http://www.eurweb.com/art...182004.cfm

Aug. 18, 2004) *“I was forced to be different,” funk legend Bootsy Collins says about the origin of his exquisitely mismatched style. “When we were growing up, we were on welfare and I had to get clothes wherever I could get clothes, and it was usually the Goodwill. I had to wear whatever Mama put on us - and none of it ever matched - so all the kids always laughed at me anyway. I had to learn early that this stuff I had on was funny, and learn how to laugh at it.
The world has since come to idolize to the brain that coordinates those otherworldly outfits, because it has also managed to craft some of the nastiest bass lines ever recorded in music history.

William Collins, who as a teenager cut his teeth with James Brown as a founding member of his backing band The Pacesetters, joined forces with George Clinton of Funkadelic in 1972 and began laying the groundwork of 70s funk – one album at a time.

Bootsy, whose nickname was adopted to go along with the alien rock star character from the Mothership, was known for his relentless, hard-thumping attack on the bass that became a staple of the funk genre. In 1976, the musician stepped out and formed his own Bootsy’s Rubber Band, which also brought on a new moniker, Bootzilla – an even more bedazzled and colorful alter-ego that spat vocabulary from another galaxy. Bootsy remembers the exact year when his trademark vernacular and nasal-tinged crescendo-style play on words began.

“It had to be around 1974 when we recorded ‘Be My Beach’ from Funkadelic’s [1975 album “Let’s Take it to the Stage”],” he says. “Me and George was just clowning around in the studio and I was talking like that. And George thought it was just hilarious. He said, ‘Why don’t you record that?’ So we recorded it.”

Fast forward to 2004 and the U.S. release of Bootsy’s first studio album in six years, “Play With Bootsy,” from Thump Records. Guests on the project range from Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim and Macy Gray, to Bobby Womack and George Clinton, to Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps.

“It’s a tribute to the funk,” says Bootsy. “They’re not actually giving me a tribute, they’re paying tribute to funk as a whole. It’s the younger artists that come in on this album – their version of the funk.”

The record was released in Europe a few years ago before Thump signed on to release the set stateside. The fact that America is on the late freight with this project reflects a larger issue infecting the music industry, says Bootsy.

“They’re into historic things overseas,” he explains. “In the states, they’re into what’s now and what’s next. [In the States], they’re pretty much led to believe whatever the company says and what the TV says. You can’t fault [the audience] because that’s what they’re getting fed. [Companies] manufacture music today, they manufacture everything and put it in your face and say you got to have it. Fortunately for me, I’ve been able to stay in the present and the now and continue to keep the funk alive. If a record company ain’t gonna put your records out, you gotta find other means to get your records out – video games, films and doing an album like this with current people.”

In addition to lending original compositions to the soundtrack of Acclaim’s NBA Jam video game, Bootsy cites his 2002 Nike ad campaign as an alternative way he was able to get his music to the masses.

“It made such a big noise because a lot of people got to see it at the same time,” says Bootsy. “And that’s what record companies do for artists, but companies aren’t into [the funk] like that. To me, Nike was like a big record company because [my music] got played everywhere.”

Finally, Bootsy fans on American soil have something to chew on, with the recent release of “Play with Bootsy,” which also features a joint credited to “One” and Bobby Womack called “Groove Eternal.” One reviewer described the track as “ a slice of cheesy, funk-soul that could have come straight off a mid-80s Prince album.”

“That just might be Prince,” laughs Bootsy. “We call him ‘the One.’ It’s kind of a hush/hush deal. We call him ‘Chris - the One.’ That’s a clue. Throw it out there, you might get some feedback.”

Bootsy is planning to take his “Play With Bootsy” show on the road for a forthcoming tour, pending the availability of various guest stars on the project. In the meantime, the original funk doctor continues to keep the funk alive by any means necessary. He’s even considering an offer from Sears to star in a new ad campaign.

“Those are the straightest clothes you’ve ever seen in your life,” he laughs. “I thought it was hilarious…but I might do it.”

Yeah, I had that album 4 over a year.
I am sure its prince. Others fams r adamant it aint. soooo confusion?!

I never got it when it first came out. There was so much confusion here on the org whether it was or wasn't Prince . I guess now I'll have to get it just in case...

Bootsy's messin around. I talked to the guy who was THE ONE and he is NOT Prince. There is a picture of him at bootsy's website.

when will this rumour ever die ? (probably when Bootsy stops fuelling it, i guess)

it is NOT Prince !

It's not Prince -- he wouldn't do a song that's a parody of himself.

But it's a funk album -- pick it up!

yes and ROSIE GAINES is on it.

it's a good album.

It's not Prince, Boot is just lettin our imaginations run wild. I know Boot and his crew and his brutha Catfish. But Bootsy does have interest in doing something with Prince.
[This message was edited Wed Aug 18 17:48:10 2004 by ELBOOGY]

If Bootsy and Prince hooked up it would be a SMASH!!

Funkiest record ever made...mark my word.

Me and a friend of mine could swear it is him. If it was a guy emulating him, it would be too perfect. But at the same time, it sounds like early recordings of him. His voice is different now...
[This message was edited Wed Aug 18 20:33:25 2004 by GustavoRibas]

On the other hand, if it´s an impersonator, I don´t know why would Bootsy call someone just to emulate Prince on a record. Better to try to convince Prince himself to record...

Who ever it is, that album is great !!

Would love to see them working to getter one day !
Bootsy sure could add some greace to P's music !

It's absolutely definitely Prince.
I've had the cd since it came out in the UK a couple of years ago... at the start of the album Bootsy introduces a few players from other songs and when he gets to "The One" there's a very Prince like bit of singing.

The two songs Prnice is on both sound like him vocally (admittedly through the voice changer but the intonation is right) and the structure of the songs sounds very Prince like.

What makes you think it's not him?
And why would Bootsy pretend it's him when it's not?
I remember a few years ago when Norman Cook was working a lot with Bootsy he flew off to Minneapolis to do something with Prince so the timings all fit in too.

I haven't heard the tracks myself, but going by the clue:

"We call him ‘Chris - the One.’ That’s a clue"

sounds like KRS One .....

funkyfine said:

Bootsy already told everybody on his website in aswer to the rumors that it is NOT Prince. in addition to that there was a picture of 'One'. his singing may sound like Prince's, but he sure doesn't look like him !

i would have much rather seen bootsy and NOT larry graham around paisley park.

Octavius said:

Yeah babybuba !!

So,is it Prince or not?

DavidEye said:

NO!

dawntreader said:

- What a waste of talent. This ´One´ dedicating his skills to imitate Prince in every bit.....

DavidEye said:

NO!!!!!