P-Funk

P-Funk is an abbreviated, compound name for two bands, Parliament and Funkadelic. It also is a fusion music genre and describes a great many offshoot groups and solo musicians.

History of P-Funk

Early Development

In the late 1950s, George Clinton and some others started a doo-wop barbershop quintet (called The Parliaments), but found very little success. During the 1960s, they added a backup band that eventually became known as Funkadelic. George Clinton, the leader of the group, ran a hair salon in New Jersey, and continued to do so until 1967, when the group's breakthrough single was released. By this time, the Parliaments had become Parliament (taken from Parliament cigarettes) and had added several new members, including Billy Bass, Tawl Ross and Eddie Hazel.

Related Topics:
George Clinton - Doo-wop - Barbershop quintet - The Parliaments - New Jersey - 1967 - Parliament cigarette - Billy Bass - Tawl Ross - Eddie Hazel

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Members of The Parliaments

• George Clinton
• Ray Davis - bass voice
• Fuzzy Haskins
• Calvin Simon
• Grady Thomas

Transition to Funkadelic

In the late 1960s, the group lost the rights to the name "Parliament" and became known as Funkadelic. Their sound gradually became less clean-cut and less firmly steeped in R&B music, and moved towards a psychedelia-influenced groove, heavily dependent on Jimi Hendrix, the MC5, Sly Stone and the Beatles, as well as the New Orleans early funk of The Meters and Lee Dorsey. As their sound progressed, it became thick and complex, loud, psychedelic and very rock and roll. Clinton's experimentation with new and original sounds meant that early Funkadelic had a small and devoted (racially diverse) cult following, but found widespread commercial success elusive. Band included trumpet player Rick Gardner a/k/a "The Gardener of Funk".

Related Topics:
R&B music - Psychedelia - Jimi Hendrix - MC5 - Sly Stone - The Beatles - New Orleans - The Meters - Lee Dorsey - Rock and roll - Rick Gardner

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Arrival of the Collins Brothers

Billy Bass and Eddie Hazel temporarily left the group in 1972 due to financial disputes, and Tawl Ross left because of a bad LSD trip. William and Phelps Collins, two brothers who eventually became more widely known as Bootsy and Catfish, respectively, hopped aboard. Bootsy left after one album but rejoined later, while Catfish was an on-and-off member, who eventually played mostly for his brother's solo efforts. Bootsy brought a new sense of discipline to the group, as he had played with James Brown and was forced to dedicate himself to his musical growth. Both brothers were influential in the development of the P-Funk sound.

Related Topics:
1972 - LSD - Bootsy - Catfish - James Brown

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The Reemergence of Parliament

Parliament was reformed in 1974. In 1975, Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley joined Funkadelic, quickly followed by the return of Bootsy Collins and Eddie Hazel. The addition of Parker and Wesley added a new, jazzy dimension to the music. In 1975, "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker" became the first Top Ten single for the group, peaking at number five. Mothership Connection became the group's first gold LP. Clinton, meanwhile, moved from Westbound to Warner Brothers in 1977. Many of the original members departed, angry at Clinton becoming the owner of the name Parliament and that they had become his employees. Bootsy Collins formed Bootsy's Rubber Band, a wacky, bass-driven group, along with Catfish Collins, Mudbone Cooper, the Horny Horns and, at times, Bernie Worrell and Joel Johnson. Meanwhile, Michael Hampton replaced Eddie Hazel (who had joined The Temptations) as lead guitarist; Jerome Brailey joined, eventually becoming one of the most widely respected P-Funk drummers, and Glen Goins, a talented singer who did the lead vocals on many admired tracks, including "Mothership Connection" and "Bop Gun," also joined.

Related Topics:
1974 - 1975 - Maceo Parker - Fred Wesley - Bootsy Collins - Jazz - Mothership Connection - Westbound - Warner Brothers - 1977 - Bootsy's Rubber Band - Catfish Collins - Mudbone Cooper - Horny Horns - Bernie Worrell - Joel Johnson - Michael Hampton - The Temptations - Jerome Brailey - Glen Goins

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1977 brought Parliament its first #1 hit ("Flashlight") and marked the emergence of the lavish tours the group eventually became known for, involving huge spaceships landing on stage and elaborate props. Funkadelic continued releasing albums, soon scoring two #1 hits ("One Nation Under a Groove" in 1978 and "(Not Just) Knee Deep" in 1979), while Parliament scored another #1 in 1978 with "Aqua Boogie". The albums of the period had morphed into concept albums, with bizarre, spacy themes that carried elaborate and pointed political and sociological messages, and were usually linked between albums (see P-Funk mythology). The two most notable additions to the group during this period were Junie Morrison and Skeet Curtis. Junie in particular played several instruments, wrote, produced and arranged many of the most-respected songs on two crucial albums, One Nation Under a Groove and Motor Booty Affair.

Related Topics:
1977 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove - 1978 - 1979 - Concept album - P-Funk mythology - Junie Morrison - Skeet Curtis - One Nation Under a Groove - Motor Booty Affair

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The P-Funk family multiplied in the late seventies, and albums were released under the names The Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet, Bernie Worrell, Eddie Hazel and the Horny Horns. Meanwhile, the tours became ever more and more elaborate and expensive, resulting in dire financial straits. In 1979, Funkadelic launched the Anti-Tour, scrapping much of the lavishness. Dennis Chambers, Blackbyrd McKnight and the P-Funk Horns joined the group.

Related Topics:
The Brides of Funkenstein - Parlet - Bernie Worrell - Eddie Hazel - Horny Horns - 1979 - Dennis Chambers - Blackbyrd McKnight - P-Funk Horns

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In the early 1980s, the group's popularity declined and many members quit. Parliament's final album came out in 1980, and Funkadelic's in 1981. George Clinton battled financial problems and addiction, but soon managed to launch a solo career in 1983, launched by a #1 single, "Atomic Dog." In the mid-to-late-80s, funk died down in popular consciousness, but its influence on hip-hop, then a minor, cult genre of music, grew. The P.Funk All-Stars was formed in 1983, and went on tour in the mid 1980s. Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell both released successful solo albums in the late 80s, and managed to keep thriving solo careers.

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By 1993, most of the old Parliament and Funkadelic albums were re-released, leading to a new emergence of funk and a new tour by the P.Funk All-Stars. In 1994, the group toured with Lollapalooza.

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