Mug Shot Shows Bald Phil Spector

Tags:

Jail,John Lennon,Phil Spector,News,Twitter
 
 
enlarge
  • Phil Spector’s mug shot, June 2009
  • Phil Spector’s mug shot 2009
  • Phil Spector arrives at Los Angeles Criminal Courts after jurors announced they have reached a verdict in his murder re-trial April 13, 2009 in Los Angeles

1/3

  • Phil Spector’s mug shot, June 2009

  • Phil Spector’s mug shot 2009
  • Getty Images

    Phil Spector arrives at Los Angeles Criminal Courts after jurors announced they have reached a verdict in his murder re-trial April 13, 2009 in Los Angeles
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: June 11, 2009 1:46 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

A mug shot of Phil Spector released Wednesday reveals that prison has been a hair-raising experience for the legendary music producer.

Spector, known for his many elaborate hairstyles over the years, had to abandon his wigs after being sentenced last month to 19 years to life for killing actress Lana Clarkson.

The mug shot, which shows a bald-pated Spector with long stringy hair on the sides, was taken on June 5 as part of the routine intake process in the prison system.

“They took my husband’s freedom and dignity. So why not his hair?” said Spector’s wife Rachelle, who had previously suggested that her husband’s thick mane of hair was his own.

“This is a personal matter,” she said. “But in case you don’t know, they don’t allow for much accessorizing while in prison.”

Spector, 69, was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2003 death of Clarkson at his castle-like home in Alhambra. Spector had two trials with essentially the same evidence. The first ended in a jury deadlock.

He is being processed and evaluated at North Kern State Prison in Delano before being sent to his final prison destination. Regulations forbid wigs and hairpieces unless they are deemed medically necessary.

Gordon Hinkle, deputy press secretary for the Department of Corrections, said the photo was distributed to the media and social networking sites including Twitter because of a department policy aimed at transparency in public information.

Hal Lifson, Spector’s publicist, said his client is wearing a Jewish yarmulke — or skull cap — in his cell and is conferring regularly with a prison rabbi and receives kosher food at mealtimes.

In his heyday in the early and mid-1960s, Spector produced dozens of hits, including The Ronette’s “Be My Baby,” The Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron” and The Righteous Brothers’ classic, “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin.’” Spector also worked on the Beatles album “Let It Be” and John Lennon’s album, “Imagine.”

His “Wall of Sound” used orchestrations and sometimes dozens of microphones to producer a dense, echoing sound that influenced everyone from The Beach Boys to Bruce Springsteen.

Copyright 2009 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on and now!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

What Do You Think?

How many times will you see ‘New Moon?’

  • Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in ‘New Moon’
     
  • Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart chat during the presentation of their new film ‘The Twighlight Saga: New Moon’ during the HVB youth event at the Olympic Hall on November 14, 2009 in Munich, Germany
     
  • Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson arrive at the afterparty for the premiere ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ at the Hammer Museum on November 16, 2009 in Los Angeles, California
     
  • Robert Pattinson runs his fingers through his hair as he hits ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ premiere red carpet, LA, Nov. 16, 2009
     
  • Michael Sheen in Summit’s ‘New Moon’
     
  • Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, and Chaske Spence as werewolves in ‘New Moon’
     
voteview results & comments