There are many bands that dress to impress, but there are only very few above average black bands, whose wardrobes come equipped with the complete double fonkin’ off world styles and fashion. There must be life on Mars! These bands and their garms were flown in directly from there. These soul super heroes discard their earth bound dress sense in exchange for HYPER SPACE HYPE, the results are super stellar spectacles in arenas and stadiums. The muthaship clothing connection is definitely here!

This is Holy Roller’s all time top ten above average black bands with that…funkavisiblespaceaestethicalcosmosreadygarmfactor !

10. The Jonzun Crew

Micheal Jonzun and his brothers Soni Jonzun and Ray Jonzun were the electro kingz who released the classic Pack Jam even before Bambaataa’s earth shattering hit ‘Planet Rock’. The imagery of black electro funkin Space Mozart, cosmic Don Juan cowboys was created by Jesse Harris, a NYC fashion designer. Jonzun Crew member Ray Jonzun left the group to become Maurice Starr producer of New Edition and New Kids on the Block.

9. The Brides Of Funkenstein

These Sci-fi clad princesses represent the space sisters. They come in the form of none other than The Brides Of Funkenstein. Part of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic entourage, the group featured Dawn Silva, Lynn Mabry, and later on Shiela Horne and Jeanette Mcgruder. The Bride’s outlandish space funk cult stage appearance sits them in at a comfortable ninth place. Some other girls in galactic garms that just missed the top ten are… Betty Davies, Labelle, and Stargard .

8.Captain Sky

Funk super hero Daryl Cameron aka Captain Sky, had an entourage of around 40 musicians and released albums between 1976 and 1981. On the sleeve notes on Captain Sky’s Adventures Of album it says “Oh by the way, if you were wondering, Daryl Cameron somehow entered the phonebooth of his mind and emerged as Captain Sky. Tune in again”.

7. The Undisputed Truth

Yvonne Stevens aka Taka Boom, younger sister of superstar Chaka Khan was part of Norman Whitfield’s Undisputed Truth. Taka says Norman had total creative control,”he was the writer, the producer, the arranger, the costume designer, the album coordinator …everything”. Whitfield was onto a winner with his formula for future funk fashion.

6. The Soul Sonic Force

Afrika Bambaataa‘s Soul Sonic Force took their dress sense from Projects to Pyraminds, Ghettos to Galaxies (Pazeo Rock Circa 2001). Clad in regalia fit for hip hop kings, a fusion of renegade funk finery. When asked in an interview about their costumes, G.L.O.B.E and Pow Wow of the Soul  Sonic Force said “Afrika Bambaataa was always into Parliament Funkadelic. We liked the way they did their shit, because everybody put their own image, we didn’t want to be like the Furious Five”.

5. The Jacksons

The Jacksons hold an honorary number five spot for A.A.B.B with clothing fit for the mothership. Although their earlier costumes were questionable in design, (the Jackson Five’s early career costumes were designed by their Mother) later on their dress sense came together. After departing from Motown they found new independence and experimented with a space age stage appearance.

4. Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire is a true super group and a well above average black band. They combined Egyptian aesthetics and afro-future science to create that multicoloured extra visual image. Their costume designer Luis Wells took over from Bill Whitten in 1980 and took them to a next level of interstellar style. He has been their costume designer ever since.

3. Bootsy’s rubber band

William ‘Bootsy’ Collins is a Funk Overlord in his own right. His future funkin’ pimpmatic costumes, star glasses, and space bass all are legendary. Bootsy’s P.Funk connection and collaborations with fellow funk lords George Clinton and James Brown make him 3rd in line for the godfather of funk throne.

2. George Clinton and Parliament

George Clinton is of equal Godfather of Funk status with Soul brother number one, the late James Brown. Funk overlord and master planner of the Parliament Funkadelic super family. The Mothership Clothing Connection starts and ends with Parliament Funkadelic.

Their elaborate costumes and stage performances are historic. Sir Nose Devoidafunk,  Star Child, and Doctor Funkenstein are P funk characters of legend. Many have attempted to duplicate the psychedelic, sci-fi, freak soul brother looks and ways and failed. George Clinton and his Children of Production have inspired funk legends such as Cameo, Prince, Zapp, General Cain, Ray Parker Jnr, Snoop and many others.

1. Sun Ra’s Myth Science Arkestra

Sun Ra hold’s number one spot in Holy Roller’s Top 10.

The starbound son of Saturn’s space threads are second to none, this is the Super League of Extraordinarily Dressed Gentlemen. Ancient to futuristic myth science madness, other worldly psychedelics, altered destiny eccentrics, Afro Black alien-ness, space Imhotep jazz exotica. Future fusion in moon shoes!! These all describe Sun Ra and his solar powered army of Pharaohs known as the Myth science Arkestra. Space Is The Place is the anthem and an influence on many beings that came before and after Ra.