgnych]

this is how i want to go.... people having fun, listening to music and getting fucked up :)

[ForbinColossus]

Last)

So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark —that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.”

Some critics and readers believe this wave speech was Thompson's favourite passage in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the writing of which he was most proud. Thompson often cited it during interviews, choosing it when asked to read aloud from the novel.

[ForbinColossus]

5)

And that, I think, was the handle—that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn’t need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting—on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave ....

[ForbinColossus]

4)

... but being absolutely certain that no matter which way I went I would come to a place where people were just as high and wild as I was: No doubt at all about that ...

There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda .... You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning ....cont'd

[ForbinColossus]

3)

when I left the Fillmore half-crazy and, instead of going home, aimed the big 650 Lightning across the Bay Bridge at a hundred miles an hour wearing L. L. Bean shorts and a Butte sheepherder's jacket ...booming through the Treasure Island tunnel at the lights of Oakland and Berkeley and Richmond, not quite sure which turn-off to take when I got to the other end (always stalling at the toll-gate, too twisted to find neutral while I fumbled for change) ...con't

[ForbinColossus]

2)

History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of "history" it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time—and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened.

My central memory of that time seems to hang on one or five or maybe forty nights—or very early mornings—...cont'd

[ForbinColossus]

"Strange memories on this nervous night in Las Vegas. Five years later? Six? It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era—the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run ...but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant ... cont'd

[EarthIntruder]

Holy butt bugs... this page has attracted a bright bunch. We all have opinions, and unfortunately, most people state and treat theirs like facts. FOR CHRIST SAKE CALM THE DUMB BUTT DOWN!!! Ride the wave and enjoy the H20... don't tell me that IT IS AWESOME. LET ME DECIDE. Have the common decent practice to respect and allow other folk to have their opinion. Shit, share yours about theirs and live the americain amendments properly and wisely. Don't make me scar you all with my words.

[Baxxter101]

@EarthIntruder I enjoy the O more than the H20 personally... then again my refreshment of choice almost always includes rum... Also, drop the hippy bullshit. Right here.  Right now. Respect is to be EARNED and CULTIVATED, not expected as a constant. There are two choices, be worthy of respect in a certain capacity as it relates to a certain field, or don't.. If I were to sit here and bullshit you about any number of topics I have no clue about, would you respect my opinion? You shouldn't.

[TurnOnLamp]

Whenever I die i'd like to be cremated and the ash be mixed with gunpowder and be shot out of a gun that John Dillinger used on the eye of the Statue of Liberty. Yeah.

[circusfarts]

Red white and blue

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

How fucking typical. What the fuck were those fuckers doing there ?

Probably saw Fear and Loathing and thought thay were historians.

Red white and blue. Fuuuuuuck.........

[TheZombiePilot]

It never get weird enough for him...

he left a big hole in our century.

R.I.P. , great genius

a french fan

[Jivezilla]

"Too weird to live, too rare to die."

A man of pure genius. RIP

[zalen292]

R.I.P. Hunter S. Thompson You're the best god damn vision of an American Dream could ever be. I hope to one day to find the American dream as you did

[Gandhiablo]

I hate Tribalistic White People

[lsjgrocery568]

God bless the Good Doctor...

[GonzoDNA]

I was there that night, having hiked 500 miles of the Divide to get there, my little homage to Hunter. I was right behind the cameraman, judging by my voice in the background. It was a night never to forget. My story about it became the opening chapter of my book Dead Men Hike No Trails.

[acid9011]

@GonzoDNA so lucky man i wish i was there im shedding a tear right now.

[allfor1an1forall]

whats ur book about, im from ireland and im fourteen so im still doing GCSE'S in school, but i was thinking, for one of the assignments, why dont i act out the character of HUNTER S THOMPSON, it'll be good for a laugh.

[calebzia]

happy deathday, doctor, here's to you

[pyranhaman86]

Thank god Hunter couldn't hear these frat boy idiots. However, since this seems to be the only video of Hunter's funeral i have to thank them.

[aussielung]

@pyranhaman86 I don't know. I found the whole thing quite nice, Rather than standing there crying over Thompson they cheered and celebrated him. I don't know for sure but it seems that anyone who plans their own funeral to include their remains being made into fire works did not want the mourners to be sitting around quietly remembering. It seems to me someone like that would have appreciated the idiot frat boys.

[pyranhaman86]

@aussielung I think everyone that has ever loved Hunter was actually surprised that he didnt kill himself much earlier (and he has been planning his funeral since what.. the 70's?). He choose to end his life, nothing really sad about that either. My problem is the type of people cheering for him are the ones that WATCHED Fear&Loathing for Johhny Depp and thought it would be cool to show up that night. Dare i say posers? Real fans would be cursing the rat bastard for not killing himself sooner!!

[aussielung]

@pyranhaman86 You can't see the people who made this video and you don't know them so how can you make a claim like this about them. I am a real Hunter fan and although I probably would not have gone to his funeral I do not curse these people for cheering him on his last journey. If you watch the doco's of Hunter after his death with footage from inside the funeral then you would know those invited to the funeral also cheered.

[pyranhaman86]

@aussielung Well anyone can cheer him on, but i doubt Bill Murray was chanting like that lol.  And true enough that i can see these fine folks, but im still pretty sure they went there with no real sense of who Hunter ACTUALLY was (or at least less of an understanding of him then most of us do, since i dont think ANYONE could ever really understand the man)

[aussielung]

@pyranhaman86 How do you know? Maybe Bill Murrey, Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro started a conga line chanting "hunter, hunter, hun ter" then limboed under a two foot long joint. lol. Ok, that most probably didn't happen, but who knows, maybe the invited mourners did chant his name. There was no press at the funeral and the only official footage was in the doco's and there was definitely cheering almost exactly the same as what we see on this video.

[smackythefrog23]

@pyranhaman86 heres a MUCH better and more respectfully done video

DHp2qL5O5A8 just add the you tube dot com address before it

[garethbowler]

@pyranhaman86 hahaha you read my mind go hunter go hunter go jesus

[joemamamassy]

the guys filming this are a bunch of homos. go hunter, go hunter. jesus christ. i do thank them for being there and recording it though.

[322hiram]

Stay american you fukkers, dont forget where the hell you came from and what this country used to be...stay american, drink the whiskey smoke the smokes, go shoot some fucking guns, wake up, kill things...be free and scream your hearts out... take the ride, fuck the haters...we love you hunter and youll always..always be missed...peace friend

[necramericanomicon]

red white and blue...and there was a mention of the number 13 at the end...and bright white cannonade/fireworks...

illuminated freemasonry rides again?

thanks to the angel of depp....

[bloodylover101]

hunter lives! in mind and heart

[conyvg]

top that funeral

[chena3]

bastards murdered hunter....

"when the going gets weird

the weird turn pro..."

peace out doctor...

[damnedvagrant]

R.I.P. Sheriff

[o0syn]

Im so happy he got what he wanted done. I wish i would have been there for that.

[Twopecshaker]

It wasn't suicide, they murdered him. He was working a story at the time about how gay underage call boys where getting ferried into the white house.

[ellaz17]

dude, he killed himself with his grandson and daughter in law in the same room, his son had just step out when he did it. read the oral history of HST by j. w. and you will see for your self.

[sammyada]

Too weird to live, too rare to die. *selah*

[HelterSkelter085]

R.I.P. HUNTER

[necramericanomicon]

there were 13 red white and blue fireworks set off (mentions it in the audio)...at least the masonic spirits were propitiated...wasn't there peyote and whatnot mixed in with the hunter ashes? should work...

[isaacallin]

dude ether i am high.. Or the smoke spells something on 1:58 looks like seth! creepy!

[putabarata]

it looks like it does

[Idolhands7007]

send?

[abdsaid]

YEA it well does wierd

[miisterwilson1988]

Hunter S. Thompson was one of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.

[shakmooll]

a freak in freak country

[gutsandr]

@miisterwilson1988 way to quote his description of dr. gonzo moron

[rgonewild]

@miisterwilson1988 Too fucking bad you're quoting Thompson himself on the Obituary of his friend Mr. Oscar Zeta Acosta.

[caraphor]

1) Invest $10 in a tripod 2)You singing over Bob Dylan severely reduces our enjoyment 3) Thanks for producing and posting you contribution.

[death2yoo]

There'll never be another hunter thompson.

"No sympathy for the devil"

[jjjryanjjj]

We are stuck here with out him it feals diffrent some how soon time shall clam us all but for now i will keep the light burning at the end of the tunnal

[Mcblooom]

this was an awesome video thanx for who ever posted this R.I.P. H.S.T.

[NICKDIORIO]

YEA HUNTER!!!!! Pretty unique way of taking the ride out.

Mahalo my friend

[dasher1982]

how the fuck did they get that to say sexy? or did hunter make it do that?

[graphicartistx]

Fuck yeah, man. He got his wish.

[JudasAddiction]

the first youtube video to *nearly* bring me to tears...... :'( Hunter...we need you so fucking badly right now.

[GonzoDNA]

I was there, right behind the guy with the camera, and I know what you mean about being brought to tears. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment I had decided not to miss for the world, and so in fact hiked 500 miles south along the Continental Divide to be there and raise awareness of his death. We do need him now more than ever. Agreed. :-(

[evilutionest56]

yes. we'll miss him.

[Recumbentz]

"when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro":HST ( RIP)

[penttti]

hai there ya grazee, i amma a baa finland maa, i luuv ya wayii ja bee grazee

[kranzceii]

This is quite possibly the most creative way to be laid to rest. Hunter S. Thompson definitely was the king of Gonzo and all things odd and amazing! RIP...

[donluchitti]

That sure did say sexy-what a confusing omen..

[jimmyboican]

I wish he was still areound. but yea its cool that he got every one involved and everything, he must have been a pretty cool guy. i would have loved to meet him.....RIP.......

[CrazyAlvis]

RIP Hunter!!!

GONZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scatcher]

so the smoke spells SEXY at 2:00min?

yes?

[vonkaltenborn]

SELA

[metricfan33]

He was like no other

[hertzum]

this is the new zapruder film! (kidding)

[johnevans47]

Dude, I couldn't have been more that ten feet from you. Glad someone took video.

JE

[balomas69]

all you idiots who claim hst was murdered have no idea what you are talking about. find the rolling stone tribute to him and read his son's article. his son was in the house and hunter just coincidently gave juan all the 1st editions of his books before the "conspiracy" to kill him. he was old, he didnt think he would live that long in the first place and he was getting sick. he offed himself and you fucking idiots who dont read or do any of your own research think there is a god damn conspiracy

[porter198126]

I believe that Hunter S Thompson stood for a movement that should have taken place years ago ... and maybe he killed himself maybe he was assasinated, but with what the bush government has done and all hunter tried to stand for in his lifetime why wouldn't he want to end it, the dream was over and things could only get worse I just hope that people can stand up for what he was and stop all this war and hate it's time for another revolution because the war in iraq is just another veitnam

[Andgrey]

things had to get worse befor they get better. Bush's riegn will expose the evils and the good will prevail in the end . Maybe even a new age

[gonzogal3]

I love this post. It's made me want to take action.

Thankyou, man.

[licquyd]

I am crying

[MyT01]

"the race is over" - "not for me!"

[mjrchapin]

Excellent choice of quotations!

[ComingThruTheDrRan]

its even a party at hunter's memorial service. right on, bro: keepin the peace and sharing with each of us a little bit of your wisdom (ashes)

[jakeamathacus]

umm, He commited suicide... He claimed he was too old and wanted to end his life before he got older, his last wish was for his remains to be launched from a cannon.

[corndog45]

hunter s. thompson was murdered for writing a story exposing a whitehouse sex-slave ring.. and now foley gate is happening. people think hes the first to do what he did, even though members of congress found out what he was doing more than 6 years ago..

[Bens39]

Yeah, I had the same thoughts too. He was also beginning work on the whole 9/11 truth/lies situation. Given his enduring fanbase (several million readers), he definately had to be stopped from adding more stink to the bush regime. Oh well.... Karma will take care of the current leadership.

[seanmetcalf]

come on, he was at his typewriter, he shot himself, the bullet casing at his feet. his son found him. what, was his family in on it? of course not. enough of this conspiracy hog wash.

[daveo1538]

Give me a break. I loved and admired HST, but this is ridiculous. He went out on his own terms. Conspiracy theories are unnecessary when it comes to illustrating the evils of our current government. In fact, lunacy like this gives creedence to those who say dissenters are nutty, or unpatriotic, or both.

[klocke]

...made me cry a little bit...and that hasn't happened in a long while