Have you listened to On The Corner lately? It's not the output of a sober man, but you might appreciate it even more after you read page 140 of Sly's book.
This was a hard article to read and harder to comment with elegance. Sly opened the whole funk genre to me, and it had a huge impact on how I enjoy music. “Thank you” remains one of my all time pole star songs. Self destructive genius is an oft told tale… but sad every time.
Always like Sly and the Family Stone....especially Stand which I will ask Alexa to play now.
Went to a music store to buy a Sly CD years ago. Asked the young man there about a best of Sly and the Family Stone album but he did not know who Sly was and suggested I might be able to find him over in the religious music.
That was a wonderful story. Thank you. I must say, though Sly Stone burned himself out, he had a longer album run (10) than many of his contemporaries. His post-Riot albums Fresh and Small Talk were excellant while the next three had a few interesting tunes. I had the pleasure of interviewing Family Stone trumpeter/vocalist Cynthia Robinson (“All the squares go home!”) shortly before her death in 2015: https://www.waxpoetics.com/article/cynthia-robinson-family-affair
I'm a big fan of Sly's music, and it's a major tragedy that he didn't kick his drug habit at the height of his fame, when he still had a chance to be fully redeemed. As a singer and musician, and particularly as a songwriter and producer, his influence was and is massive. I can't imagine how the genre of funk would have even come about, or evolved as it has, were it not for his singular influence.
Hot Fun performed at the Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver! It blew me away. I still think of them as one of the best ever. The link between extreme creativity, addiction, and depression is real. To get into a supremely creative mode takes a turning off of the rational brain. The flip side of that is addiction and depression. James Brown is another one. Miles was a heroin addict. Wes Montgomery. Even John Lennon. The addiction eventually kills the creativity, which is the sad part.
This is a great essay about a fascinating and frustrating artist. I’ve been thinking a lot about California and its cultural impact recently. I grew up in Sacramento—about an hour and half from where Stone was raised in the Bay Area. I reviewed his memoir a bit ago, trying to explain the connection between Californian culture and the Southern religious influence on his career. https://www.millersbookreview.com/p/sly-stone-thank-you
Unlike Miles, Sly was a consummate performer who could work a crowd into a frenzy. Too bad about his coke addiction, but that's all on him. Now he is non compos mentis. So it goes.
Thanks for this and for the unflinching review of Sly’s addictions, which short-circuited what could have been a lasting and creative career. That he didn’t succumb to drugs and alcohol like so many of his musical peers of the time was fortunate, although it also led to decades of struggle. His music was so infectious, joyous and unique.
The suggestion that Sly’s music influenced the musical Hair seems an unnecessary stretch. Hair opened at the Public Theater in the fall of 1967; the cast album won a Grammy and was No. 1 on the Billboard 100 for many weeks. While the lyrics and book were in development from 1964, Galt McDermott wrote the music beginning in late 1966. McDermott was a scholar of African music, among other things, and considered his work on Hair to be an early form of funk, which may account for the allusion to Sly.
I feel like I should amend this. In Clinton’s case, he indeed remained mired in a deep addiction for many years, but he accomplished more over a longer period of time and is still a working musician today, by a miracle.
1) He allowed his manager to rob him blind in the face of many warnings;
2) He managed to legally recover the masters and rights to several of his most successful albums but not to his entire catalog;
3) He’s now touring and show running P-Funk again;
4) He was always a very productive songwriter and producer even in the face of his addictions until his status as his own worst enemy finally brought an end to his creative momentum many years after Sly Stone had failed.
5) He was a close friend of Sly Stone for many years, which was probably part of the problem
Saw George and PFunk this fall, and I thought he was hanging in there for 82 and living that hard. He had to take some breaks, as many musicians of that vintage do. PFunk still a very enjoyable experience overall.
It was at a fest he was not headlining, so low stakes. I probably wouldn’t pay (much) to see just them.
A friend of mine produced rap records, and shows. He put on a show with an elderly rapper. One of the early ones. When my friend put the show on the guy was 90! My buddy was horrified when he saw the guy. Decrepit, no energy, slurring his words etc. Then the show began. The guy shuffled to the stage edge walked out and rocked it. He was pure energy and funk. The show ended he ran off the stage and almost needed oxygen to talk. Nothing left in the tank. They had to help him to the change room. Old performers, eh?
Totally vibing with this. I'm never sneering at or criticizing anyone of an advanced age of any kind doing anything in performance. I'm an old fart and producing music and videos to support that music for performance and online. If you're 90 and doing that? So great. My old guitar mentor was performing complex jazz 7-string guitar into his upper 80s to packed bars full of people who revered him.
Good piece.
“I was buying shit left and right,” Stone admits, “including too many cars. At one point there were thirteen.”
The money came and went.
Lots of wasted potential. Imagine a reasonably sober Sly working with Miles Davis ...?
If only ...
Thank God the huge talent did reach the world, for a while, and the records are permanent.
Glad he is alive.
Have you listened to On The Corner lately? It's not the output of a sober man, but you might appreciate it even more after you read page 140 of Sly's book.
An illuminating read I didn’t realize I needed...
This was a hard article to read and harder to comment with elegance. Sly opened the whole funk genre to me, and it had a huge impact on how I enjoy music. “Thank you” remains one of my all time pole star songs. Self destructive genius is an oft told tale… but sad every time.
I saw Sly at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1969. Still the most exciting show I’ve ever seen.
Always like Sly and the Family Stone....especially Stand which I will ask Alexa to play now.
Went to a music store to buy a Sly CD years ago. Asked the young man there about a best of Sly and the Family Stone album but he did not know who Sly was and suggested I might be able to find him over in the religious music.
I chuckled and left.
That was a wonderful story. Thank you. I must say, though Sly Stone burned himself out, he had a longer album run (10) than many of his contemporaries. His post-Riot albums Fresh and Small Talk were excellant while the next three had a few interesting tunes. I had the pleasure of interviewing Family Stone trumpeter/vocalist Cynthia Robinson (“All the squares go home!”) shortly before her death in 2015: https://www.waxpoetics.com/article/cynthia-robinson-family-affair
I'm a big fan of Sly's music, and it's a major tragedy that he didn't kick his drug habit at the height of his fame, when he still had a chance to be fully redeemed. As a singer and musician, and particularly as a songwriter and producer, his influence was and is massive. I can't imagine how the genre of funk would have even come about, or evolved as it has, were it not for his singular influence.
Such a contrast between the beautiful creativity in his music and the depravity of a sad life. Great account.
Hot Fun performed at the Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver! It blew me away. I still think of them as one of the best ever. The link between extreme creativity, addiction, and depression is real. To get into a supremely creative mode takes a turning off of the rational brain. The flip side of that is addiction and depression. James Brown is another one. Miles was a heroin addict. Wes Montgomery. Even John Lennon. The addiction eventually kills the creativity, which is the sad part.
This is a great essay about a fascinating and frustrating artist. I’ve been thinking a lot about California and its cultural impact recently. I grew up in Sacramento—about an hour and half from where Stone was raised in the Bay Area. I reviewed his memoir a bit ago, trying to explain the connection between Californian culture and the Southern religious influence on his career. https://www.millersbookreview.com/p/sly-stone-thank-you
Always loved his music 🙏 thanks for recounting his take here.
Unlike Miles, Sly was a consummate performer who could work a crowd into a frenzy. Too bad about his coke addiction, but that's all on him. Now he is non compos mentis. So it goes.
Read his book. It is a lucid, telling account of history by an articulate, thoughtful human being.
Thanks for this and for the unflinching review of Sly’s addictions, which short-circuited what could have been a lasting and creative career. That he didn’t succumb to drugs and alcohol like so many of his musical peers of the time was fortunate, although it also led to decades of struggle. His music was so infectious, joyous and unique.
The suggestion that Sly’s music influenced the musical Hair seems an unnecessary stretch. Hair opened at the Public Theater in the fall of 1967; the cast album won a Grammy and was No. 1 on the Billboard 100 for many weeks. While the lyrics and book were in development from 1964, Galt McDermott wrote the music beginning in late 1966. McDermott was a scholar of African music, among other things, and considered his work on Hair to be an early form of funk, which may account for the allusion to Sly.
That's my all-time favorite summer tune as well.
This clip of Sly hamboning on the Ed Sullivan show is classic: https://youtu.be/WG_xmmllfFw?si=AebnuYX2DxKEvlEl
His autobiography was an fascinating read.
Drug addiction destroyed him. It’s a wonder he’s still alive. George Clinton is basically the same.
I feel like I should amend this. In Clinton’s case, he indeed remained mired in a deep addiction for many years, but he accomplished more over a longer period of time and is still a working musician today, by a miracle.
1) He allowed his manager to rob him blind in the face of many warnings;
2) He managed to legally recover the masters and rights to several of his most successful albums but not to his entire catalog;
3) He’s now touring and show running P-Funk again;
4) He was always a very productive songwriter and producer even in the face of his addictions until his status as his own worst enemy finally brought an end to his creative momentum many years after Sly Stone had failed.
5) He was a close friend of Sly Stone for many years, which was probably part of the problem
Saw George and PFunk this fall, and I thought he was hanging in there for 82 and living that hard. He had to take some breaks, as many musicians of that vintage do. PFunk still a very enjoyable experience overall.
It was at a fest he was not headlining, so low stakes. I probably wouldn’t pay (much) to see just them.
Can you imagine being 82 and having to do that? Definitely a cautionary tale
A friend of mine produced rap records, and shows. He put on a show with an elderly rapper. One of the early ones. When my friend put the show on the guy was 90! My buddy was horrified when he saw the guy. Decrepit, no energy, slurring his words etc. Then the show began. The guy shuffled to the stage edge walked out and rocked it. He was pure energy and funk. The show ended he ran off the stage and almost needed oxygen to talk. Nothing left in the tank. They had to help him to the change room. Old performers, eh?
Totally vibing with this. I'm never sneering at or criticizing anyone of an advanced age of any kind doing anything in performance. I'm an old fart and producing music and videos to support that music for performance and online. If you're 90 and doing that? So great. My old guitar mentor was performing complex jazz 7-string guitar into his upper 80s to packed bars full of people who revered him.
Thanks for this.