Goodbye to Gonzo
When Hunter S. Thompson took his own life on February 20th, 2005 I was devastated. A death that wasn’t a family member or friend hadn’t hit me that hard since Phil Hartman was killed by his wife in 1998. His suicide note:
Football Season is Over
“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.”
Origin of Gonzo Journalism
The term “Gonzo” in connection with Hunter S. Thompson was first used by Boston Globe magazine editor Bill Cardoso in 1970. He described Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved”, which was written for the June 1970 Scanlan’s Monthly, as “pure Gonzo journalism”.Cardoso claimed that “gonzo” was South Boston Irish sland describing the last man standing after an all night drinking marathon. Cardoso also claimed that it was a corruption of the French Canadian word “gonzeaux”, which means “shining path”, although this is disputed.
Football Season is Over
“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.”
- Hunter S. Thompson, February 16th ’05 suicide note.
I was saddened but simultaneously not surprised when I first read this news five years ago. He is my favorite writer to this day. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas still holds my record for quickest read at two days. If you are just getting into politics or if you’re a political junkie, you should check out Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72. Or if you like drinking. Or drugs.
