Rick James Found Dead.

[911SC Pilot]

BREAKING NEWS

L.A. police say singer died of apparent natural causes


The Associated Press
Updated: 3:31 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2004LOS ANGELES - Funk legend Rick James, best known for the 1981 hit “Super Freak,” died Friday, apparently of natural causes, police said. He was 56.

James died at 9:45 a.m. at a residence near Universal City, said Officer Esther Reyes, a Police Department spokeswoman.

“He died apparently of natural causes. We learned of his death after responding to a radio call,” Reyes said.

After his big hit, James’ fame began to fade as he became embroiled in drugs and legal problems.

James was convicted in 1993 of assaulting two women. The first attack occurred in 1991 when he restrained and burned a young woman with a hot pipe during a cocaine binge at his house in West Hollywood. He was free on bail when the second assault occurred in 1992 in James’ hotel room.

James was sentenced to more than two years in state prison.

In 1997, he released a new album, but a year later he suffered a stroke while performing at Denver’s Mammoth Events Center, derailing a comeback tour.

In 1998 he also underwent hip replacement surgery.

[RickM]

Wow, lately he seemed very overweight.

[Rot 911]

Guess his woman beating days are over.

[juanbenae]

"cocaine is a powerful drug man" as he said on chapelle show's charlie murphy's true hollywood stories.

[lendaddy]

waiting............

[nostatic]

Originally posted by lendaddy
waiting............

ok...I'll say the obvious. RJ was another victim of the right-wing conspiracy.

[juanbenae]

you are the worst len. did i mention MY vote for kerry will cancel out your vote for bush?

[Mulholland]

Gee, I hope the super freak found Jesus...if he thought jail was bad....ouch.

[dd74]

Originally posted by lendaddy
waiting............

...for Godot?

[nostatic]

Originally posted by dd74
...for Godot?

ahh...so Godot was deep throat.

[RickM]

Wonder if there are any kinky girls where he is right now......Ya know, the Super Freak kind....

[speeder]

Knew him pretty well, just had to call my ex and tell her. She grew up w/ him in Buffalo N.Y., (he was a little older), we tried to help him overcome his addiction problems back in the early '90s. Very sad.

He was a very nice guy, just plagued w/ demons like so many people.

[dd74]

Rick James was great! He and a couple Parliament albums and the original Sugarhill Gang, and the day was set...

[island911]

wow. ..Rick James .. dead at 56 . .that's super-freaky.

[RickM]

Originally posted by speeder

He was a very nice guy, just plagued w/ demons like so many people.

Did he ultimately straighten out? He seemed pretty level headed on a recent show....

[speeder]

Haven't seen him in years, so I couldn't say.

[Leader]

Very sad. Rick James was a big talent, but a walking disaster as a human being. "Super Freak" still works today...hear it all the time.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by lendaddy
waiting............

"I'm Rick James, b1tch!"

[cantdrv55]

MC Hammer ruined Super Freak for me. Mary Jane is my favorite Rick James song.

[speeder]

MC Who-mer?

I remember being at a party in about summer of '81, I was in college in U of Minn., went to a party in a mansion on a lake in the city and was hitting on a girl. At the end of the night, she and I + her friend got a ride downtown from a Saudi prince in his new Guards Red 930, (grey market w/ Saudi license plates), 3 AM, still hot outside, "Super Freak" playing on the radio, sitting in the little jump seats w/ my brand new honey while our chauffer got into boost in 2nd, ........................

Never remembered to thank him for his contribution to one of the sublime moments of my young life. That's all it is, right? A collection of moments? Sorry, I'm getting all nostalgic here.

RIP, Rick James.