For once, justice was done in Los Angeles. Phil Spector was convicted of second-degree murder.
I didn’t know Spector very well, but did bump into him, literally, on several occasions, mostly parties, eons ago. He was even the subject of my first (unproduced, of course) screenplay Rock Emperor. It’s so long ago, I don’t remember everything that was in it, but I do recall it had something to do with the real life story of Phil locking his wife Ronnie (of the Ronettes) in the turret of his Hollywood Hills castle-like mansion. The script was evidently more accurate than I knew at the time. In the end of my version – sign o’ the times (1970+/-) – she is liberated by the Black Panthers who machine gun Spector to death in the control room of his recording studio. [Did you get paid for that?-ed. Fifth Amendment… Hey, it had quite a run in Hollywood and got me a job with Stanley Donen.)
Anyway, Spector now apparently goes away for fifteen years to life. Be glad you’re not him.
BTW, knowing Spector, he is even now plotting a legal comeback. From Wikipedia: In 1988, the original Ronettes sued Spector for nonpayment of royalties. In 2001, a New York court announced a verdict in favor of The Ronettes, ordering Spector to pay nearly three million dollars in back royalties; however, the judgment was later overturned on appeal.
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7 Comments
1. RTF:Roger, this comment has nothing to do with the Phil Spector’s murder trial (Although it is about time justice is served). I just saw a commercial for Chili’s restaurant that features a faux restaurant that is called PJ Bland’s. They direct you to a website, PJBlands.com. So I checked it out. On that website they have a link called P.J.TV. I thought you should look into how legal this is.
Apr 13, 2009 - 5:57 pm 2. glenn:Ahhh, the Ronnettes, behives, sheath dresses, good lookin’ hot. Late 50s, early 60s, best time to grow up ever.
Apr 13, 2009 - 9:09 pm 3. Lynne:Why doesn’t anyone talk about the victim?
Apr 14, 2009 - 11:21 am 4. Tina Trent:I’m glad I’m not her.
And I’m glad he is him, for he is finally where he belongs, no matter who he was.
Apr 14, 2009 - 1:39 pm 5. kcom:They almost never talk about the victim. And mostly when they do it’s some stupid thing like saying, “the victim, a (fill in the city)accounant,…”, as if it’s not a person that died. Their occupation and city somehow becomes the sum total of their importance in life.
Apr 14, 2009 - 3:16 pm 6. bogie wheel:You worked with Stanley Donen???
Wow. (smile)
Apr 14, 2009 - 7:55 pm 7. Banjo:The first thing Phil’s new husband in the big house will do is rip off that wig.
Apr 15, 2009 - 7:08 am