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Sly Makes First Public Appearance in Twelve Years!
19 August 2005
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August 15th, 2005 – Phunk Family Affair, a band containing ex-family members Cynthia Robinson and Vet Stewart played Hollywood’s Knitting Factory in a show to benefit the Los Angeles Braille Institute. By all accounts the performance was great, but the star of the show was sitting in the audience. For the night saw Sly Stone’s first public appearance for twelve years.
Rolling Stone reports on something that is sure to be big news to fans of Sly:
Pulling up in front of the club on a four-wheel Harley, Sly was whisked upstairs to the VIP room where, ironically, he went unnoticed by the roomful of mostly blind musicians who were guests of the club that night. Keeping his motorcycle helmet on throughout, Sly smiled widely as he watched the ten-piece perform a scorching ninety-minute set featuring Stone hits "Dance to the Music" and "Hot Fun in the Summertime."
"He looked like an astronaut coming off the second tier, just as cool as can be," says Michael Rubenstone, a documentary filmmaker who, with partner Greg Zola and indie One-Four Productions, has spent the last two years talking to the reclusive singer's extended musical family for On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone. With interviews from original Family members guitarist Freddie Stone, singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, drummer Greg Errico and trumpet player Cynthia Robinson already in the can, Vet Stone had convinced the filmmakers that if the Phunk Phamily Affair played a gig in L.A., her big brother would show.
"It was a dream come true," says Vet, "but I was happier for him than I was for myself. I think he was overwhelmed with emotion to see so many people still moved by his words."
Though she admits being a little biased about her brother, Vet maintains that Sly's songs continue to resonate. "His music brings people together, regardless of nationality," she says. "Not to say that rap isn't relevant, but people won't be quoting [rap songs] in twenty years."
Link: Rolling Stone
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