There are times, however, and this is one of them, when even being right feels wrong. What do you say, for instance, about a generation that has been taught that rain is poison and sex is death? -- H.S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson is next on my list for the sole reason that he is a counter-culture icon. His work was iconoclastic in nature and in many ways the character of Hunter was bigger than the man himself. He ran for sheriff of Aspen CO on the freak power ticket (and nearly won). He was the father of his own brand of "Gonzo" journalism, and became a character in the cartoon Doonesbury. Among his friends were many actors as well as an English illustrator named Ralph Steadman. Hunter was more than just a man and in the end the legend overpowered the man. Hunter committed suicide in 2005. His funeral (which he had envisioned many years earlier) was a tribute to an extraordinary life.
The legend of Hunter S. Thompson probably solidified when he ran for sheriff of Pitkin county. He had worked as a journalist before then but his antics during the run for sheriff in many ways propelled Hunter to the status of a counter-culture icon. He ran on the "freak power" ticket whose agenda included decriminalizing drugs (for personal use only), ripping up the streets of Aspen and replacing them with grass, and banning the construction of buildings that would obscure the view of the surrounding mountains. He even shaved his head bald and refered to his opponent (who supported a crew cut) as "my long haired friend." Thompson led in the polls for a time but was eventually beaten by a slim margin. His antics led to his first article in RollingStone and firmly cemented Hunter as an icon of the counter-culture.
Hunter S. Thompson also defined a new brand of journalism known as "Gonzo Journalism". Gonzo journalism is a melding of fact and fiction wherein the reporter becomes a large part of the story. It is characterized by gross exaggeration of actual events that are meant to convey the true meaning behind the story. Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail. 1972, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,; are probably the two most famous examples of Gonzo Journalism. There is also a book that he wrote when he was young called, The Rum Diary, which I would highly recommend. It wasn't published until long after he was famous, but it shows the writing style that would eventually lead to Gonzo Journalism.
In spite of the apparent loner/recluse persona that Hunter cultivated, his compound at Woody Creek (known as Owl Farm) became a refuge for many actors and literary types. Hunter was a consummate entertainer. Actors such as Bill Murray and Johnny Depp became close with Hunter while researching roles for the movies, Where the Buffalo Roam, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Other actors associated with the films also found a home at Owl Farm. Hunter enjoyed the company. His parties often included playing with firearms and explosives, something for which he had a great affinity. His stature as a counter-culture icon made him good company and his compound became an oasis where actors could escape the Hollywood atmosphere .
Eventually, Hunter S. Thompson's persona got the better of him. The years of hard living and voracious consumption of drugs had left Hunter frail with many medical conditions. In February 2005, Hunter killed himself by a gunshot to the head. He had always said that he would have felt trapped in this life if he didn't know that at any moment he could kill himself. He lived up to his word. His suicide note read like a poem; "No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No fun — for anybody. 67. You are getting greedy. Act your old age. Relax — This won't hurt." His funeral was just as he had imagined it. A 153-foot tower of a double-thumbed fist (of his own design) was erected at Owl Farm and his ashes were shot out of a cannon from the top. Johny Depp, his Hollywood actor friend, financed the whole thing and notables such as John Kerry, George McGovern, and Bill Murray were in attendance at the private ceremony. It was a fitting tribute.
Hunter S. Thompson became very much a character beyond his own control. The legend was bigger than the man and it got the better of him. But his influence in the literary world, the creation of Gonzo Journalism, will live on. As long as there is a counter-culture, as long as there is iconoclasm, people will read Hunter S. Thompson.