Happy Birthday Hunter S. Thompson

July 18, 2009 at 9:21 am | Posted in blogging | 14 Comments
Tags: don't ask me who F. is anymore, Hunter S Thompson

Hunter was a writer worth loving for many reasons. He understood that journalistic objectivity was a fraud, that everything is propoganda. And he loved whiskey and guns.
Very few writers admit to liking guns these days. William S. Burroughs also loved guns. Arthur Rimbaud himself became a gunrunner in Africa. If you know any other gun-loving writers, let me know in the comment box.

There’s lots of other things I could rewrite about Hunter S Thompson to pretend I’m cleverer than you but you can google him if you’re interested. Let’s just say that when it came to self-mythologising, there weren’t many better. (Oh and if you’re a friend of mine and occasionally tire of my bombardment by email, did you know Hunter wrote over 20,000 letters to friends?)

So crack open that bottle, pop a few little purple pills, load up that big double barrelled shottie and don’t forget your sunglasses. Let’s hear it for the late great, I want my body blown out of a huge fucking cannon when I die too, Hunter S Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) Happy Birthday, Duke!

“It never got wierd enough for me.” Hunter S. Thompson.

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Happy Birthday Hunter S. Thank you for this quote. It cheers me daily:

“I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes.”

There will never be anyone like him again!!
You are right there, Selma. An absolute original one and only. When I was looking for a quote to put under the video, I had so much fun. Yours is a ripper.

Comment by Selma — July 18, 2009 #
I discovered this man with the movie interpreted by one of my favourites
actors ever, Mr depp, I liked the movie, but it wasnt something marvellous to me,
so indeed it did not move me to read the things he did. I was never much of a fan of those writers, the only one I was into was burroughs, who I think has incredibly good stuff, amazingly visionary and creative. Maybe you can recommend something to start with this forgotten by me writer.
take care gingatao
Most people start with “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Mariana but everything he wrote was funny and strange and fiercely original. I agree entirely about Burroughs.

Comment by mariana — July 18, 2009 #
Hunter hasn’t entered my consciousness to date ,though after following your Wiki link he is planted there firmly. Hip hip!
Hooray! Can you believe he very nearly won that election for Sheriff of Aspen County, Brad? What a sheriff he would have made too.

Comment by Brad — July 18, 2009 #
Oh yeah! All hail the Doctor! If I could take as many drugs as that man and still write I would be a happy, happy woman.

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
Another classic! I would be happy to live as long he did with his lifestyle, Sack Posset, let alone write.

Comment by Sack Posset — July 18, 2009 #
ditto everything you said.

and I like guns too.
everyone should have a gun.
Lennon might have got Chapman first, ya never know.
I only have a metaphorical gun in my verbal arsenal, F.G., but I do enjoy it.

Comment by F.G. Marshall-Stacks — July 19, 2009 #
thanks for the reminder, pal. that kid stomped on the terra, too right.
Absolutely, ‘stomping terra’, another classic.

Comment by jason — July 20, 2009 #
He sounds like a definitive guy
Yep, definitive is a good way to describe Hunter, the very definition of something or other.

Comment by Mental Mist — July 20, 2009 #
Hunter = awesome. I was so sad when he passed away…

You are so good to remember to celebrate his birthday…I think he would have got a kick out of that.

I love most of all how he wasn’t afraid to just ‘live’ life, wherever that journey took him…
Courage and a refusal to compromise, you’re right Tracey, both a big part of his legacy.

Comment by Tracey — July 20, 2009 #
Sign the petition to induct Fear and Loathing:On The Campaign Trail ’72 into The Modern Library

http://www.petitiononline.com/GONZOHST/petition.html

http://totallygonzo.org

Cheers!

Oh and Hemingway loved guns too.
Hi Ron. Yes, of course, Hemingway, and it’s his birthday today!

Comment by Ron Mexico — July 21, 2009 #
Hunter lived like a fireball… hope you celebrated his birthday in style Paul!
I did, Graham, well, with as much as style as I could muster.

Comment by gnunn — July 21, 2009 #
Happy Birthday, Hunter S. Thompson! And I enjoy the heck out of target shooting.

Comment by Thomma Lyn — July 21, 2009 #
ah yes, without question, one for the ages and for Hell’s angels…

Selah, Doc, and Mahalo.

Comment by Chico Mahalo — July 27, 2009 #
“When the going gets weird, the Weird turn Pro.” words to live by the great Gonzo journalist himself. He understood.
I took my first hit of his writing in High School by reading “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” There are things in that book that, to this day, stick with me. He was one of the Greats.

Comment by Paul M. Peterson — July 28, 2009 #
Hunter lived life at it’s fullest. One of my favorite writer.

Comment by meekdrill — August 3, 2009 #