POP/ROCK - May 31, 1988

James Brown’s marital saga may soon come to an end. The Godfather of Soul said he loves his wife but thinks it’s time to end his contentious third marriage, the Spartanburg (S.C) Herald-Journal reported Sunday. “I’m going to divorce her. I love her very much, but I just want to be by myself,” Brown was quoted as saying. “It will be done as soon as the papers go through.” Brown, 55, has been married to his third wife, Adrienne, 38, for four years. The singer wouldn’t wouldn’t discuss charges filed against him in recent months. He was arrested in April and charged with assault with intent to kill for an incident in which he allegedly beat his wife with a pipe and shot into her car. Earlier this month, Brown was arrested after a car chase near his home and charged with possession of the hallucinogen PCP, which he said belonged to his wife. Wife Adrienne has been charged three times in recent months with possessing PCP. She also has been charged with setting fire to Brown’s hotel room in Bedford, N.H., on May 10.