Did you ever see a performer that made you suppose, Whoa, I’ve to wrap my head round this? What do you imply?
Was there ever anyone that made you’re feeling like, I’ve acquired to know what this particular person’s doing? Oh, you imply somebody that got here after me and went to the following stage, and I used to be like, Whoa? No, by no means. I haven’t witnessed the following stage. The ceiling of the entire artwork type, standup comedy, that’s Richard. And the ceiling for motion pictures, for me, is Chaplin. I haven’t seen anybody come alongside that was higher than Chaplin.
I at all times questioned if Elvis was the affect behind a number of the onstage stuff you wore whenever you have been doing standup. Elvis had an enormous affect on me: the leather-based fits; in “Uncooked,” I come out, I’ve a shawl. I used to be rolling like Elvis, too. I didn’t have the Memphis Mafia, however I had my little crew of dudes. And the identical manner you see me wearing “Delirious” and in “Uncooked,” I used to decorate like that on the streets. I used to be completely in my Elvis journey. And after I acquired older, it was like, oh, my God, Elvis wasn’t cool in any respect. Elvis was going by means of some [expletive]. Now, Michael Jackson, that complete purple jacket factor in “Thriller”: “Thriller” is after “Delirious” after I owned the purple go well with. I’m not saying he was influenced, however I had on the purple jacket earlier than. [Laughs.]
Elvis, Michael Jackson, these guys achieved the apex of fame. Prince is one other like that. And there was a interval whenever you have been at that stage. Yeah, I went by means of all of that.
These guys all got here to tragic ends. Do you perceive the pitfalls that current themselves at that stage of fame? These guys are all cautionary tales for me. I don’t drink. I smoked a joint for the primary time after I was 30 years previous — the extent of medication is a few weed. I keep in mind I used to be 19, I went to the Blues Bar. It was me, Belushi and Robin Williams. They begin doing coke, and I used to be like, “No, I’m cool.” I wasn’t taking some ethical stance. I simply wasn’t concerned with it. To not have the will or the curiosity, I’d say that’s windfall. God was wanting over me in that second. While you get well-known actually younger, particularly a Black artist, it’s like residing in a minefield. Any second one thing may occur that may undo every little thing. It was like, all of these items is happening, and I’m completely oblivious. Now, at this age, I can look again and be like, “Wow, I got here by means of a minefield for 35 years.” How do you make it by means of a minefield for 35, 40 years? One thing needs to be wanting over you.
