# I saw the Mothership in person **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219 "2011-08-02T20:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/1 "2011-08-02T20:55:19Z")
in Houston, 1970s (those years all kind of jumble up for me musically) When and where did you? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/2 "2011-08-02T20:58:58Z")
Did they probe you? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/3 "2011-08-02T21:06:59Z")
I was groped, but not probed. I had front row center tickets. My GF really got handsy … ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/4 "2011-08-02T21:30:19Z")
I’ve still never seen P-Funk, and I keep thinking that I really should go see ol’ George while I still can. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/5 "2011-08-02T21:38:51Z")
Over the years, I have seen George Clinton & P-Funk All-Stars at least a dozen times, here in Salt Lake, San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver (Red Rocks), Seattle, Austin and a few random Western ski-towns (Aspen, Jackson Hole) as well. The old guy has his issues, but he can still get the asses shakin’ and perfume the air with the smell of burning Moon Cabbage… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/6 "2011-08-02T23:46:17Z")
Around 2004 or so. In Amsterdam. During the Cannabis Cup. Can’t say I remember a whole lot about the show, but I’m pretty sure I had a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/7 "2011-08-03T01:36:16Z")
I saw the All-Stars minus George plus Bootsie at The Wetlands in NYC in the mid-80s. I remember that they were too loud for the intimate space and Gary in diapers. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/8 "2011-08-03T16:06:56Z")
Lollapalooza – it was either Camden or Philly, and either late '94 or early '95. “Shit! God damn! Get off your ass and jam!” still runs through my head every couple of days… ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/9 "2011-08-03T16:16:13Z")
Saw p-funk in Urbana, Illinois in 2008. It was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/10 "2011-08-03T23:11:04Z")
Shortly, you’ll be able to see the Mothership at the [Smithsonian Institution](http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/smithsonian-acquires-parliament-funkadelic-mothership/2011/05/18/AFHMvj6G_story.html). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/11 "2011-08-03T23:16:21Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Shortly, you’ll be able to see the Mothership at the [Smithsonian Institution](http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/smithsonian-acquires-parliament-funkadelic-mothership/2011/05/18/AFHMvj6G_story.html). I pledge allegiance to the Funk! ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/12 "2011-08-04T06:47:20Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Lollapalooza – it was either Camden or Philly, and either late '94 or early '95. For me it was Lollapalooza in the summer of '94 in Dallas. The whole day was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/13 "2011-08-04T20:21:07Z")
I thought you meant [this](http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19790906000) mothership, which is pretty cool up close. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/14 "2011-08-04T20:55:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Shortly, you’ll be able to see the Mothership at the [Smithsonian Institution](http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/smithsonian-acquires-parliament-funkadelic-mothership/2011/05/18/AFHMvj6G_story.html). This is the replacement. The original was damaged when President Clinton used it to drop da bomb on Iraq [during Operation Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Storm](http://www.theonion.com/articles/clinton-threatens-to-drop-da-bomb-on-iraq,787/). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/15 "2011-08-04T21:22:58Z")
Perhaps that’s what happened to it. [This Washington Post story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/11/AR2010041103996.html) says the original Mothership was lost in 1982. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/16 "2011-08-04T21:25:48Z")
“Lost” or destroyed after being turned into the world’s largest bong? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/17 "2011-08-04T21:30:47Z")
Was just listening to Motor Booty Affair this morning with the Dudeling. He’s just shy of two, so maybe a bit early to bring him to a live show. Maybe. When he was born the docs let us bring in our own music. Timing-wise, he was born to Flashlight. Don’t know when my first show was (not the 70s, though). Still catch them two to four times a year as they zigzag through the states and into NY. It’s been a few years since we missed them at BB Kings. Caught one of the first shows after Gary passed. Pretty moving. Still is, actually 🙂 Anyone know exactly when/why George cut his hair? Keep meaning to look into that. It’s been less than a year, I think. Current lineup is pretty hot. Kendra and Kim add a lot, as does Sativa and Mary Griffin (they both play just a couple songs generally). Not so keen on the grandson (not sure of his name); a bit weak in the voice and timing, but his lyrics are pretty good. Maybe he’ll grow into it. The Smithsonian ship is indeed a replica; they lost the original Mothership years ago. Love reading the occasional story about leads and its history. There was just something in the WaPost a year or two ago. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/18 "2011-08-04T21:35:52Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > “Lost” or destroyed after being turned into the world’s largest bong? You get as baked as George, you could lose a 1200 lb spaceship too. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/19 "2011-08-04T21:37:18Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Anyone know exactly when/why George cut his hair? Keep meaning to look into that. It’s been less than a year, I think. I started a thread on that exact subject a year or so ago—To date, it had the fewest replies of ANY thread that I have ever started… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219/20 "2011-08-04T21:39:37Z")
The closest I’ve found is references to some sort of benefit for Obama in New Jersey, but nothing substantiated. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-the-mothership-in-person/591219.md?page=2)