Things look bleak for Phil

It hurts to say it, as a long term fan of his music if not his character, but things look bleak for Phil Spector as his trial enters its sixth week. No fewer than four women have testified that he pulled a gun on them in the past, and the evidence of his driver sitting outside his house where Lana Clarkson died looks pretty damning. Of course, in America anything can happen and he may get off (remember O J Simpson) but that would be a major surprise. By all accounts he looks like a broken man in court, although that may be part of the defence plan of course. For ghouls among you there's a feast of news here http://www.tabloidcolumn.com/phil-spector.html

Let us instead remember Spector's contribution to popular music - from the Teddy Bears, to the Philles 'wall of sound' years with fantastic records by the Crystals, Ronettes, Darlene Love, Ike and Tina Turner and the Righteous Brothers among others, through to his later work with Dion, for example. Of course, we knew he was a flawed genius, perhaps a potentially murderous one, through Ronnie Spector's revelations. Yet we sort of forgave him because of the music. It's all over now for Phil though, whether he's found guilty of not. To know him, sadly, is not to love him.

PS Phil deserves life for his hairdo, if nothing else. Alan Lloyd eat your heart out.