Sly Stone’s disastrous Coachella comeback
Despite common complaints that the Coachella line-up tends to be so random it lacks coherence, there is no denying that it is one of the festivals that gains the most traction and that artists everywhere are keen to play at. It is the stage for some of the world’s biggest acts and some of the most hotly anticipated reunions. No Doubt will be taking to the desert this year, but in 2010, it was Sly and The Family Stone.
In the foreword for Sly Stone’s recent book, drummer Questlove writes that “Sly has lived a hundred lives”, and, in that sense, he has nearly died about one hundred times. The result is an incredibly unpredictable performer, which, for fans, can be equal parts alluring and frustrating.
The original line-up of Sly and the Family Stone dissolved in 1975 due to drug problems and personal clashes in the band. That wasn’t the end, though, as Sly continued to record and tour for over a decade before he was eventually forced into temporary retirement in 1987. Sly had an undeniable sound and style, so everyone noticed his lack of presence in the music industry.
When a reunion was eventually announced, it was done to the delight of fans everywhere. However, people also didn’t quite know what to expect; Sly was an unpredictable performer and had a reputation for not attending gigs if he didn’t feel like playing them. The run of shows before the Coachella gig went well, and as such, the crowd that day, basking in sun and funk-filled anticipation, were feeling pretty optimistic.
Unfortunately, the gig wasn’t what anyone could or would have wanted to predict. Sly wasn’t in good form; he had no interest in singing much, and when he did, it was lacklustre. In between tracks, rather than thanking the crowd for coming out, as tends to be the case for most artists, he openly criticised one of his former managers and their ongoing legal issues; said manager ended up suing Sly again for these defamatory remarks. Towards the end of the performance, Sly lost interest in singing altogether, so he played some new songs he was working on from his laptop and then left.
As he departed the stage, his fellow bandmates looked concerned but not shocked; they played some more before following the frontman off stage. This moment marked one more chapter in what was becoming a relatively sad story in Sly’s later years.
Sly is more than a musician; he has an ornate understanding of sound that very few possess, and in giving it to the masses, he led a rock-, soul-, and funk-filled counterculture. His band will forever be one of the biggest names in funk, and despite the decline his career took towards the end, it shouldn’t take away from his place in the music world.
