Bible, 11, 290, 292–93
Big Brother and the Holding Company, 94
Big Fun, 154
Big Motherfuckin’ Moe, 225–26
Big Red, 97–98
“Big Time,” 212
Bitches Brew, 145
“Blackbird,” 94
Black Panthers, 91
blacks, 5, 9, 17, 72–75, 88, 102, 121, 123, 129, 135, 149–51, 174, 200–204, 219, 224–25, 233, 237, 239, 260, 263, 268, 271, 278–79, 310
in Buffalo, 22, 28–30, 43–44, 46–49, 67, 130, 204
culture of, 46–48, 50
freebasing of, 227
and James’s childhood and adolescence, 28–30, 43, 46–49
and James’s life in Toronto, 61–62, 64, 67–68, 73–74, 83, 110–11, 143
Motown and, 74–75, 77–78, 116, 119, 186, 202
pride of, 46, 49
Teena Marie and, 197, 200–202
Vietnam War and, 53, 56–57, 144
with white women, 78, 149, 151, 289
See also racists, racism
Black Uhuru, 235
Blair, Linda, 235, 238, 247
Blakey, Art, 39, 54, 83
Bland, Bobby Blue, 64, 143, 168
Blood, Sweat & Tears, 120, 145–46
Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, 78
Bobo, Willie, 41
Boone, Steve, 72
Boss, The, 196
Boston, Massachusetts, 30, 203, 266–67, 273
Bowen, Jeffrey, 175–76
Bowie, David, 104
“Boy,” 245
Boys Are Back, The, 207
Brecker, Randy and Michael, 171
“Bring on the Love,” 316
Brooklyn, New York, 87–89, 92–93, 95
Brotha Guru, 69, 87–89
James’s defiance and, 243–44
James’s drug use and, 228–29, 294–95
James’s hits and, 198–99
and James’s life in prison, 307–12
James’s narcissism and, 169–70
James’s spirituality and, 294–95
James’s suicidal thoughts and, 169
James’s surrender and, 87
on Me Monster, 17–18, 48, 88, 199, 228–29, 311, 313, 317
Prince and, 210–11
spirituality of, 243–44
Brown, Charles, 210
Brown, James, 5, 41, 97, 112, 145, 172–74, 206, 209, 237, 321
Brown, Jim, 236, 244, 251, 266, 270–71, 297, 308
Brown, Peter, 172
Bruford, Bill, 138
B. T. Express, 172
Buddhism, Buddha, 136, 313
Buffalo, New York, 202–5, 212, 234, 261, 286
Afro Center in, 47–49
blacks in, 22, 28–30, 43–44, 46–49, 67, 130, 204
James’s life in, 15, 19–20, 22, 27–28, 30, 32, 37–41, 44–52, 54, 56, 78, 100, 130, 134, 161, 171–72, 204–5, 215–16, 230–31, 238–40, 245–47, 250–51, 255, 257–59, 263, 265, 268, 271–72, 279, 282, 290–92, 306, 309, 316
and James’s life in Toronto, 61–62, 67, 74
James’s surrenders and, 83, 87, 91
James’s trips to, 80–81, 83, 96–98, 142, 149, 153–54, 163, 170, 182–83, 214–17
racism in, 30, 32, 48–49, 204
Buffalo Evening News, 204
Buffalo Springfield, 65, 91, 104–5, 123
Burk, David, 137–38
Bush, George W., 317–18
Bustin’ Out: The Best of Rick James, 4
Bustin’ Out of L Seven, 1, 14, 194–96, 198, 202
Butler, Joe, 72
C
California Rehabilitation Center, 309
Canada, 59–61
See also Toronto
“Candy Man,” 245
Capitol Records, 65
Carter, Ron, 83–84
“Car Wash,” 167
Casablanca Records, 163
“Cash in Your Face,” 193
Catholics, Catholicism, 11, 23–26, 290
Chappelle’s Show, 5
Charles, Ray, 5, 64, 89, 139, 162, 196, 210, 225, 245, 266
autobiography of, 2–3
James’s drug use and, 253–55
Chateau Marmont, 235, 237–38, 269
Cheap Thrills, 94
Checker, Chubby, 39, 321
Chicago (band), 145
Chicago, Illinois, 54, 115, 130, 139, 215, 227–28
Chi-Lites, 54, 148
China Club, 280
Chong, Tommy, 78
Christians, Christianity, 11, 17, 40, 190, 289, 294, 320
Erni and, 46–48, 51
Chuck, 266–68, 273–74, 276
“Cinnamon Girl,” 138
Clark, Chris, 78, 202
Clark, Dick, 186–87, 232
Clarke, Kenny “Klook,” 71
Clayton-Thomas, David, 64, 120
Clinton, George, 5, 80, 110, 157–58, 163–64, 173, 193, 209–10, 220, 222, 245, 321
Coffey, Dennis, 117
“Coke,” 93
Cold Blooded (album), 247–48
“Cold Blooded” (single), 247
Cole, Nat King, 11, 210
Coleman, Ornette, 65
Colombia, 158, 161–65, 168
Colored Girls, 244–45
Coltrane, John, 22, 156, 237, 316
and James’s childhood and adolescence, 36–38, 41
Columbia Records, 175, 237, 246, 258
Come Get It!, 1, 14, 175–79, 184–85, 187, 191
Commodores, 175, 192
Continental Hyatt House, 175
Contours, 54
Cooke, Sam, 210
Corea, Chick, 93, 145, 154
Cornelius, Don, 178
“Country Girl,” 146
Country Joe and the Fish, 135
Criteria Studios, 97–98, 139
Cropper, Steve, 98
Crosby, David, 102, 126, 168
Crosby, Stills & Nash (album), 123
Crosby, Stills & Nash (group), 126–27, 148, 168
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, 127, 129, 135, 137–38, 146
Curb, Mike, 146–48
D
Daily Flash, 102
Dalí, Salvador, 213
Dallas, Texas, 225–26
“Dance ’N’ Be Happy,” 2
“Dance with Me,” 296
“Dance Wit’ Me,” 243
“Dancing in the Street,” 76
Danko, Rick, 62
Dating Game, The, 121
David, Hal, 118
Davis, Clive, 287–88
Davis, Miles, 9–10, 22, 37, 73, 83–84, 93–94, 144–45, 154, 156, 195, 225, 237, 316
Davis, Sammy, 106
Dean, James, 30, 71
“Dear Old Stockholm,” 156
Deeper Still, 318
Déjà Vu (album), 129
“Déjà Vu” (single), 201
Dells, 54, 111
de Passe, Suzanne, 176–78, 191
Detroit, Michigan, 54, 118–21, 138
comparisons between Buffalo and, 215
Motown and, 74, 82, 113–16, 118–19, 221
Mynah Birds and, 74–75, 80, 82, 115, 175, 186
Detroit Pistons, 41
Di Meola, Al, 137
“Disco Duck,” 172
Disneyland, 104
Divided Soul (Ritz), 3
Dixon, Willie, 137
Doc, 88–90, 92–96
“Dock of the Bay, The,” 96
“Does Your Mama Know About Me?,” 78
Dolphy, Eric, 37
Donovan, 103
“Don’t You Worry,” 146
Doors, 104, 118
Dowd, Tom, 139–40
“Do You Believe in Magic,” 72
Dr. Detroit, 234
“Dream On,” 174
Drifters, 296
Dunn, Duck, 94
Dupree, Cornell, 98
Duprees, 54, 56
Dylan, Bob, 62, 65, 103–4
E
East Bay Grease, 145
Eaton, John Craig, 73–75, 81–82
“Ebony Eyes,” 247, 310
Echols, Johnny, 102–3
“Ecstasy,” 154
Eddie, 88–90
Eduardo’s, 182
Edwards, Dennis, 80, 236
Electric Lady, 258
Elektra Records, 288
Eliot, T. S., 238
Elizabeth, Princess of Yugoslavia, 262–63, 266, 281–82
Elke, 74, 81, 90, 96, 142–43
Ellington, Duke, 220
Enza, Amopuza, 47
Enza, Ty, 47–48
Erni, Malcolm
black culture and, 46–48, 50
James’s drug use and, 46, 51, 53–54, 56
James’s relationship with, 46–51, 53–54, 56–57, 60–61, 68
Vietnam War and, 53–54
Evans, Gil, 145
F
Farm Aid, 279
Farrakhan, Louis, 271, 320
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 68, 80, 82–84, 90
James’s surrenders to, 83–84, 87, 92
Feliciano, José, 118
Ferrone, Steve, 268
Fillmore West, 138
Fine, Madam, 286–87
“Fingertips,” 42, 78–79
“Fire and Desire,” 15, 217–18, 315
Fire It Up, 14, 205, 207, 216
Fire Next Time, The (Baldwin), 48
Fire Ride, 92–95
Fisher, Carrie, 269
Flack, Roberta, 148, 320
Flag, The, 276, 278
“Flash Light,” 182
Fleischman, Mark, 219
Flye, Tom, 205
Folger, Abigail, 133
Folsom State Prison, 17, 307, 309–10, 312, 316
4-Tay, 314
Four Tops, 41–42, 76
France, 155, 283, 285–86
Franklin, Aretha, 97, 135, 139, 200
Franklin, Melvin, 77, 236
“Free to Be Me,” 276
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The, 292
Frykowski, Voytek, 133
Funderburg, Joanne McDuffie “JoJo,” 245, 315
funk, 2, 5–6, 9, 15, 104, 110, 118, 137, 139, 145, 152, 172–74, 185, 188, 195, 205, 213, 219, 237, 243, 257, 268, 276, 318
Clinton and, 80, 157, 163, 173, 193, 220, 222, 321
and James’s childhood and adolescence, 27, 42, 64–65, 93–94
and James’s trip to Germany, 13–14
Prince and, 208–10
Reeves and, 120, 123, 127
White Cane and, 147, 154
Funk Brothers, 42, 117
Funk Fest, 220–21
“Funk in America/Silly Little Man,” 276, 278
“Funkin’ Around,” 155
“Funk Me,” 193
“Funky Stuff,” 154
Fuqua, Harvey, 79, 114
Furay, Richie, 101, 123
G
Gamble, Kenny, 148
Gap Band, 216, 220, 315
Garden of Love, 212, 219
Gaye, Anna Gordy, 77, 190
Gaye, Frankie, 314
Gaye, Jan, 190, 221–23, 230–31, 237–38, 246, 249–50, 269, 272, 275, 281, 297, 319–20
Gaye, Marvin, 1–3, 42, 106, 114–15, 119, 144–46, 154, 167, 173, 177–78, 182, 225, 290
death of, 3, 5, 249–50, 275, 320
funk and, 145, 152, 193
James’s relationship with, 1–2, 75–77, 79, 104, 144, 146, 177, 180, 189–93, 210–11, 216–17, 222, 244, 246–47, 314
politics of, 115, 144, 222, 277
wives of, 77, 190, 221–23, 230–31, 237–38, 246, 275, 281
Gene Krupa Story, The, 71
Germany, 13–14, 81, 155, 235–36
“Get Off of My Cloud,” 67
“Gettin’ It On (In the Sunshine),” 212
“Get Up and Dance,” 170–71
Getz, Stan, 156
Ghant, Candice “Candi,” 245
Gillespie, Dizzy, 145
“Give It to Me Baby,” 217–18
Gladden, Al (stepfather), 40
Gladden, Mabel (mother), 10, 77, 80–84, 93, 96–99, 157, 182, 216, 220, 230, 245–46, 261–63, 265, 279, 306
death of, 299, 316
grandchildren of, 142, 239–40
illness of, 297, 299
numbers running of, 19, 21–25, 27, 33, 46, 80, 130, 139, 171, 194, 203, 275
and son’s childhood and adolescence, 19–36, 38–40, 43–44, 46–47, 49, 51, 54, 57–59, 61, 68, 134, 316
son’s drug dealing and, 153–54, 163
son’s drug use and, 251–53, 267, 297, 299
and son’s move to LA, 98–99
son’s prison escape and, 90–91
son’s relationship with, 19–20, 26–27, 33–35, 38–40, 80–81, 98–99, 111–13, 128, 134–35, 139, 148, 153, 156, 163, 168, 170–71, 173, 193–94, 203–5, 214, 232, 234, 239–40, 251–53, 259, 261, 269, 271, 282, 286–87, 297–98, 316
son’s surrenders and, 82–84, 91–92
Vietnam War and, 54, 57–59, 61
Gladden, Penny (half sister), 23, 40, 45, 227, 266, 271, 286, 299, 315
Glow, 264–65, 268
Goldwater, Barry, 44
Goodman, Benny, 145
“Good Ol Days,” 315
“Good Rockin’ Daddy,” 20
Gordon, Shep, 202, 213–14
Gordy, Berry, Jr., 113–16, 119–21, 144–45, 184–87, 190, 212, 221–22, 244, 255, 275, 277–78, 282, 287, 320
James’s hits and, 175–76, 185–87, 191–92, 195, 236
and James’s producing for Ross, 195–96, 201
Mynah Birds and, 75–79, 186
Teena Marie and, 200–202
Gordy, Fuller, 201
“Got to Give It Up,” 1, 177, 222
Graceland, 224–25
Graham, Bill, 138–39
Graham, Larry, 93–94, 216
Grand Master Flash, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, 220, 247, 260
Grateful Dead, 135, 205
Great Britain, 65–67, 79, 129, 138–39, 155, 234–35, 237, 268
Green, Al, 148, 162, 200, 258
Greenwich Village, 36–37, 61, 71–72, 258–60
Greta, 14
H
Hall, Coffey, 137–38
Hammer, MC, 296, 314
Hancock, Herbie, 83–84, 154, 280
“Happiness Is a Warm Gun,” 94
Hardaway, Calvin, 118, 184
Hard Day’s Night, A, 66–67
Harder They Come, The, 217
Harlem, 38, 118
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, 148, 202
Hathaway, Donny, 148, 320
Hawaii, 213–14, 222, 231, 237, 301
Hawkins, Bunty, 246–47
Hawkins, Kenny, 247
Hawkins, Ronnie, 62
Hawks, 62
Hayes, Isaac, 152, 173, 271
Hearst, William Randolph, 1, 193
“Heart of Gold,” 148
Heaven and Earth, 122
Helm, Levon, 62
Henderson, Fletcher, 321
Henderson, Michael, 154
Hendrix, Jimi, 79, 92–94, 129, 135, 138, 155, 258, 288
Here, My Dear, 189–90, 222, 246
“Hey Jude,” 112
Hillard, Mr., 41–42, 47
Holiday, Billie, 19
Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH), 115, 173, 178
“Hollywood,” 172–73
“Horse with No Name, A,” 148
Hotter Than July, 184
“Hound Dog,” 28
House of Blues, 316–17
Houston, Whitney, 287
Howe, Steve, 138
Hudson, Garth, 62
Huff, Leon, 148
Hughes, Lanise and Nate, 183
Hunt, Linda, 204, 268, 286–87, 320
“Hustle,” 172
Hutton, Timothy, 235–36
I
Idol, Billy, 259
Ienner, Jimmy
“the Tooth,” 147
“If You Don’t Want My Love,” 65
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” 77, 106
“I Just Want to Make Love to You,” 137
Iman, 219
“I’m a Sucker for Your Love,” 196, 201
“I’m Gonna Have My Cake (And Eat It Too),” 201
“I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby,” 152
Impressions, 54
In a Silent Way, 145
India, 150–53
Inflated Tear, The, 94
“In My House,” 259, 268
In ’n’ Out, 205
In Our Lifetime, 2
Irving, Norman and John, 195
“Island Lady,” 212
Isley Brothers, 64, 77, 173, 220
Italians, 19, 43, 173, 182, 274
It Must Be Magic, 219–20
“It’s My Time,” 76, 79
“I’ve Got So Much to Give,” 152
“I Wanna Be Your Lover,” 207–8
I Want You (album), 189–90, 246
“I Want You” (single), 167
“I Want You Back,” 116
“I Wish It Would Rain,” 111, 116
J
Jack London and the Sparrows, 65
Jackson 5, 78, 115–16, 176, 198–99
Jackson, Michael, 115–16, 210, 237, 258, 276, 279
Jagger, Mick, 67
Jamerson, James, 42, 117, 120, 126–27, 137
James, Etta, 4, 20–21, 28, 200
James, Kelly (first wife), 143–44, 148–57, 164–67, 172, 179
James, Rick, Jr. (son), 239–40, 301, 317
James, Rick, Sr. (James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.)
alcohol consumed by, 13, 26, 135–36, 162, 221, 258, 260, 272, 280, 304, 311, 315, 318
ambitions and plans of, 15, 38, 41–42, 68, 70, 94, 121, 123, 129, 141–42, 145–46, 148, 152, 154–55, 158, 172–73, 193–95, 199, 321
assault charges against, 298–99, 305
awards and honors of, 42, 56, 78, 205, 232, 237, 288, 296
birthdays of, 111–12, 210, 285
birth of, 23, 215, 306
breakdown of, 308–9
burglary arrest of, 110–11
as cartoon character, 198–99
childhood and adolescence of, 10, 15, 19–68, 70–84, 87–98, 130, 134, 150–51, 183, 215–16, 290, 306, 309, 316
children of, 141–44, 229–30, 239–40, 275, 282, 301–2, 307, 312, 317
competitiveness of, 206, 208, 210, 222, 236, 244–45, 257, 287, 296
confidence of, 41–42, 69, 94, 105, 110, 141–42, 155, 170, 174, 312, 315
creativity of, 5–6, 9, 46, 68, 207, 280, 296, 320
death of, 5–6, 319–21
defiance of, 205, 243–44, 268, 321
depression of, 5, 167–68, 170, 257, 260–61, 263, 265, 278, 296–99, 306
downfall of, 236, 248, 250–51, 256, 265, 279
dreams of, 9–11, 248, 264
drug dealing of, 150–54, 157–58, 162–65, 168, 171
drug overdoses of, 250, 257
drugs used by, 2, 5, 10, 13–16, 45–46, 49–54, 56, 60, 71–72, 81, 83, 89–90, 96–97, 101–2, 104–5, 109, 121, 123–24, 127, 130–31, 135–37, 151–52, 154, 157, 163, 165, 168, 172, 174, 176, 180, 184–85, 187–89, 194, 203, 205, 213, 217, 221, 224, 226–29, 231, 235, 238–40, 244, 248–60, 262–63, 265, 267, 270–72, 277–81, 283, 285–90, 293–95, 297–306, 315, 318–20