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It's been far too long since Angelenos have been able to enjoy a proper media circus, and thats why starting March 19th, the Phil Spector murder trial is set to begin, televised for our viewing pleasure. After months of postponements and more than four years after actress Lana Clarkson was found dead from a gunshot wound in his Alhambra mansion, Spector will finally have his day in court.
The sixty-six year old Spector achieved success in the sixties with a string of girl-group hits and later went on to produce songs for The Beatles and The Ramones. Famous for his "Wall of Sound", Spector recently got a loving tribute to it on the song "A Great Big Sled".
Is it ironic thatThe Killers sing it?
Spector's hairdo isn't the most eccentric thing about him. Spector has admitted to being bi-polar and has been known for his incredibly dangerous gunplay. One rumor is that he had a gun pointed at Dee Dee Ramone in the studio so he would play the opening chords of "Rock n Roll High School" to Spector's specific requirements. There's no telling how this trial might pan out -- Spector's already been through four attorneys, one of whom is Robert Shapiro, of OJ fame. Currently, Spector is suing Shapiro for refusing to return his one million dollar retainer.
Having never spent a day in jail, the well-known recluse will have to leave his faux-castle home and venture to the mean streets of the downtown LA courthouse. It's been said that Spector is the only Hollywood personality whose bodyguards are around to protect other people from him, instead of the other way around and it seems he will most definitely be an entertaining defendant to watch.
Photo by elkit
