Bringing the Mothership in for a Landing on the Rock

What better place to end this segment of the on-going P-Funkafable than with Kidd Funkadelic himself, guitarist Michael Hampton. 

 

Micheal Hampton was tapped by George Clinton to fill the rather large gap left in the Funkadelic line-up with the departure of Eddie Hazel. EH quit the band to join The Temptations in 1974, prompted by both financial & drug-related issues. The band found itself in need of a lead guitarist that could match Hazel's amazing soloing, but could also restrain himself for long funk workouts. Although Eddie returned to the P-Funk fold in an on-again / off-again manner, Kidd Funkadelic was the full-time guitar slinger

Micheal was invited to join the Funkadelic family at an after party gig following the P-Funkadelic show at the Capitol Center in Landover, MD, 1974. Funkadelic alum Tiki Fullwood asked Micheal & his cousin (current P-Funk bassist Lige Curry) to play at the party. Michael so impressed George Clinton that he was asked to join the group. He was seventeen years old.

Hampton's first studio work was on Bootsy's Rubber Band - Stretchin' Out In...  Hampton made his Funkadelic debut with the classic album Let's Take it to the Stage in 1976, along with Garry Shider. His excellent guitar playing was evident throughout the album. The album was full of fuzzy, Hendrix inspired licks, wailing harmonics & rhythms that were also meant for the dancefloor.

Later that same year Funkadelic released Tales of Kidd Funkadelic. Enough said.

Heavy Metal Funkason is Hampton's only "true" solo release. Three years earlier he released the six track P-Funk Guitar Riffs for DJs which was, as the title states, a collection of P-Funk guitar riffs for DJ use. Heavy Metal Funkason is the real deal, showcasing the heavy guitar stylings of Hampton with some sweet hot Pfunk.

Heavy Metal Funkason is: Michael 'Kidd Funkadelic' Hampton - lead & rhythm guitar, keyboards, & synth bass; Lige Curry - bass & backing vocals; & Roger Parker (Dayton, OH famed drummer [Faze-O & Slave]) - drums with occasional vocals by George Clinton, Lige Curry, & Charlie Wilson (The Gap Band). 

 

Michael Hampton - Heavy Metal Funkason, P-Vine Records PCD-5355, 1998.
decryption code in comments

Acappella Unsung Love Song (sloppy metal)
Sloppy Metal (unsung love song)
Me Anti?    
Tryin' to Get Out dis World Alive    
Heavy Metal Funkadelic    
Comebacksly
Club Metalfunkadelamack    
Cracked Up Soldier    
Wrongsididus    
Chronic Reggae    
Time to Get Up    
Duh Kidd Funkadelic Anthem
Backindadaze    
Girlz of duh World
Acappella Unsung Love Song (sloppy metal)

Funk out,
NØ