The Phil Spector Trial: We Watch Court TV So You Don't Have To (07/12)

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY? Lana Clarkson's "good friend" Jennifer Hayes-Riedl helped out the defense by testifying that Clarkson was depressed around the time she died of a gunshot wound at Phil Spector's home. Why a "good friend" of Clarkson's would be a witness for the defense was left unexplained, but Hayes-Riedl made a series of damaging claims concerning Clarkson's drinking problem, her "anal retentiveness" and her post-firing depression. Hayes-Riedl wasn't the most trustworthy witness, though: She had that "starred in too many Whitesnake videos" look about her, the prosecution exposed her less-than-perfect memory and it was evident that she was no stranger to the word "exaggeration."

IS THIS GOOD OR BAD FOR SPECTOR? Both. Hayes-Riedl testified that Clarkson was not just depressed -- she was "very, very, very depressed." However, Hayes-Riedl also ruined future defense witness Punkin Pie's credibility -- yes, her name is Punkin Pie -- by saying her friend Pie has a terrible memory and can't remember anything.

HAIR & WARDROBE UPDATE: These hot summer temperatures didn’t prevent Spector from going all black with a red tie. Buoy/Afp/Getty

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV 10 Shows to Watch This Summer
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter