Phil Spector death: Darlene Love remembers ‘controlling’ music producer and convicted murderer who harmed career
Collaboration was ‘like a marriage that was abusive,’ singer said
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Darlene Love has said working with “controlling” Phil Spector was like “a bad marriage” in the wake of his death.
The revolutionary music producer and convicted killer, who was serving a jail sentence for murdering actor Lana Clarkson, died on Saturday (16 January), aged 81.
Spector’s death, which was confirmed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, has stirred up mixed feelings about his legacy.
Love, who sang a number of Spector’s beloved hits, waded into the matter having been vocal about her struggles working with the figure in the past.
Spector downplayed Love’s involvement on many of the songs on which she sang, including The Crystals’ hit “He’s a Rebel”. He also used his power over copyright to prevent her from performing them in public, a move which ultimately harmed Love’s career.
Reflecting upon their working relationship to Variety, she said: “You know, the whole thing was like a bad marriage. It’s a marriage that was abusive – not just physically, but mentally. That’s what Phil was trying to do with me."
“The problem I have with Phil is that he wanted to control Darlene Love’s talent,” she continued. “If he couldn’t do that, he was going to do everything in his power to keep my talent from shining.”
It was because of this Love says she “had to actually work harder to get my name out there” when starting out as a solo artist.
She said she felt “very sad” after learning he had died, adding: “I didn’t think of hate. I didn’t think, ‘He deserved it or this should have happened.’ I just felt this was a sad way for him to leave this earth.”
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Love said there was no doubt that Spector “changed the sound of rock ‘n’ roll”, saying that this sentiment is also shared by musicians including Bruce Springsteen and Elton John.
In 1993, Love successfully sued Spector for unpaid royalties. She recently made a cameo appearance in Netflix film The Christmas Chronicles Part II.
Spector was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in 2003 after Clarkson was found shot dead in his California home. Four women testified against him in court, all of whom recalled being threatened with a gun by the producer after they rejected his advances.