The Alhambra’s most infamous mansion, the castle-like mansion where the late record producer Phil Spector shot and killed Lana Clarkson in 2003, has just sold for $3.3 million.
Spector, the erratic and disgraced producer behind the “Wall of Sound” recording technique who died in January, paid $1.1 million for a chateau-style mansion in France in 1998, and then-Esquire “I bought a beautiful and enchanting castle,” he told the magazine. In a rural town with nowhere to go. ” One of the neighbors likened him to a feudal lord among serfs.
That fateful day came five years later, when 40-year-old Clarkson was found shot to death in the mansion’s marble entryway and Spector was arrested. In court, Spector’s driver claimed that shortly after the shooting, he came out the back door of the house with bloody hands and said, “I think I killed someone.”
Spector was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 after being accused of drunken altercations and domestic violence, and was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison. He died in January at the age of 81 after contracting the coronavirus. The house is currently owned by his ex-wife, Rachel Short.
Known as the Château de Pyrenees, the mansion’s dramatic style lives up to its infamous history. Turrets and spires jut from the roof, and inside, hand-painted stencils, crystal chandeliers and mirrored walls create a scene straight out of Agatha Christie’s Crime Slayer.
The property is perched on a private hillock with panoramic views of the San Gabriel Valley below. The walled and gated property spans 2.66 acres and includes a motor court with a fountain surrounded by gardens and trees.
Two wings, each a mirror image of the other, emanate from the infamous entryway and form the focal point of the 10,590 square foot floor plan. The two-story living space features exposed beam ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and original inlaid floors.
The home has 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, with an additional two bedrooms and bathrooms above a four-car garage. The covered terrace offers panoramic city views.
The home has been on and off the market since 2019. It was first listed for $5.5 million and recently sold for $4 million.
During his musical career, Spector produced award-winning work with iconic groups such as the Ronettes, the Beatles, and the Ramones. His works include “Be My Baby” and “Then He Kissed Me.”
Douglas Elliman’s Tim Derkovich handled both ends of the deal.
