The Bizarre Story of What Happened to Gram Parsons Body After He Died

Some of the earliest as well as biggest marriages of nation songs as well as rock preceded Gram Parsons' untimely death at age 26. Billed as if it dropped from outer area, Parson's songs mixed his Waycross, Georgia upbringing with the influence of Laurel Canyon's folk-rock as well as psychedelic audios.

He really began pursuing nation songs while going to Harvard when he created his very first band, The International Submarine Band. This was around the time Parsons met rock & roll king Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, revealing him country music and also forming a friendship that would certainly last up until his fatality. He invested a lot of his time partying with Richards and also the Stones making his songs underperform, consisting of the last Flying Burrito Brothers cd, Burrito Deluxe.

Before his fatality, recorded General Practitioner with Reprise Records featuring a number of members of Elvis' TCB Band, led by lead guitar player James Burton. The occasions following Parson's Sept. 19, 1973 passing away are almost as famous as his increase to cult condition, as a race to regulate his final resting area led to one of the most bizarre as well as infamous crimes in music history. It was unfortunate to lose such an ability after only 3 years as a solo artist. His last solo album released posthumously, Grievous Angel, with the help of friend as well as duet companion Emmylou Harris (their group Gram Parsons and also the Fallen Angels also released a cd) survives on in country-rock history with unbelievable tunes like "Love Hurts".

The "Honky Tonk Women" as well as "Brass Buttons" singer had actually specified in the presence of roadway supervisor Phil Kaufman and others that rather of a church funeral service, he would certainly prefer having his ashes spread in California at Joshua Tree National Park. Ben Fong-Torres, author of Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons, suggests that Parsons made this deal with good friends at the funeral of fellow country-leaning Byrds alum Clarence White.

Parsons died in the location from a reported overdose, with his body discovered in room eight of the Joshua Tree Inn. Logistically speaking, following up with Parson's wishes must have been easy enough.

Parsons' followed daddy Bob prepared a correct funeral service in Louisiana. Reports continue that the senior Parsons was interested in state inheritance legislations that preferred the closest living male family member.

Kaufman and also his aide Michael Murphy's option to the Bob Parsons trouble was simple. They required to take their pal's body prior to it was flown from California to Louisiana.

Kaufman as well as Martin then cleared out to the Joshua Tree desert with the coffin and a canister of gasoline. The park's restriction ablaze showed to be the problem in the near-perfect crime. Campers detected the smoke and also reported it to police.

Authorities later recognized as well as arrested Kaufman and also Martin. Without any legislation on guides for taking a carcass, the charge was misdemeanor burglary of a casket.

On Nov. 5, a court fined both $300 each and also ordered them to pay the $750 expense of the damaged casket. The court date, by coincidence, would certainly have been Parsons' 27th birthday celebration.

To redeem prices, Kaufman presented the Gram Parsons Funeral Party. Jonathan Richman as well as the Modern Lovers headlined the event, hosted at Kaufman's home. Admission costs plus the sales of specially-printed Gram Parsons tees and also beer containers re-labeled as "Gram Pilsner" increased $800, per Fong-Torres.

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Parson's partially-burned corpse eventually made it to Louisiana. Memorial Lawn Cemetery near New Orleans became Parson's final relaxing location. There finished up being a memorial at Joshua Tree after all, although it's not formally acknowledged by the park. It's a concrete slab that checks out "Safe at Home," referencing a 1968 cd by Parson's International Submarine Band.

In the aftermath of every one of this dramatization, Bob Parsons fell short to assert his adopted son's inheritance in court. Otherwise, the exploits of "Phil Coffin" ended up being the stuff of legend. Today, you can still hear Parsons music live from his tribute band, New Soft Shoe.