Call it Rick James' final impression. A massive two ton jet-black tombstone, bearing an image of the funk legend clad in tight pants, jacket and clutching a guitar, was erected Sunday at his grave site in Buffalo, NY. The grand unveiling marked the second anniversary of James' death.


The etching comes from a photo taken for his 1981 hit album "Street Songs," which included "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak." The album sold three million copies and propelled him to superstar status.

Under his portrait are lyrics to an unreleased song:
"I'VE HAD IT ALL
I'VE DONE IT ALL
I'VE SEEN IT ALL
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE . . .
GOD IS LOVE."

banks said:

Damn... time is flying... i didn't realize it's been 2 yrs already

Nice tombstone, if there is such a thing.

That etching is awesome!

CinisterCee said:

wonder if prince will copy it?

Marrk said:

on his tombstone, lol Marrk you're morbid

CinisterCee said:

that really wasn't my aim.

I'm afraid Prince's tombstone will be in the shape of

Marrk said:

i was thinking the same thing

CinisterCee said:

yeah that etching is crazy

Now watch some crazy vandal, high on come along and deface it by scratching, "I'm Rick James, Bitch"

Adisa said:

i know, right?

Adisa said:

Damn... i hope not.... but i can see it happening

banks said:

That's not a guitar. That's a Rickenbacker bass.
[Edited 10/12/06 13:18pm]

I miss rick james.

FuNkeNsteiN said:

I was just about 2 say that...

Who was the Bass player on those classic cuts anyway? I don't remember. I wasn't Rick.

Peace.

Giovanni777 said:

Oscar Alston

funkpill said:

...and there we go... Thanks.
I'm not trying 2 take anything away from ole Rick, but I bet more than half the muggs here didn't even know that Rick wasn't playing the Bass on record.

banks said:

Nice Headstone. I thought there would be some Mary Jane references on it though

I thought he spent all his $$ on drugs?

CinisterCee said:

Beautiful gravesite. It's fitting of Rick. That was always my fave picture of him. The alternate cover of the Street Songs album.

Nice tombstone and nice picture. I'm just glad they didn't use the picture on the inside sleeve of the album of Rick smoking a joint.

Giovanni777 said:

Damn; really?

what about superfreak?

vainandy said:

why?

mikek1 said:

Rick came up with the song and the famous riff, but he wasn't entirely happy with and wanted to change it a bit. Alston had the other guys play their parts and instead of playing D-C-B-A-B-G-B-A, he played D-C-B-A-C-F-C-A, outlining Am-F-Am instead of Am-G-Am. Rick was pleased with the results and promised to give them co-writing credit. Unfortunately, that never happened. Rick didn't want to have to say his music was written by someone else than him

mikek1 said:

Oscar also..


He pretty much played on all of his motown stuff.

funkpill said:

Adisa said:

...or "Charlie Murphyyyyy!"

uPtoWnNY said:

if that's a white women; he will haunt her ass and beat her on some poltergeist shit