In the intergalactic continuum of funk, the name best known by earth people and aliens alike is the Atomic Dog and Mothership Captain himself, George Clinton. Born in North Carolina and raised in Plainfield, NJ, Clinton chose music as his language to communicate a message of love, respect and dance-floor artistry to earthlings the world round. His extraterrestrial brew of rock, soul, Motown and doo-wop made for a potent funk brew that became the recipe for two beloved 70′s groups – Funkadelic and Parliament – both of which he helmed, and populated with musicians who would themselves become some of the brightest stars in the 70′s and 80′s, including Maceo Parker and Bootsy Collins.
Clinton’s own star blazed ever more brightly through the 80′s, when hits such as Loopzilla and Atomic Dog shook dance floors in all quadrants of the known universe. An entire generation of rappers grew up with his music, and in turn, made his beats and grooves the DNA of Hip Hop. But bad business deals hounded Clinton from the outset, and with finances further diminished by a proclivity for mind altering chemicals, his earthly empire crumbled, leaving him all but destitute today. On this exclusive episode of Unsung, George Clinton reveals the story of his long strange ride.
- TVOne
While “Unsung” dealt briefly with Clinton’s legal battles, it failed to mention Clinton’s victory in regaining control and ownership of 4 Funkadelic albums, which include “One Nation Under A Groove” and “(not just) Knee Deep.” Also, Clinton recently prevailed via settlement with Capitol/ EMI and won an appellate ruling in his battle against music giant Universal Music Group.
Additionally, ‘UNSUNG’ failed to mention the positive things Clinton is doing like:
Donating 25% of the Funkadelic catalog and $10K on behalf of the band to the Barack Obama Green Charter High School in Plainfield, New Jersey this school year.
Donating 10% of the catalog to 2 local Plainfield, New Jersey churches and 1 temple.
Clinton’s on going support for education through his Mother’s Hip Connection Education Foundation.
Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic still tour regularly in high demand and love to be near their fans.
Clinton hoped that more would have been said about the other members – past and present – who have contributed to the success of Parliament – Funkadelic and inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“I do this for my band, no one is greater than the other, not even me,” Clinton states.
“If it wasn’t for band mates like William ‘Bootsy’ Collins, Eddie Hazel, Bernie Worrell, Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison, Garry ‘Starchild’ Shider, Michael ‘Kidd Funkadelic’ Hampton, Dewayne ‘Blackbyrd’ McKnight, Glen Goins, Jerome ‘Bigfoot’ Brailey, Ramon ‘Tiki’ Fulwood, ‘Billy Bass’ Nelson, Cordell ‘Boogie’ Mosson, Phelps ‘Catfish’ Collins, Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins, Ray ‘Stingray’ Davis, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas, and a host of other wonderful musicians who lent their time and talent, I could have never created this style of music without them,” says George.
Clinton is committed to passionately seeking justice through the courts, not only for himself but for band members like the late Garry Shider who recently died and, like Clinton, lost his music catalog to Clinton’s opposition.
“That’s why I fight, for my band, it’s only right” says, Clinton.
File under Blast From The Past, Blaxploitation, Culture, Fashion, Fuck Art Let's Fuck, Influences, Massive Consumption of Drugs, Music, SeMeN SPeRmS Approved, SeMeN SPeRmS BLArRrG, SeMeN SPeRmS ViDeO CLuB
Conjured by o~ SeMeN SPeRmS ~o on February 12, 2012
