Johnny Depp’s Tribute to Hunter S. Thompson: The Death Cannon
In a poignant reflection, Johnny Depp recalled the intense emotional turmoil he experienced following the death of his friend and mentor, Hunter S. Thompson. In the 2006 documentary Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film, Depp described his mixed emotions as “tragic” and “shocked but not shocked,” capturing the weight of the loss with his heartfelt words.
Depp’s memories turned to Thompson’s wishes for his final farewell, as articulated in the 1978 BBC documentary Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision. Thompson had expressed a desire for his remains to be cremated and launched from a cannon on his property in Woody Creek, Colorado.
Upon receiving the news of Thompson’s passing, Depp was immediately struck by the thought of making that desire a reality. “When I got the news that Hunter had made his exit, obviously I was devastated,” Depp recalled. “I remember thinking almost immediately, ‘The cannon. We’ve got to do the cannon.’”
The sentiment was not merely a whimsical notion; Depp viewed it as a final command from Thompson. “That bastard,” Depp reflected with nostalgia. “I know somewhere in his crooked mind, he knew that I was the only one perhaps loyal enough, perhaps insane enough, to attempt it.”
Thompson had frequently discussed the idea of what Depp termed “the death cannon.” This fantasy had been vocalized by Thompson on numerous occasions, often with a tone of light-hearted seriousness, indicating a desire for something spectacular. According to Depp, he had even suggested to Thompson that he would see to it personally.
Thompson’s son, Juan, shared in this vision but initially imagined a simpler twelve-foot cannon, which would be more cost-effective. However, Depp’s aspirations were more extravagant. A few days after Thompson’s death, Doug Brinkley, a close friend of Thompson and editor of his letters, visited Juan at their cabin with news that Depp intended to finance the cannon’s construction. Juan noted in his 2016 memoir, Stories I Tell Myself: Growing Up with Hunter S. Thompson, that the offer surprised them, highlighting the profound nature of friendship and commitment behind such a unique tribute.
Chief Editor of Quincy City Beat — Quincy, MA's independent investigative newspaper covering Greater Boston and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts with fearless public accountability and free access for all readers.
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