http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6590843.stm

I'd never heard the story that he fired a gun over John Lennon's head before?

he held the Ramones at gunpoint in his house when they were recording "End Of The Century". As great a producer as he was, he truly has a screw loose.

But, as you can see in one of my VideoBlogs, my personal experience with Phil was absolutely fine, if extraordinary.

And he is without doubt the greatest producer of all time and one of the five great influences on music over the past 100 years.
As such, no matter what, he will and should be always remembered.

Genius often has a touch of madness attached to it.

It is notable, that in an NME interview after the Ramones had recorded with him , Dee Dee said that all those stories about Spector pointing guns at people were untrue.
In the Ramones documentary years later they came out with a different tale.
Whatever emerges, he definetly seems just the sort of person that it was probably unwise to give a gun to.

I can't resist to dispute this. Spector was one of the greatest but not the greatest.

He chased Lennard Cohen with a cross-bow.

His marrige with Ronnie was scary and threatend her with a gun numerous times.

His son claims to abused him.

I still think Spector is the greatest man in music along with Joe Meek great knowledge of acts, sound and taste.

BBC News:
"Mr Spector allegedly once fired a gun over Lennon's head during a recording session with the Beatles."

Allededly is was a pistol and it didn't happen at a recording session with the Beatles but at a session in LA for Lennon's "Rock&Roll"-Album.

During these sessions Spector was so angry about Lennons singing, he orderd his bodyguard (Big George) to tie Lennon onto a bed.

According to Goldman Spector had a glass coffin at his house and he told one visitor: "If Ronnie leaves me, I'll kill her and put her on display like Snow White".

I think the greatest musical gift he gave to new writers, was the "Wall of Sound", but not for the reasons that are mentioned by the professionals and music historians.

What he did, was create a sound that anybody with a song in their head could re-create, mentally, whilst thinking of a little ditty as they sat around, strolled along or whatever.

I would prefer to call it the original "big music" that people wanted to hear their meanderings to.
With his vast musical know-how he understood perfectly on creating that sound, how to attract an audience that did not know how to create, or even care for that matter.
They just wanted a pop tune, with a nice voice/s on top.

I am aware that this post reads like a short obituary, but whatever happens in this dreadful and tragic situation, I cannot imagine him recording again.

Interesting you mentioned Joe Meek, Andrew.

Another producer that should not have ever got hold of a gun.

They both odd people with talent. Joe Meek did some very odd things. Spector even told Ronnie I will display you in a case like snow white if you live me.

In her autobiography great read for a young music lover like she describes Spector what he was really like to live with and how she lived with fear.

Meek was almost known to the police about his sexuailty what was illegal then and a murder charge on his land lady he proberlay have the death sentance and he panicked and was scared so he shot himself.

Spector never worked the Beatles he only worked on a tape which was given by George Martin becuase he was so pissed of with them arguing and fighting during the Let it Be sessions and told them stop recording.

George Martin wanted it to be released but he asked Spector to work on it and asked to improve it and make it better.

What Spector did was nothing what they wanted. The orcharras, choirs, Long winding road and the short tracks they should of not been on the recording.

Alot of people say Let it Be aint a offical Beatles album.

I must say I`m rather fond of "Let it Be", but not for the right reasons.
It`s messy and demo-filled, but it does give an insight in to how the songs were being worked out by virtually solo artists by this time.

I think Spector made and interesting resume, although obviously it was not in the class of "Abbey Road", which don`t forget, was recorded after the aforementioned album.

I find "Let It be" the movie, absolutely unwatchable though, bands breaking up are not easy to watch either ,on film or in reality.

I don`t think anyone can really knock Spector`s work on "Let It be" or "Winding Road" though.
Although I do know Macca was not happy with it.

I always wanted to Let it Be movie but what Martin describe I give it a miss.

Dont want to see them arguing or having disagreements I want to see Beatles what they did best.

Frankly if Spector killed someone then he should pay the price.

This is not a trivia crime - it's not like what happened to J, it's about murder
and that's a very serious offence and rightly so.

If Spector did it then he should be put behind bars - end of story.

If he didn't do it - then he should remain free and have his name cleared.

Either way, it`s a horribly public trial and that`s not fair for either parties.

Dressing for court is one thing, dressing for a live TV audience of millions for court is another.

A dreadful example of human voyeuristic intent.

I find this whole "media-trial" distasteful in the extreme.

Celebrity trials are horrible (BTW the trial being the celebrity not the people involved as such)