1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: So there are names that are really iconic throughout history, 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: and that includes people in the entertainment industry, right. But 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: there are more than a few celebrities who have a 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: wild criminal background as well, and James Brown, the Godfather 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: of Soul, is one of them. I'm Patty Steele, the 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: crazy Reason he once stormed an insurance company with a 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: shotgun and a pistol. That's next on the backstory. The 8 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: backstory is back. You know James Brown, aka the Godfather 9 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: of Soul, the hardest working man in show business. His 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: records are legendary living in America, and of course I 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: got you. I feel good now. We've heard plenty of 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,639 Speaker 1: stories about celebrities who got started making a buck in 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: the criminal world, selling drugs, robbing houses, dealing cars. But 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: then there's this sort of subset of stars who were 15 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: already rich and famous when they committed a crime that 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: was James. Got to give you a little bit of 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: background on this guy. James Brown was born in nineteen 18 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: thirty three to a sixteen year old mom and twenty 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: one year old dad. For a time growing up, he 20 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: lived in his aunt's brothel in Augusta, Georgia. Pretty soon 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: his mom got sick of her abusive husband and left 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: him and James behind, moving to New York. As a 23 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: little boy, James started singing and dancing, sometimes on the 24 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: street to get some spare change. As a young teenager, 25 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: he even boxed for a while for prize money, and 26 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: then at sixteen, he was convicted of robbery and sent 27 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: to a juvenile detention center. That's actually where he began 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,199 Speaker 1: to hone his music skills. When he got out, he 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,279 Speaker 1: eventually joined a gospel group which had a few decent 30 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: hits in the mid nineteen fifties, but James, of course 31 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: wanted more, and the band, now called James Brown and 32 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: his Famous Flames, had a number one hit in nineteen 33 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: fifty nine. It was called Trime, and that took them 34 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: to the Apollo Theater that spring. The X and the 35 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: seventies saw his career hit its peak with tons of 36 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: hit records, but also backstage issues with his backup band, 37 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: mostly involving money, and also a problem with the irs 38 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 1: regarding millions in unpaid back taxes money again, they never 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: like that, trust me. By the nineteen eighties, his career 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: had stalled a bit, though it did revive some with 41 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: his last top ten single hit Living in America. The 42 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: song was in the Rocky four film and also on 43 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: the soundtrack, and it won him a Grammy Award. But 44 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: now things take a bizarre turn. It's September of nineteen 45 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: eighty eight. James owns an office complex in Augusta, Georgia, 46 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: where his business offices are located. He arrives at work 47 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: one day and he claimed someone had used his private 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: bathroom without his permission. No idea how he knew that. 49 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: And you would think it was no big deal, right, 50 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: Trust me to a drug addle James Brown, it's a 51 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: huge deal. He's ready to snap. He'd been using all 52 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: kinds of drugs, including PCP, also known as angel dust, 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: which can cause mood changes and hallucinations. And this quote 54 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: unquote nothing incident ignited a spark that led to an 55 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: explosive chain of events. Now James is furious. He's in 56 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: a total rage, and he arms himself with a shotgun 57 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: and a pistol. He then storms into an insurance seminar 58 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: going on in one of the offices in his complex. 59 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: Can you imagine what that felt like? You work in insurance? Okay, 60 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: that's exciting, and suddenly you're confronted by a drug crazed 61 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: godfather of soul screaming at you to admit who used 62 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: his toilet. There was total panic in the room. Next 63 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: thing you know, somebody calls the police. James decides when 64 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: they arrive, he's not going to wait around for them. 65 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: He runs back outside, jumps in his pickup truck, and 66 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: speeds off. The police, of course in hot pursuit, but 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: he doesn't pull over, instead leading them on chase through 68 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: both Georgia and North Carolina. The cops finally catch up, 69 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: but he still tries to get away, driving at high speeds, 70 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: weaving through traffic, even trying to ram police cars using 71 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: his truck. Nothing is stopping him, so the cops decide 72 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: it's time to shoot out his tires. Okay, now he's 73 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: gonna pull over right, No way. James Brown, despite having 74 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: no tires, continues driving on his rims. That'll get you 75 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: in trouble. Sparks are flying as metal is grinding against 76 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: the pavement. This went on for several miles, with authorities 77 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: and onlookers shocked by the entire incident, no kidding. Eventually 78 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: his truck was out of commission and James was finally nabbed. Still, 79 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: he was defiant and also really high out of his mind. 80 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: Of course, all this simply added to his legend, so anyway, 81 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 1: the aftermath of the chase was just as dramatic. He 82 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: was charged with a ton of offenses like a and 83 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: battery with intent to kill, carrying a concealed weapon, DUI 84 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: for all the drugs in his system. The charges were 85 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: serious and the payback worse than he really expected. As 86 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: a guy used to commanding the stage and being adored 87 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: by fans, he thought he could get away with anything. Well. 88 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: In court, the prosecution said he was a dangerous man 89 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: who recklessly endangered lives and thought he was above the law. 90 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: They talked about him storming into that insurance seminar with 91 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: multiple guns, terrifying people. They also told the story of 92 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: the high speed chase. The defense simply argued that James 93 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: was under a lot of stress and that while reckless, 94 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: it was all due to a momentary lapse in judgment 95 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: brought on by the stress and drug addiction. They talked 96 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: about all his charity work involving getting kids to stay 97 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: in school, civil rights, the music industry, politics. Prosecutors said 98 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: none of that should get him off the hook. So 99 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: in the end, the jury found James Brown guilty of 100 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying a 101 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: concealed weapon. He was sentenced to six years in prison, 102 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,679 Speaker 1: which of course shocked his fans and supporters, but mostly 103 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: James himself. Jail was kind of rough for him, but 104 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: he continued to make headlines over his legal battles as 105 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: he tried to get early release and also as he 106 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 1: tried to maintain his career. After serving two and a 107 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: half years of that six year sentence, James was parole. 108 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: He really wanted to remake himself and he worked at 109 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: his career as well as lots of charitable endeavors, but 110 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: he still had his demons. There were personal and legal issues, 111 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 1: including charges of domestic violence and even claims of rape. 112 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: It's pretty clear that even our icons are real people 113 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: with real problems. But despite everything, James Brown managed to 114 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: continue doing what he loved, making music. James said, give 115 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: people more than what they came for. Make them tired, 116 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: because that's what they came for. Amazing. Hope you're enjoying 117 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: the backstory with Patty Steele. Follow or subscribe for free 118 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: to get new episodes delivered automatically and feel free to 119 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: DM me if you have a story you'd like me 120 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: to cover. On Facebook, It's Patty Steele and on Instagram 121 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: Real Patty Steele. I'm Patty Steele. The Backstories a production 122 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: of iHeartMedia, Premiere Networks, the Elvis Duran Group, and Steel 123 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: Trap Productions. Our producer is Doug Fraser. Our writer Jake Kushner. 124 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: We have new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Feel free 125 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: to reach out to me with comments and even story 126 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: suggestions on Instagram at Real Patty Steele and on Facebook 127 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: at Patty Steele. Thanks for listening to the Backstory with 128 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Patty Steele, the pieces of history you didn't know you 129 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: needed to know.