He lived by the gun and he died by the gun. Now the late writer Hunter S Thompson, who shot himself in February, is to be blasted from a cannon from the back garden of his home in the hills of Aspen, Colorado.

Thompson’s ashes have been packed into firework casings and will be dispersed today from 34 different shells fired from a gun barrel mounted on top of a 150-foot high monument.

Thompson’s widow, 32-year-old Anita Thompson, told the Associated Press that there would be “no crying, no tears, only celebration” at the event, which has been dubbed Hunterpalooza.

“He wanted people to celebrate,” she said. “He envisioned it to be a beautiful party. The most amazing people would be there. His friends would celebrate his life. And he was even specific that there would be clinking of ice and whisky.”

Rock on!