I read somewhere that in 1995, he was given a contract from Avenue Records to record a modern record, but it never happened. Then, he continued his addiction and he was found living in a shelthered-ousing complex. I last saw him on the 1993 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, he looked like a monster. So do you think he is dead?

I seriously doubt it. I just think he's gone off the deep end. If he actually were dead, then it would've gone public by now.

NWF said:

NWF let me say somethin', Sly Stone's drug problem has been on it's highs ever since 1970. If he were dead, no one would know because today no one cares. I'm mad at him because he has made some bad choices, and hey who could forget that stunt he played in 1983, when he was in an electronics store, shooting a cap (fake) gun and probably robbing it. Yeah he went 2 jail for that. But anyway, his music is timeless, I can't stop listening to There's A Riot Going On.

I tend to focus on the music and wish the guy well wherever he may be.

If Sly has passed-well, the funk lives on.

silverchild said:

Well, yeah, he may have had some problems involving drugs, but yiou can't just come to a conclusion that he's just dead. Because you don't hear from him anymore doesn't necessarily mean he's gone. They're probably saying the same thing about J.D. Salinger.

So if Sly was gone, the world would definitely know about it.

NWF said:

You don't understand, Sly has been untouchable since '94, not really a long time, but it's strange.

silverchild said:

No, I do get you. All's I'm saying is that if Sly's gone, it would've made the news already.

NWF said:

Unless he's somehow become a hobo in hiding unaware of his name, he'd make the papers-and at the very least be all over the net.

For the influence on Prince alone the man would be more than noteworthy for the press.

NWF said:

Ok, you have a point about that and take back what I said about no one knowing if he was dead. Yeah, you're right, if he was dead it would've made the news, but how many people would care? I'm not a big Sly Stone fan, but yeah I would feel kinda upset and also fans probably like you would feel the same way.

subhuman09 said:

In between, Sly Stone is an underated and/or overrated funk artist. Just like Rick James' death and Barry White's death, people wouldn't give him so much, overblown credit for what he did for music. I think that's sick, but that is what the press would do.

silverchild said:

Isn't it all about the spin they can put on it?

You mention a man's influence and success but just happen to focus on his downfall-it's what sells papers and gets hits on a website.

People are morbidly fascinated with celebrity death-it's how it is. We build up the people we admire and mostly love to watch them fail however we might not admit it.

That's how celebrity works-whether someone is still in the public eye or a has-been.

With Sly I think it'd be big about the after if he has somehow dropped off the focus and passed while we weren't aware. In these times, there's no chance that someone escapes mention with the internet and millions of amateur reporters dying to be the one that spreads the news.

I sadly think Sly might be more of a footnote than he should be in the eyes and pens of the press-personally I think he's incredible and I see how his impact has still been maintained through artists he influenced. I tend to think that if you influence an artist that next artist is not only passing down their influence but the influence from who inspired them.

I hope he'd get the respect he deserves, but I think unless you're a Ray Charles your obituary is always a little bit more likely to show the darker times than focus on the light.

subhuman09 said:

Take VH1 or even MTV for instance, if Sly died, MTV wouldn't even recognize him or the band. But VH1 on the other hand, would show him on some of the specials he was on during his prime like his imfamous appearance on the Midnight Special or even his 1974 wedding at the Madison Square Garden. Sly never made a music video in his career and I think MTV focuses mainly on the artists that made it in the 1980's like Rick James...

silverchild said:

Actually, there were promo videos for "Everday People" and "Dance To The Music". I think.

silverchild said:

Exactly-it's all about who panders to MTV more or less.

Whoever makes a video that gets the viewers gets the airtime and tribute.

The strangest thing to me is for Viacom (who owns both MTV and VH1 of course) to have such different operating styles for both the stations. I know one's more adult contemporary than the other, but VH1 I think at least tries to go beyond what's forcefed to the general public.

VH1 used to play the Midnight Specials all the time (they might still) so I can see them doing a Behind the Music or at least some sort of tribute, but MTV would go-"Kids that buy CDs won't know him, unless we have Prince on there who's gonna watch?" so they file him under the obscurity file.

I've liked VH1 better for years (and the spin-offs of it) and wish it didn't make MTV look so bland and sterile in how it always seems to recycle the same playlist and pander so much to the explicitly pop music/rap that sells crowd.

I think VH1 still shows potential in how they handle things to prove to people how diluted MTV has really become-I remember when they actually played videos, which is a common complaint but for kids that grew up with this-beyond their parents or older friends having an album or two of somebody like Sly or Prince or something beyond their usual music that they've heard rehashed on radio and MTV what happens then?

I guess as I get older I see more and more reasons why I think individual sites like this and other internet music sites are the best way to keep the memories of the artists our parents and our favorite artists were into alive.

NWF said:

On this website, www.slystonemusic.com I found this 1972 promo video, for the album, There's A Riot Going On and the song, family affair. Check it out under pix and vids! and you should see "It's A Family Affair". Very interesting.
[Edited 10/10/04 2:28am]

I seem to remember on one of his album covers Sly holding his kid.
His child must be an adult by now.
Anyone hear Sly's collaboration with Funkadelic, 'funk gets stronger part 2'?
Wicked track.
Bootsy Collins says that Sly is the most musically gifted musician he has EVER worked with.

No....Sly is doing fine.

I have a buddy that knows him very well. He is not in the music scene and wants no part of it. He had a really bad drug problem and he's doing fine out of the public eye.

So are the old cds going to be remastered? Thats my question. I've been holding back buying them.

Thumparello said:

Is that all you can give us? Personally I would like to see such a major talent like Sly at least try and make some more music and perhaps return to form if possible. I mean even James Brown's still making music as far as I know.

Thumparello said:

You said it before I could!

Nice to know he is doing ok.

Long live Sly Stone!!!
He's the master!!
/peace Manki

jacktheimprovident said:

You know what would be REALLY cool would be if Prince and Sly Stone would record some songs together. With those two musical genuises working together, I'll bet they could come up with some real slammin' jams.

Glad to hear that Sly is doing okay, especially since, as other people have said on this thread, we don't hear about him anymore. I've always loved Sly's music, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is my favorite.