Pete- Another great piece explaining and documenting an extremely tumultuous time, socially and in music's evolution, which left those of us coming up at the time both exhilarated and confused as events were moving fast. At the time of the July 1970 Grant Park free concert, we were sophomores a Notre Dame High School, and since seeing the Woodstock doc, I had become a big Sly fan and wanted to attend. I had become accustomed to riding my bike from Park Ridge to Gilson Beach in Evanston, so on that day, I rode south from the Northshore and arrived at Grant Park just as the crowd began to angrily chant due to Sly’s late arrival or no-show (nobody knew which). The crowd was huge and I couldn’t get anywhere close to the stage so climbed a tree to get a better view when all hell broke loose and people began running out of the park into the downtown. Freaked out, I quickly made my exit heading north along the lakeshore on my bike till I could safely head west through Skokie. The experience never did dull my appreciation of Sly Stone’s music but did keep me from attending any more free concerts.
Wow! Great story, Bob. Yep, the Woodstock film was in theaters that June so the July free concert sounded to all of us like a mini-woodstock, especially after watching Sly's performance and his feel-good vibes. Can't believe you did that trip on your own on a bike! Bet you had some 'splainin to do when you got home!
Awesome review of Sly and the Family Stone. Having attended the previously mentioned concert with Mac at Northwestern's Basketball Arena in the summer of 1971 on a dirt floor waiting hours for the start... your review brings home great memories of the music and energy... and anger ...Thanks
Eggs, mighty fine story above Sly. Once went to a Sly&Fam-Stones concert at NU where the crowd became read eyed boo-birds, ready to throw hammers if Sly dared to arrive another minute late
Yeah, his drug addiction tanked what could have become an amazing career. He had all the ingredients for success...his band, songwriting, attitude....different strokes for different folks.
My parents never knew what I did. This was back in the days when kids we free to roam on their bikes from dawn to dark.
Much hope here for this holiday time of year.
"Makes no difference what group I'm in
I am everyday people, yeah, yeah"
Pete- Another great piece explaining and documenting an extremely tumultuous time, socially and in music's evolution, which left those of us coming up at the time both exhilarated and confused as events were moving fast. At the time of the July 1970 Grant Park free concert, we were sophomores a Notre Dame High School, and since seeing the Woodstock doc, I had become a big Sly fan and wanted to attend. I had become accustomed to riding my bike from Park Ridge to Gilson Beach in Evanston, so on that day, I rode south from the Northshore and arrived at Grant Park just as the crowd began to angrily chant due to Sly’s late arrival or no-show (nobody knew which). The crowd was huge and I couldn’t get anywhere close to the stage so climbed a tree to get a better view when all hell broke loose and people began running out of the park into the downtown. Freaked out, I quickly made my exit heading north along the lakeshore on my bike till I could safely head west through Skokie. The experience never did dull my appreciation of Sly Stone’s music but did keep me from attending any more free concerts.
Wow! Great story, Bob. Yep, the Woodstock film was in theaters that June so the July free concert sounded to all of us like a mini-woodstock, especially after watching Sly's performance and his feel-good vibes. Can't believe you did that trip on your own on a bike! Bet you had some 'splainin to do when you got home!
Pete,
Awesome review of Sly and the Family Stone. Having attended the previously mentioned concert with Mac at Northwestern's Basketball Arena in the summer of 1971 on a dirt floor waiting hours for the start... your review brings home great memories of the music and energy... and anger ...Thanks
Don't know how I missed that one with you guys?
https://substack.com/@peteschoice/note/c-45775111?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=7hh0c
Sadly
Sly Stone
PASSED
RIP
June 9, 2025
Awesome piece, Pete. I loved their music!
Eggs, mighty fine story above Sly. Once went to a Sly&Fam-Stones concert at NU where the crowd became read eyed boo-birds, ready to throw hammers if Sly dared to arrive another minute late
Yeah, his drug addiction tanked what could have become an amazing career. He had all the ingredients for success...his band, songwriting, attitude....different strokes for different folks.
I might have been at the same concert, Dan!