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Big Bopper's Coffin Up for Auction

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  • The Toyroom
    The Packaging King
    • Dec 31, 2004
    • 16653

    Big Bopper's Coffin Up for Auction

    OK...this is disturbing and pretty weird

    The son of iconic '50s rock n' roller the Big Bopper has said he plans to sell his late father's casket--which he was buried in for 48 years--on eBay in the next few weeks.

    The Big Bopper, real name J.P. Richardson, died along with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens in a plane crash in 1959. The accident has since become known as "the day the music died" after Don McLean recalled the incident in his massive-selling 1972 U.S. number one "American Pie."

    The 16-gauge steel casket was exhumed from its original resting place in 2007, because Richardson's son wanted to move his father to a more visible location, reports The Beaumont Enterprise.

    "I have no personal use for the casket," Richardson said. "When you get down to it, it is just a metal box. More important is what this particular metal box represents.

    "In another 200 years, will people care about rock 'n' roll?" he continued. "Who knows? But why would I want to destroy it? Even though it was dad's resting place for 48 years, it's also a unique opportunity to learn more about the early years of rock 'n' roll."

    Richardson, who was born three months after his father's death, said he saw his body for the first time in person after it was exhumed. Buried in a black suit with a blue-and-grey striped tie and socks, the Big Bopper's thick, brown hair was reportedly still in perfect condition. He has since been reburied in a new casket.

    Richardson says he plans to use the money raised from the eBay auction to fund a musical show about his father.
    Think OUTSIDE the Box! For the BEST in Repro & Custom Packaging!
  • huedell
    Museum Ball Eater
    • Dec 31, 2003
    • 11069

    #2
    I'm not sure about "disturbing" (I'm trying not to overthink on it!)
    but certainly "weird" if not downright bizarre.

    Just a massively strange scenario.
    "No. No no no no no no. You done got me talkin' politics. I didn't wanna'. Like I said y'all, I'm just happy to be alive. I think I'll scoot over here right by this winda', let this beautiful carriage rock me to sleep, and dream about how lucky I am." - Chris Mannix

    Comment

    • Mikey
      Verbose Member
      • Aug 9, 2001
      • 47258

      #3
      It would be a good money-maker --- people could be charged $1.00 to take a sniff inside.

      Have a little stand set-up at state fairs and such.

      Comment

      • toys2cool
        Ultimate Mego Warrior
        • Nov 27, 2006
        • 28605

        #4
        It's a little crazy,but I think the person buying it is a little more disturbing.Unless it's put up in a museum or something
        "Time to nut up or shut up" -Tallahassee

        http://ultimatewarriorcollection.webs.com/
        My stuff on facebook Incompatible Browser | Facebook

        Comment

        • ThatBatmanGuy
          Career Member
          • May 14, 2007
          • 594

          #5
          More proof that anyone would sell their soul if the money is right.

          Bob

          Comment

          • Mikey
            Verbose Member
            • Aug 9, 2001
            • 47258

            #6
            No disrespect to the Big Bopper but his only claim to fame was having died with Buddy Holly.

            If it wasn't for that, he'd be just another 50's one hit wonder long forgotten.

            Comment

            • megocrazy
              Museum Trouble Maker
              • Feb 18, 2007
              • 3718

              #7
              I could picture the Golden Palace online casino dropping some bucks on this for the advertisement if it gets enough publicity. They could put the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich, and the world's largest frosted flake, in it and then truck it around the country in the Pope's volkswagen, all of which they already own. He could see 10 - 20,000 easy if they get involved and he sets the minimum bid high enough.
              It's not a doll it's an action figure.

              Comment

              • jessica
                fortune favors the bold
                • Nov 5, 2007
                • 4590

                #8
                Eeew! That's just not right.
                Those who look outside dream. Those who look within awake.
                Samples of my work are found here: Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness

                To do list:
                1:6 boots for Mathilda, 1:1 Romulan Commander outfit, Ursus helmet; Cornelius appliance
                1:9 scale ape's new suit for Cornelius;

                Comment

                • jwyblejr
                  galactic yo-yo
                  • Apr 6, 2006
                  • 11147

                  #9
                  And I thought Ted Williams son was strange.

                  Comment

                  • kryptosmaster
                    Removed.
                    • Jun 14, 2008
                    • 0

                    #10
                    Does it come with a lifetime supply of Febreeze?
                    Rich

                    Comment

                    • Earth 2 Chris
                      Verbose Member
                      • Mar 7, 2004
                      • 32932

                      #11
                      Oh baby, that's NOT what I like!

                      That's just ghoulish.

                      I saw his kid on some TV show before. He seemed okay then but...

                      Mike is right though. Big Bopper would have been another Rick Dees had he lived.

                      Chris
                      sigpic

                      Comment

                      • Nostalgiabuff
                        Muddling through
                        • Oct 4, 2008
                        • 11423

                        #12
                        that's jsut wrong. It's really about a kid who never knew his father, wanting to cash in. But I agree, Big Bopper would not even be remembered anymore if not for the plane crash.

                        Comment

                        • Nostalgiabuff
                          Muddling through
                          • Oct 4, 2008
                          • 11423

                          #13
                          on second thought, if Scarlet Johansen can put a snot filled tissue up on ebay, why not a coffin that had a rotting carcas in it for half a century

                          Comment

                          • Bizarro Amy
                            Formerly known as Del
                            • Dec 12, 2004
                            • 3336

                            #14
                            I was reading up a little on this. I had found an article that gave an eBay item number, but when I looked up the auction, it had been ended. I don't know whether eBay pulled it or Jay Richardson decided not to go through with it. Now it sounds like he's looking for a museum to take it. I don't understand why he switched his dad's casket, though, especially because the first one was very suited to the Big Bopper. The replacement was somewhat generic. There's a short video somewhere of Richardson talking about how/why he had his father exhumed.
                            Hey! Where's the waiter with the water for my daughter?

                            Check out my customs!
                            https://www.facebook.com/BizarroAmy
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                            Comment

                            • Vortigern99
                              Scholar/Gentleman/Weirdo
                              • Jul 2, 2006
                              • 1539

                              #15
                              "Even though it was dad's resting place for 48 years, it's also a unique opportunity to learn more about the early years of rock 'n' roll."

                              WTH????? In what sense is inspecting a casket a "unique opportunity to learn more about the early years of rock 'n' roll"?????????????????????????? This dude is whacked out.

                              Comment

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