5 Key Facts About Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain

Maggot Brain was released in July 1971. It was Funkadelic’s third studio album, issued by Westbound Records.

The title track features a legendary guitar solo by Eddie Hazel. Hazel’s 10-minute solo was reportedly recorded in one take, inspired by George Clinton telling him to play as if he had just learned his mother had died.

The album blends funk, rock, and psychedelic soul. This fusion set Funkadelic apart from their more conventional funk contemporaries.

The cover art is iconic and unsettling. It shows a crying woman’s face emerging from a cracked egg, symbolizing birth and decay.

Maggot Brain is considered a landmark in funk and rock history. Critics and fans often rank it among the greatest albums of the 1970s for its raw emotion and innovation.