The Record That Changed My Life: Jesse Hughes On Parliament’s MOTHERSHP CONNECTION (1976)
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
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🎶Touch my body, make it funky music 🎶😂
Great article. Ain’t no funk like the P-funk. Growing up in Detroit their shows were talked about in mystical whispers among the few older friends I had that attended these now legendary concerts. Alien spacecraft, man in diapers….mayhem of the highest level.
Great story! Certainly one of the greatest bands of all time, their self titled album is perfection! Innovators, completely unique from how they dress to how they play.
I despise his political views, it got worse and worse after Bataclan. But this story is pretty cool!
He’s crazy