I found the following quote about Sly Stone's thought process from 1971's There's A Riot Goin On and its reception by the "mainstream" listening audience. The statement sums up what many on this site have misunderstood about Prince's current outlook on life and society (after many misunderstood the message of TRC). I honestly believe this is why Prince chose to write the verses in The Everlasting Now about himself and Sly Stone. I do not know who wrote the statement, however I agree with it wholeheartedly. There are other interesting quotes about Sly at the same link where I found this .. http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/sly.htm


I believe that not only did Sly preach a message of unity, but that he also believed it it himself!! He had to wonder why his fans didn't seem to understand that just because he also needed to talk about the Black experience was, and how it impacted him, that it didn't mean that he had changed his message. He had only expanded upon it. You see, Sly knew what all of us know and that is you have to first "know thy self", before you can reach out to others.

From some of the interviews I've seen of him back in the day, I'd be surprised if Sly knew his own name. Still, when he played live on those same shows, he always managed to pull it together.