Calling all Cartoon and Music fans!
I have a show that is the perfect combination of musical history, drugs, sex, and of course animation! The show was created by an animation icon Mike Judge, and is conveniently titled Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus. This show is not a brand new show, and is in fact in its second season, but it caught my attention this season through the Funk genre and I aim to reveal to you why it is an instant classic.
Tales from the Tour Bus first premiered September 22, 2017 through the genre of country, and was renewed for a second season to discuss the legends within Funk. The two seasons do not connect outside of the fact that musical influence can spread throughout genres, which basically means you do not have to watch season 1 first in order to understand season 2.
A unique and key aspect of Tales From The Tour Bus are the firsthand and secondhand storytelling coming from the music icons themselves, or if they are not able then from their bandmates, friends, peers, or professionals that worked near to them. The first season, the country genre, gives accounts on Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck, and Jerry Lee Lewis just to name a few.
Funkadelics!
Mike Judge narrates each episode himself and lets you know from the beginning that these stories may have pieces missing or are somewhat inaccurate due to drugs and time passed. Yet when you hear the true backstories of some of the most iconic moments in music history you will crave more, and will care less about the disclaimer. For example, take a peak at season 2 episode 4 on Bootsy Collins (my favorite)!
I feature a clip from Bootsy Collins’ episode because he was truly pivotal in helping bring about the shift that took place within the Funk genre. Yet before we dive into Bootsy Collins we are introduced to the Funk Originator, George Clinton! Funny enough George remembers less than Bootsy most times due to the drug LSD, and even still George is one heck of a storyteller.
Ever wondered how holding lighters up at concerts was started? Whelp look no further, because George Clinton is the King of Funk for a reason!
Thankfully, despite the many, many, many, many, many drugs George Clinton experimented with throughout his career he is still here to tell his story. Sadly, some of the other episode characters are not, such as Rick James, James Brown, and Prince (who will probably get his own episode in a different season). The season also includes Morris Day, and Betty Davis who did not give her firsthand account either.
Leave Behind a Legacy!
While reflecting on the show and my fixation with the storylines and lives of the characters, I realized the impact is felt very strongly due to its constant tie with mortality. Mortality is a topic we often aim to avoid yet are challenged by constantly. As we age, we begin searching for ways that we can leave a legacy on this planet. Whether it be through music, videos, writings, or even our children; regardless we want to be remembered. There are some professions that we assume will leave behind a more influential legacy, and we also hope to be alive to experience them, such as being a music icon. Yet for some, they are not present to grasp their full influential reach, or sometimes they experience the rise and the fall of their greatness prior to death. While watching Tales From The Tour Bus, its obvious that some of these icons experienced this, and some are not even alive to tell their own stories. Therefore, we should cherish the contributions to music and culture our legends present to the world while they are still here, or else they may revoke their talents like Betty Davis.
So Keep it Funky folks and tune in as I give you my Perky Perspective of each episode starting with season 2: George Clinton!
Written by: Perky of Perky Perspectives
