Our Dennis Diken backed Ronnie Spector (1943-2022) for many years and penned this heartfelt remembrance of a huge rock and roll icon who will never be forgotten.
Ronnie Spector R.I.P. This is a tough one. She had the purest rock’n’roll spirit and her voice rang with both joy and heartbreak. Her come hither persona was often belied by a sweet sense of innocence. She was…Ronnie Spector.
She was one of a kind. While that might sound cliché, I’d say it’s the highest compliment that can be paid to an artist. Or anyone.
The Smithereens were fortunate to grow up with The Ronettes’ records reverberating in our thirsty ears. We took tons of inspiration from the beat, the power of a group of great musicians playing together and Ronnie’s wall of soul vocals.
I was so damn lucky to have played a bunch of shows with Ronnie for about 10 years. Every time I sat behind the drum set the enormity of how cool it was to be up there was never lost on me. Never. And she brought it every time.
And I’m grateful that Ronnie made it known to me that she really dug what I did.
Thank you, Ronnie. "I wish I never saw the sunshine."
