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George Clinton's Mothership: 50 Years of Funk in Space
12 Mar
Summary
- George Clinton debuted his $500,000 Mothership in 1976.
- The Mothership symbolized taking Black people into outer space.
- A new Mothership tour is planned for July 2026.
Fifty years ago, George Clinton unveiled the groundbreaking Mothership, a half-million-dollar spaceship that redefined live music performances. Debuting in New Orleans on October 27, 1976, the Mothership was the centerpiece of the P-Funk Earth Tour. It symbolized Clinton's decade-long ambition to transport his audience, particularly Black Americans, into an imagined outer space.
The concept stemmed from Parliament-Funkadelic's album "Mothership Connection" and featured characters like Starchild and Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk. The elaborate production included outrageous costumes, theatrical skits, and pioneering funk hits, blending themes from the civil rights movement with NASA's space race. Lighting designer Jules Fisher and stage designer Peter Larkin helped bring this theatrical vision to life.
