Nile Rodgers lays it down

December 29, 2012 2:41 AM

3.5 hours of extra-sharp guitar play and how we done it tips from Chic's mastermind. Transcript 1 2
posted by Wolof (15 comments total)

How very cool. I so wish Bernard Edwards and Chic entire were still with us.
posted by y2karl at 2:43 AM on December 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is gold. Only 40 minutes in, he's fascinating and hilarious and I've learned that both Rodgers and Carlos Alomar had Sesame St gigs.
posted by hawthorne at 4:20 AM on December 29, 2012

Great post. Chic is one of many bands whose music I thought was beneath the likes of me (offense: "disco") in their heyday, but who I have grown to really like.
posted by thelonius at 4:36 AM on December 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

It's like deja vu all over again.
posted by y2karl at 5:03 AM on December 29, 2012

Back at the beginning, on French TV in 1979, Le Freak
and then, at Budokan in 1996: I Want Your Love.
( See also Chic: Live at Budokan )
And from 1983: Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards discuss Chic ( Start interview - 1:12 )
posted by y2karl at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2012

This guy can tell some stories. And I like him.
posted by 3.2.3 at 7:18 AM on December 29, 2012

Meet the man responsible for giving Duran Duran a career beyond January 1984. He really is a genius.
posted by yellowcandy at 10:04 AM on December 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

I play my Best of Chic album in the classroom all the time, just barely audible. The smooth bass is great for working on stuff.
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:48 AM on December 29, 2012

Fantastic. So articulate about music it takes you to another planet.
posted by colie at 11:02 AM on December 29, 2012

The fastest 3.5 hours of my week.
posted by Ardiril at 11:17 AM on December 29, 2012

Wow, this really feels like an education in music making. Thanks for posting!
posted by goHermGO at 11:29 AM on December 29, 2012

Wow. I've always deeply admired his work as a producer but never actually heard him talk. What a funny, likeable, smart and entertaining guy. (And man, he looks about 37. Look at his arms! Surely he must be about 85? I keed, I keed. But still)
posted by Hartham's Hugging Robots at 12:12 PM on December 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Raconteur and genius, a pleasure and an education. Thanks for this great link.
posted by Abiezer at 5:25 AM on December 30, 2012

Watched the whole thing yesterday; thanks!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2012

Just finished this off. It was incredibly interesting. I'm going to grab Rodgers' book; I want more.

I hadn't been aware that he was ill; it seems that he's cancer-free now. He didn't talk about it much in the interview, but he mentioned it.
posted by thelonius at 2:08 AM on January 3