Leo Sayer Shares His Thoughts on The Passing of Sly Stone - Noise11.com
Sly Stone

Sly Stone

Leo Sayer Shares His Thoughts on The Passing of Sly Stone

by Leo Sayer on June 10, 2025

in News

There really is a riot going on right now, so what a poignant moment it seems to be to lose a hero I never met, yet a man I often imagined as my soul brother. I worked with many of his alumni (including the man who helped invent him, fellow San Fran disk jockey Tom Donahue), and to say they and he inspired me would be a useless understatement.

Sly’s talent was unique and that voice was not of this world – a baritone howl of oak, leather and sandpaper evoking fun, laughter, despair, and pain in equal measure.

Every one of he and the family’s records was masterful, with the subtle arrangements in those songs coming through the speakers like audio art.
He delivered these gems with such wildly original invention and with a voice that often equaled the range of Hendrix’s guitar.

His talent was not of this world, and that he survived down here as long as he has is nothing short of a miracle, considering his drug intake. Maybe he was meant to join the 27 club, yet he lived a long, though somewhat troubled life.

What has he left us with?

Some of the most heart wrenchingly soulful music any human ever created.

From the sheer joy and pure sexual release of ‘Dance to the Music’, ‘Everyday People’, ‘Thank You Falettin Me Ne Mice Elf (Again)’, and ‘I Wanna Take You Higher’, all the way to the funky sweet tenderness of ‘If You Want Me To Stay’, ‘Everybody Is a Star’, ‘Family Affair’ and the gorgeous ‘Que Sera Sera’, he leaves us enriched by his unique talent.

Thanks Sly, we really wanted you to stay, but our loss is heaven’s gain. We will play you forever down here while thanking you for letting us be ourselves again…

Rest in peace maestro!’

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow us at https://bsky.app/profile/noise11.bsky.social

Noise11 on Instagram

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath photo by Ros OGorman
Ozzy Osbourne Funeral Procession To Be Held In Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne will be laid to rest in Birmingham, England on Wednesday after a special funeral procession through his hometown.

16 hours ago
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons
Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons Will Be Performing Motörhead Classics In Australia

When Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons tour Australia in September, Motörhead fans do note … you will be getting a good chunk of Motörhead in the Bastard Sons setlist.

2 days ago
A Tribute To Bad Company
Bad Company To Get Their First Ever Tribute Album

Can’t Get Enough: A Tribute to Bad Company is a powerful salute to one of classic rock’s most enduring and influential bands. To be released in 2025, this compilation brings together a diverse lineup of modern rock and country stars to reimagine the soul, swagger, and grit of Bad Company’s legendary catalog. More than just a tribute, the album is a generational bridge—honoring the past while inviting new audiences into the band’s storied legacy.

2 days ago
Phil Collins Not Dead Yet Melbourne photo Noise11.com
Phil Collins Is Being Treated In Hospital For Knee Injury

Phil Collins has been hospitalised for recovery after knee surgery.

2 days ago
Billy Joel And So It Goes
Billy Joel Releases 155 Track Soundtrack To And So It Goes Documentary

With the two-part Billy Joel ‘And So It Goes’ documentary now streaming, Joel has released a massive 155 songtrack to the doco with all but three songs missing, due to clearance from Saturday Night Live and Old Grey Whistle Test.

3 days ago
Golden Earring
George Kooymans of Golden Earring Dies At Age 77

Dutch guitarist George Kooymans of Golden Earring has died at the age of 77 four years after being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease.

6 days ago
1975 Frank Zappa ‘One Size Fits All’ Gets A 50th Anniversary Makeover

‘One Size Fits All’, the 1975 Frank Zappa album considered by Zappa purists to be one of his best, is getting a remastered and expanded make-over.

6 days ago