Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus

A cornerstone figure in funk music, George Clinton went from singing a capella in a barbershop to chasing Motown glory in Detroit with his band, The Parliaments. But the introduction of LSD took him to the next level, as he built a funk empire with outrageous costumes, frequent band-name changes and an occasional bit of nudity. From his first hit, “(I Wanna) Testify,” to the smash anthem “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk),” Clinton forged a lasting sound that went on to fuel a whole new genre: hip-hop.

Mouse over thumbnail for slideshow

Or scroll and see one by one:

the kids we was playing for,

#2

So I was funky right from the start.

#3

We all had to be cool.

#4

We was singing a Capella in the barbershop.

#5

I came into a cache of money.

#6

or $1,000 in counterfeit.

#7

So, we go in for an audition.

#8

"Testify" was released in 1967, the Summer of Love.

#9

"Testify" was on Revilot Records.

#10

they came up to the stage after the show,

#11

Let them watch you for four hours.

#12 #13

They began touring the country in costume.

#14

everywhere, coming straight towards us.

#15

likely shared that sentiment,

#16

It became, arguably, the longest-running,

#17 #18

Drummer Frankie "Kash" Waddy

#19

'cause she's walkin' so peculiar.

#20

She took a puff, hit the button,

#21

and puff, puff, puff.

#22

He released Osmium with Parliament in 1970,

#23

George called me up about a month after it ran,

#24

and all the money that he was making,

#25

People went batshit crazy!

#26 #27

Julia Phillips, the producer of it,

#28

Brothas Be, Yo Like George,

#29

We call it "mouf" with a "F" instead of a "T-H."

#30

that he was like, "Okay.

#31

I came from a background of, uh, rules.

#32

The Brides of Funkenstein, Parlet, Bootsy.

#33

It was just a stately place.

#34

"Oh, don't pat yourself on the shoulder.

#35

we're driving around, and he said, "Aw, man!

#36 #37

So then, our merch guy got the bright idea,

#38

For some reason, at a certain point,

#39

they had $50,000 worth of raw cocaine.

#40

based on these illustrations that one of George's artists had done

#41

made by Parliament with the original band.

#42

Sheila Brody, stage name Amuka,

#43

"you know what he's doing with that money.

#44

The sound engineer was simply rewinding the tape.

#45

I said, "Wow, that make sense"

#46 #47

and they're at some drug dealer,

#48

for the whole tour post-Atomic Dog.

#49

'cause the fumes would get to him.

#50