Jesse Hughes Music Parliament The Record That Changed My Life

The Record That Changed My Life: Jesse Hughes On Parliament’s MOTHERSHP CONNECTION (1976)

admin
Support us & donate here if you like this article.

Before I had the mustache, I wore a full beard and looked like George Clinton on the cover of Parliament’s The Clones Of Dr. Funkenstein. I liked T-Rex, David Bowie and The Stones, but George Clinton had a philosophy that I understood: “Everything is on the one.” The beat always emphasizes the one. Every instrument must be played like drums. Not melodic, but rhythmic.

When I was writing the first Eagles of Death Metal album, I listened to Mothership Connection over and over. I modeled my songwriting like Parliament: everything is beat-driven. Before Parliament, there was The Parliaments, a doo-wop-band. Then George took acid and freaked out- Parliament and Funkadelic were born.

After my college graduation my grandmother gave me $15.000 to start a new life. I spent the entire money on traveling 2 months long to see 40 Parliament shows. Every night 4 hours of Nonstop-Disco-Funk. When one drummer gave up, the next one would be immediately in action. The beat never stops. I was always one of the very few whites at the concerts, so I grabbed the band’s attention one day. I had a funky beard, was thin as a rake, wore fucking tight clothes, and danced like crazy. They shouted down the stage: “Oh, the little white boy is here today!” After the 20th show they brought me to the stage. Afterwards, George came up to me backstage: “Boy, you are the only white man here. You won’t pick up no pussy. So why are you here?” I said “Because I wanna dance!” He laughed.
Rock’n’roll is a show. I learned that from him.

by Jesse Hughes

(Read about other artists’ album choices and reviews here)

Share this on: