Maggot Brain... Clear your mind and your ass will follow

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:53 pm

Yeah if that was the first time someone heard those guy's it would probably be the last Ha Ha ! They just had a "Rythmic" sensability, when they were on, that just "Got There". Billy Bass to me is probably better than say Bootsy, in that he along with Eddie had a Communication in that the whole band would just get it on and peak at the same time with a loud cymbal crash! Great stuff.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:11 pm

I experienced something of a peak myself with Billy. With him on bass during one song (he mostly played guitar) we jammed instrumentaly on some funk theme for what had to be 25 minutes and there wasnt a lot of changes. Ive nevber jammed like that. Most bands jamming is just people noodling out solos for 5 minutes.

Even before I played with that guy I turned my quest musicaly from soloing to something I was much worse at. Becoming one entity with the band and not just playing with, but hearing and feeling everyone else and locking in with them. If you dont have that then it doesnt matter how well you can play and I never was much good at that. It is conceivable taht I could play a gig with the same group of guys and M. Hampton. I would love to be a part of that. Not trying to name drop or anything but, cmon, this thread is about Parliament

How can I not drop that conection.

Billy thought the Metro amp purple half stack was cool. Very old school P.

I chatted with him about building amps. He seemed pretty interested. He's a pretty laid back guy.

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:08 pm

Yeah, Billy is bad, he is primal. At the source, the well. I love his singing as well ("You and your folks, Me and my folks") It's funny how people guage player's Abilities. Give me the "Feel". Much talk about Eddie, that MF's got some soul, regardless of how fast he play's. "Dancin' in the Street's" solo has to be as damn Funky/souful as I ever heard.Yo Billy you "Experienced" that stuff on stage. Feeling preceded words/logic. "It's not what you know, it's what you feel. Instead of tryin to be right, won't ya be for real !"

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:07 pm

The Mothership connection DVD is probably the best recorded Parliment concert ever captured. Watch the DVD then deciede if you like it or not. alot of the musicians are from James browns band. There is a bunch of Funkadellic videos on Youtube from that concert.

When they were in the pocket it was amazing to see, you have to remember they took alot of Drugs back then..... but they had it going on.

Scott

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:14 pm

Those drugs include H, and the mother of hardcore- crack. So its like watching the Dead. On an off night you have to be amazed they can even remember the songs and how to play at all

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:18 pm

They lived very fast and hard lives due to the drugs. alot of those original members are dead now. Micheal hampton was in rehab last I heard

Scott

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:16 pm

Yeah it is really ashame to see/hear how alot of E. Hazel's talent waste away. He totally relied on feel and vibe and was not easily able to "get" there musically unless the rhythm section new about feel and pocket. Not pullin no card, but from where and who I am, I am extremely P-Funk educated. From alot of that stuff on Youtube it would be hard to imagine how well E. Hazel truly was. Hampton got the glory on the big tours(76-80) If people really want to get a clear picture of Eddie's playing get Funkadelic's "Hardcore Jollies" album. He's only on 2 tracks, Comin round the Mountain and the title track a guitar instrumental "Hardcore Jollies". Also get "Jams from the Heart" that is live in the studio and has Buddy Miles on drums. His lone Warner Bros. solo album is very, very good and has guest appearances from all the usuals ( Bootsy, Shider, Fullwood, Nelson, Goins, Hampton etc) Michael hampton even plays a fuckin Uli Roth type diminished lick on his lone solo on that album. Maggot Brain was good, but Eddie really peaked after he got out of prison and kept his shit fairly togather for awhile, say 75-80 or so. Also the studio version of "Red Hot Mama" has some of the funkiest, soulful licks of all time.

saborthw · Post by **saborthw** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:20 am

Planes dames and Guitar thangs really showcased Eddies playing also, its too bad that that album has such poor post production, I hate the mix on that album.... What About it, is great tune.

Funk is all about the vibe, Most of P funk's riffs are pretty simple, but the magic is in the timing. I have seen P funk on nights where they have sucked and I have seen them when they are in the pocket.... it is truely amazing to see them when they are on.

Scott

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:58 pm

Remember the white rock player that Rick James had?Saw him with Rick on German tv with Rick smokin' a joint on stage.I thought what the...but it was a great groove with rock guitar and da funk.
I mentioned Ernie Isley back at the beggining of this thread,I know it is off topic,but Parliment/Funkadelic,seemed too hardcore for me.
Does anyone know what effect Ernie Isley used with the Isley Bros.,in the 4+4 era.That Lady,Fight The Power,Summer Breeze,ect.?
I never got in to Maggot Brain,as maybe I did my own personal version with drugs at one time and didn't choose to relive that deal.
I grew up listening to James Brown and Ike/Tina Turner,Memphis soul.
James Brown's bass players and guitarists taught me so much about the groove and the musicianship was second to none.Sly Stone,had so much potential,yet drogas got in his way.
I realize there seems to be a more tolerant attitude in the media towards drug usage and portrayal these days,but the beast has the same cold,cold heart,nomatter what shiny face it wears.
No matter what way you interpret it,drugs block the essential interface of musician and soul/inspiration,the wires are down.
Say a prayer for all our musician brothers and sisters whom we have lost to the horrible curse of drug addiction.
Even in the classical music days,a lot of composers/writers were 'inspired',by chemical means,but say you are a horn player.Doing heroin is not going to make you play like Charlie Parker.
I often wondered if Jimi,who was such a masterful musician,that he could perform under the influence,would sound like if he was removed from the drug world and allowed to channel his pure energy,for even greater music.
One day I'll know and I look forward to a jam non-stop with all the greats!

Bad Kitty · Post by **Bad Kitty** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:34 pm

I just got the Isle of Wight video and I have to say he sure didn't seem high to me. There was so many technical things going wrong I don't think he would have noticed if he was high. He seemed pretty sober to me.

Mike

Tone Slinger · Post by **Tone Slinger** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:17 pm

Ernie was usin alot of Fender back then, I think 4+4 was a showman head and cab. Definite era Big Muff. Not to sure about that phase/flange sound. He ended up ("Go for your guns" era) using alot of EH pedals. The new "green" Boss phaser can come pretty close to nailing "That Lady" tone. Get "Jams from the heart". Hazel was a bit more "Out" there . He and Hendrix truly had common ground. Hendrix, for some reason ( sillicon Fuzz Face, 6550 tubes maybe) never got those great '69 era tones in the '70 tour. couldnt get the univibe to sound right when his fuzz was on. "RainBow Bridge" was still real good though.