No star has risen to such heights only to fall as far as Sly Stone.
Sly was already a rising star in 1969, but when Sly & The Family Stone took the stage one legendary night at Woodstock, he cemented his place as an icon. Sly went on to score dozens of chart-topping hits in the late 1960s and 70s and become one of the most ground-breaking artists of his generation. But he was so much more than a pop star. A truly transformational figure, Sly was Prince before Prince, Dave Chappelle before Dave Chappelle, Kanye before Kanye. He went to places no other Black artist had ever been before, and in doing so, left a mark on all who came after him.
Only to see things spectacularly crash.
Within five years of Woodstock, a toxic mix of undiagnosed social anxiety disorder, a massive drug habit, and predatory and racist industry practices had diminished his gifts, spiraled him into addiction, and ultimately left him homeless and without control of his publishing or even his own name and likeness. Attempts to regain his career and life momentum were attempted, but ultimately failed, as Sly's once incandescent star began to burn out.
Now with Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), following a monumental decision to get fully clean eighteen months ago, Sly Stone will finally be telling his story in his own words.