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- Phil Spector Had a Troubled Childhood
- A History of Violence Towards Women
- Eccentric Behavior in the Studio
As I delve deeper into the life and times of Phil Spector, a name that once resonated with the sweet symphony of success in the music industry now echoes with the chilling tales of violence and abuse, I can’t help but be struck by the stark contrast between his brilliant creations and his tumultuous personal life.
Netflix continues to expand its collection of captivating true-crime documentaries, becoming a favorite among fans of the genre. On July 16, 2024, it will introduce a new series titled Homicide: Los Angeles, which delves into some of the City of Angels’ most chilling murders. This five-episode docuseries is produced by Dick Wolf, Wolf Entertainment, and Alfred Street Industries.
In my perspective as an avid viewer, “Homicide: Los Angeles” delves into some of the most chilling murders spanning four decades, offering unique insights through interviews with detectives, prosecutors who were part of each case, and relatives of the victims. The series premiere dives deep into the captivating Phil Spector case, a well-known music producer charged and ultimately convicted for murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra, Los Angeles residence in 2003. The episode primarily focuses on the events surrounding Clarkson’s murder and subsequent court trials. However, it glosses over much of Spector’s tumultuous life leading up to the murder.
Phil Spector Had a Troubled Childhood
In his later life, Phil Spector became a legendary figure. However, his early years were marked by hardship and sorrow, experiences that would significantly shape his professional journey. At just nine years old, Spector experienced the devastating loss of his father to suicide. His father, Benjamin Spector, took his own life in a car using carbon monoxide, leaving behind a young boy who was then blamed by his mother for this tragic event. It is said that she told him that his father had taken his life because he considered the child to be misbehaved.
The death of his father and the blame that followed left a deep impact on Spector. At just 19, he achieved chart-topping success with “To Know Him Is to Love Him,” a song by the Teddy Bears. However, not many know where the title originated – it was from Benjamin Spector’s tombstone. During the recording of this same song, Spector reportedly showed signs of violence towards singer Carol Connors. In a rehearsal, when Connors sang a cracked note, Spector allegedly pushed her against the wall and threatened her life.
A History of Violence Towards Women
Before Lana Clarkson’s murder, it is important to note that Phil Spector had a history of violent and threatening actions towards women. Interestingly, his second wife, Veronica Bennett (also known as Ronnie Spector), filed for divorce from him only three months into their marriage. The lead vocalist of the girl group The Ronettes, who gained fame with the hit “Be My Baby,” Ronnie first encountered Spector when she was 17 years old. She recalls being captivated by his self-assured and stylish demeanor.
In the autobiography “By My Baby” penned by Ronnie in 1990, the singer recounts the tumultuous marriage filled with violence, quarrels, and mistreatment she endured with Spector. It’s alleged that Spector imprisoned Ronnie within their Beverly Hills residence, hindered her career progression, and repeatedly threatened her life by mentioning a golden coffin stored in the basement should she try to leave him. Their home was fortified with barbed wire and watchful guard dogs. Eventually, in 1972, Ronnie managed to flee, escaping barefoot from one of the doors she had broken. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2014, Ronnie disclosed this harrowing experience.
In the final year of my marriage, I remained silent because any words I spoke would lead to him yelling at me. It felt like a scared little girl from Spanish Harlem was living in a mansion, surrounded by five servants, and unsure of how to navigate this foreign environment. Each night that I was married, tears flowed freely.
Eccentric Behavior in the Studio
Although Homicide: Los Angeles does explore this topic to some extent, it doesn’t fully examine the degree of Spector’s unpredictable behavior within the recording studio environment. Spector had a tendency to show up whenever he pleased, dressed differently each time, and carried his gun with him. It was said that Spector used this weapon as a means to exert control and assert dominance in the recording studio.
Musicians like John Lennon, Cher, Debbie Harry, and Johnny Ramone have shared experiences of being in danger due to Spector brandishing his firearm. As detailed in Angie Moon’s book, Crime of the Century: Classic Rock and True Crime, it is reported that Spector pointed his gun mere inches from Lennon’s ears during recording sessions. Moreover, the producer was known for shouting threats and pursuing Lennon through the studio corridors while brandishing a weapon. In addition, Debbie Harry of Blondie claims that Spector pulled out a gun on her, pointing it at her foot and firing a mock shot, before she even entered the studio, as reported to NME in 2007.
In examining the trials linked to Lana Clarkson’s murder, Homicide: Los Angeles depicts several interactions people had with Spector, which strikingly resemble Clarkson’s ordeal. Testimonies detail Spector brandishing threats to shoot them if they dared to leave his home and imprisoning some. Yet, the episode only scratches the surface, possibly due to time limitations, as it omits a great deal of information.
The docuseries omits significant aspects of Spector’s background, including his traumatic childhood where he was wrongfully blamed for an event beyond his control, which may have contributed to the aggression he exhibited in both his personal life and career since the beginning. This history helps viewers comprehend why someone like Spector might take a life, as he did with Lana Clarkson’s. In 2009, following his second trial for Lana Clarkson’s death, Spector was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison. He served his sentence until his death from COVID-19 complications in January 2021 at the age of 81.
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2024-08-02 02:02