As previously discussed on these pages, 30 years ago George Clinton and his posse created arguably one of the most far-out R&B albums to date, 1978’s One Nation Under a Groove. Not only did he release that bombshell, G Clinton was also responsible for his personal crazy rainbow coloured dreadlocks, guilty of creating a band/funk circus which consistently produced fantastic drug fuelled concept albums, helped create the sound of gangsta rap (G-funk), wore wacky and truly brilliant stage costumes as well as employing virtuoso, prodigal and insane live musicians. For me this was definitely one of those stages where I regret not being born 30 years previously for me to be able to see Clinton and his funkateers in the flesh.
Now I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to see all of his theatrics live since his beloved P-Funk (Parliament-Funkadelic, Plainfield-Funk, Psychedelic-Funk, depending on who you hear and what you read) was disbanded sometime in the 80s and although Clinton himself has been working on solo albums ever since P-Funk folded, I never expected to see another live outing by arguably THE most explosive black rock/soul/funk band ever to have graced stage and record. Furthermore, reunions are not always a good thing either: the hullabaloo around Led Zeppelin’s reunion was probably bigger and more news-worthy than the actual reunion gig itself and this was my concern when learning that I had managed to get myself tickets for this P-Funk show. 30 Euros (Rp. 400.000) was quite a sum to splash out too but luckily for me and for the majority of punters at the Paradiso that night, the P-Funk lineup was probably at its best since the mid to late 70s. OK, Eddie ‘Bootsy’ Collins wasn't there, neither was Bernie Worrell, nor Billy “Bass” Nelson, nor the deceased Eddie Hazel but a show they did still put on.
I can try and describe the gig in a couple of pages but perhaps it's best to illustrate that the show in its entirety was like pressing ‘play’ and ‘auto mix’ of your entire P-Funk collection and seen it done in front of you live…in medley! From the mid-to-late 1960s Parliament tracks, early 70s Funkadelic’s hazy psychedelic rock, mid-to-late 70s Parliament fuzzy funk were all tightly preformed with George Clinton holding the 15-piece orgy together in a tight knit group. He may have arrived an hour late into the set but the band kept the crowd highly entertained up till that point with Garry ‘Starchild’ Shider (Rhytm guitar, dude with the diaper), DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight (Guitars, general band director), Michael ‘Kidd Funkadelic’ Hampton (Lead guitar, successor to Hazel) forming the backbone of the rest of the group to groove to. The crowd went ballistic by the time Clinton entered the stage, where most of the Parliament-Funkadelic classics such as 1971’s Maggot Brain was belted out (yes, a full brain bending 20 minute version of it). Singles and album tracks like Flash Light (1977 - Funkentelechy Vs The Placebo Syndrome), Star Child (1975 – The Mothership Connection), Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow (1970 - Free Your Mind…And Your Ass Will Follow) and Atomic Dog (1981 – Computer Games) to name but a few were cut, mashed, and jammed into one song and another for hours on end. Every time the crowd anticipates an ending to their set, they’re proven wrong.
In true P-Funk style the band called it a night after 3 ½ hours of jamming, singing and rapping (endurance concerts were one of their traits back in their heyday). If you came expecting a full-blown P-Funk gig, you won’t be disappointed. If you came having no expectations at all, you will still have left Paradiso blown away (either by the length of the gig, the virtuosity of the players or both). I certainly said shit, Goddamn and I got off my ass and jammed!
All photos by Erick Wicaksono & Ffonz
Here are a few clips to see Geroge Clinton's P-Funk in their 70s heyday:
