Bopper? I Hardly Know Her!
By Wyatt Earp | January 4, 2009
File this story under WTF? The family of 50’s music star The Big Bopper is auctioning off his casket – yes, his casket – on eBay.
There are any number of unusual pop music artifacts — pieces of Beatles sheets, Britney Spears’ gum — but not even Gene Simmons has considered selling a used casket.
Personally, I’m holding out for a lock of Anne Hathaway’s hair:
Yeah, that’s the stuff.
So keep an eye on eBay: the Big Bopper’s family is planning to auction the late rock ‘n’ roller’s casket in the next few weeks.
According to the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson’s casket, made of 16-gauge steel, was exhumed last year so the singer’s remains could be moved to a more visible location with a statue and historic marker. The Big Bopper, once a Texas DJ, was killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens near Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 3, 1959, a day since called “the day the music died.” He was 28, and had just had his first major hit, “Chantilly Lace.” He was also the songwriter of George Jones’ “White Lightning” and Johnny Preston’s “Running Bear.”
After the casket was removed, the “Chantilly Lace” singer’s remains were exhumed — an autopsy showed that he did, indeed, die of crash-related injuries — and placed in a new casket. The old one, according to the Enterprise, has been in public display at the Texas Musicians Museum in Hillsboro, Texas, since last year.
It’s apparently in good condition, with just some minor rust spots and a white lime stain where water rose against, but did not enter, the casket. (H/T – CNN)
See, you laugh, but I may bid on this thing. I always wanted some modicum of celebrity, and when I die, people all over the world can say, “Hey, that’s the jackass blogger who purchased The Big Bopper’s casket!”
Suh-weet!
Topics: WTF? | 6 Comments »
January 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
That is just really weird. I’m surprised that the department of health hasn’t stepped in to say a big, “no” to this. Ewwwie!
January 4th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I would be happy to just have people say isn’t that the jackass who bid on the Big Boppers casket. I sure wouldn’t want it and I don’t intend to be in one for eternity. I have asked the MG to make an ash out of me and scatter the ashes in the oods somewhere. MUD
January 4th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Anne Hathaway? Thought she was Will Shakespeare’s bird! Age has improved her looks. Is there a portrait in the attic?
January 4th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Wyatt, you need the little cluster at the root of the hair for enough genetic material to create your own Anne Hathaway clone.
And remember, the cloning machine I gave you for Xmas is not a toy. Mutations do happen if you don’t read the instructions, and they can get messy.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
RT – I hope the casket is steam cleaned before sale. Wouldn’t want The Big Bopper’s little remnants getting on me.
MUD – I want my ashes spread over the ice rink in Bratislava, Slovakia. But that’s just me.
Alan B – I hope not. I’d hate to see her go (Dorian) Gray!
Mox – I know, I know. I learned that lesson after the great Tara Reid experiment. Wow, that was a mess!
January 4th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Nice one Marshall!
Remember the quiz where you had only 1 gap in your knowledge (IIRC)? Can’t have been in literature!