Joe Rogan Experience #2388 - Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie reflects on his career from the Commodores' 1968 campus beginnings through Motown and his solo superstardom, framed by his new memoir. He explains his philosophy of creativity as 'receiving' from silence rather than technical training, having learned by watching Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Barry Gordy. Much of the talk dwells on fear and insecurity behind his success, the brutal, gangster-controlled music business of the 1970s, and the crushing weight of fame. He shares intimate stories about Michael Jackson, his Endless Love duet with Diana Ross, his record-breaking 1984 Olympics 'All Night Long' performance, and the tension between creatives and corporate 'pencil pushers.'

• Admits he had massive panic attacks in the middle of shows despite looking like he 'had this.'
  00:51:20
• Recalls his first-ever duet was Endless Love with Diana Ross, flown to Tahoe overnight while juggling two albums.
  00:57:05
• Says the music business of the era was run by gangsters who stole from artists, citing Hendrix and Phil Spector.
  01:06:31
• Explains Michael Jackson's nickname 'Smelly' came from fans stealing his clothes, not body odor.
  01:21:40
• Reveals he gave the Olympics speech because death threats kept Ronald Reagan off the field.
  01:31:38
• Tells how a label remixed Stevie Wonder's album before release and 'you never heard from Stevie again for 10 years.'
  01:54:03
• Says Richard Pryor sobered up and 'couldn't get funny' anymore, losing his creative edge.
  02:04:27

• The Commodores started in 1968 as students on the Tuskegee campus, originally called the Mystics.
  00:08:51
• Richie insists there are only 12 notes in music and the genius is making them sound unique.
  00:29:50
• No one has ever asked to see his high school diploma or college degree.
  00:43:27
• He shrugged off being robbed of $362,000, telling his mother he 'got off light.'
  01:07:34
• His 1984 Olympics 'All Night Long' performance was watched live by an estimated 2.6 billion people.
  01:30:34
• Muhammad Ali refused security, choosing to 'neutralize the room' rather than create a frenzy.
  01:38:25
• Describes Rick Rubin's home as nearly empty, with a single beanbag chair and a doorway to a terrace that was never built.
  01:43:36
• Argues the business broke when conglomerates consolidated Motown, A&M, Mercury and Polygram into corporate machines.
  02:00:49

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