George Clinton | Broken Record (Hosted by Rick Rubin)

George Clinton revolutionized funk music with Parliament Funkadelic, whose theatrical, sci-fi, performance art has captivated audiences worldwide for over five decades. P-Funk’s blend of psychedelic rock and deep, repetitive funk grooves helped bridge the R&B and rock worlds in the ‘70s along with acts like Sly and The Family Stone.
Known as Dr. Funkenstein, George Clinton orchestrated multiple solo acts under the P-Funk umbrella. By the ‘80s, Clinton was also charting as a solo artist with hits like “Atomic Dog,” all of which would later lay the groundwork for hip-hop’s classic G-Funk era.
On today’s episode Rick Rubin talks to George Clinton on Zoom about the origins of his original vocal group, The Parliaments. George also reminisces about the time he dared James Brown to do the splits 18 times in a row while on a music industry panel with Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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ABOUT BROKEN RECORD
For generations of music lovers, the liner notes on albums were a central part of the way music was heard. You bought an album and it came with an accompanying narrative: a digression, an aside, a backstory-maybe even an invented history. We intuitively understood that great music required not just listening but conversation between the artist and the audience and the audience and the rest of the world.
Broken Record is a podcast that restarts those conversations-in a world without liner notes-for a new audience of music lovers.
Broken Record is hosted by Justin Richmond with interviews by producer Rick Rubin, writer Malcolm Gladwell, and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam.
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Website: www.pushkin.fm...

[@SatansSimgma]

Saw George in the 90s. I was soooooooo high on lsd, I could see the words he was saying come out of the speakers and the music was riding in on beams of sunshine.

[@newusernamehere4772]

His music always does that lol No but I know exactly what you're talking about, just gotta find a spot to lay down in case all your senses are replaced by the funk and you get bitch slapped by God

[@FlotationDeviceThrice]

@@newusernamehere4772The wisdom within this advice can only be ascertained through outerworldly experience.

[@pablosepulveda7470]

This is one for History

[@coldacre]

George is 80+ and he refers to first seeing James Brown as the first Tik Tok artist. that man is still on the ONE. I love you George!!! P Funk for life 🖤

[@Chef_Deth]

Had the honor of seeing p funk at one of the early tech fests at Hart Plaza in Detroit…MAGGOTBRAIN melted my brain the crowd was vibing so hard it was such a tripppp I was rolling out of my gourd haven’t been the same since thank you George

[@tubesurfing]

I think I was there that night...you remember George had nothing but a white diaper on...and some white dude with a redwings leather jacket next to him

[@hatbpto5180]

One of my life changing events was front row seeing Funkadelic LONG LIVE THE FUNK!

[@sspbrazil]

I am from Detroit originally and I always liked how Parliament and Funkadelic were part of the Detroit Rock scene back in the day, that was truly special for all the acts. He talks about the radio station CKLW across the river from Detroit in Windsor Canada and that was an AM station and it was a great station, I used to listen to it as a kid, funny too, one of the best alternative radio stations and one of the first in North America as also one that started in Windsor in the mid 80’s and the programming was only part time in the evenings until the late 80’s and early 90’s where it went full time and lasted up until only a few years ago before changing formats. Great years for music and radio in my younger years. George is a real treasure and I’m glad we still have him.

[@PopCultureGraveyard]

A fantastic conversation with one of the true geniuses of music!

[@keithbell9348]

Fun Fact: Some have described George Clinton as a hippie at heart. He was so open to learning and trying out ANYTHING. He would perform at a P-Funk concert, and if he knew there was a Grateful Dead concert near that region- He was there! In the crowd, vibing and smokin up everything in sight.

[@musafir3]

Greatest live performance was from funkadelic 4-5 hours of Funk and then the band came to dance with us ... Respect for both of you and many thanks to PFunk for their energy and Art

[@Ottophil]

The cocaine only lasts 20 minutes, i wonder if the band took breaks in shifts so they could do bumps

[@dantooine4279]

You could do a series with George and he'd have something new to say each time!

[@021881mt]

Finally got a chance to finish watching the whole thang...loved how George low-key credited Gospel music for the evolution of modern music and how the best musicians came from church, just like his entire band🤔 George only drops clues but never gives anything away, you have to work for it/earn/deserve it. PFUNK is really Gospel music (even though most foolishly call him a satanist like they did Jesus and His followers) and despite how it may look or come off on the outside the inside of the vinyl's always spelled it out for you with pictures and all, but you have to be truly Funky to see it/get it/put it together...not for the "spiritual paraplegic" George still proving the superior power and example of the FUNK...James Brown and Berry Gordy never gave interviews like this even though they were sitting on a mountain of historical wealth but George is always doing this because he always connects to ALL the people. Great interview✌🏼

[@thenowchurch6419]

Yeah, I gotta give George the kudos. I saw him outside his show one time and he let me and some other broke fans in for free through the backstage door. What a guy!

[@wannabet2647]

I love George. Rick is the man. I learned about Funk from listening to rap. Music amazes me. Music brought me close to God. I love listening to old spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, funk, soul, all of it. I love DooWop as well. PFunk is in a league of its own. It’s great. The energy that it creates when I hear it is always makes me smile. Funk makes ya wanna bounce, dance, and have fun. Nothing but respect. Music is powerful. Thank you for rocking the world with good vibes and great music. Peace 🙏

[@bass7842]

I'm so here for this. 🤘🤘🤘

[@snowyowl5356]

This man is a veritable encyclopedia of american music

[@bmuhamad]

I came across Funkadelic during High School in the early '70's. Then I found them to be a variant of a band called The Parliaments. Heard Bootsy & Phelps Collins via James Brown.

[@jfdblues]

George is a genius and a true fan and historian of music. Dropping things like fury records and Arthur Lee and love and MC5 is just so cool! I always thought that last song on free your mind, (headache in my heart) sounded like an Arthur Lee song

[@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc]

👍💯🎛️😩🎸🎛️ Friday night August 14th

[@BigSmiley0TV]

Love that song, they would just change gears like crazy on their albums

[@itneverrainsfunk4808]

Living legend🤘🤘🤘

[@Robert-vt1sz]

Definitely 2 Icons. George Clinton is a storehouse of musical knowledge, he's seen era's come & go. And he has seen it all, & keeps in tune with every music style & started many of them. It has been said, " There is nothing harder to stop than an idea whose time has come to pass, & Parliafunkadelicment Thang is & will always be what time it is. Funk on!!!!

[@kalonjikala9887]

The master of music fusion!

[@leognardo357]

Wow, I couldn't search this up fast enough when I saw it was a thing. Thank you for this conversation.

[@ReyHugoTelevision614]

I learned so much from George Clinton in this interview. He is the link that connects the dots with music. Amazing.

[@elpadresuerte]

A real treasure 🔥🔥🔥

[@gfeast4518]

Can’t wait to listen to this, George is an interesting dude and I really wish I met him during my college in Tallahassee. King of funk and influencer of my favorite, the chilis

[@troycanady2803]

same. I went to Florida A & M in the early 2000s and always wondered/hoped if I would run into him at a Publix one day lol

[@gfeast4518]

@@troycanady2803 haha would’ve been awesome, apparently he hung out at the railroad square behind college town, did some sort of funk parade and I lived right there and saw it the next day on Instagram and had no clue if I looked out my window I probably could’ve seen it 🥲 but I got to see a lot of artists perform in tally like ZZ Top styx and mc hammer

[@barstia7847]

Wooooooowwwww what a meeting!!!!

[@livmarcim4518]

Love you George 🤘🏾

[@waynemcdaniel7405]

I SAW THE MOTHERSHIP LAND IN OAKLAND IN 1977 I WAS 16 Blew My Mind & still blowing it.💣

[@aaronj.brooks1977]

Great interview with George Clinton

[@KevinEpperson-jk4tw]

I haven't seen George Clinton since 1997 I hope he comes to North Carolina soon I live in Winston Salem

[@ericwarncke]

Nice to learn more about George Clinton

[@ustheserfs]

'94 lollapalooza blossom music center. it's a warm balmy july evening. my friend and i have seen tribe, nick cave and seeds, beasties, breeders and we're half interested in seeing pumpkins the headliners by sundown. mr clinton and his crew began streaming on to the main stage. being a hip hop nut during it's golden age between '88 - '93, i'd heard enough p funk influence in the sounds i was immersed in to know this had the potential to be an "event". seeing this spectacle in the flesh was chaotic and supreme at once. hearing aqua boogie, tear the roof off, do that stuff, and black hole was an experience you just can't put into words. we left devoted funkateers.

[@jasonstewart650]

Living history 💪🏿

[@Fine_art_aerial]

PLease please please add video!!

[@barstia7847]

Yes,please!

[@Ottophil]

I got these moving lines. It looks cool

[@natbfunky]

Take us back George to 1956 The Beginning

[@phnigra111]

Damn 2 legends right there

[@ubercoo]

Great interview with great minds in music.

[@musafir3]

💥GEM💥

[@macfawlty]

Sun Ra man. He's got a box set of Doo Wop. Gotta know the roots Rick... and for Sun Ra, the roots to the galaxies. You really open up a lot of avenues of historical context. George Clinton's stories talking about all of these connections and relations, players and influencers. I like the roots discussions back to the 1940's with revolutionaries like Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Ink Spots, Mills Bros, then all the bands of different genres (and stage production influences like Pink Floyd). I think there are a lot of avenues for new sounds even now, by mixing genres and instrumentation. EDM, like it or not so much, is a sound ready for experimentation that has the ear of the young people that may not know much about music history, but like to dance.

[@atomictraveller]

them ills brothers ♥ nagasaki 🤯

[@LloydMajor]

Fantastic interview!

[@musamusashi]

This should have been at least 3 hours long... epic. '"James Brown give me 18 splits" -"George Clinton, gave me 2"

[@MACKSVEE]

Love George and Parliment/Funkadelic. George actual hometown is my neighboring city of Kannapolis NC

[@MACKSVEE]

I'm sure he is sooo happy he left here... But we need him to come back and Bring the Mothership and Crew with him

[@adrianfitzpatrick4638]

Wow. New subscriber here. Never seen this channel, but ❤ George Clinton. Many Thanks 🙏

[@DavidJonesAirway]

Love it

[@chrisedwards3214]

From the parliament's, to funkadelic to parliament funkadelic to the pfunk all.stars Boots rubber band, sweat band, to Fred Wesley and the horny horns, to brides of funkenstein and parlet Bernie worrell, and Eddie hazel and Billy Nelson,, Michael Hampton, Junie Morrison, Gary shider, and glen goins was the best who ever did Pfunk spawned Zapp and Roger also And GC produced the second chili peppers album and was a huge influence on rock James, cameo, and prince and the gap band Pfunk influenced every genre that came after even sly stone ended up joining them

[@z-9693]

Word! True Funkateer here. You have attained FunkMaster level.

[@decencywarrior9598]

That human has some memory considering the amount of drugs he consumed over his lifetime -holy history vessel!

[@rachaelsmith2249]

The man has the biggest heart and the drugs he used only amplified his light. Aside from the dark path of grief when his boy died. I see that as grieving and necessary. He’s a legend and inspiration for humanity. I admire him and an grateful to have proximity

[@jtlemay4878]

This will be educational I'm sure.

[@AnitaBingham-yd2ow]

George Clinton truly the God Father of FUNK! &. A true Legend!

[@atomictraveller]

the mills brothers (or them ills brothers) were your grandparents favorite group, on tv for decades. they did all the jazz parts with their mouth, check their famous rendition of "smoke rings" ahehe ;) hey free west papua yall right now, not on television.

[@jonylawson73]

George ...prince .....Miles...John.....stevie ...thankyou

[@CraftyMusicMan]

I learned so much from listening to these pals chat

[@Chef_Deth]

MC5 are the most unheralded band in history…Detroit is the home of not only funk but PUNK

[@adrianfitzpatrick4638]

And a particular genre of industrial influenced techno..and Drexciya 💓

[@Dessoxyn]

There are a couple recordings of them at their prime that give a little hint of how much they killed it live

[@Dessoxyn]

I'm gonna argue over words, but Detroit has produced bands that are elite at capturing the absolute bare essence of rocking the f*ck out. Like MC5, Stooges, White Stripes. The city seems to really breed 'naw, we're gonna do our own weird stuff" musicians who excel at that. Lol, if anyone's needs a thesis you can map out P-Funk to KISS to ICP

[@janhenkel4459]

Ricky boy code switches like a mother on this one.

[@2tuff666]

I searched GC to listen to him talk as been really getting back into his solo stuff. Just see this uploaded today, WOW.

[@corridor444]

Can’t wait for p2

[@ronaldjenkins1946]

Great interview 🛸🤘🏾🛸, We know you could've done another 2hrs. Look anybody who luv Nustra Fatah Ali Khan, and make him Funky !! OHH RICH YOU GOT MY ATTENTION 🤘🏾🛸🤘🏾🛸

[@7deepbreaths.sounds]

George loves him some Frankie Lyman‼️

[@anthonymackey222]

Rubin should've asked him why isn't there any footage of their early shows, and other groups, but audio has been popping up lately?

[@luizancarvalho2572]

Cool!

[@Guitargate]

How is there NO VIDEO?! Ahhhhh

[@mannysavage88]

Rick should do an album with George👀

[@ssbabymoses4758]

epic

[@djkoolgeehammonds9205]

Not enough information about the funk doo-wop that's not what George is famous for he's famous for the mothership chocolate City up for the downstroke we need to know about his band not just Boosie catfish the brother just died fuzzy Glenn goins that's the funk all that stuff about to do while that's before our time brother Ruben let's get real bro funkadelic Parliament forever, 🤟🤟🤟

[@donthewatcher8835]

Rick Just Get a Dmx Drum machine and use the Kik AND cLAP and make a Rick Rubin funk beat, and let george just talk over it

[@GerryJensen]

I just wanna testify what your love has done to me... Golden World, Cool Jerk, Just Like Romeo and Juliet, SOS Stop her on sight Edwin Star,

[@atomictraveller]

somebody gotta train riffusion on damon edge era chrome and do a clinton/3rd from the sun era mashup. teh aciieeds

[@davidhahnbirds]

👂 🌎

[@cclark3905]

After watching the documentary that he refused to be on. I really don't want to hear what he has to say. 😡

[@n.oneimportant5]

If you're referencing, "Tear The Roof Off," GC was not asked to participate in it.

[@021881mt]

It was BS anyway...cut and pasting 10 second talking pieces together to try to make a bigger accusatory statement picture against George instead of letting them talk and respond to questions asked for minutes on like a real interview or documentary. I guess Bootsy refused to be on there as well... Lynn Mabry was interviewed a year or two ago and mentioned a few gems such as tension between her and some of the Parlet members and how Junie M whom she was dating encouraged her to leave because of it, which she stated she greatly regretted because she didn't really want to leave. Judie in one of her typical George Clinton bashing rant interviews actually talked about how George was the one who hooked her and Bernie up together and also how George and Fuzzy H (RIP) taught Bernie how to box. Only for the Wendy Williams type crowd, not real funkers who can see and read between the lines and do their homework using real research

[@newusernamehere4772]

George was actually proven innocent just recently, well innocent in the sense that he was on crack and accidentally signed away his soul which is common in the funk industry. He didn't intend on screwing over the band, that was all corporate meddling. He might not be a role model in EVERY sense but he's still got a damn good story to tell.

[@newusernamehere4772]

And they never got his soul btw, I thought the way you did and didn't listen to PFUNK at all for a while but George isn't and never was evil and I know that now. There are real villains in the world and some of them are way more famous and influential than GC unfortunately, but it remains consistent that you cannot fake the funk

[@jazzcookmusic5677]

Rick Rubin isn't very informed.

[@atomictraveller]

-ming i mean no one's gonna sit anyone down and say john quincy adams was antima5onic party and west papua is about to provide erudition just like nobody remembers oj was the same date as the mku1tra child r4pe verdict. we lilly

[@doriansteve6643]

Legendary

[@freeyourmindyourasswillfollow]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GEORGE!!!!!!

[@christophermitchum6829]

G...big g...ran d father of funk thru the mutha Sukkah,🤟😎✌️👆💥. Tore the roof off , d mug...💯🎶👍🎤✨

[@Hymn43]

Tetragrammaton. A Mars Volta trakk

[@atomictraveller]

music is used to control people, so is teh secrets cosmology epistemology lodges, rainbows an stuf, obvious stuf hey free west papua buddy

[@z-9693]

Uhhh... the Tetragrammaton is the 4 (tetra) Hebrew characters (gramma) of the name of God.

[@bmuhamad]

I met Rick at The Power Tools Club @ The Park Plaza Hotel, across from MacArthur Park, during the time of LL Cool J's "Rock The Bells". I was introduced to Rick by a Def Jam Photographer.

[@MrSpiderkells]

I seen George for round 2 at Electric picnic in Ireland. We waited in the bushes all day till it got dark so we could jump the fence to see the act. We were successful and got in just in time. What a show.