The Deranged Hitmaker
Phil Spector was one of the most important—and most evil—music producers in history. He made legendary songs about love while being incapable of feeling it himself. Phil got away with terrorizing people, including stars, for decades. Until he went too far one night and blew it all up.
1. He Had A Childhood Tragedy
In 1939, Harvey Philip Spector was born into a New York City family destined for tragedy. He was only 10 years old when his dad, consumed by debt, took his own life. His gravestone reads “Ben Specter. Father. Husband. To Know Him Was To Love Him”. The family packed up, and fled to Los Angeles where Bertha Spector worked as a seamstress, while her son met his destiny.
2. He Was A Wunderkind
It was obvious this Phil kid was something special. He and his friends formed a band called the Teddy Bears in high school, and even landed a record deal. 19-year-old Phil struck gold on their second song, “To Know Him Is to Love Him”, inspired by his dad's gravestone. It went number one, and sold over a million copies. Sadly, the group disbanded only a year after peaking. Phil was destined for bigger—and badder—things.
3. He Was Revolutionary
Music changed Phil’s life—but he also changed music. Phil isn’t just considered one of the most successful producers between the 1960s and 1970s, he’s regarded as one of the greatest, most important, and most influential artists of all time. Phil’s crown jewel is his “Wall of Sound” production technique.
And his roster of stars was staggering.
4. He Made Legends
They were a match made in music. Phil’s collaborators included The Beatles, The Ramones, Leonard Cohen, The Ronettes, and Ike & Tina Turner. They created magic together like “Be My Baby” and “Let It Be”—but Phil started testing their patience. He had some shady behavior, and it got the point where they couldn’t ignore it anymore. Slowly, but surely, the bridges began crumbling.
5. He Was Difficult
Even as a quirky genius, there was only so much Phil could get away with. As years passed, he became more unreliable, difficult, erratic, and sometimes even psychotic. George Harrison will never forget the time he climbed into Phil’s hotel room—from the roof—to drag him to the studio. Or all the times Phil showed up utterly inebriated.
Others, like John Lennon, had even worse stories.
6. He Was Dangerous
Phil was almost always armed—and not afraid to whip it out. There was the time he held the Ramones captive. And that time he shot the ceiling when John Lennon was in the studio. Or that other time he pulled it out and chased John through the halls. There are countless stories of him terrorizing everyone from nobodies to A-listers. And Phil behaved even worse in his personal life.
7. He Got Married
Phil didn’t get the memo about not mixing business and pleasure. In 1963, he and Annette Merar married. She was the 20-year-old lead singer of the pop trio the Spectors. Phil was the group’s 24-year-old creator and producer. He even named a record company, Annette Records, after her. But this didn’t stop him from betraying her that same year.
8. He Was Shady
It turns out Phil had a type: younger and under his control. Enter, Ronnie Bennett. She was the 20-year-old lead singer of the girl group the Ronettes. In 1963, they signed to one of Phil’s labels, making him their producer and manager—which should’ve made her off-limits. Instead, Phil began an affair with her. But she didn’t even know he was married then.
9. He Had An Affair
Phil got Ronnie into humiliating situations. After leaving their room after a night together, the hotel’s detectives ambushed her. They accused Ronnie of being a lady of the night. They gave her a phone call—then Phil gave them an earful. Phil’s affair fell into place, while his marriage fell apart.
In 1966, Annette’s marriage ended, and Ronnie’s nightmare began.
10. He Married His Mistress
Phil and Ronnie married in 1968—to the horror of her mom. Beatrice had a terrible feeling about her daughter’s husband and marriage. She signed her daughter’s marriage certificate, but still had to get it off her chest. She then made the cryptic comment to her daughter: “I just signed your death certificate”. Regrettably, she was proven right only a few hours later, when the wedding night became a horror show.
11. He Terrorized His Bride
Phil couldn’t even give his new bride one happy day. After one too many drinks, he accused Ronnie of being a gold digger. When he started screaming at her, Ronnie and Beatrice fled to a bathroom. They locked the door while Phil tried forcing his way in. Beatrice said “Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie. What did you marry?” The bride sobbed all night long. It was too late—and about to get way worse.
12. He Trapped Her
Phil’s estate became Ronnie’s gilded cage. He installed barbed wires, guard dogs, and security guards. This wasn’t to keep intruders out—it was to keep Ronnie in. He even confiscated her shoes to make sure. Over the course of their years-long marriage, he rarely let her go out—but when he did allow it, he made insane demands.
13. He Controlled Her
There’s deranged, and there’s Phil Spector.
Phil made Ronnie drive with a life-size inflatable of him in the passenger seat. He also installed a gold coffin in the basement, then told her what he'd do if she didn't come back. Phil vowed to slaughter Ronnie, and put her body in there. He often promised her, “Before I let you go, you'll be dead”.
It’s hard to believe, but it gets worse.
14. He Forced Her Into Motherhood
Things took an even darker turn when Phil got children involved. In 1968, the newlyweds adopted their son Donte Phillip Spector. But Phil didn’t do this out of the goodness of his heart. In his mind, a child would bind Ronnie to him even more. So, when they couldn't conceive, he found another way.
But one child wouldn't be enough to stop her, so Phil took it up a notch and plotted behind her back. Ronnie was in for the shock of her life.
15. He Gave The Worst Gift
You know how you’re not supposed to give pets as surprise gifts? Well, Phil went even further. In 1971, Ronnie came home, from the hospital no less, to 5-year-old twins running around her home. Turns out, Phil adopted Louis Phillip Spector and Gary Phillip Spector, and presented them as surprise Christmas gifts. But Ronnie knew better. Phil was using them as two more anchors to keep her trapped.
16. He Was An Awful Parent
Phil was an evil husband, and an evil dad. Donte revealed “For years, we were just caged animals to be let out for Dad's amusement”. Their captivity was even worse than Ronnie’s: Phil locked the kids inside their rooms. Even worse, Gary alleged his adopted father blindfolded them and mistreated them, claiming it would prepare them for future relationships.
Donte also admitted the family was “very sick, twisted, dysfunctional”, and that he ran away from home at age 10 to escape it all. Ronnie, too, couldn’t take it anymore.
17. He Was Fooled
Ronnie began drinking and attending AA meetings just to get out of the house. But she knew this wouldn’t last: "I knew that if I didn't leave I was going to die there”. Ronnie and Beatrice hatched an escape plan. where they would sneak out of the service entrance. But on the big day, they ran right into Phil. Beatrice convinced him they were only walking through the mansion’s grounds. But as soon as they got to a corner where he couldn’t see them, they ran for their lives.
18. His Wife Left Him
But Ronnie wasn’t free until she settled the divorce and custody battles. Phil fought dirty: he often whipped out arms and talked about hitmen. He demanded that she give up everything from her music rights to the kids. It worked. Ronnie deserved the world after everything Phil put her through. But after they divorced in 1974, she settled for a measly: $25,000, a used car, and a monthly alimony of $25,000 for five years. Oh, and a career in ruins.
But at least she was free...somewhat.
19. He Sabotaged Her
Ronnie rebuilt her career while fending off Phil's revenge plots. The Ronettes, long overdue for an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, kept getting snubbed. Phil just so happened to be on the nomination committee, of course. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Phil could be sneaky like this, but he could also be brazen.
20. He Put Out A Hit
Phil called Ronnie to remind her of his promise of what he'd do if she left him. Phil then informed Ronnie that he'd hired six hitmen to end her life on stage. Ronnie ended up drinking so much she couldn't get on stage. So, we don’t know if the danger was real—but her terror was.
Finally, Phil was about to get his own taste of fear.
21. He Had A Horrible Accident
Phil didn’t just get a divorce in 1974—he also got into a horrific car accident. The impact threw him through the windshield. His body looked so lifeless that most responders would’ve declared him gone at the scene. And that would’ve been the end of Phil Spector. But one officer noticed the faintest of pulses. They rushed him to the hospital and into surgery.
If he wasn't unhinged enough already, the traumatic accident had bizarre consequences.
22. He Was Scarred
Phil’s head injuries were serious, requiring many hours of surgery, 300 stitches on his face, and over 400 stitches on the back of his head. One Phil went into the hospital—and a different version walked out. The crash scarred him physically and mentally. After the accident, Phil began wearing ridiculous wigs. Then he began withdrawing. Once Phil started, he didn’t stop.
23. He Got Worse
Phil’s days as a music powerhouse—and functioning adult—were well behind him. As the 1970s went on, Phil became more reclusive. By the 1980s, his life transformed into one of isolation, substances, and further alarming behavior. Despite that, he and his then-girlfriend Janis Zavala had biological twins, Nicole and Philip Jr But tragedy was coming.
24. He Was Devastated
No parent should have to bury their child—but that’s what Phil and Janis had to do. In 1992, nine-year-old Philip Jr succumbed to leukemia. On top of all the other substances, Phil began taking copious amounts of antidepressants. Phil’s behavior already freaked people out. He was already a menace. But everything was about to get worse. This was the beginning of the end.
25. He Was Scary
Phil’s erratic, and oftentimes dangerous, behavior drove people away. Yet at the same time, Phil couldn’t handle being alone in his mansion. So, he hatched a plan—particularly for when visitors came over and had the audacity to want to go home. Former guests revealed how Phil locked his doors and gates to prevent them from leaving. It got even scarier when Phil got his arsenal involved.
26. He Couldn’t Handle Rejection
Being a guest leaving his home was already bad enough. Now try being a woman rejecting him. Women caught his eye when he drank. Phil would shoot his shot. But Phil didn’t take it well when they rejected him. On multiple occasions, he pulled out arms to prevent these women from leaving. There were even rumors that he held two of them captive for days.
Then on February 3, 2003, he pulled the trigger for real.
27. He Was A Public Mess
Phil should’ve stayed home. He was intoxicated and medicated. Instead, he went to the House of Blues, a restaurant and music venue. That’s when he crossed paths with Lana Clarkson. The struggling actress and waitress didn’t recognize him. She even mistook him for a woman and called him “Miss”. Until Sophie Holguin, another waitress, let her know Phil was an important man and a big tipper.
28. He Was Demanding
Phil first approached Sophie, but she refused. He then propositioned Lana. She also wasn’t eager—but Phil was persistent. Lana also hoped that his power and connections would open doors for her. Lana told him she’d go home with him—but only for one drink. Phil promised that his driver, Adriano de Souza, would wait outside the whole time, and would take her home after the drink. But Lana never made it home.
29. He Confessed
Adriano drove them 35 minutes to Phil’s mansion and waited outside. At 5 am, he heard shots coming from inside the house. Then Phil came outside waving his piece around with his hand. After he finally admitted “I think I just shot her”, Adriano called emergency services. The authorities raced to the property and made not one, but many disturbing discoveries.
30. He Looked Guilty
The mansion, now taken over by mice and rats, had seen better days. Some rooms hadn’t been occupied in years. And then they found Lana’s body. Her lifeless body was slumped over in a chair with a round in her mouth. Phil already changed his story: she’d done this to herself. But the authorities didn’t buy it and launched an investigation. It was only a matter of time before they found out the truth.
31. He Was Distracted
In the meantime, Phil was still going after much younger women. A few weeks later, Rachelle Short caught his eye at a restaurant. She was 41 years his junior (around the same age as his daughter)...and the splitting image of Lana. Phil asked Rachelle to sit at his table. Once they started talking, they didn’t stop. They had to leave the restaurant at 6 am—but he wasn’t ready to let her go.
32. He Got A New Girlfriend
When Phil asked Rachelle if he could kiss her, she quickly declined, but still gave him her number. He called the next day, and they began dating. Rachelle admitted she’s always had a thing for older men. She didn’t learn about Lana until weeks later. And her response was shocking: “When you meet him, you get no sense of danger whatsoever. He's tiny. I'm bigger than him now, and he wouldn't hurt a fly…He's too kind, and caring and giving and genuine”.
Rachelle was easily impressionable, and Phil knew it.
33. He Got Married Again
In 2005, Phil and Rachelle got engaged. In 2006, he was charged. But Phil was free until his trial on a $1 million bail. A month later, they married. Rachelle threw herself into preparing for his trial. Phil, on the other hand, seethed when the Ronettes got inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Phil was no longer on the nominating committee, so he couldn’t block them anymore. But he had a trick up his sleeve.
34. He Was Petty
Phil plotted an ambush on their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. Ronnie thanked many people during her acceptance speech, and not one of them was Phil Spector. But Phil refused to let anyone forget him. Paul Shaffer rushed to the mic right after the Ronettes performed. He gushed “It gives me a lot of pleasure to read this note”.
35. He Ruined Her Moment
Paul read out “I’m extremely happy for the Ronettes. From the days of 1963 at Gold Star Studios, I wish them all the happiness and good fortune the world has to offer.’ And it’s signed ‘Phil Spector,’ ladies and gentlemen”. Phil didn’t—or wasn’t allowed to—attend. But he still managed to ruin their career highlight. Ronnie told the media “You’d think he might have focused on his murder trial”. She was right.
36. He Was Flamboyant
The trial began in March 2007, and was televised. Phil took full advantage of this. He wore flamboyant suits, high heeled shoes, and wigs. His accessories included Rachelle, and their three massive bodyguards. When the posse arrived every day, they moved in unison. And like a movie scene, everyone in the hallways stepped back to gawk at them. Some who knew Phil suspected he enjoyed the attention.
37. He Was Unwell
Phil was—figuratively and literally—sick. In a pre-trial deposition, Phil testified he’d been treated for bipolar disorder for almost a decade. He revealed "No sleep, depression, mood changes, mood swings, hard to live with, hard to concentrate, just hard—a hard time getting through life, I've been called a genius and I think a genius is not there all the time and has borderline insanity”. His trial was even messier.
38. He Defended Himself
Phil went through at least three defense teams, but they always insisted he was innocent. They claimed that Lana was depressed over a breakup and her financial situation. That night, she was inebriated and medicated. They claimed Lana took her own life at Phil’s house. Lucky for Phil, the prosecution had their work cut out for them. Turns out, this wasn’t the slam dunk case they'd thought it’d be.
39. He Was Lucky
Knowing Phil was guilty was one thing, but proving it was another. Most of the forensic evidence was inconclusive. There were no witnesses inside the mansion. The prosecution only had the testimonies of his driver, and five women who testified that Phil showed them his arms after they rejected him. Phil’s life was in the jury’s hands.
40. He Was Polarizing
The jury needed to reach a unanimous decision. But they couldn’t: 10 members voted guilty, while 2 voted not guilty. The judge declared a mistrial. Phil had to do this all over again. His second trial started in October 2008. The case went to the jury in March 2009. After 19 days of deliberating, they made their decision.
41. He Was Convicted
Second time’s the charm. The jury’s decision was unanimous: guilty. They found Phil guilty of slaying Lana in the second-degree, and arms charges. In May 2009, the judge sentenced him to 19 years to life. He was already 70 years old, so this was effectively a life sentence. Phil was locked up right after his sentencing. His days as a free man were over. But Phil refused to go down without a fight.
42. He Appealed
Phil’s defense team tried different arguments, including his poor health, in their appeals. But they received the same rejection every time. Rachelle didn’t give up though. She even got a license to practice as a private investigator in hopes of building a better case for him. The couple had another surprise up their sleeves.
43. He Released Music Again
In June 2010 and after 30 years, Phil made a comeback to music with Rachelle’s debut album Out of My ‘Chelle (punny). But people wondered if Phil, now behind bars, actually produced it. But Phil swore they’d worked on it before his first trial. Not that this mattered because the album sucked. One review even declared that Phil’s music was now as criminal as he was. Ouch.
44. He Changed
A journalist interviewed his friends—and even enemies—in 2010. Their responses were shocking. They claimed that Phil changed for the better, and Rachelle was the reason why. The journalist wondered if this version of Phil would’ve pulled the trigger that night. But his transformation came too little, too late. Not to mention, it’s unclear whether these changes would survive if—or when—their marriage collapses.
45. He Became Powerless
Phil went from riches to rags. He spent 23 hours a day in a tiny shared cell. He couldn’t do much but read and sweat. Phil was estranged from all his kids, except for his daughter. But she lived on the other side of the country. This made Rachelle the center of his world. Phil and Rachelle were never going to be a normal couple—but his incarceration made it so much worse.
46. He Had A Weird Marriage
Rachelle was in control of his life, legacy, and fortune. They talked every weekday (when he’s allowed a 15-minute call). And every Saturday, she wakes up a little after midnight to make the 3 hour journey to Phil. They get one hug and one kiss. Then they talk in the visitor’s area for hours. But their weirdly wedded bliss didn’t last forever.
47. He Felt Cheated
In 2018, Phil divorced Rachelle and made shocking allegations against her. He claimed that she only gave him $300 every month. Meanwhile, Rachelle blew through his $35 million fortune. This included: luxury fashion, two houses for her mom, plastic surgery, a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, and a $350,000 private plane. After 12 years, most of it locked up, his third and final marriage was over.
48. He Deteriorated
Things only got worse for Phil. Over the years, his health declined even more. It got so bad that they transferred him to a hospital for people behind bars. But even that wasn’t enough. The final hit turned out to be a gruesome case of COVID-19 in December 2020. By the end of the month, he became so sick that they transferred him to a normal hospital. He never left.
49. He Didn’t Make It
On January 16, 2021, Phil succumbed to COVID-19 complications. He was 81 years old—and would’ve been eligible for parole in 3 years. The media rushed to report on his passing, but many botched their coverage. Readers complained of outlets focusing too much on Phil’s accomplishments, and not enough on his wrongdoings. Then Ronnie jumped into the conversation—with a shocking social media post.
50. He Remains Controversial
Ronnie spoke her truth on Instagram. She wrote: “It’s a sad day for music and a sad day for me…As I said many times while he was alive, he was a brilliant producer, but a lousy husband. Unfortunately Phil was not able to live and function outside of the recording studio. Darkness set in, many lives were damaged. I still smile whenever I hear the music we made together, and always will. The music will be forever”.
Phil Spector shaped music history, then destroyed his own legacy.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22