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View Full Version : Musician Sly Stone homeless, living in a van...



Diamondjimi
09-27-2011, 03:40 AM
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/AXsXng0dDs8uwrHngwWWIQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDE7cT04NTt3PTQ1MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2011-09-26T223742Z_01_BTRE78P1QUX00_RTROPTP_2_PEOPLE-US-SLYSTONE.JPG

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - If Sly Stone ever decides to take his show on the road and tour again, at least he won't have to walk far to the van.

The Sly & the Family Stone frontman, known for such hits in the late '60s and early '70s as "Dance to the Music," "Everyday People" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," is currently homeless, and living in a van in Los Angeles' rough-and-tumble Crenshaw district, according to a report co-written by Stone documentarian William Alkema for the New York Post.

According to the article, as little as four years ago, the 68-year-old musician -- born Sylvester Stewart -- lived in a lavish Napa Valley home complete with a vineyard, and had several cars. But in recent years, a drug habit (Stone has been arrested multiple times for cocaine possession) and fiscal difficulties (last year he sued his former manager, Jerry Goldstein, for $50 million, claiming that Goldstein had defrauded him) led Stone into his current situation. Not that he appears to mind.

"I like my small camper," Stone tells the Post. "I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving."

And despite it all, he's still recording music, on a laptop computer in his van -- and with reportedly hundreds of songs currently in the can, the musician is hoping that today's hit-makers will reach out and help him stage a comeback.

"I see all the guys playing those old songs," Stone says. "Let these guys know, like Lady Gaga, let me come in, just let me come in and pay me if you like it."

It might be a while before Stone gets another crack at the stage. His live performances have been exceedingly rare over the past two decades, and when he has taken the stage, the results have tended toward the shambolic -- such as his brief, bizarre appearance at last year's Coachella Music and Arts Festival.


LINK (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photos/funk-music-pioneer-sly-stone-performs-during-concert-photo-223742096.html)

Diamondjimi
09-27-2011, 03:45 AM
Haha, beat y'all to it! :biggrin:

Shaun Ponsonby
09-27-2011, 08:55 AM
Man, I wish he'd sort himself out. At his best he was fucking amazing.

Mr. Vengeance
09-27-2011, 11:28 AM
Take the albums Stand, There's a Riot Goin' On and Fresh and right there the guy should be still getting major airplay on radio.

Meanwhile the shitty, autotune generation listens to Lady Gaga. I'd say they should read up about Sly, but they can't read.

hambon4lif
09-27-2011, 11:46 AM
There's got to be more to this. I refuse to believe there's a community on this entire planet that would let a soul trailblazer like Sly live on the fucking street.

chefcraig
09-27-2011, 12:01 PM
There's got to be more to this. I refuse to believe there's a community on this entire planet that would let a soul trailblazer like Sly live on the fucking street.

It doesn't add up. Just last month ago he put out an album with appearances by Jeff Beck, Bootsy Collins, Carmine Appice, Ray Manzarek, Ann Wilson, ect. and now he's living in a van down by the river?
http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-confused-smileys-718.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/facebook-smileys.html)

I'm Back Family & Friends (http://www.amazon.com/Back-Family-Friends-Sly-Stone/dp/B0057JWWFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1313442838&sr=1-1)

Guitar Shark
09-27-2011, 12:15 PM
That must be one hell of a coke habit.

Shaun Ponsonby
09-27-2011, 12:33 PM
It doesn't add up. Just last month ago he put out an album with appearances by Jeff Beck, Bootsy Collins, Carmine Appice, Ray Manzarek, Ann Wilson, ect. and now he's living in a van down by the river?
http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-confused-smileys-718.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/facebook-smileys.html)



I think the key bit is this bit...



"I like my small camper," Stone tells the Post. "I just do not want to return to a fixed home. I cannot stand being in one place. I must keep moving."


I read the story from another source initially that specified it wasn't for financial purposes, he just likes living that way.

hambon4lif
09-27-2011, 12:55 PM

VHscraps
09-27-2011, 03:03 PM
He could open on the next VH tour. Sure Dave was a fan, and would approve, and Sly could keep Ed entertained backstage - not with narcs, but taunts: 'you say you got 12 unreleased albums in the can!? Pffff. I got twenty more, boy'.