Out and About Costa Blanca Magazine - June 2021 Issue -188

JOHN CURTIS
JUNE 2021 | 17
John & George´s satisfaction
but not to Paul who
particularly hated the
huge orchestral and
vocal overdubs to his
song “The Long &
Winding Road.” Phil´s
good relationship
with John & George
continued for a few years
and he produced their
early solo albums which
included the mega hits “Imagine”
and “My Sweet Lord.” This apparent
crest of a wave was soon undermined
by an increasing use of drugs and
Phil´s growing reputation for unstable
behaviour and unreliability. First George
sacked him and then after a wild rant
during a recording session with John in
which a gun was drawn and fired into
the ceiling their relationship ended too.
The seeds for the murder of actress Lana
Clarkson in 2003 and a life sentence were
very apparent some 30 years earlier!
Another hiatus followed punctuated
by working on a Dion album to mixed
reviews in 1975 and finally working with
Leonard Cohen and The Ramones in
1979. In both cases the results were not
acclaimed and rumours have abounded
about Phil´s growing instability and
fondness for toting a gun in the recording
studio. Perhaps his last chance of a
healthy mind was lost in 1974 when he
went through the windscreen of his car
in an accident and nearly lost his life. Ex
wife Ronnie´s account of her life with him
also makes harrowing reading. After The
Ramones very few people wished to work
with him so he lived off his royalties in
increasing seclusion until the tragic
event of 2003 reminded people
he was still alive. The rest is
history as they say and Phil´s
legacy , despite his obvious
considerable talents, is one
of public revulsion for the
monster he became.
Before closing may I tell you
my own news?
I now have a new show on PURE
GOLD FM (94.1 FM & , of course,
on The Internet). I present a 3 hour
show on Sunday mornings from
9AM to Midday CET which starts
with an hour of “The Crooners”
and is followed by 2 hours of easy
listening love songs. I hope you will
join me for this and ALSO for “JC´s
Podcast” on The Internet which
continues the content and spirit of
Ready Steady Sunday with 2 hours
of 60s/70s music. This is available to
you anytime throughout the week
and is renewed with a fresh show
every Saturday. Look out for my
programme about Phil Spector on
JC´s Podcast on the first Saturday of
July. Please note too my NEW EMAIL
ADDRESS : “jcpodcast10@gmail.
com.”
These articles will continue so I will
be back in next month´s magazine
with another All Time Great. Until
when my best wishes and my usual
mantra to KEEP ROCKING!
by John Curtis