Sly Stone’s Family Reveals the Music Icon’s Private Health Battle After His Death at 82

Sly Stone’s Family Reveals the Music Icon’s Private Health Battle After His Death at 82

Sly Stone dealt with health issues privately throughout the end of his life. The Sly and the Family Stone leader’s family announced his death at age 82 in a statement on Monday, June 9 and revealed he struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other medical conditions.

“After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family,” wrote the family.

According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD is an “ongoing lung condition caused by damage to the lungs” and results in inflammation “inside the airways that limit airflow into and out of the lungs.”

Stone’s family did not specify his “other underlying health issues.”

“While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come,” continued the statement.

“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,” added the family. “His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable.”

Sly and the Family Stone also featured two of his actual siblings, Freddie and Rose. They released hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).”

However, Sly’s drug use and behavior affected the group, which split up for good in the 1980s. In 1983, he was arrested for cocaine possession in Florida. He went to rehab in 1996.

Sly quit drugs in 2019, after his use landed him in the hospital four times in a period of a few weeks.

A doctor said drugs would kill him. “That time, I not only listened to the doctor but believed him,” he told The Guardian in 2023. “I realized that I needed to clean up. I concentrated on getting strong so that I could get clean. My kids visited me at the hospital. My grandkids visited me. I left with purpose.”

In February, Questlove released the documentary Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) about the musician’s rise and fall.

At a Q&A screening of the film the same month, producer Joseph Patel explained he and Questlove chose not to feature Sly on camera in the documentary because it didn’t “feel right” given his frail health.

“Ahmir’s first thing he said was, ‘Let’s tell this story with a lot of empathy.’ That’s not empathetic,” Patel said. “We interviewed Sly for [the Oscar-winning documentary] Summer of Soul in 2020. And he had just gotten clean, and he just — he doesn’t have the motor function.”

The producer continued at the time, “He can’t speak in full sentences. His eyes reveal a precociousness and a lucidity that’s there, but his motor function doesn’t exist.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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