Nile Rodgers can consider himself a very lucky man. Not just in terms of his successful musical career as an artist, songwriter and producer, or the long list of people he’s worked with, but he’s lucky that he’s lived to tell the tale, and what a story it is. The man that helped invent disco with Chic, and who went on to work with Bowie, Madonna, Diana Ross and Duran Duran among many others, has lived an extraordinary life, which is wonderfully documented in this autobiography.
Inspired by influences as diverse as Roxy Music and Kiss he formed Chic with his musical partner Bernard Edwards, helped define disco and sold millions of records. Turning his hand to production he provided artists from Sister Sledge to Madonna, and David Bowie to Diana Ross with the best-selling records of their careers and almost single-handedly provided the soundtrack for the 80s generation.
‘Le Freak’ is the story of an extraordinary man who comes across as both likeable and self-deprecating. For every sparkling showbiz tale there’s another from the darker side of his life; dysfunctional childhood, psychotic drug episodes, overdoses and a very recent cancer scare.
This book is a fascinating and absorbing read from start to finish. Good times indeed.
Because we challenge you to read this book and not to want Nile Rodgers to be your friend. He’s a musical legend – with the kind of amazing stories to match that status – but he also humble, down to earth and funny. What’s not to like?
Yes. We spent a very happy hour interviewing Nile in London a couple of weeks ago and that interview will be appearing on the website very soon!