Phil Spector made a written objection to the inclusion of The Ronettes in the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame more than ten years ago, according to the producer's ex-wife and the band's lead singer Ronnie Spector. The band are, of course, due to be inducted into said Hall Of Fame on 12 Mar this year alongside REM, Patti Smith, Van Halen and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.
According to Ronnie, two years ago her lawyers obtained a letter written by Phil and addressed to the Hall Of Fame's nominating committee, dated July 11, 1994, which explains why he thinks The Ronettes should not be inducted.
It reads: "My first objection to The Ronettes is that they did not record! Of all the recordings they made, only the lead singer appeared. The group behind her, as you no doubt know, consisted of any number of hundreds of singers I used for that purpose. Secondly, I do not think they made the contribution required of some to be in the Hall Of Fame, nor do they have the body of work that would qualify them for induction."
On the letter, his ex-wife says: "He's an angry and unhappy man, and he hasn't been successful since I left".
Presumably Spector has other things to worry about at the moment than his ex-wife's group getting into the Hall Of Fame, his trial over the murder of actress Lana Clarkson due to kick off on 19 Mar.