I was LITERALLY on his wikipedia page last night, and went “oh had no idea he was still around”. Crazy. Rip, absolute legend.
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Sly Stone dies aged 82
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James Brown distilled R+B to the groves that were the birth of funk, and Sly Stone took that and muscled it up with a rock influence, and there's no Prince or Michael Jackson and so many others without those two giants writing the book.
Like Jaco and others, a troubled uber-creative whose mental health was highly exacerbated by his deep dependencies, and also like Jaco never found solid treatment that could have helped him lead a better life away from the monsters in his head. A cynic could also say that once it was bad enough to not make the gig$, everyone walked away, which turned his health into a deadly spiral he only finally escaped from a few years ago.
Listen to 'Stand' or the huge riff-driven 'Sing a Simple Song' or the 'it's only one chord?!? 'Evryday People' and there's a vital life force behind them: Sly Stone.
Like Jaco and others, a troubled uber-creative whose mental health was highly exacerbated by his deep dependencies, and also like Jaco never found solid treatment that could have helped him lead a better life away from the monsters in his head. A cynic could also say that once it was bad enough to not make the gig$, everyone walked away, which turned his health into a deadly spiral he only finally escaped from a few years ago.
Listen to 'Stand' or the huge riff-driven 'Sing a Simple Song' or the 'it's only one chord?!? 'Evryday People' and there's a vital life force behind them: Sly Stone.
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I still remember him winning the Showcase 68 TV talent show during that long hot summer. What an introduction.
The UK Guardian has posted a retrospective photo gallery:
www.theguardian.com
Sly Stone – a life in pictures
Funk music pioneer Sly Stone has died aged 82 after ‘a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues’ according to a family statement. He leaves behind a career filled with influential, experimental and uplifting music that’s soundtracked generations of dancefloors
www.theguardian.com
Considering the toll he took on himself, 82 years is a pretty impressive run. Thanks for the music, man.
An immensely talented and important musician, IMO.
RIP, sir, and thank you for the music.
RIP, sir, and thank you for the music.
A giant. Loved their/his music. Always heavy iPad rotation.
If You Want Me to Stay, Family Affair, genius.
If You Want Me to Stay, Family Affair, genius.
For those you who haven’t, read his memoir. He did hit rock bottom, but he was never completely abandoned and he did stabilize. His later albums had some great gems like “I Get High on You” and “Loose Booty.” He also had a decent, but chemical filled time with George Clinton.
I bought the greatest hits cd on a whim when I was in high school and I must have listened to “If You Want Me to Stay” and “Its a Family Affair “ 10,000 times each.
The world lost a truly magnificently talented person today.
The world lost a truly magnificently talented person today.
Family Affair is a particular favorite. There was no song like it before it was released*. Sly, (g, b & V) along with Rose Stone (v), Bobby Womack (g) and Billy Preston (keys), along with a rythym box, one of the 1st drum machines recorded to a pop song. Most of Sky's guitar was muted from the released single.
I read at one time, that Sly wasn't happy with the result & wanted it shelved while the producers released it anyway and it became a #1 hit.
Whenever I hear this song, I'm taken back to the 1st time I heard it as a knee-high. The song sounded so organic and really emotive/reactionary. An incredibly beautiful, raw and influential song. RIP Sly
*The Temptation's Cloud Nine comes close tho'.
I read at one time, that Sly wasn't happy with the result & wanted it shelved while the producers released it anyway and it became a #1 hit.
Whenever I hear this song, I'm taken back to the 1st time I heard it as a knee-high. The song sounded so organic and really emotive/reactionary. An incredibly beautiful, raw and influential song. RIP Sly
*The Temptation's Cloud Nine comes close tho'.
They booked a venue in a nearby town. The entire band showed up, but he did not. Show was canceled, money refunded months later.
