# We lost a legend: Bernie Worrell, keyboardist for Parliament Funkadelic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271 "2016-06-24T22:47:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/1 "2016-06-24T22:47:05Z")
This one strikes close to home. Mrs. Devil and I have been catching two to three P-Funk shows for well over a decade. We were lucky enough to catch Worrell with them within the past couple years. His rap (er, not singing rap, but existential journeys between songs) was on its own pantheonic. He will be sorely missed. ☹ [Bernie Worrell, ‘Wizard Of Woo,’ Dies At 72](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/24/482486305/bernie-worrell-wizard-of-woo-dies-at-72) (Nice touch in the headline) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/2 "2016-06-24T22:48:54Z")
2016 is the worst year ever for musicians and music fans. FUCK fuck fuck fuck fuck. Fuck cancer. RIP Mr. Worrell; you done awesome. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/3 "2016-06-25T00:07:40Z")
The article doesn’t mention that he’s the keyboardist for Talking Heads in their fantastic concert film **Stop Making Sense** , so I will now. RIP. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/4 "2016-06-25T01:35:13Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > The article doesn’t mention that he’s the keyboardist for Talking Heads in their fantastic concert film **Stop Making Sense** , so I will now. RIP. They kind of do: > [@](#): > > In the 1980s, Worrell helped reshape the sound of the Talking Heads and became a regular member of their expanded lineup. Damn shame. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/5 "2016-06-25T01:38:24Z")
Damn. It has been such a bad year for music. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/6 "2016-06-25T02:52:10Z")
2016-The year the music died. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/7 "2016-06-25T04:27:35Z")
Damn ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/8 "2016-06-25T11:11:36Z")
Announced in the NYTimes behind their paywall. Wow - what an essential voice to so much great, fun, interesting music, from Parliament/ Funkadelic, Talking Heads, as the foundation of the G-Funk of Dr Dre and Snoop, etc. Thank you, Mr. Worrell, for all the great music. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/9 "2016-06-25T11:14:33Z")
Shoot. Missed this - will report my thread. Yes. A great musician. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/10 "2016-06-25T11:28:22Z")
Threads merged ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/11 "2016-06-25T11:30:42Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/12 "2016-06-25T16:50:23Z")
Some of the most brilliant synths ever laid down in funk-dom…especially **[here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_90BGQSO7cg)** and **[here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jEU-tZyG2U)** (among other selections). And yes, his work with the Talking Heads wasn’t shabby either. May thee RIP, Wizard of Woo. ☹ ---
**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:** [June 25, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/13 "2016-06-25T17:38:44Z")
[One of my favorite P-Funk songs.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vBDET3kbI) Co-written by Bernie. Because you need two people to write this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/14 "2016-06-27T07:38:45Z")
As someone who has, improbably, made a decent living playing keyboards for going on three decades now, Worrell was an extraordinary role model (musical, not lifestyle) for me. In addition to his iconic work with P-Funk and Talking Heads, I strongly recommend his work with a band called Praxis (often featuring his P-Funk compatriot bassist Bootsy Collins). Especially I recommend the first Praxis album, [Transmission (Mutatis Mutandis)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmutation_(Mutatis_Mutandis)), a great record which features him on organ, an instrument he’s not necessarily always associated with. Great stuff! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/15 "2016-06-27T12:13:44Z")
I have heard of Praxis, but not listened. ::adds to list:: Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/16 "2016-06-27T14:59:33Z")
George Clinton and P funk played in SF for free yesterday and they gave a tribute to Bernie Worrell. It was a great concert. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/17 "2016-06-27T16:36:35Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > George Clinton and P funk played in SF for free yesterday and they gave a tribute to Bernie Worrell. It was a great concert. What do you think of the new gang of All-Stars? Biggest loss to us is Kim and the occasional Mary Washington, but grandson has come into his own (and finally stopped singing about Huggies). I can’t remember the exact name (Sweet Candy or something like that), but they have good pitch but kind of weak pipes. And tell us – was Ritchie “Shaken” Nagen there? Crazy fit, but an institution nonetheless. [QUOTE=Biggirl] One of my favorite P-Funk songs. Co-written by Bernie. Because you need two people to write this stuff. [/QUOTE] Love that, but remember the first time I listened to the words. _Not_ an upbeat dancy tune I thought it was! [Here’s the song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLYlrE2lPs) our son was born to. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/18 "2016-06-27T17:09:13Z")
> [@Hoops](#): > > As someone who has, improbably, made a decent living playing keyboards for going on three decades now, Worrell was an extraordinary role model (musical, not lifestyle) for me. > > In addition to his iconic work with P-Funk and Talking Heads, I strongly recommend his work with a band called Praxis (often featuring his P-Funk compatriot bassist Bootsy Collins). Especially I recommend the first Praxis album, [Transmission (Mutatis Mutandis)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmutation_(Mutatis_Mutandis)), a great record which features him on organ, an instrument he’s not necessarily always associated with. Great stuff! > [@WordMan](#): > > I have heard of Praxis, but not listened. > > ::adds to list:: > > Thanks! Praxis is one of Bill Laswell’s projects. This one started as a “rock band” project (with Buckethead at it’s center) but like all things Laswell, the original aim isn’t necessarily indicative of the end result. Basically, he put himself, Bernie Worrell, Bootsie Collins and Brain Mantia in a studio to see what they could come up with. **Hoops** gave you good advice to seek their first album; it’s truly amazing (as well as the most consistent until _Profanation_). If you like it but want something heavier, try _Sacrifist_. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/19 "2016-06-27T19:31:37Z")
That’s how I remember Praxis: Buckethead. I get Guitar Fatigue listening to him\*, so probably checked out a few tracks back in the day and moved on. \*he’s not just a shredder, but I can still only handle so much over the top playing. I can only handle so much Free Jazz, too 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271/20 "2016-06-27T21:27:39Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > That’s how I remember Praxis: Buckethead. I get Guitar Fatigue listening to him\*, so probably checked out a few tracks back in the day and moved on. > > \*he’s not just a shredder, but I can still only handle so much over the top playing. I can only handle so much Free Jazz, too 😉 That’s why that first Praxis album is so good: restraint. Bootsie and Bernie are the two guys who are used to bringing it all back and resolving things so they act as a terrific restraint and source of structure that kind of keep Buckethead and Laswell in check. _Sacrifist_ lacks that restraint (and has a way more free-jazz-by-way-of-industrial-metal sound) while 2008/2011’s _Profanation_ exhibits it again but also suffers from so many guest artists that consistency and cohesiveness become an issue (kind like what happened at times to another Laswell project (hip-hop this time), _Material_). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-lost-a-legend-bernie-worrell-keyboardist-for-parliament-funkadelic/758271.md?page=2)