"She had my beehive, my eyeliner, my attitude."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Exclusive: Ronnie Spector Pays Tribute to Amy Winehouse



By RONNIE SPECTOR
JULY 27, 2011 1:50 PM ET

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-ronnie-spector-pays-tribute-to-amy-winehouse-20110727

I haven't been this sad in a long time, about anyone in this business. I tried to go grocery shopping for my family, and I was walking like a ghost in the aisles. I could think about nobody but Amy.

When I saw her two weeks ago on TV and she was all drugged out, drinking and stuff, I said, "Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it! Don't become like I was 20 years ago! I cleaned up. You gotta clean up!" And two weeks later, she's dead. I'm devastated.

Every time I looked at her, it was like I was looking at myself. She had my beehive, my eyeliner, my attitude. She had such a great soul in her voice and her lyrics were so amazing that I couldn't help but sing one of her songs. I was so happy to see an artist like Amy, because she reminded me of my youth. And she loved girl groups. Damn it! I thought she would carry on.

When I was in my 20s, I was a lost girl – drinking, not knowing what to do or where to go. I never did drugs – like, "No way, you're not gonna put a needle in my arm!" – but drinking is just as bad. In the Sixties, everyone was doing drugs, and I lost many people in the business. I knew Jimi Hendrix. I used to play with him down in the Village. When I had a Number One hit all over the world, the Rolling Stones were my opening act. I was around all the druggies, but my mother also traveled with us, wherever I was. She was a buffer so I didn't see all of the bad stuff.

[midnight]

1. K&R

[msongs]

2. ronnie sounds fab on that song clip (tho the drums are too loud), she is the original nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Yep, she's basically held on to 100% of her talent

Her various projects over the years, post-Ronettes, have been hit or miss on the basis of the material, the producers, the musicians, but never on her voice. The voice is till a force of nature.

:toast:

[xchrom]

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