‘A brilliant producer, but a bad husband’

Music legend Ronnie Spector remembers her ex-husband Phil Spector after news of the music producer died at 81 from COVID-19 while serving prison time for the murder of Lana Clarkson in 2003.

On her Instagram page, the singer, who rose to fame with singing group the Ronettes, posted a return photo of herself with Spector in the recording studio, along with a long caption describing the rise. meteoric momentum of the former couple and their ultimate downfall.

“It’s a sad day for music and a sad day for me,” the 77-year-old star wrote. “When I was working with Phil Spector, watching him create in the recording studio, I knew I was working with the best. He was in total control, ruling everyone. So much to love at the time. Meeting him and falling in love was like a fairy tale. The magical music we were able to make together was inspired by our love. I loved him madly and gave him my heart and soul.

She also alluded to the “darkness” of their relationship. Ronnie, who was married to Spector from 1968 to 1974, previously accused her ex of threatening behavior, including shooting her a gun and forcing her to sign a divorce agreement that would have prevented her from winning future records. .

“As I said several times during his lifetime, he was a brilliant producer, but a terrible husband. Sadly, Phil couldn’t live and function outside of the recording studio, ”said Ronnie. “Darkness has set in, many lives have been damaged. I always smile every time I hear the music we made together, and I always will. Music will be forever. Phil Spector 1939-2021. “

She wasn’t the only music legend to share her memories of Spector. Darlene Love, who has also worked with the producer on several hit songs, described her abusive working relationship with Spector.

“You know it was all like a bad marriage,” Love said. Variety. “It’s an abusive marriage – not just physically, but mentally. That’s what Phil was trying to do with me. He wanted to control, not Darlene, but the talent.

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But she also credited her role in the music industry.

“I felt it was very sad,” Love added. “I didn’t think of hate. I didn’t think, “He deserved it or it should have happened.” I just felt it was a sad way for him to leave this earth. The more I thought about it, the sadder I got. It changed the sound of rock ‘n’ roll – the reason I know that is because Steve Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John all told me that.

In Spector’s later years, the producer was embroiled in even more controversy. He was convicted of the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles mansion, and was sentenced to 19 years in life after a trial that ended in 2009. Spector argued that Clarkson’s death was “accidental suicide”.

After the news of Spector’s death, Clarkson’s mother, Donna Clarkson, made a note about the loss of her daughter’s life.

“Lana Clarkson was a warm, compassionate, kind and loving woman who would be 58 now. Her energy, her luminosity and her love of life have supported her family since her murder 18 years ago in 2003, ”she said in a statement on Sunday.

Several other people took to social media to remember Clarkson’s memory, including CNN presenter Jake Tapper, who posted a photo of Clarkson in happier times. “That’s literally all I have to say about Spector and his ‘legacy’,” Tapper said.

Several other people honored Clarkson’s memory in messages.

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