Sly Stone Is Broke And Living In A Van
Somewhere in the Crenshaw section of Los Angeles is a parked white van stocked to the top with technicolor wigs that have seen sparklier (in sad times like these, it is okay to make up words) days and dusty coats that look like they were cut from a Fraggle's ass. The white van belongs to the legendary Sly Stone whose license plate is his official home address, because he smoked up most of his money and lost the rest to shady vultures. It is a tragic day in society when pieces of trash like Lindsay Lohan are sitting front row at fashion shows and icons like Sly Stone have to shit in a plastic red cup behind an alleyway dumpster. Although, LiLo probably regularly shits in plastic red cups behind alleyway dumpsters, but that isn't the point!
The New York Post tracked 68-year-old Sly down and interviewed him about how he went from living in mansions to sleeping in a camper parked outside of a house in Crenshaw. Just a few years ago, Sly was living in a rented house in the Napa Valley, but his life turned down Matt Foley Way when he says the royalty checks stopped coming in the mail after his manager tricked him into signing over control of all of his finances. Sly sued his manager for $50 million but that lawsuit hasn't gone anywhere yet. Sly doesn't own any of the music publishing rights to his own songs because he sold that shit to Michael Jackson for a measly $1 million in 1984. Sly also blames his addiction to the bad shit for why he's broke and homeless.
But just because Sly is down and out in Crenshaw doesn't mean he's wishing he could go back to the days of mortgage payments and pissing in his own toilet. Sly says that he doesn't want to be tied down and his soul is happiest when he's traveling around. Sly made friends with a couple in Crenshaw who lets them shower in their house. Their son also drives Sly around L.A. and works as his assistant.
Sly still makes music on his laptop and hopes that a bitch will give him a job soon, “But now please tell everybody, please, to give me a job, play my music. I’m tired of all this shit, man.”
And the hobo paranoias have hit Sly, because he believes the FBI is following him and his rivals are trying to murder him. Lord. As soon as a ho becomes homeless, their brain automatically unlocks the "FBI IS TRYING TO KILL MY LIFE" thought. It's not right.
Yes, I know Sly's mind is off smoking star dust on one of Saturn's rings, but it's a shame that it's come to this. Can't the producers of Dancing with the Stars replace that useless Kardashian with Sly Stone? Can't we excommunicate Ke$hit from society and give her tour dates to Sly Stone? Can't we send Sly up to Canada so he can join The Quaids' Anti-Star Whackers Gang and they can fight the crazy fight together? One of those things needs to happen. Because how can any of us take it higher while listening to Sly's old songs when he's sleeping on a pile of his old wigs in the back of a van?
Sly's been a drug casulty for years. He may have all ready burned his bridges witht his family for all we know. Didn't Prince at one time try to help him?
A nursing home would be better, but plenty of those places would exploit him just as badly as the Hood.
I hope the Crips and Bloods watch his back. He deserves respect.
Just say no to crack!
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Sly is actually incoherent. He's not capable of explaining what this suit is about. He's offered to settle it in exchange for a new motorhome--not kidding.
Sly is broke and living in a van?
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Well shit, welcome to Obama's America, mofo.
This is truly horrible and really resignating with me today, I feel for him in my chest, someone so talented like he was and they fucked him royally out of his royalties...Im so sad for Sly, he was one of my faves as a kid, he will always be in the classics category :( :(
This is just so damn sad. Sly is such a great artist, his greatest hits collection is just pure joy and defines part of my life because I listened to his music and eagerly awaited each new release. It is just hard for me to believe that he has no relatives or friends or fans to give him more help and a decent place to live. Heartbreaking to think of someone so talented winding up in poverty living on the streets and sleeping in a van. Sad. Sad. Sad.
i just remember back in the day was sly was such a big star that he wouldn't show up to some of his shows...
so many artists get ripped off by the unsavories because these artists don't know the business side...
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"The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it." --
Roseanne Barr
Submitted by Vern on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 10:14pm.
"I am the first person to rage for personal responsibility, BUT! Even I know some people aren't capable of it (before adding drugs to the equation) It makes me sad to see so much "blame the victim" shit."
I agree. Talent and luck get a lot of people fame and fortune, but it takes strength and discipline to keep your life on track and hang on to it. This is sad indeed, and people like Sly don't deserve nastiness - what's the point? Do you same people spit on the homeless as you pass them? Most of them also had a home and money at one point.
sly has a new cd titled 'i'm back!', released in august of this year, that features guest appearances by Jeff Beck, Bootsy Collins, Ray Manzarek, and Ann Wilson. only a few cuts are original songs.. the others are lame re-hashes of the old hits.. but he must have been paid something for this cd (whether it is selling well or not) so this sadly addled man-in-a-van is not telling us the truth about his situation.
Sly is a good candidate for a nursing home. His mind is gone due to the many years of drug abuse and now has poor decision making abilities. He is old enough to get Medicare and since he has no money Medicaid could help pay his bill also. Plus there are many types of assistants there and they are called Certified Nurses Assistants (CNAs). They could assist him in many ways and make sure he takes a shower on a regular basis. He could also put on free concerts for the other residents. I think it's a great idea anyway you look at it.
*yawn*
[and, by posting 'yawn' I just doubled the 'yawn' factor'.
Sorry.
i don't know as there's a victim here.
but one thing for sure is that buddyboy was rich and if he's busted down in a van, then it sure seems he's pretty accountable for that.
sounds like the not-so sly sly whittled away his money and is crying foul now that he's broke.
... and another thing, it could be worse, he could be living in a miata.
phhhlllt.
*peddles off in a mint '88 yugo*
Submitted by RustyHooligan on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 5:02pm.
With all these suits from the 60s and 70s, the artist was usually blitzed the whole time the manager, record company, or band was supposedly ripping the artist off.
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I can't help but wonder if this is deliberate... ply them with all kinds of drugs so that they are hooked, out of their minds, not thinking clearly, and thus even EASIER to take advantage of and screw over. It can't be a coincidence.
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WORDS MEAN NOTHING, fashion speaks volumes. -MK
I thought that was The Golden Voice, Ted Williams. Where is he, btw?
Broke and living in a van also, maybe?
Michael K thank you for giving props to the people who really deserve them.
Sly lives in a van and does his own thing and I envy him.
Kanye West in a few years.
I'm afraid that Sly might not even show up for his own funeral.
How in the fuckity fuck do you reference a book by Danny Sugarman without mentioning Jim Morrison????????????
I am the first person to rage for personal responsibility, BUT! Even I know some people aren't capable of it (before adding drugs to the equation) It makes me sad to see so much "blame the victim" shit.
*chanting as always*
"I feel the burn it must be Vern" PERKY 2011
Submitted by BitchHouse on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 9:48pm.
I loved the early days of Laurel Canyon--it got weirder and more druggie later.
Thanks for the link.
Submitted by RustyHooligan on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 8:03pm.
Submitted by BitchHouse on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:14pm.
That's true. Most of the Beach Boys' recorded songs from maybe 1964 on were backed by the Wrecking Crew.
By complete random chance, I was at the dermatologist's office in the Valley a few years ago and some old dude started chatting with me as we waited. I wouldn't have recognized him from Adam, but he said he was Hal Blaine and he pulled out a bunch of old newspaper clippings of him drumming. It was mildly surreal.
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wow that's awesome, imagine all the stuff one could ask or let him share, if there was en endless supply of time. Check out that davesweb site from the beginning, the whole Laurel Canyon series, its very interesting!
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Eazy E's own prescription for "nourishing the inner aspect", Nutz On Ya Chin.
Submitted by Evil_Cupcake on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:17pm.
Submitted by BitchHouse on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:11pm.
MJ sure was a cunning cunt of a business man.
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cunning cunt - compliment
cunt polenta - insult
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Eazy E's own prescription for "nourishing the inner aspect", Nutz On Ya Chin.
" Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer"..William S. Burroughs
back in the eighties read danny sugermans bio and he mentioned sly and the family stone and all coke and heroin use going on.of course, sugerman did it as well. great book,if your into the early 70s whole glam rock, stooges, bowie, etc los angeles scene, book by danny sugerman.hes dead now, but really great book. wonderland avenue is the name of the book. good read if your into early 70s tales of a rich kid turned rock scenester turned junkie
I love his old music.. sad. but sounds like he dug his own grave.
Paging Dr. Drew.
Mike -- OMG, I thought the same thing at first. I was like, "it's about time untalented Sylvester Stallone is broke." Unfortunately that's not the case.
I believe in personal responsibility very much, but as someone who's been around musicians for years (And I'm not fucking bragging, trying to make a point from experience), you have to be very strong to stay away from it. Drugs are everywhere, everyone's doing them, and if you're prone to that at all, you have it by the truckload, for free. I can't even count how many times I've had drugs shoved in my face. I like booze, am crazy enough on my own without chemicals, thanks. The good kind of crazy. But it's everywhere.
And some musicians, although talented in the music area, may not be so bright in other areas. But we all have our crosses to bear in this life, so it's up to them ultimately, to look out for themselves. Because like TR said, in the music business, no one really gives a shit about you, they just care about your fame and money. And as a musician, you need to not trust anyone, unless you really know them. Despite this, though, we are all responsible for ourselves, and so is Sly.
Submitted by TelevisedRevolution on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 7:08pm.
one more thang -
There are a lot of musicians who had serious drug problems who aren't in Sly's condition - because they had people looking out for them, instead of people looking to fuck them without lube for a big, lifetime royalty check. Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Elvis (yes, he's dead, but he didn't end up on the street).
DO you think Elvis was a genius who knew how to invest properly? Don't think so. So, let's not act like this is all about the divine justice of Karma. Col. Tom and them made damn sure that Elvis DIDN'T end up in Sly's condition, because no one would have stood for it, not because Elvis himself was any damn genius.
It's different for black musicians, let's say it plain. The music industry has been shanking black musicians particularly viciously for at least the last hundred years. Not entirely without consent, true. But this is how we end up with people like George Clinton and Sly Stone, who contributed more to the history of music than any 20 contemporary idiots you could name, penniless.
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Yes, you and NCLadee, too, agree with your posts!
They need to start a talent show for washed up, drugged out stars - let them compete for a second chance on TV.
I remember seeing this 60 minute special on Elvis right after he died. He was an obese drug addict at the time of his death. I know his fans like to remember him differently - but google pix of him during the end of his career. In that episode they had all these drugs piled high on a table to represent what Elvis had ingested. It was an insane amount of drugs. I also remember his manager has stolen lots of money from him - at the time of his death his estate wasn't worth much.
Priscilla Presley is the one who is credited with bringing back the wealth to the Elvis estate. Folks trashed her because she had given up on him but her daughter stood to inherit his estate so she got a plan together, got that Graceland and other products bearing his name together and brought back the dollars. Fans can thank Priscilla for what Elvis stuff is available today. If it was up to Elvis and his manager his only child would not have had much.
Like most, Elvis spent his fortune in drugs and his manager tried to bleed him dry for the rest. I do remember them suing that man to try and get some of the money back. The only difference to this story is his ex-wife cared about his legacy to their child - she didn't want her daughter to suffer for his lifestyle.
Submitted by BitchHouse on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:14pm.
That's true. Most of the Beach Boys' recorded songs from maybe 1964 on were backed by the Wrecking Crew.
By complete random chance, I was at the dermatologist's office in the Valley a few years ago and some old dude started chatting with me as we waited. I wouldn't have recognized him from Adam, but he said he was Hal Blaine and he pulled out a bunch of old newspaper clippings of him drumming. It was mildly surreal.
Submitted by i_heart_jack on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 7:50pm.
My favorite Sly song was "Everyday People." I hope he can get off the drugs.
That's a great one and Family Affair...which child did he grow up to be!
Rags to riches...some fucked up shit in between to rags again!
My favorite Sly song was "Everyday People." I hope he can get off the drugs.
I was at an AA meeting yesterday with TWO guys who just recently came in off the streets. I'm sick of the celebs wanting to be treated special til the money's gone, then it's oh poor me.
And yeah, we can't really even keep the fucking house warm around here from Nov. to the end of April.
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Oh God ,why don't you go sit under a rainbow and write a poem, Kyle.
This man has made some horrible choices, but yeah- he had fun making them. Unfortunately, this is where he wound up.
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If you like it then you should have put a ring on it
*won't even ponder hooker-ass-coke-snort tonight. N.O.; shudders*
Team Don't cry about shit you spent 30 years fucking aware about.
Sad that the talented bitch is homeless, but get a clue.
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Bugs Bunny 'What's Opera, Doc?"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2VMqQ6XnmI (Beginning portion; there's an ending clip as well)
Dre,Eminem, Skylar- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA770wpLX-Q&ob=av3e
Submitted by Manimal5 on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 7:23pm.
Submitted by christine the hoff on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:49pm.
Well said Christine...and really I can barely afford to DRINK coke off a hookers ass.
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Hahahaha!!
Too long. Didn't bother to read. Ugh. Who cares?
Submitted by christine the hoff on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:49pm.
Well said Christine...and really I can barely afford to DRINK coke off a hookers ass.
one more thang -
There are a lot of musicians who had serious drug problems who aren't in Sly's condition - because they had people looking out for them, instead of people looking to fuck them without lube for a big, lifetime royalty check. Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Elvis (yes, he's dead, but he didn't end up on the street).
DO you think Elvis was a genius who knew how to invest properly? Don't think so. So, let's not act like this is all about the divine justice of Karma. Col. Tom and them made damn sure that Elvis DIDN'T end up in Sly's condition, because no one would have stood for it, not because Elvis himself was any damn genius.
It's different for black musicians, let's say it plain. The music industry has been shanking black musicians particularly viciously for at least the last hundred years. Not entirely without consent, true. But this is how we end up with people like George Clinton and Sly Stone, who contributed more to the history of music than any 20 contemporary idiots you could name, penniless.
"Sly made friends with a couple in Crenshaw who lets them shower in their house. Their son also drives Sly around L.A. and works as his assistant."
Assistant to a man who is broke and homeless?
Does "assistant" mean supplier/enabler? Does Sly say to him, "I want to thank you, falletinme be mice elf...".
This is just a damn shame. But he's always been a whole lot of wack all in one place. I saw a video of him on Dick Cavett and he was young and the words coming out of his mouth made no sense. And that was filmed about 100 years ago.
if he can get surrounded by TRUSTING and fair people, like an appointed person who handles his finances and people who's brains aren't fried to make important decisions for him, he has a shot at a comeback. Hopefully, also some help for his admitted addiction issues and struggles along the way.
I don't know this man's music per say, but he's still making music and if he's a living legend, let the good times roll.
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www.theanimalrescuesite.com - Click everyday to help animals in shelters
Well, first of all, he listed addiction as the LAST of his problems, when any addict knows,that is the first of all problems. and, as uncle pointed out, lots of people are homeless and didn't have the pleasure of snorting coke of the ass of hookers on the way down.
AND, he's in Calif? Bitch please. We have tons of homeless here in Cleveland, ever been to Cleveland in the winter?
still sad, but personal accountabilty already.
I had to overcome my addiction, he should have too.
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Oh God ,why don't you go sit under a rainbow and write a poem, Kyle.
Any one see the Soul Train epi were he performed..so damn sessy...but no doubt drugs had him selling his catalog for one mil and drugs have him in the hood living in a van. He can blame the FBI, the man in the moon, the aliens (like Shelly Duvall) but it is the drugs and him that have him in this predicament...the best band other than War from my favorite decade EVER...the magical 70's never have such a great decade been since, feel sorry for all you peeps that didn't get to be there, it was truly the shit btw can someone please off that untalented waste of air Bieber...and all these other no talent pieces of processed shit!
Submitted by TelevisedRevolution on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 5:27pm.
Sly Stone is to Bieber what a redwood tree is to a stalk of genetically engineered Monsanto corn.
Moreover (heh!) Stone stands among the likes of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Bootsy (who is touring somewhere near you right this minute, no doubt) and some others none of you have ever heard of, as musical giants, while Bieber is just another weed standing net to one identical to him in a dead sky covered field, born to be harvested, processed, mass-consumed and replanted again from the same genetically modified shit.
And Stone needs an assistant *because* he lives in a van. Duh. He should be playing a recurring gig in a chic but not too big club somewhere where his assistant walks him to the stage, keeps the drug dealers away, and personally escorts him to his room every night. All the music lovers can go and worship him and he can live in peace, whether he chooses to get his shit more completely together or not.
The music business is a soulless, life-sucking bastard.
Well Said TelevisedRevolution! You had to be from that generation to get the Sly thang.
And MJ was smarter when he was younger and also had handlers. Recent events show that he had his demons with drug use also. I do believe his death was caused by over-medication to the point of temporary comas. It's a rare entertainer who doesn't self-medicate. Hell, EVERY TIME I see George Clinton & Parliament (last year was the most recent) believe me, the good gunga was being pass around onstage. Some like Sly take it too far - but there are but a few who don't ride the back of some monkey (so to speak). Sly just couldn't get a handle on it. It doesn't take away from the fact that he stands with the greats.
Look, it`s sad that he lives in a van, but how many people have to do this these days and DIDN`T have millions to piss away on Cocaine? Don`t turn into a crybaby when you finally wake up from your drug-induced hibernation and whine about choices you made damn near 30 years ago. Shit, if you blow your money,it runs out eventually. Most 10 year olds get the concept.
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Well, aren't you just the cosmopolitan Queen Bee of Cuntsville? No, I'm sorry, of "Cuntropolis". Please excuse us in all of our inbred grandpa fucking glory. Karen Flatts, 09/21/11
At least he got to live like a king for a while...most people don't ever get that lucky. Drugs are bad...why don't more people get this.
Unfortunately, as great as he was, even back in the day Sly was a junkie. He routinely made fans wait hours for his concerts to begin while he was doing drugs. It's the reason his band broke up when they should have been huge for years. The number of hits they had in a short amount of time is truly amazing.
Coke kills, folks. Another sad drug tale, and I don't see him ever getting better, sorry to say. :(
Sly Stone is to Bieber what a redwood tree is to a stalk of genetically engineered Monsanto corn.
Damn, that should be an SAT item!
Submitted by BitchHouse on Sun, 09/25/2011 - 6:11pm.
MJ sure was a cunning cunt of a business man.
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No, he was just smarter than most when he bought various rights back in the day. People can boo fucking hoo later on for their poor choices, BUT no one put a fucking gun to their heads to sell, so that is what happens in business, some make poor decisions and some make very wise ones.