Some ambitious comeback plans, a call for any—any—hip-hop artists to collaborate, and not a little crazy shit.
Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart is about to return to the stage after a long absence. He's performing with a makeshift version of the Family Stone (rumor has it that Sly's bro Freddie Stone may appear; Greg Errico, however, informs me that he will be recording in New Orleans and unable to sit in on the drums) at the Anaheim House of Blues April 25 and at its West Hollywood counterpart April 26. If they can get it together, they will have one of the greatest passel of hits in the history of recorded music at their disposal—at least two dozen songs that are the sonic equivalent of the elixir of eternal youth.
To promote this short tour, the legendary funk/soul song and dance man has deigned to do some interviews, including one with OC Weekly and another with the LA Times.
Until recently, I had two black binders filled with songs and they were stolen from me. Even though I have copies of all these songs, the idea that someone around me who is supposed to be helping me might take these hurts. If anyone should happen to find these binders of songs, do as they see fit. There is a reward for anyone who returns those binders. The binders explain two years of my life and two years is too long to wait, and two words can’t get it straight! Help me find my binders. These people are not allowed to steal our music. It’s your music, my music, and it came from God.
Here are some rather interesting passages from Geoff Boucher's piece in LA Times:
The golden moment for the band was its August night at the Woodstock
Festival in 1969. Sly performed a delirious call-and-response version of
"Higher" and listened to the crowd of 400,000 sing his words back to him.
Many say that set changed the course of music, melding rock with R&B in a
liberating way.
"Everybody I saw was full of peace, it was a spirit there that was just
peaceful and cool," Stone said. "The thing I really remember is I went to
whatever was the main street there and I got a bologna sandwich. And it was
so hot. And I never open a sandwich to look what's going on, but somehow I
thought that time that I would do that. Because it was hot and I didn't
think bologna sandwiches were hot. And I opened it and there were people
running across the meat. And, I thought, whoa."
When someone says that they found tiny humans on top of their lunch meat,
the next natural question is: You didn't eat the sandwich, did you? "No! Oh,
no, no. I was reluctant to even throw it away. I had to look around for, you
know, to find the right garbage can that I should put it in."
Sly is one of my musical idols, but I don't have high hopes for this tour. May he prove me wrong. (I'll be at Coachella, so if someone sees him over the weekend, let us know how it went.)
Here's Sly on the Dick Cavett Show. How many illicit substances do you think are coursing through his veins here?
My fiancee and I went to the House of Blues for the Sly Stone coming out concert on the 27th of April. The tickets say the event started at 10:30 pm. The doors didn't open for the event until about 10:40pm.
We left the packed house at 12:30am with the enigmatic Sly Stone nowhere in site. It was more of the same diva like behaviour that has been emblematic of Stone's career. There were special seating sections for VIPs in the club whilst the "mob" [us little people] had to mill about like drunken cattle. [The bar was generous]
We don't know if he ever played so I cannot comment about his "comeback" performance yet I think it more than disingenous for Sly Stone to hype his reattempt at musical relevance and to disregard the PAYING public [we were lucky, we got free tix from a friend], some of whom shelled out hard earned cash-ola to watch a hippie loser pull a stunt comparable to Britney Spears. One young man in front of me [probably born in the 1980's when the only "Sly" he grew up with was "Stallone], while the catcalls were filling the air, had that look of grim disappointment that he just blew 50 bucks on a ticket that seemed now like a problematic investment.
Sly Stone will go down in musical history as the arguable master of funk but on the night of his own coming out party, the only "funk" in the vicinity was the stink of condescension from an aging hustler.
Well, Too bad you didn't wait 10 more minutes, because you missed musical history. Yes, I waited 30 years, 2 hours and 10 minutes but the energy that exploded in the house was worth the wait. For the rest of my life, I will never forget the raw energy and sheer mind and body euphoria and religion of the whole House singing the refrain from "Sing a Simple Song". I still have tears in my eyes from the power of that experience. Yeah, part of the show was wack, but I didn't go to see Sly give the performance of a 25 year old wannabe legend, I went to see one of the true musical geniuses of our time show me what I've been missing for 30 years, 2 hours and 10 minutes. He delivered, Sly is always going to be oh so Sly, it totally rocked and those that stayed and cheered and sang and partied are truly enriched.
I went to the April 26, 2008 Sly & The Family Stone show at the House of Blues on Sunset. I was totally disappointed, and this is coming from a huge Sly fan.
Showtime was supposed to be at 11pm but Sly kept the fans waiting for nearly 2 hours before showing his face at nearly 1am!!! His band was forced to wait also. We were dining at the club's restaurant at about 9:30pm and we could here the band warming up, so it definitely wasn't the bands' fault.
The crowd became angry and started to boo. Apparently, as the mob grew angrier, this prompted Sly to take the stage at nearly 1am!
When Sly finally appeared, he creeped from behind the curtains and he looked completely bizarre. He was hunched over and his face was mostly hidden behind some large shades. He sported a huge permed black mohawk while wearing a black satin head band. He looked frail and fragile, but he wore a Cheshire Cat grin throughout the night. A Twilight Zone moment if I ever saw one.
Sly then began to give excuses on why he was late by blaming the venue. The crowd booed some more. Then Sly informed the packed house that he had to pee before he started his set, said he'd be back, and disappeared for about another 5 minutes or so before finally playing his hits.
The rest of the night (or should I say morning) consisted of a Greatest Hits set of the Family Stone's best known songs. The band was good, and basically carried Sly for the entire performance. Sly would sing a portion of the songs and then would simply sit back and watch the band as though he was an audience member.
Giving credit where credit is due, the band was mostly tight and played all of Sly's best tunes note for note. The female keyboardist was particularly good. There was a second keyboardist as well that carried Sly's weak performance. Then there was a young cat in a white baseball cap that handled most of the vocals, carrying Sly in the vocal department.
Sly left the stage several times during the performance, always promising to return. The last time he left was probably 20 minutes before the show ended. As always, he promised to return before he left the stage. This time, however, he never came back, leaving the band to close the show. No good-byes or thank yous from Sly.
Someone from the band tried to blame the venue for ending the show by telling the audience that they would like ot keep playing but the venue had to close. Oh yeah? Well why didn't Sly think of that when he made everyone wait for 2 hours past showtime?
Sensing the crowd's disappointment, perhaps, the House of Blues, to their credit, passed out $30 itunes gift cards . . . to calm dissention no doubt.
In short, it was a tribute band perfomance (albeit a good one) with a propped up Sly Stone there to sell tickets. Huge disappointment.
It seems that poster "Larry" doesn't get out much if he thinks that what he saw was "musical history." While Sly Stone is definitley a legend who's musical contribution to the world is undeniable, that in no way gives him a pass to rip people off by merely showing up, 2 hours late at that, and letting his band do all the work.
Anyone thinking about paying to see Sly in his upcoming dates better think again. Save your money and buy a Sly & The Family Stone's Greatest Hits cd. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Thanks for the detailed review, Bummed. Sounds like my worst-case-scenario expectations transpired.
Obviously, Sly needs help, but maybe he's too stubborn to seek/accept it. It's tragic how one of the most gifted entertainers in music history has fallen so far. But if he's still pulling this shit at age 65, one wonders if he'll EVER be able to turn it around.
Well "Bummed":
I get out a lot, saw Kenny garrett 3 weeks ago, going to Jazzfest in NOLA to see Stevie et al, The Police in 3 weeks(was at Dodger Stadium in July) and saw Rage in LV last Oct. I get out a lot. My expectations of the show was to see a 65yo living legend and his body of music, I knew what to expect beforehand, that Sly was going to be bizarre and probably not play and sing that much. Hell, I kind of don't want to see 65yo Sly try to lead a band for 2 hours. If you saw any of the Police shows, you probably didn't like those either. You can't compare today to 30+ years ago, and you can't expect much out of a 65yo obviously fragile and somewhat mentally deranged Sly. I saw Larry Graham 10 years ago at the HOB and he rocked, but I preferred to see Sly even with all his shortcomings, after all, it is from his mind that such incredible music springs forth. You need to appreciate what it means to just be in the presence of greatness and appreciate the moment and the man. Oh yeah, when I get my tickets to Zepplin, I'm not expecting them to rock like they're 25yo again. PS If you didn't rock to any of the set especially Stand, Sing a Simple Song, Everyday People etc, life must be passing you by!!
Oh and one other thing, I'd give $50 to sit and listen to Sly rant and rave for 30 minutes, let alone watch him on stage, so I definitely didn't get ripped off like you.
Larry, my apologies. I can't argue with you, nor would I like to. As long as you enjoyed the show, it doesn't matter what I or anyone else thinks. More power to you brother.
Sure, some of the songs got me going (I did give the band props), but I was going on Sly's promise to his fans that I read about in the L.A. Times piece the week before. I don't know if your read it, but the Slyster was apologizing to his fans for his past indiscretions. He promised us all something special this time around. As a result of his mea culpa, I was expecting and hoping for "musical history." Instead, in my opinion, we got what Sly has been known for: being a spaced-out musical giant who has little regard for his fans. In that sense, we witnessed classic Sly. As they say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
You seem like my kind of guy Larry, Your a passionate music lover, and I appreciate that.
Hey Bummed,
You rock! It takes a real human being to give up a reply like that, thanks I appreciate it. Last weekend flew out to NOLA on dee plane with the Wonder Man himself - purely by happenstance, then in 3 days saw: Stevie, Buddy Guy at HOB NOLA, Spearhead at the house of worship _ Tipitina's, Santana, The Roots, Steel Pulse, Irma Thomas, The Radiator's, the hallowed Gospel Tent, and numerous street musicians. second lines,buskers and drunks. If you get this, thanks and keep on listnin'!! Peace!!
April 27, 2008 21:55
My fiancee and I went to the House of Blues for the Sly Stone coming out concert on the 27th of April. The tickets say the event started at 10:30 pm. The doors didn't open for the event until about 10:40pm.
We left the packed house at 12:30am with the enigmatic Sly Stone nowhere in site. It was more of the same diva like behaviour that has been emblematic of Stone's career. There were special seating sections for VIPs in the club whilst the "mob" [us little people] had to mill about like drunken cattle. [The bar was generous]
We don't know if he ever played so I cannot comment about his "comeback" performance yet I think it more than disingenous for Sly Stone to hype his reattempt at musical relevance and to disregard the PAYING public [we were lucky, we got free tix from a friend], some of whom shelled out hard earned cash-ola to watch a hippie loser pull a stunt comparable to Britney Spears. One young man in front of me [probably born in the 1980's when the only "Sly" he grew up with was "Stallone], while the catcalls were filling the air, had that look of grim disappointment that he just blew 50 bucks on a ticket that seemed now like a problematic investment.
Sly Stone will go down in musical history as the arguable master of funk but on the night of his own coming out party, the only "funk" in the vicinity was the stink of condescension from an aging hustler.
April 27, 2008 22:15
A minor correction to my last post...my fiancee and I were at the Saturday, 26th April Sly Stone concert.
April 28, 2008 23:37
Well, Too bad you didn't wait 10 more minutes, because you missed musical history. Yes, I waited 30 years, 2 hours and 10 minutes but the energy that exploded in the house was worth the wait. For the rest of my life, I will never forget the raw energy and sheer mind and body euphoria and religion of the whole House singing the refrain from "Sing a Simple Song". I still have tears in my eyes from the power of that experience. Yeah, part of the show was wack, but I didn't go to see Sly give the performance of a 25 year old wannabe legend, I went to see one of the true musical geniuses of our time show me what I've been missing for 30 years, 2 hours and 10 minutes. He delivered, Sly is always going to be oh so Sly, it totally rocked and those that stayed and cheered and sang and partied are truly enriched.
April 29, 2008 12:50
I went to the April 26, 2008 Sly & The Family Stone show at the House of Blues on Sunset. I was totally disappointed, and this is coming from a huge Sly fan.
Showtime was supposed to be at 11pm but Sly kept the fans waiting for nearly 2 hours before showing his face at nearly 1am!!! His band was forced to wait also. We were dining at the club's restaurant at about 9:30pm and we could here the band warming up, so it definitely wasn't the bands' fault.
The crowd became angry and started to boo. Apparently, as the mob grew angrier, this prompted Sly to take the stage at nearly 1am!
When Sly finally appeared, he creeped from behind the curtains and he looked completely bizarre. He was hunched over and his face was mostly hidden behind some large shades. He sported a huge permed black mohawk while wearing a black satin head band. He looked frail and fragile, but he wore a Cheshire Cat grin throughout the night. A Twilight Zone moment if I ever saw one.
Sly then began to give excuses on why he was late by blaming the venue. The crowd booed some more. Then Sly informed the packed house that he had to pee before he started his set, said he'd be back, and disappeared for about another 5 minutes or so before finally playing his hits.
The rest of the night (or should I say morning) consisted of a Greatest Hits set of the Family Stone's best known songs. The band was good, and basically carried Sly for the entire performance. Sly would sing a portion of the songs and then would simply sit back and watch the band as though he was an audience member.
Giving credit where credit is due, the band was mostly tight and played all of Sly's best tunes note for note. The female keyboardist was particularly good. There was a second keyboardist as well that carried Sly's weak performance. Then there was a young cat in a white baseball cap that handled most of the vocals, carrying Sly in the vocal department.
Sly left the stage several times during the performance, always promising to return. The last time he left was probably 20 minutes before the show ended. As always, he promised to return before he left the stage. This time, however, he never came back, leaving the band to close the show. No good-byes or thank yous from Sly.
Someone from the band tried to blame the venue for ending the show by telling the audience that they would like ot keep playing but the venue had to close. Oh yeah? Well why didn't Sly think of that when he made everyone wait for 2 hours past showtime?
Sensing the crowd's disappointment, perhaps, the House of Blues, to their credit, passed out $30 itunes gift cards . . . to calm dissention no doubt.
In short, it was a tribute band perfomance (albeit a good one) with a propped up Sly Stone there to sell tickets. Huge disappointment.
It seems that poster "Larry" doesn't get out much if he thinks that what he saw was "musical history." While Sly Stone is definitley a legend who's musical contribution to the world is undeniable, that in no way gives him a pass to rip people off by merely showing up, 2 hours late at that, and letting his band do all the work.
Anyone thinking about paying to see Sly in his upcoming dates better think again. Save your money and buy a Sly & The Family Stone's Greatest Hits cd. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
April 29, 2008 13:02
Thanks for the detailed review, Bummed. Sounds like my worst-case-scenario expectations transpired.
Obviously, Sly needs help, but maybe he's too stubborn to seek/accept it. It's tragic how one of the most gifted entertainers in music history has fallen so far. But if he's still pulling this shit at age 65, one wonders if he'll EVER be able to turn it around.
April 29, 2008 21:19
Well "Bummed":
I get out a lot, saw Kenny garrett 3 weeks ago, going to Jazzfest in NOLA to see Stevie et al, The Police in 3 weeks(was at Dodger Stadium in July) and saw Rage in LV last Oct. I get out a lot. My expectations of the show was to see a 65yo living legend and his body of music, I knew what to expect beforehand, that Sly was going to be bizarre and probably not play and sing that much. Hell, I kind of don't want to see 65yo Sly try to lead a band for 2 hours. If you saw any of the Police shows, you probably didn't like those either. You can't compare today to 30+ years ago, and you can't expect much out of a 65yo obviously fragile and somewhat mentally deranged Sly. I saw Larry Graham 10 years ago at the HOB and he rocked, but I preferred to see Sly even with all his shortcomings, after all, it is from his mind that such incredible music springs forth. You need to appreciate what it means to just be in the presence of greatness and appreciate the moment and the man. Oh yeah, when I get my tickets to Zepplin, I'm not expecting them to rock like they're 25yo again. PS If you didn't rock to any of the set especially Stand, Sing a Simple Song, Everyday People etc, life must be passing you by!!
April 29, 2008 21:23
Oh and one other thing, I'd give $50 to sit and listen to Sly rant and rave for 30 minutes, let alone watch him on stage, so I definitely didn't get ripped off like you.
April 30, 2008 18:20
Larry, my apologies. I can't argue with you, nor would I like to. As long as you enjoyed the show, it doesn't matter what I or anyone else thinks. More power to you brother.
Sure, some of the songs got me going (I did give the band props), but I was going on Sly's promise to his fans that I read about in the L.A. Times piece the week before. I don't know if your read it, but the Slyster was apologizing to his fans for his past indiscretions. He promised us all something special this time around. As a result of his mea culpa, I was expecting and hoping for "musical history." Instead, in my opinion, we got what Sly has been known for: being a spaced-out musical giant who has little regard for his fans. In that sense, we witnessed classic Sly. As they say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
You seem like my kind of guy Larry, Your a passionate music lover, and I appreciate that.
Too bad Sly doesn't.
Peace & Keep on Rockin' Larry!
May 13, 2008 00:26
Hey Bummed,
You rock! It takes a real human being to give up a reply like that, thanks I appreciate it. Last weekend flew out to NOLA on dee plane with the Wonder Man himself - purely by happenstance, then in 3 days saw: Stevie, Buddy Guy at HOB NOLA, Spearhead at the house of worship _ Tipitina's, Santana, The Roots, Steel Pulse, Irma Thomas, The Radiator's, the hallowed Gospel Tent, and numerous street musicians. second lines,buskers and drunks. If you get this, thanks and keep on listnin'!! Peace!!