Who is the Man -- Dead at 65

August 10, 2008 1:21 PM

Known for many musical hits such as Shaft to being the voice of Chef on South Park, Isaac Hayes has died. Let them enjoy his "Chocolate Salty Balls" in Heaven.
posted by ericb (147 comments total)

Well, fuck.
posted by trondant at 1:23 PM on August 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Does anyone know what Scientologists think happens to you when you die?
posted by Flunkie at 1:25 PM on August 10, 2008

Does anyone know what Scientologists think happens to you when you die?

they steal what's left of your shit
posted by matteo at 1:26 PM on August 10, 2008 [87 favorites has favorites]

holy shit, that was unexpected.

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posted by krautland at 1:27 PM on August 10, 2008

That may very well what the Church does, but I'm asking what it's members believe will happen to them when they die.
posted by Flunkie at 1:28 PM on August 10, 2008

Goodbye, children.
posted by stevil at 1:28 PM on August 10, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

Freaky enough -- at his official website there is a promotion of Hayes joining Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson in an upcoming film -- Soul Man.

Samuel...stay home; stay off the treadmill; lay low for a few days. They say tragedies come in threes.
posted by ericb at 1:29 PM on August 10, 2008 [16 favorites has favorites]

Damn!

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posted by cashman at 1:29 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by shmegegge at 1:29 PM on August 10, 2008

Here's my favorite.
posted by Bookhouse at 1:31 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

*Soul Men*
posted by ericb at 1:31 PM on August 10, 2008

I hope this pisses several people off:

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posted by fixedgear at 1:33 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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I adored this man, even in spite of the Scientology madness. Back in the early seventies, I was the only white kid who'd ever even heard of him, and I'd get goggle-eyed stares when I wore my Isaac Hayes t-shirt around the neighborhood.

This sucks. I really, truly, honestly thought that there would be a South Park reunion someday, and I was counting on seeing it just for the sheer awesome of it all. Fuck!
posted by perilous at 1:33 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by fourcheesemac at 1:35 PM on August 10, 2008

shaft.
posted by fatbaq at 1:37 PM on August 10, 2008

One of the few true legends in modern music. And while it's sad that he died, sixty-five isn't TOO bad; way better than yesterday's news about Bernie Mac dying at 50.

He inspired many, and his music (and style) will live forever, no doubt. RIP, Isaac.
posted by davidmsc at 1:37 PM on August 10, 2008

My favorite.
posted by puritycontrol at 1:38 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by Z303 at 1:38 PM on August 10, 2008

Oh, man, I was hoping he'd come to his senses and rejoin SP, maybe even quit the Church. Guess it's too late now. Seemed like a great guy caught up in a bad group. Too bad to see him go this early.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:39 PM on August 10, 2008

The guy might have been a Scientologist but he was a musical genius.

This truly stinks.

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posted by konolia at 1:41 PM on August 10, 2008

Shut yo mouth.
posted by ColdChef at 1:42 PM on August 10, 2008

I'm just talkin bout Shaft


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posted by RussHy at 1:47 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by litlnemo at 1:49 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by Busithoth at 1:49 PM on August 10, 2008

damn right.

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posted by scody at 1:50 PM on August 10, 2008

He was one bad mother—
posted by shakespeherian at 1:55 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Here's an homage.
posted by MotherTucker at 1:55 PM on August 10, 2008

aww. Now with Barry White also gone it feels like the end of that particular era. That baritone velvet sex, symphonic swoon music with a satin sheets beat and a get that groove on wah-wah guitar thang.

His Chocolate Chip.

he grew up picking cotton in Covington. wow. Never knew that.

Condolences to his large family: Hayes is the father of 12 children, and has 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His fourth wife Adjowa gave birth to a son named Nana Kwadjo Hayes on April 10, 2006. One son is his namesake, Isaac Hayes III.

Glad he had a swift and, presumably, less painful in the scale of things death. Wishing him peace.
posted by nickyskye at 1:55 PM on August 10, 2008

Bad.

Why bad, Chef?

Children, all things come to an end.

R.I.P. Isaac
posted by porn in the woods at 1:55 PM on August 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

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Is it just me, or do a lot of really cool people seem to be kicking the bucket lately?

Heath Ledger, George Carlin, Stan Winston, Thomas Disch, Bernie Mac, Issac Hayes. It's been a bad year.
posted by brundlefly at 1:57 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Can you dig it?

A grave, I mean.
posted by emelenjr at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2008

Isaac, dude, go toward the light. L Ron Hubbard was a conman and a liar, it's not an implant station.
posted by brain cloud at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

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posted by desuetude at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2008

aw, sheeeeit

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posted by solipsophistocracy at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2008

Shafted.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 2:03 PM on August 10, 2008

I never delved too deep into his solo stuff beyond Shaft, but that song is the single greatest movie theme song in the history of the solar system, at least. Not too many of his generation left -- sad.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Scientology aside, he was a good guy who remembered where he came from and did what he could to help out those people and institutions that helped him achieve his success.

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posted by absalom at 2:07 PM on August 10, 2008

RIP Black Moses
posted by channel-1- at 2:07 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by twiggy at 2:08 PM on August 10, 2008

How are you children?

Bad, Chef

Why bad?

Because you're dead, Chef :-(
posted by twiggy at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2008

Fuckety Fuckety Fuckety.

My favourite
posted by cillit bang at 2:12 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

That guy sure knew how to make a record sound good. I met him once when he was promoting Branded and he had an aura of cool to him that I've seldom experienced from anyone else. He was incredibly casual and down to earth, and very warm to every single person that approached him.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 2:17 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by parmanparman at 2:18 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by mmahaffie at 2:20 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by brandz at 2:21 PM on August 10, 2008

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The Shaft soundtrack was one of the first records I bought as a kid. I loved the theme song because it sounded so different.
posted by mike3k at 2:23 PM on August 10, 2008

Hubbard said that when a person dies, his or her thetan goes to a "landing station" on Venus, where it is programmed with lies about its past life and its next life. The lies include a promise that it will be returned to Earth by being lovingly shunted into the body of a newborn baby.

Not so, said Hubbard, who described the thetan's re-entry this way:

"What actually happens to you, you're simply capsuled and dumped in the gulf of lower California. Splash. The hell with ya. And you're on your own, man. If you can get out of that, and through that, and wander around through the cities and find some girl who looks like she is going to get married or have a baby or something like that, you're all set. And if you can find the maternity ward to a hospital or something, you're OK.

"And you just eventually just pick up a baby."

But Hubbard offered his followers an easy way to outwit the implant: Scientologists should simply select a location other than Venus to go "when they kick the bucket."

Link
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:24 PM on August 10, 2008 [12 favorites has favorites]

Sad news indeed.

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posted by gummi at 2:26 PM on August 10, 2008

He was the King. A#1. The Duke of New York.
posted by tkchrist at 2:33 PM on August 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

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posted by box at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2008

He brought the funk.

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posted by ChrisR at 2:47 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by Dreama at 2:47 PM on August 10, 2008

He was the King

Not just figuratively. For his humanitarian work he was honored with the crown of the Ada district of Ghana.

Walk on By
posted by hydrophonic at 2:47 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by princesspathos at 2:57 PM on August 10, 2008

A Complicated Man

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posted by chillmost at 2:59 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by MythMaker at 3:06 PM on August 10, 2008

Enough with the dying already.

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posted by Sailormom at 3:09 PM on August 10, 2008

Well, shit.

I feel a little bit weirder about this now.
posted by cortex at 3:09 PM on August 10, 2008

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@Devils Rancher: Hot Buttered Soul, 1969. It looks like a single gapless track by the side of it (105mb).

Otherwise, here's a selection of other things to pick through.
posted by vhsiv at 3:11 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by arimathea at 3:18 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by elfgirl at 3:18 PM on August 10, 2008

It's too bad he never got out of the Super Adventure Club before he died.
posted by chimaera at 3:31 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Hot Buttered Soul is a favorite of mine. By the time I get to Phoenix!?… Mama… BABY…

And that album cover is second to none.
posted by JBennett at 3:33 PM on August 10, 2008

Morgan Freeman ruined the trifecta.

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posted by fuse theorem at 3:33 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by mendel at 3:36 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

What, no Xenu jokes yet?

Hayes was interviewed on the Adam Carolla Radio Show a few weeks ago and he was so rambling and incoherent that I was sure he had suffered a minor stroke. At the time it was so funny the radio staff turned many of his responses into drops that have been played ad nauseam since then.
posted by friarjohn at 3:48 PM on August 10, 2008

He was one bad mother—

Shut your mouth
posted by Artw at 3:57 PM on August 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

/me plays Hot Buttered Soul
posted by LinusMines at 4:03 PM on August 10, 2008

That "Shaft" link is lifted from the 1972 Wattstax concert at the L.A. Coliseum. Here's a better version, with the Reverend Jesse Jackson introducing Hayes' arrival. It's an inspiring film.
posted by steef at 4:07 PM on August 10, 2008

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I'm sitting at home finishing a last draft on something that talks about Isaac Hayes when Mrs. ob says "Isaac Hayes just died." That just adds a tinge of surreality to this very sad news. It's impossible to think of any seventies soundtrack (especially cop shows) without thinking about Shaft. A true musical innovator has passed.
posted by ob at 4:08 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It's pretty ignorant to wax poetic about how much Isaac Hayes' passing makes you sad, while, in the same breath, passing judgment about the man's religion. If you miss him, you miss him. But leave religion out of it. The man was more than a Scientologist.
posted by KokuRyu at 4:10 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

At the Soul USA museum in Memphis there's a video of him driving around in a gold-plated limo. That's what I want to be.

Also, he performed so much Bert Bacharach is his career that they called him Blackarach. And I think that's awesome, even though, to me, he'll always be the Black Moses of Soul.

RIP.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:13 PM on August 10, 2008

> But leave religion out of it

It's not a religion, it's a criminal enterprise -- a corrupt organization, like the mob. The normal consideration for a person's private faith doesn't apply.
posted by sdodd at 4:16 PM on August 10, 2008 [7 favorites has favorites]

video of him driving around in a gold-plated limo

They actually have that limo in the Stax museum. It's quite something...
posted by ob at 4:16 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by recoveringsophist at 4:20 PM on August 10, 2008

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, he didn't die.

He was aborted.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:22 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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brundlefly writes "Is it just me, or do a lot of really cool people seem to be kicking the bucket lately?"

Your getting older. First the people who influenced you as a child start dying, then the people you think are cool, then your parents and their friends, and finally you're checking the obits for your friends (and to verify you're not in there).
posted by Mitheral at 4:24 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Okay, sdodd, what are your religious inclinations?
posted by KokuRyu at 4:24 PM on August 10, 2008

He did some might sappy and self-indulgent shit, but, besides writing and recording 'Theme from Shaft', he also cowrote songs such as Soul Man and I Thank You (heh) and Hold On, I'm Coming.
posted by pracowity at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2008

"It's not a religion, it's a criminal enterprise -- a corrupt organization, like the mob."

A corrupt organization.

I have come to the opinion in recent years that I see little difference between Catholicism and Scientology. I see little difference with ANY of the religions. I don't care how old they are. I don't care how many people believe in one over the other. I don't care how thick their particular book is.

If you can't prove something to be true, you shouldn't ask people to pay you for it. That's where the line should be drawn on whether or not something is corrupt.

That goes for science as well. Can you actually prove quantum physics? Or is it just another fucking educated guess? Human beings talk so much about what we don't know, and are completely clueless how insipidly STUPID that makes us sound.

Hayes was a good man. A talented musician with a one of a kind voice. I appreciate what he contributed to mankind while he was here. Whether or not Scientology screwed him over while he lived, I only hope he didn't know it. I only hope he got out of it whatever peace he was looking for.

Whoever or whatever you believed in Chef, may it bless you and keep you.


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posted by ZachsMind at 4:48 PM on August 10, 2008

Not a good start to the week. I love this guy's voice.
posted by tellurian at 4:53 PM on August 10, 2008

ZachsMind writes "That goes for science as well. Can you actually prove quantum physics? Or is it just another fucking educated guess? Human beings talk so much about what we don't know, and are completely clueless how insipidly STUPID that makes us sound. "

Well that educated guess gave us the transistor. How are the various religions stacking up relative to that?
posted by Mitheral at 4:55 PM on August 10, 2008 [6 favorites has favorites]

Firstly:

.

Now:
That goes for science as well. Can you actually prove quantum physics? Or is it just another fucking educated guess? Human beings talk so much about what we don't know, and are completely clueless how insipidly STUPID that makes us sound.

Amen (pun intended). I'm a little more tolerant of spirituality in a general sense these days, but I have zero tolerance for organised religion. Back in my more vehemently atheist days I saw religion as nothing us but an excuse for people who were too scared to simply say "I don't know".

I see spirituality a little differently. Basically I think (but I do not know) that with higher-level conciousness comes an unavoidable sideline of a little bit of wandering thought. Now if you want to direct that wandering thought at prayer or meditation or art, then go for it, but don't try to foist it on me in return for 10% of my income.
posted by pivotal at 4:56 PM on August 10, 2008

Total bummer that this thread is turning into a forum for tiresome, predictable Scientology rants. This was a great, great musician, who has sadly passed on at the relatively young age of 65. I wish everyone could just keep their precious little opinions about Scientology out of here and show the man, Mr. Isaac Hayes, a little respect.

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posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:09 PM on August 10, 2008 [9 favorites has favorites]

ZachsMind : That goes for science as well. Can you actually prove quantum physics? Or is it just another fucking educated guess? Human beings talk so much about what we don't know, and are completely clueless how insipidly STUPID that makes us sound.

I'll try to make this succinct since I'm as sad about Issac Hayes as anyone:

We don't know for 100% sure a single damn thing. All we have are educated guesses about anything, from the existence of God to the existence of the hand in front of our face. We play the odds about EVERYTHING.

But that said, there are lots of things we're at 99.9%+ certainty about. Science, quantum physics included, is the business of discovering them, and adding further nines to that figure. No other occupation of man can say that.
posted by JHarris at 5:10 PM on August 10, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

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posted by brevator at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2008

> Okay, sdodd, what are your religious inclinations?

Does this sound like a religion to you? It's all a matter of public record -- the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history, resulting in jail time for Scientology's leaders. They argued in open court that their policy of systematically ruining critics should be protected by the US Constitution. Sound like a religion? Scientology's history of abuse of the legal system to battle critics lead the US District Court of the Central District of California to conclude, "The Special Master has never seen a more glaring example of bad faith litigation than this."

Regardless of one's religious inclinations, anyone familiar with Scientology's history must conclude on the basis of the facts that it is a criminal organization.
posted by sdodd at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Well, since you guys brought it up...
posted by konolia at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2008

I have come to the opinion in recent years that I see little difference between Catholicism and Scientology.

To my knowledge, the Catholic Church doesn't currently have a policy directing members to hold others against their will (the Introspection Rundown), a standard release form members sign giving the organization the right to hold you, or a widely-prescribed ritual involving toxic doses of niacin (the Purification Rundown). (full disclosure: self-link.)

Sorry to hear about Isaac.
posted by kristi at 5:16 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

You didn't answer my question.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:18 PM on August 10, 2008

Damn.

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posted by mattbucher at 5:19 PM on August 10, 2008

Well I was just about to post this as a FPP but after the mandatory search I discovered I'd been beaten to it. I'll post what would have been my FPP here instead, and condolences to Mr Hayes family.

--

Isaac Hayes, the pioneering American singer, songwriter and musician whose Theme From Shaft won Academy and Grammy awards, has been found dead at his Tennessee home aged 65. The cause of death was not immediately known. He was, of course, also well known for playing Chef on South Park, a role in which he sang several memorable songs as well but which he exited from in controversial circumstances. But South Park said it best when they said "we can't let the events of the past take away the memories of how Chef made us smile..." so let us remember Hayes from his interviews, his role on Stargate SG-1 and the place where he had his breakout gig.
posted by Effigy2000 at 5:20 PM on August 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Total bummer that this thread is turning into a forum for tiresome, predictable Scientology rants.

Yes indeed. Every time someone connected with Scientology is mentioned here this happens and it's fucking boring.
posted by ob at 5:22 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

but don't try to foist it on me in return for 10% of my income

the existence of something does not equal the foisting of it upon you, buttwinkle.
posted by quonsar at 5:28 PM on August 10, 2008

KokoRyu, I think we're all capable of regretting Hayes' death and at the same time detesting CoS, which was clamping down on him and taking him over in his last few years. Isaac Hayes was a great man, by all accounts, and objectively a musical genius, a pioneer, and hilariously funny for anyone who ever saw him on South Park.

In Parker and Stone's own way, I think they paid him a very fitting tribute in the "Super Adventure Club" episode, with his funeral making the point that even though he had joined this club that everyone knew to be awful, and which took over his life, it didn't change the fact that everyone loved him and missed him.

It's easy for us to look at John Travolta or Tom Cruise or others who we don't take too seriously and pin the hate for CoS - which deserves every bit of hate, scorn, and hopefully federal indictments it can get - on their shoulders, because generally we over here on MeFi don't respect Cruise and Travolta very much. The case of someone as brilliant and good as Hayes being ensnared by the Hubbard cult can hopefully show that all of the followers are victims, even the ones we don't like so much.

Patty Hearst could single-handedly turn newspaper journalism around in her remaining lifetime, and the SLA would still come up in her obit-thread, because that's a major part of her life. People probably wouldn't be blaming her for being brainwashed, though. It's the same with Hayes.

Good night, sweet prince, you bad muthafucka, and muthafuck Scientology while you're at it.

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posted by Navelgazer at 5:30 PM on August 10, 2008 [11 favorites has favorites]

Great, great musician. And the icing on the cake is that he was Gandolph Fitch on "The Rockford Files."
posted by evilcolonel at 5:34 PM on August 10, 2008

Brothers and sisters!

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posted by jonp72 at 5:34 PM on August 10, 2008

Does anyone know what Scientologists think happens to you when you die?

they steal what's left of your shit

Yeah- other people's religions are so stupid, aren't they?
posted by Zambrano at 5:42 PM on August 10, 2008

Well, yes.

[IS ATHEIST]

But it's poor form to point that out. I'm looking at you, Dawkings
posted by Artw at 5:44 PM on August 10, 2008

"It's not a religion, it's a criminal enterprise -- a corrupt organization, like the mob."

Sorry for the double posting, but I just saw this, too. This is the funniest thing I've read all day.
posted by Zambrano at 5:44 PM on August 10, 2008

Well, the organised crime isn't a corrupt something-else, it's actually doing it;s job being that way, so you've got a point.
posted by Artw at 5:46 PM on August 10, 2008

i got nuthin' on scientology. i got this on isaac hayes:

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posted by msconduct at 5:49 PM on August 10, 2008

. for Isaac Hayes. It's really too bad he came under Scientology's thrall.
posted by grouse at 5:53 PM on August 10, 2008

it's a criminal enterprise -- a corrupt organization, like the mob

Yes, no question about that. However Isaac Hayes was a regular member and not the head of the organization or in any position of power within it. My family has had some frightening, up close and personal experience with this org & I have come to understand that the regular members are pawns and slaves (yes, even TC & JT), preyed on and drawn in by targeting & subtly exacerbating the most common vulnerabilities: loneliness and low self esteem. It doesn't matter that they may be a wealthy businessperson, or a famous actor or singer, or a minimum wage shop clerk. They find and target people at their weakest & then keep hooks in them for upwards of a lifetime, draining them of anything that's valuable, whether it be money and or time (the poor members sacrifice all their spare time to do menial & secretarial work for the org to pay for "courses"). What I've seen up close leads me to empathize and have compassion for the majority of the regular members, and when I can't muster that I choose to separate the art from the artist.

Isaac Hayes made some beautiful music, he brought joy where often there is no such thing. So I thank him for that and I'm glad he was here.

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posted by zarah at 6:00 PM on August 10, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

Farewell to that voice, that voice.
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:01 PM on August 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

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posted by saysthis at 6:08 PM on August 10, 2008

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A great great man, his shadow almost outreaches him. I wish to the bottom of my heart that he had escaped Scientology before he died. RIP Mr Hayes.
posted by saturnine at 6:35 PM on August 10, 2008

Well, shit, maybe it made him happy.
posted by Bookhouse at 6:44 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by Wolof at 6:51 PM on August 10, 2008

> You didn't answer my question.

Because my "religious inclination" (atheist) has no bearing on the criminal history of Scientology. My point was that faith doesn't enter into it at all -- it's about open, public court records demonstrating it's organized crime.
posted by sdodd at 6:54 PM on August 10, 2008

"He did some might sappy and self-indulgent shit"... pracowity, Setting aside that back-handed bullshit, and your clear ignorance of mr Hayes essential importance to American Music as an artist, Mr Hayes & his partner in crime David Porter discovered and produced the legendary singer Otis Redding among many other Stax artists. But maybe you have no idea of who Otis is.

Or if you do, you probably don't have any respect for him either.

The sheer length, quality, and depth of his career in this youth obsessed circle jerk of a culture deserves much better than has been given here.

another heartless bastard says Morgan Freeman "ruined the trifecta" presumably by not dying-

Not Worthy.
posted by vurnt22 at 7:45 PM on August 10, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I want everybody to get up off your seat
And get your arms together, and your hands together
And give me some of that old soul clapping

You didn't have to rock us like you did
But you did, but you did
and I thank you.

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posted by Herodios at 8:05 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by mkim at 8:46 PM on August 10, 2008

It is sad that, to many people, he will be remembered as a Scientologist more than a musician.

It's also sad that, to many people, he will be remembered as a guy on SouthPark, not a musician.

Personally, I wouldn't have started watching South Park if Isaac Hayes wasn't a part of it, and I would have missed out much, much more on a lot of great music without him.

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posted by paisley henosis at 8:49 PM on August 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by Smart Dalek at 8:58 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by bonefish at 9:11 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by Francis7 at 9:23 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by furtive at 9:30 PM on August 10, 2008

Rhino's Stax box set has been in heavy rotation in my household for months. I'll be tipping my glass to the great Mr. Hayes when we listen to it now.
posted by desuetude at 9:50 PM on August 10, 2008

I can't add anything to what others have said other than that I will miss his talent greatly and will remember him fondly.
posted by blucevalo at 10:52 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by roll truck roll at 11:15 PM on August 10, 2008

Will people make these same jokes when Beck dies? Why or why not?
posted by roll truck roll at 11:24 PM on August 10, 2008

Would they be as funny?
posted by Artw at 11:34 PM on August 10, 2008

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posted by daveje at 12:44 AM on August 11, 2008

When I was young ... about 4 or 5, I was absolutely terrified of Isaac Hayes. My parents used to entertain themselves by putting on his album and watching me from screaming from the room. He had that deep voice and shiny bald head before anyone did. And that "Hot-Buttered Soul" cover was just not a pretty sight for a kid. Nonetheless, I later recognized his genius and am sorry to hear about his death.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 12:46 AM on August 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

That should be "run" screaming.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 12:46 AM on August 11, 2008

Can you actually prove quantum physics?

We can't even prove GRAVITY properly yet. If every complex idea in the world had to be 'proven' to laymen, we'd still be living in caves.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:05 AM on August 11, 2008

Will people make these same jokes when Beck dies?

Beck was raised as a fool, I mean, Scientologist... so he can't be completely blamed for submitting himself to the Brainwashing Buttholes.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:08 AM on August 11, 2008

He was the Duke. A-#1.

Scientologist or no, he'll be missed.
posted by davelog at 5:41 AM on August 11, 2008

roll truck roll writes "Will people make these same jokes when Beck dies? Why or why not?"

Probably, with an added dose of futurama silliness.
posted by Mitheral at 7:12 AM on August 11, 2008

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posted by SNACKeR at 7:23 AM on August 11, 2008

Died on a treadmill, eh? I'll just note that for when ol' Doc Jackson says I need to get more exercise.
posted by RavinDave at 7:41 AM on August 11, 2008

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posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:46 AM on August 11, 2008

He spoke at the graduation ceremony at our university a few years ago and was quite thoughtful and encouraging to students. He focused mainly on giving back to the community and how important education was, but he did make the graduates and faculty cheer when he opened the speech with "Hello, Children."
posted by teleri025 at 8:07 AM on August 11, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

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posted by snsranch at 8:12 AM on August 11, 2008

My favorite.
posted by KatlaDragon at 8:13 AM on August 11, 2008

Lord, have mercy; Isaac, too?! Damn. DAMN.

RIP

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posted by droplet at 8:39 AM on August 11, 2008

Metafilter, where snark and heartfelt condolences nestle together cosily.
posted by asok at 11:27 AM on August 11, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

I wonder at what age people flip over to the "SPEAK NO ILL OF THE DEAD!" shrillness, in the realization of their own mortality. It's kind of interesting to see it all play out.
posted by tehloki at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2008

"Who's the black private dick who's a sex machine to all the chicks?"

I have a pretty good idea.

Yrs, etc,

J. Shaft esq.
posted by John Shaft at 3:02 PM on August 11, 2008

Soul Men Director Remembers Mac and Hayes.

Deaths of Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac An Incredible Loss.

"Music and comedy fans everywhere are mourning the sudden loss of two enormous talents. Soul musician and composer Isaac Hayes and comedic actor Bernie Mac died over the weekend. Professor and culture critic Mark Anthony Neal explains how the lasting contributions of both Hayes and Mac put them in a class of their own among entertainers."

posted by ericb at 4:56 PM on August 11, 2008

Does anyone know what Scientologists think happens to you when you die?

Really, No one bothered to answer this yet?

The Afterlife for Scientologists: What will happen to Isaac Hayes' legendary soul?
posted by dgaicun at 11:17 PM on August 11, 2008

I see little difference with ANY of the religions. ... That goes for science as well.

The fact you're lumping science and all religions into the same dismissed category suggests you don't know anything about science (as a method, as a discipline) or any particular religion (as systems of ethical values, as cultural traditions).
posted by aught at 11:37 AM on August 12, 2008

Come on. It's Isaac Hayes we're talking about here, not Scientology. I hate Scientology as much as the next thinking person, but [Shaft female voice]: shut your mouth (we're talking about Shaft).
posted by bitter-girl.com at 11:38 AM on August 12, 2008

Oh, and to be on-topic: I will reminisce now about seeing Hayes several years ago at the NY State Fair, his cheeky performance of "Salty Chocolate Balls" that cracked everyone up, and the hour or two of fun, fun summer afternoon grooves.

.
posted by aught at 11:40 AM on August 12, 2008

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posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 6:53 AM on August 18, 2008

"The fact you're lumping science and all religions into the same dismissed category suggests you don't know anything about science (as a method, as a discipline) or any particular religion (as systems of ethical values, as cultural traditions)."

I no longer take for granted ANYTHING that groups of like-minded people accept without challenge or question. In fact, I question the presumed authority of any group of like-minded people. That includes present virtual company.

The reason why Scientology can manipulate so many is beause they don't question. They accept. Scientology abuses that and takes advantage of people who have no one to blame but themselves for being such suckers.

Science by contrast is currently batting a thousand. I acknowledged that before. I refuse to rest in its laurels without question as many of you obviously do. I know that in a couple few centuries, science could be replaced by something else, which we can't even fathom now. Just as we look back on our ancestors and laugh that they thought the moon made of swiss cheese, our descendants will laugh at presumptions we have taken for granted.

Science is not the end of knowledge. It's barely the beginning.
posted by ZachsMind at 5:52 PM on August 18, 2008