‘We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up ev’rybody and sing’.
One of the most famous opening lines of a dancefloor groove ever. Who can’t get down to this when this record comes on? Sisters’ Debbie, Kim, Joni and Kathy are simply a phenomenon since starting their Disco route back in the 70s. Well let’s be honest, Disco wouldn’t be what it is today without these divas and we’re so glad they’re still making us move. The past fortnight has seen the girls tearing up the dancefloor of El Divino at the brilliant ‘Carwash’ night. ‘Carwash’ is a phenomenon. You know somewhere is kinda special when you have perhaps the best Disco band of all time – Chic telling them “through the Disco winter of the 1990s, we knew all about you guys keeping the Disco fire burning.” This year sees the night teaming up with their stylish counterparts from Paris and some of East London’s current Nu Disco DJs ripping it up. Kym Mazelle will be appearing in August alongside Sheena, one of Nu Disco’s rising stars’. Barbara Tucker closes the season off on September 19th.
DMC, welcome Joni Sledge…
Hi Joni, an absolute honour to speak to you. A bit of a strange two-way interview here, I am sitting by the sea in Croatia whilst you are sitting on a beach having lunch in Ibiza. So is this your first trip to the white isle?
“Hi Dan, yes it is and what a place. I have met some beautiful people, seen some breathtaking beaches, wonderful restaurants and the whole atmosphere is so lovely. It sure is wonderful.”
This weekend will see your second appearance at ‘Carwash’ at El Divino after last week’s show, one of the most stunning nightclubs in the world overlooking Ibiza Old Town. What has been your highlight so far?
“Can I tell you Dan, I don’t think we’ve been to bed yet, this place is alive twenty-four hours a day. Our villa is just incredible and we can see the whole of the island from our terrace. Obviously the party last week at the club was am eye opener, also Nigel who runs the night, organised the most fabulous boat trip to take us to Formentera the other day which blew us away.”
So, four sisters aged between 12 and 16 growing up in West Philadelphia in 1971, your mother Flo was an entertainer too, but it was your grandmother Viola who got you together singing at various charity and civic events, she must have been so important in the success of Sister Sledge…
“Oh absolutely, our house was always filled with people singing in different rooms. Our grandmother was a treasure. I have so many happy memories about her. To begin with, we weren’t formed as a band, it was simply four girls having a hobby that they loved. Singing at various events and churches such as The Second Macedonia Baptist Church and known as the ‘Mrs Williams Children’. The band thing came later when Charles Simmons saw us singing and we released ‘Mama Never Told Me’ which as well as entering the US chart, also hit the UK chart.”
So other than getting you out in the public eye, how else did your grandmother help you in your career that has seen hundreds of awards and millions and millions of records sold?
“Well Dan, she was a lyrical soprano and she was the first in her generation to sing like she could. She had a trained ear for harmonies and that’s why, from an early age, we could all harmonise perfectly.”
Who is the bossiest Sledge sister?
“Ha ha, no one has ever asked me that. Kim Sledge by far, we call her ‘The Flying Nun’.
Who is the messiest Sledge sister?
“And no one has ever asked me that either. Myself I am afraid. I have way too much stuff, I have so many people helping around the house because I have so much to do in my life, there just ain’t enough time to do it all. Once a year I have a clothes sale when I just empty my wardrobe and start over. It hurts selling amazing clothes for a Dollar I can tell you!”
You had various minor successes on various labels such as Money Back and Atco on both sides of The Atlantic, but really exploded when in 1979 you teamed up with the songwriting duo Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards from Chic. A huge amount of sales quickly followed including ‘He’s The Greatest Dancer’, ‘We Are Family’, ‘Lost In Music’ and ‘Thinking of You’. You were four girls coming from a religious background now teaming up with two guys right in the middle of the crazy Studio 54 vibe – was there any conflict in what sort of songs you put out, or were you partying there too?
“I’m glad you brought that up actually. There is a pre-conception that we are very religious. We feel that religion is actually too much of a controlling factor in life, it can cause so many problems. Sure, we all have a close relationship with God, but it doesn’t take over our lives. Our philosophy in life is love your neighbour and they will love you. So no it was never a factor hooking up with those guys and turning in another direction.”
What did you make of the New York party scene back then?
“They were crazy times, but we were just young girls having fun. Take Studio 54 for instance, we didn’t know about the secret rooms there and what went on. It was all about enjoying yourself. Everybody was free, they were happy, happy times. You danced until sweat was dripping off you and it was a release from the stress of everyday life. The only thing I had a problem with was the drugs. That whole side of things was destructive for everyone, for me the music gave me a big enough high, it let you fly.”
That whole era saw Disco sweep the world, some amazing artists including of course Michael Jackson – what are your thoughts surrounding the death and life of someone so close to you?
“He was a very dear friend and such a loss to the world. I think, like everyone else does – totally numb. I think Michael changed the world musically. He bridged a lot of generations, colour lines, race lines, religious lines, people from all walks of life. His music came from his heart. As for his death, I think it was just a terrible accident, I hope he has found peace now and has found euphoria someplace else. We all loved him.”
So where do you all live now, are you all scattered around America?
“To an extent, but family is so important to us that when we are not on the road, we will make sure we spend all the big Holidays together.”
I hear you have just had some amazing news…?
“Yes we have, we were told today that ‘We Are Family’ has just hit the 1 Billion Downloads number, which is just phenomenal. It means so much to us all, it means when we are all gone, our music will live on.”
Your songs are still adored by thousands of clubbers at club nights such as ‘Carwash’ and at millions of weddings every weekend – but what has been the strangest place you’ve heard your records?
“Well funnily enough, ‘We Are Family’ was adopted by the Pittsburg Pirates as their theme tune and the very same year the Pirates claimed victory over the Baltimore Orioles, winning the World Series – so I would have to say at that stadium.”
What have been some of the best venues you have played at?
“Carnegie Hall in New York was jaw dropping, Sun Plaza in Japan and The Apollo Theatre in Harlem up there too.”
Who was the greatest performer or influence of the Disco era – and you can’t say yourselves!?
“Without a shadow of a doubt Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards, they were Disco. Working with ourselves, themselves as Chic, Diana Ross, Norma Jean Wright – but also writing for the likes of Johnny Mathis, David Bowie, INXS, Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood, Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Depeche Mode and doing so many soundtracks for such diverse films as ‘Beverley Hills Cop’ and ‘Public Enemy’. Without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
After the success of ‘Frankie’ you went worldwide, touring the globe…Asia, Africa, throughout Europe, the Middle East, South America and Australia. Must have been so much fun for you girls, which country gave you the best reception on stage?
“And I’m not bigging up here Dan on purpose, but the British audiences have been the best and wildest. The thing about the UK is that let you know if they like you are not and if the response is positive, you know that you have done well – you lot don’t mince your words. Playing Glastonbury was one of the highlights of our careers too. We also feel that your reviews are the most authentic anywhere in the world too, you tell it how it is unlike other countries where the press and websites schmooth you and can be so false.”
Your album releases over the years have seen you change musical direction, from of course the disco with ‘We Are Family’ to the critically acclaimed ‘African Eyes’ to the Jazz tinged ‘Style’ album. Why the constant change in musical styles?
“I think travelling around world has just shown us just how many different cultures are out there and how much respect they have for their own music. To stay in one place would be such a shame. I think that different areas of the world though, whatever their musical style, it’s all about the rhythm, it’s what makes the world go round. Places I’ve seen the different heartbeat of the music be it from a guitar, drum, vocal in places like Africa, Spain, Brazil, France or the strong street rhythms of New York – that’s what it’s all about.”
A new solo album coming out…?
“Yes it’s called ‘Tru,’ a unique blend of ‘alternative soul’, it’s passionate and very honest. One song that I wrote about my time in South Africa and Soweto is just so beautiful. A drum solo and heart moving Cello, an instrument very important to me. It reminds me of pathos…a sound that arouses pity, sympathy, tenderness and sorrow. The album is out in August.”
You all have children, what do they think of Sister Sledge?
“They love it. My mom has 16 Grandchildren and all are doing well one way or another. Our careers have given us the opportunity to take them around the world. They never get intimated going anywhere, all are strong. We feel it’s given them an opportunity to get a different education. Two are now `Pre-Med, one is aiming to be a singer, Debbie’s daughter Camille is a gorgeous model doing shoots all over the world. A lot of love out there.”
And finally, what is keeping you on stage for all these years, what keeps you driving on?
“You know, it’s firstly a privilege. To still be able to share with the people our music and the fact that they want to share our music with us means so much. I mean, Dan, here I am on the phone to you, I’m sitting on the most beautiful beach with my sisters looking out to sea with the most amazing view…and all because we can sing…”