Sly Lives!, a documentary about Family Stone legend Sly Stone, has been released on Hulu. The film features interviews with artists such as D’Angelo, Q-Tip, and Andre 3000 about Stone’s life and legacy, but does not include any direct quotes from the artist himself.
According to producer Joseph Patel, Stone was interviewed for a previous documentary in 2020 but declined participation due to his struggles with addiction. In an interview, Patel explained that Stone’s condition prevents him from participating in conversations, citing “precociousness and lucidity” in his eyes as evidence of the artist’s remaining mental acuity.
Patel stated that the decision not to include Stone in the film was made with the intention of being empathetic towards the artist. However, the producer also acknowledged that this approach may be seen as insensitive.
The documentary features contributions from several artists who knew Stone, including Nile Rodgers and Chaka Khan. The review from Rolling Stone praised the film’s portrayal of Stone’s legacy, saying it aims to “rescue” him from a narrative that focuses on his erratic past decades.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sly-lives-producer-sly-stone-wasnt-interviewed-documentary-1235266666