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The death of Gram Parsons occurred on September 18, 1973, in room eight of the Joshua Tree Inn, in Joshua Tree National Park, California. Encouraged by his road manager Phil Kaufman, Parsons again visited the park after completing his latest recording sessions. Earlier, he had confessed to Kaufman his wish to be cremated and his ashes scattered on the park in case he died. Parsons traveled to Joshua Tree with his high school girlfriend, his assistant Michael Martin and Martin's girlfriend. Parsons spent time on the desert during the day and at local bars at night, consuming everyday barbiturates and alcohol. On September 18, after injecting himself with morphine, Parsons overdosed. He was declared dead on September 19 upon arrival at the hospital. Following Parsons' death and in order to fulfill his desires, Kaufman and Martin impersonated workers of a mortuary at Los Angeles International Airport. After declating they were hired by Parsons' family, Western Airlines released the body to them. The pair took it to Joshua Tree in Martin's personal Cadillac Hearse and set it on fire. The burning casket was reported by campers to the local authorities, who investigated the incident and identified both perpetrators. Parsons' body was partially cremated. His charred remains were recovered and returned to his family. Meanwhile, Kaufman and Martin were accused of grand theft and fined for burning the casket, while they also had to pay for Parsons' funeral. Parsons' remains were later buried in New Orleans. ==Background and Parsons' death== During the 1960s, as a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons became fascinated by Joshua Tree National Monument. The singer visited the park several times. During the recording sessions held in the summer of 1973 (later released on the album ''Grievous Angel'', in 1974), Parsons had reduced his use of heroin, but retook the habit as the recording finished. Incited by his road manager, Phil Kaufman, Parsons went on a trip to Joshua Tree in October 1973. He was accompanied by Margaret Fisher (his high school girlfriend, with whom he had recently resumed his relationship); assistant Michael Martin and his girlfriend Dale McElroy. Parson drove Martin and McElroy in his new Jaguar, while Fisher flew from San Francisco. Kaufman later declared that at the time, Parsons' attorney was preparing the divorce papers for him to serve them to Parsons' wife, Gretchen Burrell, while the singer was in Joshua Tree on September 20. The travelers stayed at the Joshua Tree Inn, room eight. During the trip, Parsons often retreated to the desert, while at nights the group would visit local bars, where he sat in with the bands. Excepting McElroy, he and his companions consumed alcohol and barbiturates in high amounts. On September 18, Michaels drove back to Los Angeles to resupply the group with marijuana. That night, after injecting himself with liquid morphine he had purchased from an unknown girl, Parsons overdosed. Fisher put Parsons an ice-cube suppository, and later on a cold shower. Instead of moving him around the room, she put him to bed and went out to buy coffee for Parsons, while she left McElroy to take care of him. As his respiration became irregular and later ceased, McElroy attempted resuscitation. As she failed, Fisher tried again upon her return. After further failed attempts, they decided to call an ambulance. Parsons was declared dead on his arrival to High Desert Memorial Hospital at 00:15 on September 19, 1973 in Yucca Valley, California. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Death of Gram Parsons」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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