Eviction Notice : Sly Stone’s Rehearsals No Hit With Landlord

Entertainer Sly Stone has been targeted for eviction from his Toluca Lake apartment by his landlord, who complains that Stone and a roommate play drums and loud music in the middle of the night.

A lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the Oakwood Garden Apartments alleges that Stone, 42, and Darryl Armstrong made excessive noise in their third-floor apartment several times during February and early March.

James Klein, the property manager for the development, served Stone with a three-day notice to leave the premises on March 6 but Stone and Armstrong have refused to leave, according to the lawsuit.

Stone, who writes music under the name Sylvester Stewart, has been living in the apartments, in the 3800 block of Barham Boulevard, since September, 1984, according to the suit. The suit asks for one month’s back rent, $1,450, in addition to the eviction.

Recording in Apartment

Stone could not be reached for comment Tuesday. But a spokesman for the singer at the apartment said Stone has been completing songs for an album, recording some music in the apartment. He said Stone plans to pay the back rent today to settle the dispute.

Stone was one of rock music’s trailblazers during the late 1960s and early 1970s. As leader of the group Sly and the Family Stone, he helped bring rhythm and blues into the pop mainstream.

Among the group’s hits were “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music” and “I Want to Take You Higher,” which they performed at the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

But Stone was continually plagued by drug and professional difficulties. Although Stone has tried comebacks several times, his most recent albums have not equaled his earlier successes.