Children of famous people are presented with two paths in life: to follow in the parents' footsteps and attempt fame or to live a life of anonymity. Big Bopper’s kid? Rather than furthering his own career in entertainment or even tastefully maintaining his father’s legacy, he just wants to make money off his dad in any way he can. How so? Well, by digging up a casket that’s been buried for 48 years, moving the body to a new location, and then unloading the casket as “rock memorabilia,” that’s how!
The Big Bopper, real name J. P. Richardson, is of course known to rock ‘n’ roll history for his most famous hit “Chantilly Lace.” However, we all remember Mr. Bopper when he, along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, died in a plane crash in 1959, the day famously becoming known as the “day the music died.” The accident was later memorialized by Don McLean in 1972 with his song “American Pie” and dramatized in 1999 in a film starring a young Jason Biggs.
But, even with his place in rock ‘n’ roll history ensured, Big Bopper’s son had this to say: "In another 200 years, will people care about rock ‘n’ roll? 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."
Skeletal structure of rock ‘n’ roll?
The casket was dug up in 2007 when Richardson’s son wanted a “more visible” final final resting place. The Little Bopper, born three months after his father’s death, offers his reason for the sale: “I have no personal use for the casket, when you get down to it; it is just a metal box. More important is what this particular metal box represents."
Exactly. CH-CHING! Dollar, dollar bills, ya’ll.
