Leader of the Wack

Did anyone else read the amazing Ronnie Spector story in the Post the other day? It's long, but so jam-packed with nutty goodness it's a don't-miss. Not that I hold the Post up as an example of journalistic integrity, but I had no idea ole Ronnie was almost as looney as Phil. Here are a couple gems:

• "It was a sick love," she says. "He [Phil Spector] even said, 'I have a glass casket in the basement, for Ronnie. So I can look at her anytime I want.' But I was in love with the guy, so I didn't think that was too bad."
• So I turned to the maid - this poor old black woman who came in a few times a week to clean up and put fresh flowers on the table. Turns out, the maid is the mother. Ronnie would never talk to her, and only refer to her as 'the maid': 'Oh, the maid's here.'"
• After Phil was arrested in connection with the death of Lana Clarkson in 2003, Ronnie defended him to the press, insisting that Phil wasn't that homicidal - he may have threatened to kill Ronnie, but he wasn't going to do it personally. He was going to hire hit men.
• Ronnie claims to have a good relationship with her adopted sons - especially Donte, "the half-breed like me." She pauses. "Four years ago, Donte's saying, 'Mom, I have AIDS.' I don't know if that's true - he may be trying to distract me from what I'm doing."

Um, what?!?

In other news, my latest column is up on the Seattle Weekly website. It's about the Michelle Pfeiffer I'm-too-pretty phenom, but please. . . no more comments from beautiful women telling me how rough they have it. As far as I'm concerned, being "too pretty" is akin to being "too wealthy," "too talented," or "too smart." I think anyone would agree that the tragedy of being fantastically beautiful pales in comparison to actual real-life problems, like say, cancer or even a large port-wine birthmark.

In fact, for a completely charming look at people with real problems, check out this story about the retarded and their love for Huey Lewis. I read it in my shrink's waiting room yesterday and it's caused me to rethink my entire position on Mr. Hip 2 B Square.

Comments

[m]

i was just thinking about good ole Phil and his strange life. maybe it's because the new Arcade Fire album reminded me of him - in small parts here and there. but mostly it reminded me of River-era Springsteen. not that that has much to do with Phil but there's my brain for you.

[Jules]

I loved that 'tard story. Why don't you write nice stories like that, Judy?

[bad lesbian dater]

Yeah, I read that Ronnie Spector story and pretty much had the same reaction. But was she crazy before Phil, or did Phil make her that crazy? It's like the chicken and the egg; it'll never be solved.