Back in the 1980s, when I first moved to Nashville, Tony Alamo had a store on Lower Broadway which sold elaborate rhinestone-studden denim jackets. Anyone else remember that? The window displays were always something to behold, especially at night. It looked like a mini Times Square behind glass.
I thought the jackets were terribly campy, and was shocked to discover that this was the same Alamo responsible for the virulent anti-Catholic screeds we’d find on our windshields in the parking lot of our Music Row office every few months.
Over time I learned that Alamo is a a dangerous cult leader who’s been hauled off to jail for tax evasion (just like dangerous cult leader Rev. Moon). The Village Voice did a comprehensive piece on his creepy empire, which I thought was a thing of the past. Sadly, no: he’s been rebuilding his operation and even has a a radio show:
During an April broadcast, the pastor proclaimed that the government had no right to take 10-year-old wives away from their rightful "husbands": "What I'm doing is fighting for these people that they, the ungodly beast, is throwing into prison for marrying someone 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11—10, if they've reached puberty."
I’m always amazed at the crap anyone can spew over the radio airwaves without raising an eyebrow.
