Sly Stone Reportedly Living Out of Van; Substance Abuse and Financial Mismanagement Take Toll on Fun

Sly Stone is trending after a piece in the New York Post reported that the reclusive soul-music icon is homeless and living out of a conversion van in Los Angeles due to a "lethal combination of excess, substance abuse, and financial mismanagement."

During the ?60s and ?70s, the songwriter lead Sly and the Family Stone to prominence with a memorable performance at Woodstock and hit records like Dance to the Music and Stand!

Stone, 68, is still recording music with the help of a laptop computer, and while he says he?s distrustful of the industry, he has hopes of finding his way back onstage by collaborating with current stars like Lady Gaga.

[haroldgarrett]

Damn shame. I met Sly and the Family Stone back in the early seventies at Kent State University in Ohio. I was walking across the parking lot when their limo pulled up. I overheard a comment he made to Cynthia and Cynthia started dissing him about it. He asked me to co-sign on his comment and I did. He asked me if I wanted to get in free. I said yeah and he handed me a guitar case. Some of the coolest people on Earth to this day. Nice van Sly. Peace on the northside.

[celticlavender]

Be strong Sly! You were a huge part of my childhood, and I would LOVE to hear your new music!!!!

[randyreal]

You'd think with all the musicians who stole his music one of them could put him up in one of there homes.

[TooSkinnyKenny]

my goodness, no one who has written as many classic songs as he has and been covered and sampled as many times as he has should be in the position he's in.

[TheRevglk]

This brother is a living legend, I dont think he misses any meals, When Larry Graham left the family stone they were never the same. That is the music industry. dont cry no tears for sly, he got friends in high places.

[dorothysimon]

This man is a living legend I have and always will love sly. Hang on in there sly!!

[larrycom]

It's a nice 20 ft RV, not a conversion van!!!

[MrPrincepop]

Drugs stole this man's talent a long, long, time ago before it even got to this state. Don't get me wrong I loved this man's music, but he won't even be a 10th of what he was regardless of what artist works with him. Him and my father are the same age and I watched my pops fight his drug habit off and on for 20 years. (Crack if anyone was wondering.) It just saddens me to see Sly still battling his habit. It literally robs you of everything.

[hndrxuntilidie]

It's hard not to cry. This is very sad! I know that dealing with drug addicts is hard work, but they can at least try. This man is a legend who had influenced a WHOLE bunch of people. Get this man out of the VAN!

[zenmind]

This man was my hero back in the '60s and '70s. We knew he had a drug problem back then, but we were all dabbling with something or another. It was fashionable. This is so sad. The drug scourge of later years took a lot of us to rehab(s), some of us more often than others. A LOT of us got clean. Why not Sly? Sure, every addict has to take responsibility, but when I think of how some of today's musicians have ripped him off and are now watching idly, I get sick...Rest in peace, Sly.

[CHUBBLEMAKA]

N DON'T WORRY SLY, LORD WILL PROVIDE

[bigfootskitty]

Don't worry for sly. He's still in the prayers of family who care about him, And the lord ain't forgetting him for the way he made A difference. He's Just A good ol' Fallible human being like the rest of us, Just "Every day People". Respect, even so. ... ANYONE who made A bad choice out of desperation could be right there with him. nobody's mistake Proof!

[millionsnette]

Wow!! This is horrible to hear. Come on Sly...just fight the urge to put that garbage into your system. I didn't realize that according to this you're only 68 years old. Do you realize that you're no where near old. You should be still performing. You still got it. Don't let anybody fool you. Use your head Sly. I hope you read this and take heed. GOD bless.

[tylermoore]

My dream is to live out of a conversion van.

[savagecabage]

how can you be homeless if your living in a van? it looks like a pretty decent camper van too

[nabisho]

Go get 'em Sly - show 'em what a truly great talent can do even when we get older - you can do it you man, teach that Lady Gaga how to really jam. - NAB :-)

[ah]

I love the comments about how rappers have sampled but ain't giving back.

[hndrxuntilidie]

@sweetrealdeal, I don't know...it is still disturbing. He's not going to say he's unhappy, he can't be happy. Anyway you sliced it, it's sad.

[bnunez]

drugs can down you quick, ,sly was a driving force with his funky soul sound in the 70s, , a soul band with so many hits, ,songwriter too!! ur mind loses ever time to force the devil in ur system, , [the devil in this case is drugs] i saw he =s living out of a van, sooo sad for a man with so much talent!!1 was in high school sly and the family stone was a top band soul band so funky

[catdog]

you can come live with me SLY, I worship you homie