Bootsy Collins | |
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.jpg) Collins performing in 1998 | |
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| Born | William Earl Collins (1951-10-26)October 26, 1951 (age 74) Cincinnati,Ohio, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
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| Website | bootsycollins |
William Earl "Bootsy"Collins (born October 26, 1951) is an American bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter.[1] Rising to prominence withJames Brown in the early 1970s before joining theParliament-Funkadelic collective, Collins established himself as one of the leading names and innovators in funk with his driving basslines and humorous vocals. He later formed his ownP-Funk side project known as 'Bootsy's Rubber Band'.[2] He was a frequent collaborator with other musicians from a variety of genres, including dance music (Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart"), electronicbig beat (Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" and "The Joker"), andalternative metal (Praxis), among others. He is a member of theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with 15 other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. In 2020,Rolling Stone magazine ranked Collins number 4 in its list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time.[3]
Collins was born inCincinnati,Ohio, on October 26, 1951.[4] He said that his mother nicknamed him "Bootsy". "I asked her why", he explained to a journalist, "and she just said, 'Because you looked like a Bootsy.' I left it at that."[5]
His brotherPhelps "Catfish" Collins (1943–2010) was also a musician.[4] He and Bootsy were once part ofThe Pacemakers.
Collins has maintained a strong connection with Cincinnati.[6]
With his elder brotherPhelps "Catfish" Collins, Frankie "Kash" Waddy, andPhilippé Wynne, Collins formed a funk band,The Pacemakers, in 1968.[4] In March 1970, after most of the members ofJames Brown's band quit over a pay dispute, The Pacemakers were hired as Brown's backing band and they became known asThe J.B.'s.[7] (They are often referred to as the "original" J.B.'s to distinguish them from later line-ups that went by the same name.) Although they worked for Brown for only 11 months, the original J.B.'s played on some of Brown's most intense funk recordings, including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine", "Super Bad", “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved”, "Soul Power", "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing", and two instrumental singles, the much-sampled "The Grunt" and "These Are the J.B.'s". In regards to his tenure working forJames Brown, Collins stated:
He treated me like a son. And being out of a fatherless home, I needed that father figure and he really played up to it. I mean, Good Lord. Every night after we played a show, he called us back to give us a lecture about how horrible we sounded. [Affects James Brown voice] "Nah, not on it, son. I didn't hear the one. You didn't give me the one." He would tell me this at every show. One night, we knew we wasn't sounding really good – we were off – and he calls us back there and said, "Uh huh, now that's what I'm talkin' about. Y'all was on it tonight. Y'all hit the one."My brother and I looked at each other like, "This mother has got to be crazy." We knew in our heart and soul that we wasn't all that on that show. So then I started figuring out his game, man. By telling me that I wasn't on it, he made me practice harder. So I just absorbed what he said and used it in a positive way.[8]
After parting ways withJames Brown, Collins returned to Cincinnati and formedHouse Guests with his brother Phelps Collins, Rufus Allen, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnels, Frankie Waddy, Ronnie Greenaway and Robert McCullough. The House Guests released "What So Never the Dance" and another single on the House Guests label, as well as a third as The Sound of Vision on the House Guests label.
Next Collins moved toDetroit,Michigan, after Philippé Wynne suggested joiningThe Spinners, for whom Wynne had been singing. However, following the advice of singer and futureParliament memberMallia Franklin, Collins made another choice. Franklin introduced both Collins brothers toGeorge Clinton, and in 1972, both of the Collins brothers, along with Waddy, joinedFunkadelic. Collins played bass on most ofFunkadelic and Parliament albums through the early 1980s, garnering several songwriting credits as well.
In 1976 Collins, Catfish, Waddy, Joel Johnson (1953–2018), Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, Robert Johnson andThe Horny Horns formedBootsy's Rubber Band, a separate touring unit of Clinton's P-Funk collective. The group recorded five albums together, the first three of which are often considered to be among the quintessential P-Funk recordings. The group's 1978 albumBootsy? Player of the Year reached the top of the R&B album chart and spawned the No. 1 R&B single "Bootzilla".
Like Clinton, Collins took on severalalter egos, from Casper the Funky Ghost to Bootzilla, "the world's only rhinestone rockstar monster of a doll", all as parts of the evolving character of an alien rock star who grew gradually more bizarre as time went on (seeP-Funk mythology). He also adopted his trademark "space bass" around this time.
Collins released two 1980 albums, his first "solo" albumUltra Wave, andSweat Band, on George Clinton's Uncle Jam label with a group billed as Bootsy's Sweat Band. He also was credited for co-producing the debut of P-Funk spinoffZapp.
In 1984, he collaborated withJerry Harrison ofTalking Heads to produce "Five Minutes", a dance record sampled and edited fromRonald Reagan's infamous "We begin bombing in five minutes" speech. The record was credited to "Bonzo goes to Washington" (also referenced in the 1985Ramones song "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg", derived from Reagan's starring role as Professor Peter Boyd in the 1951 comedy filmBedtime for Bonzo).
After a nearly five-year hiatus, he had a comeback in 1988 (with some help from producerBill Laswell).What's Bootsy Doin'? flaunted a new sound that foreshadowed the 1990s, such as the dance floor smash "Party on Plastic". Laswell introduced Collins to Herbie Hancock, resulting inPerfect Machine (1988). The techno-funk they recorded featured turntables for scratch appeal, and the smoothly-stylized vocals ofLeroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner of chart-toppingOhio Players. These were the first of many collaborations between Laswell and Collins on many albums and projects, with the prolific producer using Bootsy mainly as a bassist but sometimes as arhythm guitarist.[9]
In 1988, Collins appeared as a guest artist to play bass onKeith Richards and The X-Pensive Winos albumTalk is Cheap. Also in 1988, Collins also has a cameo appearance in rapperEazy-E’s music video forWe Want Eazy.
In 1989, Collins played bass on and produced several tracks ofMalcolm McLaren's albumWaltz Darling, credited to Malcolm McLaren and the Bootzilla Orchestra.
In 1990, Collins collaborated withDeee-Lite on their biggest hit "Groove Is in the Heart", and he contributed additional vocals. Although he also appeared in the music video playing the bass, the bassline in the song is actually a sample of aHerbie Hancock song called "Bring Down the Birds". Bootsy's Rubber Band became the de facto backing musicians for Deee-Lite during a world tour. The Rubber Band also recorded the EPJungle Bass, their first recording in 11 years.
In 1992, he joined with guitaristStevie Salas and drummerBuddy Miles to form the funk-metal fusion groupHardware. The trio released one album,Third Eye Open, before disbanding. In the same year, Collins played bass guitar on the firstPraxis album (produced by Laswell):Transmutation, alongside fellow Parliament-Funkadelic member Bernie Worrell,Bryan Mantia andBuckethead.
Bootsy's New Rubber Band formed in 1994, releasingBlasters of the Universe and also put forth the following live release "Keepin' dah Funk Alive 4-1995", recorded over two nights in Tokyo.
In 1995, Collins played in the remake ofJimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9", for Axiom Funk, a Funkadelic-like one-off supergroup produced by Bill Laswell and featuring (Funkadelic members) George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Collins, (the guitar of the late) Eddie Hazel, Gary Shider and Laswell. The group released only one album (Funkcronomicon), and the song also appeared in the soundtrack of the movieStealing Beauty. He also featured on Jon B's song "Simple Melody" from his debut album, "Bonafide".
Collins collaborated withDel McCoury,Doc Watson andMac Wiseman to form theGrooveGrass Boyz. They produced a fusion ofbluegrass and funk.
Collins provided lead vocals for theFatboy Slim song "Weapon of Choice" from his 2000 albumHalfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. Collins vocals quote the bookDune ("Walk without rhythm and you won't attract the worm"). The song won multipleMTV Video Music Awards and aGrammy Award for Best Music Video.
In 2004 Collins contributed to Christian rap artistTobyMac'sWelcome to Diverse City album, collaborating on the "Diverse City" track, a song praised as one of the best on the album.[10] The album won the 2005 Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year.[11]
In October 2005, Collins co-wrote a song celebrating the resurgence of his hometown team, theCincinnati Bengals of theNational Football League called "Fear Da Tiger" which features "raps" written and performed by several Bengals players, includingdefensive end Duane Clemons, offensive tackle Stacy Andrews, and center Ben Wilkerson. An edited version of the song was made into a music video which features cameos by many other Bengals players. Collins appeared with Little Richard,Bernie Worrell, and other notable musicians as the band playing withHank Williams, Jr. for theMonday Night Football opening during the 2006 season. Collins was the only all star to return with Williams for the 2007 season.
He also sings "Marshal Law", the theme song of theCincinnati Marshals indoor football team and debuted the song in 2006[6] at half time of the April 29 Marshals home game against the West Palm Beach Phantoms.
In 2006,ABC Entertainment/A Charly Films Release released a DVD and CD from Collins and the New Rubber Band's concert at the 1998North Sea Jazz Festival. Soon after the release, Collins split from long-time friend and guitarist Odhran "The Bodhran" Rameriz, citing creative differences as the reason.
Later that same year, Collins released the holiday albumChristmas Is 4 Ever. This represents the first Christmas-themed album made by a member of the P-Funk musical collective. The album features re-workings of Christmas standards as well as original compositions.
In April 2007, Collins announced plans to open Bootsy's, a restaurant/club with Cincinnati area restaurateur Jeff Ruby. The venue operated from 2008 to 2010. It featured live musical acts, a museum dedicated to Collins's musical career and Spanish, Central and South American cuisine.
In June 2007, Collins, along withCatfish Collins,Clyde Stubblefield,John "Jabo" Starks, andBernie Worrell, participated in the recording of the soundtrack for the movieSuperbad. In December of that year they (without Worrell) went on to perform the first tribute concert remembering James Brown.
In July 2007, Collins also toldBillboard magazine that he was working on a project namedScience Faxtion and an album calledLiving on Another Frequency in which he serves as bassist and co-producer along with his lead vocalistGreg Hampton. The band also features guitarist Buckethead and drummerBrain.[12] The album was released in November 2008.[13]
Collins promotedRock the Vote for its 2008 campaign together with Buckethead.[14]
Collins portrayed a radio DJ in the 2013 video game,Grand Theft Auto V, in which several of his own songs were featured.[15]
Collins has also collaborated extensively withBill Laswell,Buckethead, and also frequently collaborated with fellow bassistVictor Wooten.
In 2018, Collins did a song with singerKali Uchis called "After the Storm".
On December 14, 2018, Collins played a show with Detroit-based funk artistGRiZ, and also collaborated on a new song with GRiZ.
In January 2019, Collins announced on Facebook that he would be retiring from live performances for health reasons:[16]
Time has come for Me to tell all our Funkateers that I will Not be Playing Bass in Concerts anymore. I have decided to become a Coach for up & coming Musicians. I know u r Disappointed just think for a moment how I feel. Doc said to much pressure on my Inner-Ear & Right Hand. Yeah, I had to make up my Mind, so I did. 2019 Sheriff Ping Ping Ping will continue to Funk from the Studio but Not Live playing Bass on Stage. I know u got question & I don't have answers, maybe one day u to will understand. Just remember; That This Year will be the Funkiest Year of them All. Watch for it. Bootsy baby!!![16]
He wrote that he would be releasing a new album that year, and that he would continue to work in the studio and mentor young musicians.[16]
On February 25, 2021, it was announced that Collins would be making an appearance as the "special guest host" ofAn Evening with Silk Sonic, the first studio album fromSilk Sonic, a collaboration betweenBruno Mars andAnderson .Paak.[17] He was the one who came up with the band's name (much like he did withBabyface), and acts as the album's narrator, "threading" the songs together.[18]
On July 7, 2022, Collins served as emcee for the opening ceremony for the2022 World Games inBirmingham, Alabama.[19]
Collins has owned many basses, several of which are custom made. His original Space Bass and its first replacement were made inWarren, Michigan by Larry Pless of Gus Zoppi's music store. The first Space Bass had amahogany body and maple neck, white finish, and mirror pick guard. This is the Space Bass on the cover of 1976 albumStretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band.[20] Collins's original Space Bass guitar was stolen, but it was later recovered at a Cincinnatipawn shop and returned to him.[20]
Another Collins signature instrument is a custom-builtstar-shaped bass guitar he also calls "the Space Bass", built for him by Manuel "Manny" Salvador of GuitarCraft in 1998, and later Collins made an agreement with Traben to make a signature Collins model bass, "the Bootzilla".[21] In 2010, Bootsy Collins's new signature bass was released byWarwick, a customized Infinity Bass called "Bootsy Collins Black Star Signature Bass" or "Bootsy Collins Orange Star Signature Bass".[22]
In July 2010, Collins, in partnership with actorCory Danziger,[23][24] launched Funk University ("Funk U"), anonline-only bassguitar school in which he also serves ascurator and lead professor. Funk University offers an intense curriculum tailored for intermediate to advanced bass players as well as anyone interested in a deeper understanding of funk. The curriculum is based on bass theory, history of funk, and Collins's own musical history given by Collins himself, augmented by lessons and exercises in bass and rhythm from guest bassist professors such asLes Claypool,Meshell Ndegeocello,John B (Williams) andVictor Wooten. As of 2021, Funk University is now defunct.[citation needed]
Funk Not Fight Movement
In May 2023, Bootsy Collins and wife, Pepperminte Patti Collins, kicked off the nationalFunk Not Fight Movement at the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame with a key mission to calm the violence with the power of music and dance.[25] The movement quickly spread to communities throughout the nation with chapters, discussions, round table events and performances including Cleveland, OH, Compton, CA, Detroit, MI, Fort Wayne, IN, Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Austin, TX, East Chicago, IN, Toledo, OH, New York City, NY, and Atlanta, GA.
He is mentioned in the song "Genius of Love" byTom Tom Club in the line "Clinton's musicians such as Bootsy Collins raise expectation to a new intention", while "Got more bass than Bootsy Collins" is a line in the song "Rumble in the Jungle" bythe Fugees. His influence in popular culture is seen in that he has been referenced by a number of television series. InThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Sooooooul Train", Geoffrey sneaks into theSoul Train tapings posing as Collins, while inThe Mighty Boosh episode "The Legend of Old Gregg" an alien creature named "The Funk" lands on Collins's house, giving him his ability to play the bass guitar "like some kinda delirious funky priest", as well as the ability to see around corners.[citation needed]
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassistFlea, who cited Collins as one of his primary influences, appeared in unmistakably Collins-style clothing in the video for RHCP's "Dani California".[26]
In 2004 Collins was featured on the cover of "The Joker" on the Fatboy Slim albumPalookaville.[27] Collins served asHeineken's Amsterjam 2005 curator and master of ceremonies onRandall's Island, New York.[26] On January 26, 2007, Collins gave the commencement address at the graduation ceremony atThe Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati.[26]
In a 2011 episode of television'sSaturday Night Live hosted byJesse Eisenberg, "The Essentials" segment showed the movieBride ofBlackenstein in which Dr. Blackenstein (Jay Pharoah), assisted by the hunchback Igor (Eisenberg), creates abride (Nicki Minaj) for Blackenstein's Monster (Kenan Thompson). Pharoah's performance as Dr. Blackenstein is a vocal parody of Bootsy Collins (an oblique reference to the albumThe Clones of Dr. Funkenstein on which Collins performed).[28]
Collins appeared withToots & the Maytals on the albumTrue Love that won theGrammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2005.[29]
In October 2010, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award byBass Player magazine at the Key Club in Los Angeles.[30] Collins was inducted in 2016 into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.[31]
On July 22, 2023, Bootsy Collins was inducted into the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.[32]
In October of 2024, Bootsy Collins and wife, Patti Collins were presented with the US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards and Honorary Gold Medals for their philanthropic work spanning decades including, most recently, the Funk Not Fight Movement.[33]
Collins is one of 800 artists included in photographer Michael Weintrob’sInstrumenthead Art Truck Experience portrait series, featured at Aspen Collective gallery (Colorado) in August, 2025.[34]
In March 2011, Collins and his wife visited Franklin L. Williams M.S No. 7'sLittle Kids Rock program, donated a bass, gave the children a bass lesson, and rapped with them while they played the blues. He is now an honorary board member of the organization.[35] Collins is an honorary member ofPhi Beta Sigma fraternity.[36]
In an April 2011 interview withThe Guardian, Collins stated that, at one point in his life, he tookLSD every day for over two years.[37]
In 2005, Collins appeared withMadonna,Iggy Pop,Little Richard, andThe Roots'Questlove, in an American TV commercial for theMotorola ROKR phone.[40]
Collins was featured in the 2002 filmStanding in the Shadows of Motown.
Collins voiced the character Boötes Belinda in theLoonatics Unleashed episode "The Music Villain".[41]
In 2009, Collins appeared in theEverybody Hates Chris episode "Everybody Hates Tasha".
Collins played an alien version of himself in the R-ratedWilliams Street spring break specialFreaknik: The Musical onAdult Swim in March 2010.
On April 15, 2011, he appeared onLater... with Jools Holland, performing a memorable snippet of funk withJools.
In the fall of 2011, Collins began being featured in a TV commercial forOld Navy in which he is making "boots" made by Bootsy to be sold at Old Navy.
He was also featured on an episode ofYo Gabba Gabba! on theNick Jr. Channel
Collins guest starred as himself at the end of "Mid-Season Finale", an episode ofThe Patrick Star Show, a spin-off of Nickelodeon'sSpongeBob SquarePants, in 2022.
Collins is the voice ofJimi Hendrix in the 2010 documentary,Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child, which is based on Hendrix's own words from letters, interviews and other printed materials.[42][43]
In June 2011, Collins played the 10th AnnualBonnaroo Music and Arts Festival inManchester, Tennessee.[44]
Collins hosted Detroit Music Weekend's Funk Festival on August 26, 2023.[45][46]
A tribute concert honoring Bootsy Collins was held August 8, 2025, at theMusic Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit, featuring performances byZapp Band, Kern Brantley and D-Town Funk, One Way and Lil Asmar.[47][48]
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