Playlouder - Music is the Network

i kind of see what you're saying, and agree...but he's not on trial for being a nutcase. he's on trial for blowing someone's face off. unless it's being argued that he's mental and therefore had no control over his actions, which i dont believe it is (especially as he probably wont admit to being mental), then the only thing the court could go on is the question of whether or not he shot the woman.

surely?

I don't for a moment wish to imply that he is being tried for being a "nutcase". I was merely trying to make the point that due to his personality, he will be in for much harsher scrutinisation throughout the proceedings. It is interesting that all signs point to him being guilty, the track record of being a tad trigger happy and all. I am just curious to see how the developments unfold, if the focus will be on damning him for his personality or for the crime, should he be actually found guilty.

and look at it from the point of view of the jury - is he "acting funny" because he's got something to hide, or because he's a weirdo?

Exactly

That, I think is one of the factors that makes it a unique and fascinating case.

Anyway, let us not overly dwell on the gruesome events of late and remember why we actually give a damn in the first place. That Phil Spector produced some damn fine music. From the Ramones to Leonard Cohen (Ok, maybe a controversial choice - I like Spectors hijacked Cohen record) And if you are a fan of the early Wall Of Sound material, I would strongly recommend looking up Jack Nitzsche, who's retrospective "Hearing Is Believing" is a fantastic introduction to an equally proficient and inportant producer of that era.

Nitzshe was also involved in the Wall Of Sound and did the theme song to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" as well as producing for the likes of Marianne Faithful and Stevie Wonder, back when they were good.

The word 'weirdo' ought to be banned - it's totally meaningless.

It has taken on a somewhat redundant status now that everyone's pretty much bonkers in one way or another.

It's chief use nowadays seems to be as some kind of 'me-and-my-little-mates' bonding tool in public situations.

Damn those public situations. Best avoided at all costs.

Well, best avoided around Xmas, and any other time that groups of cold-rice-pudding-faced little wanky-wanks descend upon pubs and other centres of civilised society. The usual modus operandi is for them to try to treat these places like their own private property, ignoring all of the unwritten rules which allow them to function, and to mutter, "Weir-do, weir-do, weir-do!" amongst themselves (note: never to a person outside of their little group - that would require social skills) whenever any stranger objects to their behaviour.