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Keith Rasputin wrote
Didn't like him much, dodgy wife-beater, says it all really...

Oh yeah!
James Brown was brought up in a brothel and left to fend for himself most of his childhood. He became one of the most, if not, the most influential black musician in the last 50 years. Watch a James Brown performance to see where Michael Jackson and Prince got much of their influences from. He is the most sampled performer of all time and had a great impact on the development of soul, rap and funk. His black consciousness music at a time of endemic racism/segregation in the States provided strength to millions.
He was no angel that was for sure having a quick temper and intermittent drugs problems. But three days before his death he was helping to distribute gifts to underprivileged families as part of a charitable foundation he ran.

Obviously, there was much more to James Brown than "dodgy wife-beater, says it all really".

Rest in peace James Brown

David

Very nice come back David.

He was a legend, I've seen him twice over the last few years. The last one only last summer at the Oxygen festival in Ireland. His stage show was awesome.

No doubt a Hollywood exec has already greenlit a biopic for the man.

Just read Spike Lee has signed to direct the biopic, after he rewrites an existing screenplay.

Can't believe anyone hasn't mentioned the spooky coincidence that Mr. Brown passed away at more or less the same time as the Great British Godfather of Soul....Charlie Drake.

Not everyones taste admittedly, Charlie 'Parker' Drake brought together both black and white soul fans and merged them together into a sort of murky grey substance (apparantly Enoch was a convert) in the mid sixties.

Such haunting lyrics as "Hello my Darlings" were, many said, the forerunner of Jim Morrison and The Doors. In fact it was noted by Jim that if it had not been for Charlie the "Doors may have been left ajar"

I could go on, but frankly the rather fine malt whisky i have been indulging in has almost gone, suffice to say that if you check out the post dedicated to Mr.Drake earlier on this forum, you will see that only 2 people have responded. What a sad indictment on the British soul scene. !shocked! !tears!

James Brown had a HUGH impact on music ALL over the world. Fela Kuti was influenced by him when James and his band came to Africa to play and jam with Fela in turn coming with a new music called Afro Beat (James music was all about the ONE). Heck! When I heard that record "Hot Stuff" by the Stones when Mick played guitar on it, the opening licks reminded me of Jimmy "Chank" Nolen's style of guitar strumming with The JB's so The Stones and any other group influenced by R&B in the UK pay hommage! John Bonham's drumming was funky sometimes. He needed to pay hommage as well to Clyde Stubblefield of the JBs. Listen to "Bewildered", "I Got The Feeling" and "Give It Up Or Turn It Loose" off the Sex Machine album and you'll see where John copped his licks from Clyde only John played harder.

On the subject of Spike Lee. I see nothing wrong with him being self publicizing. He is a little Napoleon with the talent to back it up.

I'll admit his movies havent been consistent but Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Mo Better Blues, Malcolm X and Clockers stills stands as some of my favourite movies by him and I will always give him credit for having his own style and conveying a mood unique to his style without having to resort to overt commercialism.

The fact he seems to credit himself several times over is more testament to him as a film maker. he is more hands on (read: control freak) than most but I bet he doesnt give a damn what people think about him,,,But Paramount/ UIP always seems to give him the money he needs to make a movie because his independent style does have a following.

And the Inside Man was good too btw