An unconventional memorial service and celebration of the life of Hunter S Thompson, founder of 'gonzo journalism', was a glittering affair - but would he have approved?

With a deafening boom, the ashes of Hunter S Thompson were blown into the sky from a 50-metre tower as relatives and a star-studded crowd bid an irreverent farewell to the founder of "gonzo journalism".

As the ashes erupted from the tower's pinnacle, red, white, blue and green fireworks lit up the sky over Thompson's Colorado home for nearly 10 minutes as the crowd cheered on Saturday night. The actual blasts with the ashes took about 30 seconds.

The tower, shrouded by tarpaulins for days, was modelled after Thompson's logo: a clenched fist, made symmetrical with two thumbs, rising from the hilt of a dagger.

"He loved explosions," explained his wife, Anita Thompson.

The private celebration included actors Bill Murray and Johnny Depp, who Anita Thompson said funded much of the celebration.

The scene at the Owl Farm compound outside Aspen also included blow-up dolls, bands and plenty of liquor to honour Thompson, who shot himself six months ago at the age of 67.

Security guards kept reporters and the public away from the compound as the 250 invited guests arrived.

Thompson shot himself in his kitchen on February 20th, apparently despondent over his declining health and, according to his wife, left no suicide note. The memorial, however, was planned as a party, with readings and scheduled performances by both singer Lyle Lovett and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The author's long-time illustrator, Ralph Steadman, and actor Sean Penn were among the stars on the invitation list.

Depp portrayed Thompson in the 1998 movie version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, perhaps the writer's best-known work.

"Over the last few months I've learned that he really touched people more deeply than I had realised," said Thompson's son, Juan.

Thompson's long-time friend George Stranahan lamented the Hollywood-style production. "I am pretty sure it isn't how Hunter would have done it," Stranahan said.

"But when your friends make a mistake you support them." Johnny Depp had said last month that Thompson had wanted such a memorial.

Thompson is credited, along with Tom Wolfe and Gay Talese, with helping pioneer New Journalism - he dubbed his version "gonzo journalism" - in which the writer was an essential component of the story.