George Clinton Arrested on Drug Charge

AP ^ | 12/08/2003 | AP

[ClintonBeGone]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Funk music pioneer George Clinton was arrested and charged with drug possession after allegedly telling an officer he had cocaine in his pocket.

Clinton, of Tallahassee, was arrested Saturday and bonded out of jail over the weekend, according to jail officials, who wouldn't release any other information. Clinton's lawyer, Shoshana Zisk of San Francisco, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

Clinton, 63, who headed the funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic — and the collaboration later known as P-Funk — in the 1970s and 1980s is considered a father of the genre. In 1983, Clinton's solo record "Atomic Dog," hit number one on the R&B charts.

Tallahassee Police said an officer noticed a man sitting by himself in the passenger seat of a car in a gas station parking lot about 2 a.m. Saturday and approached to talk to him.

When the officer got to the car, the man, later determined to be Clinton, tried to hide an item he was holding, dropping it between the seats, said Tallahassee Police spokesman Stewart Clendinen.

Clinton started to reach into his pocket and the officer asked him if he had anything in his pocket that might be dangerous, Clendinen said.

Clinton allegedly responded "I've got a little cocaine."

The item he is accused of dropping between the seats turned out be a crack pipe, police said.

Clinton was charged with one felony count of cocaine possession and a misdemeanor count of possession of the pipe, the Tallahassee Democrat first reported for Tuesday papers.

A call to George Clinton Enterprises for comment Monday went unanswered and Clinton's home number is unlisted.

[Tribune7]

George is cool. Bill ruined the name.

LOL

[ClintonBeGone]

You need new ears to go with the glasses :)

[T Lady]

"Mothership Connection"-A classic R&B/Funk romp! I believe it's out on CD; at least it has been for a while. Now all they need is a box set.

-Regards, T.

[BenLurkin]

Yes, well, I'm limited by good taste from printing some of the more . . . 'imaginative' . . .lyrics.

[arasina]

Johnny Guitar Watson! Yes! I like George Clinton too, but JGW is something else. Just that bit of lyrics you mentioned has that funky guitar going through my head.

[Victoria Delsoul]

at this rate they'll never get to Roger and William.

Well, there is always hope, LOL!

[JoJo Gunn]

They just don't realize that music could be fun. Not that we didn't hear negativity sometimes, but all that spine shaking stuff they got out now is so depressing.

(As an aside, all of a sudden Chic runs through my brain. Nobody would ever accuse them of award winning lyrics, but how I loved Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers when they had those instrumental jams. Edwards was a heck of a bass player, in my book).

[liberallyconservative]

Several years ago, I got excited that George and the whole P-Funk crew were passing back through Nashville and I would get to hear them yet again (my 3rd time in 3 years.) For all who have been to a show (or 2 or 10), they are known for extended jams and will never play the same show twice.

Upon mentioning this to a friend and co-worker, she nonchalantly mentioned that George was her father, and that if I would like to go back-stage, she would take me. No one at work believed her; everyone considered it to be another of her "tall tales." But something told me she was telling the truth and this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Boy, was I right.

George and the boys took the stage somewhere around 10 PM and were still jamming when I floated outta there at @ 2AM.

It was a surreal scene, with a rotating line-up performing a never-ending jam. Priceless.

[honeygrl]

A friend of mine went to see him at a small theatre/club here in town a few years ago... one of his band members (who called himself Peanut?) tried to get her to come back to their hotel with them after the show and after they had hung around the club a while. She shocked everyone by not going. (if you met her, you'd be shocked too)

[honeygrl]

Loved him in the movie PCU. :) Of course, I love that movie in general.

[RightOnline]

"He is truly a musical legend, even bigger than Elvis and the Beatles IMO."

Let's not go overboard now, ok? :) Good heavens.....................

[FlyVet]

I think there was an RIP for JGW here on Free Republic awhile back. He died in 1996.

I was introduced to JGW in the late 70's by the local Lafayette Radio/Electronics store. They had these huge floor-standing speakers with 15" woofers, and used JGW's song "A real mother for ya" for a demo. That song would make the whole building shake. So, I bought the album. On the front cover was JGW dressed as a pimp, pushing his mother along in a baby carriage. Weird stuff, thinking back...no wonder I've never watched "That 70's Show", and have no desire to do so.

JGW could rock, though....he could play some guitar.

[eno_]

Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop!

[eno_]

I'd say "Bigger than the Dead" and I think the the whole Parliament/Funkadelic crew would be happy with that.

[Old Professer]

Since when is it against the law (probable cause) to sit in the passenger seat of ones car on private property?

[HAL9000]

Well, here's the mug shot -

But as far as I'm concerned George Clinton will always be "The Good Clinton".

[JustPiper]

Now you got me singing it MH, but I can't boogie anymore
-g- now more sliding, jumping or even rocking

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

The Originator of the "bang on the strings" bass guitar style

Actually, that would be Mr. Graham, bassist for Sly and The Family Stone. The first name eludes me - the mind is a terrible thing to waste!

[dasher]

I'd be more surprised if they didn't find drugs on him. :) Hopefully he can get cleaned up.

[ClintonBeGone]

Since when is it against the law (probable cause) to sit in the passenger seat of ones car on private property?

He didn't get arrested for sitting in a car. He got arrested when he admitted he had cocaine. The police certainly don't need probable cause to talk to you.