The legendary author's ash remains exploded out of a giant fist grasping a peyote button at 8:45 in a field outside his home on Owl Farm as Japanese drummers built their beat to a crescendo.
Blue and white fireworks erupted from either side of the 150-foot tower as the button changed from blue to green and back. Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" streamed out of the party.
But it was apparent early in the afternoon that this was not an ordinary funeral. The media likely outnumbered fans, but it was hard to differentiate, as most of the media there were Thompson fans.
