Future funk pioneers Lettuce pay tribute to legendary Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell in their newly re-released track, “Star Children.” Originally exclusive to the Japanese edition of their 2008 album Rage, this fan-favorite has now been made widely available for the first time on vinyl and digital platforms. The release follows the group’s recent James Brown-inspired single, “Monorail 3000,” and highlights a year 2024 filled with major festival performances, nationwide tours, and the launch of their on-demand music platform.
“Star Children” presents Lettuce’s unmistakable sound, featuring dynamic synth leads from former keyboardist Neal Evans, tight rhythmic interplay by drummer Adam Deitch and bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes, sharp horn accents, and the signature melodic turns the band is known for. The track, primarily composed by guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, embodies the group’s deep-rooted admiration for P-Funk legends like Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, and Bernie Worrell.
Reflecting on the track’s origins, Smirnoff notes, “It’s one of the few recordings where Neal Evans used an Analog Modular Synthesizer from Joel Hamilton’s Studio G. Our love for P-Funk and Bernie Worrell is evident not only in the music but in the track’s very name—‘Star Children.’”
In addition to the digital release, “Star Children” will feature in a forthcoming 7” vinyl series. Highlighting the nostalgic spirit behind the project, Deitch adds, “‘Star Children’ references Star Child, the iconic singer of Parliament-Funkadelic. It reminds us that we are all children of the stars.”