I'm Dead, Bitch!
That's right, walking punchline and Dave Chapelle catchphrase (not to mention missing link between disco, funk, and skeezy sex parties) Rick James is dead at 56, and I am proud to be the FIRST of thousands of like-minded bloggers to use such an unoriginal and tired-before-its-time headline to announce the fact.
Breaking from my usual modus operandi, I don't have very much to offer in the way of reverential encomia to a dead rock star. It's all just too sad to jeer at, and his music doesn't exactly lend itself to dewy-eyed reverence. Instead, I will only note two fun facts: Rick James is the only disco star most people can name who knew how to play an instrument, and did you know he's Canadian? So I'm told! His first band, Mynah Birds, also featured a youthful, pre-Buffalo Springfield Neil Young on guitar, it's true!
See, right there I was able to give all you James-mourners a fun fact that's not only entertaining, but far more uplifting than a rote recounting of the pathetic mess his life had become: the cocaine-fueled assaults of women, the prison time, the rehab, the failed comeback, the stroke, the hip replacement surgery (!), and all the other sad details of a man who only wanted to fire up a party and have a toke.
If you don't own "Bustin' Out," Rick's best funk tune and featuring a FAT bassline, do the estate of Rick James a favor and pick it up. May he rest in peace. (um..... bitch!)
[wik] Not that I expected Rick James, of all people, to die of natural causes. I was expecting something more. . . colorful.
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Uh, this struck me odd:
Uh, this struck me odd:
Now, I claim no special expertise in the subject, and I'll even ignore the silly coke-fueled arithmetic hyperbole, but unless he was really, really, really getting ripped off for his coke, and even if he always partook with at least 5 friends, that much money spent on coke would rot out his nose, nay, his entire head, long before the year was through. And he'd never, ever have slept.
On the other hand, doing as much coke as he alleges he did is just about the only excuse I can think of for not being aware of spending that much money until his lawyer, accountant, and one remaining sober friend told him about it.
Naturally, I am saddened by
Naturally, I am saddened by the passing of a great artist and role model such as Rick James. However, I am really concerned for Dave Chappelle - the passing of rick James will eliminate half of his routine, at least for a little while. What now, bitch?
And, I already knew that
And, I already knew that Young was in the band with James. I watch behind the music, too! And I didn't need no fancy schmancy music degree, neither.