A present from my genius front of house soundman John Ryan at Lovebox
After we founded the CHIC Organization, our band's rise and fall was meteorically fast. Our first single "Dance, Dance, Dance," was released during the the summer of '77. Just two short years later we were hit with "Disco Sucks."
The band CHIC never got another hit after the summer of '79, but we sure kept trying. Here's a single that flopped back in the day that we played last Sunday At The Lovebox Festival.
CHIC "Good Times" LIVE at LOVEBOX FESTIVAL 2012
CHIC "My Forbidden Lover" LIVE at LOVEBOX FESTIVAL 2012
Me jamming and having a good time at The Lovebox Festival
Ralph on drums, Jerry, Kim, and Folami at The Lovebox Festival
On stage with a bevy of beauties at The Lovebox Festival
Legendary DJ Felix da Housecat and me backstage at Lovebox
Folami and me in Chaka Khan's dressing room at The Lovebox Festival
Playing an Eb major in the 8th position at The Lovebox Festival
My point of view at The Lovebox Festival
Ladies & gentlemen, Miss Kimberly Davis at The Lovebox Festival
They came to party at The Lovebox Festival
I'll never be nonchalant about my health again
Yesterday, I briefly talked about the wonderful things I've done over the last few days - but what's coming up is equally, if not more exciting. I'll get to play with many old friends and some wonderful new ones. Sting, Mark Ronson, Chase & Status, Tiësto, La Roux, Mark Ronson, Martha Wash, M People, Felix da Housecat, David Guetta, Ultra Naté, Alison Moyet, Dimitri from Paris, Johnny Marr, Cerrone, Tavares, Scarlett Etienne, Taylor Dayne, Lenny Kravitz, and a long list of artists that I love.
Don't get me wrong, as great as all that is, my life is still a daily struggle. I'm trying many new approaches to getting my strength back because I love playing and composing. I'll never be nonchalant about my health again. I want to play and perform music for as long as possible and Cancer Is a Life Stealing Monster.
Sting
Mark Ronson
Chase & Status
Tiësto
La Roux
Martha Wash
M People
Felix da Housecat
David Guetta
Ultra Naté
Alison Moyet
Dimitri from Paris
Johnny Marr
Cerrone
Tavares
Scarlett Etienne
Taylor Dayne
Lenny Kravitz
I want to play and perform music for as long as possible
Coming home from a great meeting with Broadway theater man Albert Nocciolino - We met about both my shows
This is an exciting period of my life. Though cancer's aftermath makes everyday life difficult, I keep moving forward. Music gives me the strength to pull it together and do my job no matter what. And even if my daily responsibilities are not music oriented, I act as if they are and call upon that musical strength.
In the last two weeks I've performed with some of my favorite artists, received an honorary doctorate from the prestigious Drexel University, and directly afterward flew to London, performed that day, got fitted for a white three piece suit around midnight, and flew back home and to do a movie, and then I'm meeting with the CEO of NAC Entertainment, who's one of the biggest producers on Broadway.
The following pictures will give you a glimpse at My Last Few Killer Days.
This is an exciting period in my life - Here I'm preparing to receive an Honorary Doctorate from prestigious Drexel University
I did a film on funk with Nelson George today at my NYC apartment. I've know him since the 1st CHIC album
Music gives me the strength to pull it together and do my job no matter what
In the last two weeks I've performed with some of my favorite artists, like Johnny Marr from the Smiths
Me and Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips at Parklife in Manchester
Directly after my commencement speech, I flew directly to London
CHIC LOVEBOX TENT
Sam Sparrow (co-writer of Adam Lambert's "Shady" that I played on) and me in the tent
Chaka, Grace, and me cracking up big-time in Grace's dressing room
Group shot of Incognito, CHIC, and Chaka Khan - Chaka looks SCARY FINE!
Grace in fierce Head Gear
Then she takes the head gear off
Then we performed...
And performed some more
Then came the "Good Times" bum rush
And chaos, which we love
Followed by more chaos, which we love too!
Which built up to full fledged revolution
After the show I was fitted by Mark Wesley "Earl of Bedlam" for one of my latest white suits
I'm shooting a documentary with Nelson George
Jamming at Parklife!
Grace taking the stage for her 3rd number
Grace performed this enitre song on one leg
Dear Blog Lovers, the blog will return in all its splendor after I get home. The amount of content requires a high-speed connection, and over the last week I've been in spots where my situation wasn't optimal. In many situations I had no connectivity at all. But I'll soon Return From the Dead.
Heading from Philly to London tonight. Lovebox festival tomorrow! More details soon.
Drexel University's Main Entrance
This weekend before flying to England to perform at The Lovebox Festival, I'll be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Drexel University. This is a tradition that became common in the 16th century at Oxford and Cambridge universities in England.
An Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters is typically awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves, usually in areas related to the humanities - or to honor their contributions to society in general.
Recipients of the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters have included former presidents, authors, distinguished scholars, business leaders, and prominent entertainers. Notable recipients include former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, entertainer Bob Hope, CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour, filmmaker Ken Burns, actress Meryl Streep, and poet and author Dr. Maya Angelou. I'm flattered, humbled, and honored to be in such company.
I take this award very seriously, but I've achieved what I've accomplished because I'm driven, dedicated, and disciplined. I try and keep my life in perspective and maintain a certain sense of humor about it because life is so unpredictable. With that in mind - please respectfully laugh along with today's blog post of the "Doctor Sequence" from the film Spies Like Us.
Yours truly, soon to be Dr. Nile Rodgers.
Doctor Scene with Bob Hope from Spies Like Us
Dr. Bill Clinton
Dr. George H.W. Bush
Dr. Bob Hope
Dr. Christianne Amanpour
Dr. Ken Burns
Dr. Meryl Streep
Dr. Maya Angelou
Drexel's got one of the greatest analog tape storage facilities I've ever seen. "Dr. Love" by First Choice is here!
I was born in 1952, The Year of the Dragon. Here I'm with my mom & I'm a couple months old
I was born in the year of the Dragon. One of the many Dragons in my life is in the office of the president of Drexel University
Calling Dr. Nile Rodgers!
My Speech at Studio 54. "You've got to fight, for your right, to Paaarty!"
Manchester, UK - the beginning of an amazing Disco Summer of Love
After a few planes and many hours of travel I arrived home. This past weekend of festivals was amazing! Then I looked at the jawdropping list of everyone I'm playing with over the coming months, and all of a sudden felt a wave of excitement for what is to be CHIC's biggest Disco Summer of Love!
Keep refreshing the page today as I'll be on a few flights home. Enjoy the music spun by DJ D.
I'm currently in Manchester after yet another insane travel debacle. But I'm driven to do what I do. I can't help myself, I love music - so much so - that when I listen to Grace Jone's "Slave To The Rhythm" I'm often moved to tears, because I so relate to it spiritually, professionally, and personally.
I'm on the cover of the current issue of Turks & Caicos Magazine. Many of you have never heard of this island paradise, but this is where I go whenever I can, to put some order into my life.
The article is longer than the blog so I'm going to roll it out over the next three days. It will give you some insight as to how I work and frankly survive. And now many of my show business friends and colleagues are starting to discover my Home Away From Home.
Amanda Sheppard and my long time friend and major CHIC influencer Bryan Ferry were married at Amanyara
Yesterday we played the Parklife Festival in Manchester, England
Yesterday we played the Parklife Festival in Manchester, England. It was freezing, rainy, and wonderful. We were joined by legendary guitarist Johnny Marr of the famed band The Smiths (and Electronic, The The and others).
Johnny and I have become great friends. He's named his son Nile, after me, and the other Nile's a pretty damned fine guitarist too, and Johnny gave me one of his signature Fender Jaguars the night before.
I don't know how to explain Manchester to people who've never been here, but for a freezing rainy city, the people are warm and charming - and they're serious music fans. When I stepped onto the stage to take a few photos before our set I was greeted by massive sea of humanity, all ready to get their groove on.
We only played half of our two hour show because there were many acts on the bill and we're never disrespectful of other acts. We're all in this together and it's the audience that counts. But around forty-minutes into our show my body was finally starting to warm up. And when we performed "Le Freak," I was Ready to Play My A$$ Off.
Sport video at Parklife shot by John Ryan
Johnny and I have become great friends
Johnny gave me one of his signature Fender Jaguars the night before
I don't know how to explain Manchester to people who've never been here, but for a freezing, rainy city, the people are warm and charming
I stepped onto the stage to take a few photos before our set I was greeted by massive sea of humanity, all ready to get their groove on
Folami, Kim, me, and even our driver arrive in coordinated colors
The CHIC Horns - Steve Jankowski and Bill Holloman
We're all in this together and it's the audience that counts
But around forty-minutes into our show my body was finally starting to warm up
Johnny Marr playing my Fender Custom Shop Hitmaker Strat, me, and Jerry Barnes on "Le Freak."