The SCC/The STARR CULLARS CREW

It’s tough to get 5 minutes, let alone 5 questions with rock-guitarist Starr Cullars. A veteran of the P-Funk All-Stars, and the first female member of the 18-piece ‘boys’ club,’ she gets total street cred’ as one bad-ass bass player! Starr left to start her own brand of cosmic rock with an undeniable funk influence. The self-proclaimed “Rock Amazon” is currently featured in the Black Rock Coalition compilation, “What Are You Doing Here? The Liberation Sessions Vol 1.”, with her song “Diabolical Done.”
Starr Cullars
Starr Cullars
So for all of the people who have asked if this is a picture (left) of me, I’m happy introduce you to the gracious, beautiful, and all powerful poster-sista and embodiment of the spirit of “Nice & Rough” (drum roll) Starr Cullars!!
SHEILA: How would you describe your brand of rock?
STARR: I describe my brand as: Progressive-Hard-Rock music. I naturally have a pure Funk stream flowing through it, because of my pedigree and background.
SHEILA: What are the top 3 influences and experiences that led you to rock?
STARR: This is difficult to narrow dawn. My top 3 influences would be 1) Jimi Hendrix, 2) Black Sabbath/ and 3) Living Colour (my personal friends). I realized when I was a little child, playing acoustic-guitar at 7, that I was truly a real Rocker in my small being. By the time I received my 1st Bass-guitar, I was already listening to and learning music by Cream, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, etc. By the time I was in college, right before I was hired by George Clinton & P-Funk, I was completely immersed in being a Rock Musician.
SHEILA: How do you define the difference between rock and funk?
STARR: Excellent question, especially for Me. The difference between Rock and Funk music, since I am from the P-Funk. I learned Funk music from legends. I am the only Female-Musician member of the Parliament-Funkadelic legendary group! Playing the Bass-guitar in that group is the most important instrumentation of the music.
Funk music is the effected result of Classic-Soul, Country-Blues, and Early-Rock music. Where R&B is more refined, elegant and sophisticated; Funk is more syncopated, raw, wild and flowing with loud-rhythmic pronouncements. Rock music is the effected result of Classic-Blues and R&B, electrified loudly. Rock music is pure freedom, and is based on the aggressive, loud, powerful expression of musicians being inspiring, rebellious, and epic.
STARR CULLARS
SHEILA: I was so psyched to see you included on VH1‘s Fantasy Rock Camp. Tell us about your experience.

Starr Cullars, SBR, Master Mark, and Sammy 2!
STARR: My VH1 Rock Camp experience was awesome. I was chosen and featured by the Rock Counselors, Rock Guest Stars, and the Producers as the “star of the show”! I am fortunate to be a professional-musician from P-Funk, with recording and performing experience. When I arrived on the set, I was immediately recognized, and treated with the highest respect and admiration from the cast and crew. Each day was a challenging test of skill and experience. Everyday we had to learn multiple songs, rehearse and perform them with the surprise Rock Star Guests, perform live at Hollywood venues, and write and record original music! Each day, every moment, I continued to display my skill and experience. I was praised and championed everyday by the VIPs and the Crew. It was a fantastic experience for me!
SHEILA: What can fans expect to experience with your music?
STARR: My music is interlaced, and born from the Legendary Rockers; but it is alive and kicking with progression, thunderous-power and cosmic-electricity! Fans can expect to experience, a powerful-new-world in our 21st century…My mission is to powerfully flow forward, carrying out this most-special duty of ‘Rock Amazon’ of inspiration and light!
I will be touring my band, The Starr Cullars Crew. I am also doing Rock Counselor gigs with the Rock Camp (I am the only camper ever asked to become a Counselor!)
Listen to Starr Cullars’, “Diabolical Done” https://soundcloud.com/starrcullars/04-diabolical-done

Sheila Jackson H. is an award-winning author, biographer and CEO of Eve’s Lime Productions. She is Director-Producer of the upcoming documentary, “Nice & Rough: Black Women IN Rock.” - Sheila Jackson H.

Starr Cullars has launched her own record/production label, “Cosmic Nation Records.” Starr is one of the baddest bass players around, and is known for her work on VH-1’s Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and as the only woman in George Clinton’s 18-piece P-Funk All-Stars. She left Clinton to fully immerse herself in progressive, hard rock and started the Starr Cullars Crew.

Starr, who has always approached life with a strong sense of mission stated, “I completely understand that as a songwriter-artist and bandleader, I had to fortify myself and my organization for respected, compensated longevity. Since the labels have essentially vanished – with just 2-3 consolidated into corporate machines – I realize as a creative-artist I have to manufacture, distribute and sell my own albums and works. Also I see myself as a leader, CEO, and rising mogul.”

starr on bass

Determined to give back to the community, Starr began the “Cosmic Nation Foundation” and performs concerts with her Rock Mentors for select charities. The Starr Cullars Crew has performed with Fishbone and Kings X.

“I feel it is most necessary to strongly be my own best resource. Mark Hudson/Producer Aerosmith & Ozzy Osbourne, named me Amazon Oprah during our VH1 show. My goal is to become a musical industry version of Oprah, and establish my own empire,” stated Starr.

Starr Cullars was selected for Nice & Rough (dot) com’s July TOP 5 Black Women IN Rock musicians/guitarists for her bad-ass skills on bass. - Sheila Jackson H.

“Despite the deep roots of funk onboard the Enterprise, they are definitely a rock band. Well maybe more like the heavy-ass rock stomping side of funk. I say they launched into the night, somethind FIERCE, channeling booties into black holes and out the other side! Ms. Cullars massive bass chops and powerful voice, penetrated unsuspecting earholes! Starr and her powerful band are the amazing real thing!!!”
Jack Chance - Town News - Town News

“STARR CULLARS opened up for the popular band LIVING COLOUR. The excitement was definitely in the air as Starr and her band took to the stage in front of a SOLD-OUT crowd!!! The audience was definitely in for a magnificent treat!!! Red Alert was a serious highlight; the band took a break to let Starr really shine with her bass skills on an awe struck audience!!! Starr's solo w/out accompainement? Now that was the straight up bomb! Foe all those who thought, oh cute...hot, exotic, chick on bass...Think again and again guys!!!”
David Brooks - Brookenstein Reviews - Dr. Brookenstein

“ STARR CULLARS/Artist Bonjour My Friends! Living In The Light Rocking On...Checkout My Artist Page: STARR CULLARS/Artist & join the voyage! Checkout My Band Spaceball Riccochets.. "Episode 2" ( Ep. 202 ) from Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp - Season 2 | Full Episode | VH1.com www.vh1.com KISS front man Paul Stanley drops by the school and one camper breaks down in tears. Watch the full episode to see what happens! Watch Full Episodes Online at Vh1.com. VH1 Original TV Show.”
Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp Season 2 - VH1

The Starr Cullars Band is a hard-rock, power ensemble that makes the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone sound soft...Starr is a
tremendous bass player and the
band is awesome too! - The Star Ledger/Newark, NJ

By Sheila Dianne Jackson*, AFROPUNK contributor
Starr Cullars is on the road again, with a new band, spreading her own brand of rock. It’s progressive and hard, with a funky, cosmic flow. Starr is from the P-Funk pedigree. She was introduced to George Clinton via Prince and Paisley Park. Starr may look familiar as a former Counselor on VH-I’s Fantasy Rock Camp or featured in posters for the upcoming documentary, Nice and Rough: Black Women IN Rock.

SHEILA: How did playing with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars influence you as a rock musician?

STARR: When I was hired by George Clinton, Archie Ivy (Manager), and Garry Shider in the fall of 1992; there had only been women who were background-singers in the group. After about 9 months of working as the Assistant Road-Manager, I was promoted to a performing member on stage. I was and I am the only true-female-musician-member of the hallowed Parliament-Funkadelic.

Starr plays at House of Blues, photo by Derrick Drisdale

The Funkadelic side of the group is one of the original Black Rock bands. The founders of Funkadelic: Eddie Hazel and Billy Bass Nelson were hardcore Rockers. Eddie had jam sessions with Jimi Hendrix! So I would be called out at the show’s last hour/30 minutes, and I would play a section of Funkadelic Rock hits: Red Hot Mama (signature), Alice In My Fantasy, No Head, Free Your Mind, etc. Having to learn all these catalogs of music, learning and having the ability to appease all of the veteran Band Cats – many of whom played on the various hit-records and platinum albums. Having all that power, history and active bad-ass Band members teaching and playing with me, truly enabled me to develop the skill and power I function and create from now.


SHEILA: After playing in the 18-piece P-Funk All Stars, your current band is a trio. What were the considerations when you put together your band?

STARR: Definitely coming from that gigantic rotating orchestra, you immediately learn what it means to share the stage and song with a village. For some in certain genres, a large ensemble like that is great. But I am from the school of the power-Rockers. Those Cats that are 3-4 piece super-bands: Cream, Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsys, Rush, my big brothers of Living Colour. I am a Musician’s musician. I must be physically involved in the making of the music, to feel it through my instrument, through my body. I can do that best with a 3-4 piece band. If we added anything, the musician would have to be in vibration with us, and have all the necessary skills.
SHEILA: Speaking of physicality. You exude a lot of physical power onstage. And the way you handle your Bass is incredible. How do you cultivate and maintain your stamina?

STARR: Thank you. I have always known that the Bass guitar requires serious strength – just to lift and handle the instrument. My Kung Fu training has 100% enhanced my entire stage/show performance, From my agility and power-control of my Bass, to the stamina, strength, and balance I have navigating the stage. I study Choy Li Fut Kung Fu and Tai Chi at the White Dragon Martial Arts school. These instructors are some of the best in the world (seriously), like real-life Jedi-Knights. Kung Fu is soooooo challenging and definitely hard to do. It’s mind-blowing when you see and feel yourself grow stronger, deeper, more agile, super-hero-like!


SHEILA: A lot of the imagery you use is about the cosmos. Is it simply a reference to your name “Starr” or is there a deeper message you want to convey to your audience?

STARR: I would say, my music is about cosmic-inspirations, fighting through life-battles, and empowerment. In one of my songs, “I’m Still Standing” some of the lyrics are:
Nothing has killed me yet
No matter how mad
Nothing has taken me out
No matter how bad
I always said I was like the
Highlander, an Immortal
Somehow destined to go
Through the light portal…

Starr plays at House of Blues, photo by Derrick Drisdale

SHEILA: At a recent show, the M.C. announced you were ‘the first woman-led rock band to perform’ there. You have been on this journey of rock for a while now. Do you see the path evolving for Black Women In Rock?

STARR: No – not without the serious fight into the Rock Industry. Not until more Black Women have more opportunity and exposure in the Industry. The Rock Legend Cats, from the VH1 show, told me directly to my face that, “There are NO women in Rock today – not since, Heart and Joan Jett” (from the 70s/80s). And because I have proven myself to them, that I was “the Queen of Rock today.” I can tell you, that the path is extremely challenging, and plays right into MY M.O. So I am claiming the throne, infiltrating the male-testosterone Industry, and being the “Queen of Rock” in their faces, whether they are ready or not…Because I AM!


Listen out Starr on SoundCloud

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*Sheila Dianne Jackson is an award-winning author, biographer, and CEO of Eve’s Lime Productions. She is Director of the upcoming documentary, “Nice & Rough: Black Women IN Rock.” - afropunk.com