Is James Brown Obsolete?

Last summer, when I visited Afriac with James Brown for one of his "triumphant" blitzes, I was surprised at the discontent among his employees. The band grumbled about being put in an ill-kept hotel while Brown was locked away in the presidential villa, they complained about being left behind while Brown was swept through the streets of Gabon to the squeal of cheering thousands, they were bitter about being invited to the president's private beach and not being told to bring swimming trunks — most of the band showed up in suits and spent the rest of the day trying to make the best of an afternoon on the beach in shirts and ties.