Burning the Man Early as a Gonzo Prank?

As y'all have no doubt heard, the axis mundi of Black Rock City, the Man himself, was set on fire at 2.58 AM yesterday - four days prematurely. Actor/Performer/Asshole Paul Addis has been booked by the local authorities for arson, and is out on bail. But we could probably see this one coming: a few month back, Addis was interviewed for 10 Zen Monkeys, and gave plenty of indication of a simmering instability:

Twelve weeks ago we recorded an interview with Paul Addis — the man who burned the Man and was promptly arrested for arson. And even back then, he was constantly flicking his lighter.

Addis has always had a bug up his butt where Burning Man is concerned. It's not clear when, before this year, he ever attended the festival - but that didn't stop him from expressing some very strong opinions:

"No amount of diffusion filters can give Harvey what he doesn't have: vision or loyalty. Don't fear the Hat, ladies and gentlemen. He's just trying to realize what it's like to be the Bill Graham of the 21st century."

I myself have made a few snarky remarks about The Hat over the years, but it seems that Addis had a bit more in mind. After telling his campmates that he was going to Burn the Man all by himself, well, that's just what he did. This little bit of Gonzo Terrorism probably won't have the intended effect: Valleywag is already reporting that his one-man show about Hunter S. Thompson - scheduled to tour the West Coast later this year - will likely meet with a combination of hostility and indifference. Yes, we all now know who Paul Addis is. And that fame will be a problem for Addis in all the years to come.