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When George Clinton's twin-engine funk machine Parliament-Funkadelic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, 15 members were named. Besides Clinton himself, none was more responsible for P-Funk's exuberant music than Garry Shider, the band's long-running guitarist, musical director and -- dressed only in a diaper -- lead superfreak. Shider died Wednesday at age 56 due to complications from brain and lung cancer, according to Newark, N.J.'s Star-Ledger.
Shider, who first found music in church, met Clinton in the New Jersey barbershop where the P-Funk universe was hatched. After a brief stint in Canada, where he cofounded a group called United Soul (US), Shider returned to the Garden State and joined Clinton's entourage full-time.
Over the years he co-wrote several P-Funk songs, had featured roles on such classics as 'Cosmic Slop' and 'One Nation Under a Groove' and collaborated on side projects by P-Funk colleagues including Bootsy Collins and Eddie Hazel.
But Shider was best known as Diaper Man, the fearless entertainer who always took the stage in a cloth diaper. In the wild costume party that broke out every night at P-Funk shows, Shider was always front and center, representing the eternal child for the Mothership Connection.
Death
In 2010, it was announced that Shider was suffering from cancer of the brain and lungs. On June 16, 2010, Shider died from complications of his cancer.[1] A fund has been set up to assist his family with paying his remaining medical bills.[2]
Shider is survived by his wife Linda.[img]
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Shider, who first found music in church, met Clinton in the New Jersey barbershop where the P-Funk universe was hatched. After a brief stint in Canada, where he cofounded a group called United Soul (US), Shider returned to the Garden State and joined Clinton's entourage full-time.
Over the years he co-wrote several P-Funk songs, had featured roles on such classics as 'Cosmic Slop' and 'One Nation Under a Groove' and collaborated on side projects by P-Funk colleagues including Bootsy Collins and Eddie Hazel.
But Shider was best known as Diaper Man, the fearless entertainer who always took the stage in a cloth diaper. In the wild costume party that broke out every night at P-Funk shows, Shider was always front and center, representing the eternal child for the Mothership Connection.
Death
In 2010, it was announced that Shider was suffering from cancer of the brain and lungs. On June 16, 2010, Shider died from complications of his cancer.[1] A fund has been set up to assist his family with paying his remaining medical bills.[2]
Shider is survived by his wife Linda.[img]
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