Thank You - A Memoir - Sly Stone

 

Of course, I've been a huge fan of Sly and the Family Stone's brand of funk'n'roll since they started having hits back in the 60's. Their cuts sounded especially good over the PA at the local swimming pool in the summertime (hot fun!). Of course, seeing the band in the Woodstock movie clinched it - they were an amazing live act - wish I could have seen them in person, but I never got the chance.

Here, Sly (Sylvester Stewart) tells his tale with the help of Ben Greenman - it reads as if Sly is talking - with his hip, jive talkin' manner - and Ben simply organized everything, which is a fine way of doing it, actually. There is some of the usual familial background, but not overdoing it and Sly grows up surrounded by music and learns from his family as well as some theory in school. As with most musically inclined teenagers, he started his own bands and always kept a lookout for local talent and kept the interesting peeps in mind for the future. After a stint as a DJ (helping to hone his persona, lyrics and on-stage raps), a record producer (the Beau Brummels were a huge hit of his, as well as others who would only later became stars), and a recording artist in his own right (nothing came of it), he put together what would become the Family Stone.

After a bit of a slow start, the hits started coming fast'n'furious, and the band's schedule then sped up, as well, which caused a need for speed within the group - and Sly was not one to turn down a bit of mood enhancers. While the party seemed to get pretty crazy pretty quickly, Sly and the band was also able to keep the hits flowing - for a while. He admits to missing gigs and running late a lot but does try to make excuses, although they are not very convincing, especially as he talks about how big a part the drugs are playing by this point. 

The story starts to get a bit depressing here - the drugs, the excuses, the more-than-erratic behavior, the missed gigs, the lack of respect for others, the incoherent interviews. But, at the same time, Sly was in a happy relationship, expecting a child and planning a wedding at Madison Square Garden! It's a mixed bag for sure, and you can't argue with tunes like "Family Affair" (although There's a Riot Going On is a bit meandering) and "If You Want Me To Stay", but everything was becoming a bit wobbly, to say the least.

The post-stardom portion of the book is, unfortunately, the longest, as he goes into lots of trials, taxes, repossessions, violence, and more - and, of course, drugs'n'drugs'n'drugs. He had chances to get clean, but didn't have the desire and continually f'k'd up his own life. But he kept trying to work and he does mention doing some recording at the same studio that I was working at at this time - Silvery Moon with our pal, Gary Stern - which, unfortunately, he was busted at. He also mentions shows set up at the Las Palmas Theater in Hollywood - a place that I had played - that I considered going to, but, again, he was busted after one half-assed gig.

He continually received breaks'n'funds'n'chances galore - far more than he probably deserved at this point - and would be put up in apartments and given allowances but would just flush it all down the tube with drugs. He was not loyal to women in any way, shape or form, and it seems that he still does not believe that his disrespect was a problem in any way. He does not do himself any favors in his telling, in fact, he comes off as quite the ass, from personal relationships to disrespecting fans and promoters (and even his own band) who took chances on him (his story about "playing" Coachella is cringe-worthy).

Glad to have read it and good to hear the man's own point of view on how things went down and how he's survived, but it is not a fun story, unfortunately. But, the music that he made is still a treat!