Going out with a bang-- post-mortem

Hunter S. Thompson's grand finale went off as planned: His ashes were blasted into the night sky in an explosion friends and fans agreed he would have loved. But some said the gonzo journalist would have sneered at the Hollywood trappings — champagne toasts by movie stars and former presidential candidates.

(Johnny) Depp, who played Thompson in the 1998 film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, paid for the $2.5 million extravaganza. Depp and Juan Thompson embraced as the ashes fell to the ground.

Entre los invitados: Bill Murray, Lyle Lovett y los políticos George McGovern y John Kerry.

[tags=Hunter S. Thompson]