Gonzo came to Port Eliot last night in a small tent packed sardine-style with eager punters. Dressed as Hunter S Thompson, complete with hat and long cigarette holder, Ralph Steadman gave an affectionate, funny and, at times, poignant tribute to his late friend. Despite being frequently referred to as "worse than Hitler", "depraved" and syphilitic" (and those are the printable ones) by the Fear and Loathing author, Steadman's fondness for his friend and collaborator shone through as he related tales of their adventures together – including a long shaggy dog story about the occasion he took psilocybin and was persuaded by Thompson to spray paint "fuck the pope" on the side of a million pound America's Cup yacht – and the insults he had to endure from the gonzo genius.

While the first half of the show, in which Steadman pretended to be Hunter taking Steadman's place on stage to give the talk, was entertaining, in particular the slideshow of previously unseen work, and its chaotic ramblings certainly fitting, it was the second half of the show that truly succeeded in giving an insight into the mind of the great author. Steadman was especially moving when talking about the circumstances around Thompson's death (the writer committed suicide earlier this year). Steadman explained that Thompson had undergone two hip operations and, while convalescing in Mexico, had also broken his leg. He was in a wheelchair and, Steadman believes, could not face the thought of losing control of his life in old age. His answer was to shoot himself in the kitchen of his house. "Why did he have to shoot the most precious part of his body – his brain?" despaired Steadman and his words betrayed a sense of anger at the unfinished work that Thompson left behind with his sudden death. At the same time, it was also clear that Thompson's suicide had not come as a completely unexpected shock to Steadman, and he recounted how they had gone to a funeral parlour together years earlier because Thompson had wanted his death to be treated in a very specific way. In particular, he wanted his ashes to be shot into space in from a great rocket. And this, Steadman says, is exactly the way it will be and he is heading out to the States in a couple of week's time to witness the event.