Show Monday held anniversary of Gonzo pioneers pioneer's death Amanda Chamberlain The Globe I hate to advocate drugs alcohol violence violence violence vio vio- lence or insanity to anyone but they've always worked for me famously stated the eccentrically experimental author and originator of Gonzo journalism the late Hunter Stockton Thompson Thompson was born on July 18 1937 and took his own life in Feb 2005 by way of shotgun making last Monday February 20 the year one anniversary of his death Three months following Thompsons Thompson's death last year Rolling Stone released what they claim were his final words apiece apiece a apiece piece called Football Season is Over which he wrote down four days before his death No more g games mes No more bombs No Nomore Nomore Nomore more walking No more fun No more swimming ng 67 That is 17 years past 50 17 more than I needed or wanted Boring I Iam Iam Iam am always bitchy No fun-for fun anybody 67 You are getting greedy Act your old age this Relax-this wont won't hurt Thompsons Thompson's writing writing writing writ writ- ing said Many know Thompson as the bold and unapologetic vagabond who would coin quotes like A cap of good acid costs five dollars and for that you can hear the theU TT U I 1 y u Symphony with God singing solo and the Holy Ghost on drums and identify in his books with anyone anyone anyone any any- one from pot- pot teenagers rs to of- of I age political 1 enthusiasts However one identifies I IThompson Thompson few can deny that he flaunted Thompson told me 25 years ago that he would feel real trapped if he didn't know that he could commit suicide at any moment I dont don't know if that is brave or stupid or what but it was inevitable If you wonder if hes he's gone to Heaven or Hell rest assured he will check out them both find out which one Richard Milhous Nixon went to and go there He could never stand being bored But there must be football football football foot foot- ball too and peacocks wrote Ralph Steadman a friend of Thompson who also illustrated many of his publications according to Thompson who for the most intrinsic part of his career wrote regularly for Rolling Stone magazine got the attention attention attention atten atten- tion of both present and future readers with the 1971 printing of his person first-person recount of a motorcycle race and a drug seminar in Las Vegas infamously titled arid dad s 1 This TIlts Fear n in L Las Vegas Vegas Vegas' fueled drug steeped rebellion-steeped of edge-of- your-seat your entertaining cult hit grafted Thompson into almost overnight celebrity status and with his wild-child wild anti- anti authority personality ever in tow Everyone had to deal with the way he turned in his stories and resisted dead dead- lines recalled Ben Fong Fong- Torres Fong Torres former editor for Rolling Stone in a February 2005 interview with National Public Radio But Rut even thou h y- y If you had Thompson on the cover that would sell more than if you had your average rock star on there Fong Torres Fong Torres 8 w he regularly displayed displayed displayed dis dis- dis- dis played his trademark trademark trademark trade trade- mark independence independence independence dence like burning burning burning burn burn- ing through the company's expense accounts Thompson managed managed managed man man- aged to still reign as a valuable member to the Rolling Stone team I dont don't think any of us wanted to get rid of him Torres Fong-Torres explained to NPR If you had Thompson on the cover that would sell more than if you had your average average average aver aver- age rock star on there And lack of material was not a problem for Thompsons Thompson's readership With multiple publications including Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail Hells Angels-A Angels Strange and Terrible Saga The Rum Diaries and The Gonzo Papers series the revolutionary author provided a hearty bibliography for curious readers With Thompsons Thompson's bibliography full of real-life real experiences like experiences like running for sheriff or taking so many drugs that he ended up conjuring Ozzy Osbourne when he spoke later in his life-anyone life who frequents frequents frequents fre fre- fre- fre the authors author's writing will find their definition of normalcy turned upside down and a new reality paved accordingly However even though the profoundly undomesticated author and journalist hailed a a plethora of n nicknames nicknames' names names' s' s anda and reputation r reputation rep rep- p including being arrested for bank robbery and receiving a order mail-order doctorate doctorate doctorate doc in Divinity it was Torres Fong who recalled the quintessential Thompson He was lots of fun He was definitely a one-man one adventure |