Tuesday, March 19, 2024

2013 Won't Be Boring!

January 4, 2013


Nile Rodgers & Daft Punk

Last year was trying for my health and a number of colleagues passed away. Maybe, it was poetic to end 2012 in Japan? There are so many memories there for me, both happy and sad, but it always strengthens me to visit. It's the place where my long time partner, bassist extraordinaire Bernard Edwards, passed away in April 1996. It's also the place where my band performed in April 2011, in the aftermath of the triply devastating earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima Daiichi - one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.

Although April in Japan is bittersweet, the people dependably reinforce the sweet. I'm always assured of an audience that loves to celebrate, party, and have a genuine good time with me. They allow us to play anything from my repertoire, and indulge my every artistic whim.

The next time we return, I want to do something extra special, because people always pull me aside and request songs that I thought just a handful of people knew. In a world of lower proportionate record sales (compared to my multi-platinum heyday when the Gold, Platinum, and Diamond award plateaus were double), our last studio album CHIC-ism, sold around 400,000 units in April 1992 - a respectable number by today's standards.

The next time I set foot in Japan, my collaboration with Daft Punk would have started to hit people's eardrums, as well as a number of songs I'm working on over the next few months with a select group of artists, and of course finally, my lost CHIC and solo material. No matter how it ends, 2013 Won't Be Boring!

 


Maybe, it was poetic to end 2012 in Japan? I signed a fan's tee right after midnight


Me and 'Nard on our CHIC-ism promo tour - Bernard Edwards passed away in April 1996 in Japan


CHIC Live on Sukkiri Japanese TV April 2011 in the aftermath of Fukushima Daiichi


The Japanese fans dependably reinforce the sweet


I'm assured of an audience that loves to celebrate, party, and have a good time


Our CHIC music fans are getting younger and younger


They indulge my every artistic whim and even allowed us to play into the dressing room at the end


CHIC-ism sold around 400,000 units in April 1992


The next time I set foot in Japan, my collaboration with Daft Punk would have started to hit people's eardrums


Some of the found "Lost Tapes"


This was our 1st show of 2013 and it was in Japan


My Fender Nile Rodgers Signature Series Hitmaker guitar should debut in 2013


2013 Won't Be Boring!