by David Pratt
Last weekend at Gonzofest in Louisville, poet Ron Whitehead told the Great American Circus podcast his plans to bring the cannon used to spread Hunter S. Thompson’s ashes to Louisville as a permanent monument.
“Nick Storm, Storm Generation Films, and I discussed the possibility of convincing Johnny Depp to donate the giant fist to the City of Louisville, as its permanent home, so we can place it next to the life size bronze statue renowned sculptor Matt Weir is creating for GonzoFest Louisville,” said Whitehead.
“Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and I discussed the idea this past Saturday, after his talk at GonzoFest Louisville 2015,” the poet added. “The Mayor is in full support. I had initially suggested Cherokee Park as home for the bronze statue of Hunter. My sweetheart Jinn Bug suggested that the Waterfront Big Four Lawn would make a splendid home for the giant fist and the statue. I agree.”
The cannon, a 357 foot tower topped by the famous double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button, and funeral ceremony were arranged and paid for by Johnny Depp per Hunter’s oft expressed wishes. In August 2005, six months to the day after Thompson shot himself to death at the age of 67, about 350 friends fired his last remains several hundred feet high amidst a display of fireworks.
Because of its height and the altitude of the Rocky Mountains, the FAA would not let the tower stand on Thompson’s property for more than three days. Since then the tower, owned by Depp, has been in storage.
Now, Ron Whitehead, co-founder of the annual Gonzofest celebration in Louisville, is trying to get a hold of it to erect next to the proposed bronze statue of Hunter Thompson which will be unveiled at next year’s Gonzofest. He has yet to receive a reply from Depp but the Outlaw Poet has a way of making things happen.
“When I get an idea, I’m relentless,” said Whitehead.