Bootsy Collins

American bassist

Bootsy Collins is a legendary American musician known for his innovative bass playing and funky style. He rose to fame with James Brown in the 1970s before joining the iconic Parliament-Funkadelic collective. Bootsy later formed his own successful side project, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and has collaborated with a wide range of artists across multiple genres.

About the Bootsy Collins

William Earl “Bootsy” Collinsis an American bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Rising to prominence with James Brown in the early 1970s before joining the Parliament-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 own P-Funk side project known as Bootsy’s Rubber Band. He was a frequent collaborator with other musicians from a variety of genres, including dance music (Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart”), electronic big beat (Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” and “The Joker”), and alternative metal (Praxis), among others. He is a member of the Rock 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bootsy Collins is an American bass guitarist, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work with James Brown and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective in the 1970s, as well as for forming his own band, Bootsy’s Rubber Band.

Bootsy Collins is known for his innovative bass playing, driving basslines, and humorous vocals. He is considered one of the leading names and innovators in the funk genre.

Bootsy Collins rose to prominence in the early 1970s by playing bass with James Brown. He later joined the Parliament-Funkadelic collective, where he further established himself as a influential figure in funk music.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band was a P-Funk side project formed by Bootsy Collins. The band helped Bootsy further develop his signature funky style and establish himself as a solo artist.

Bootsy Collins has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Deee-Lite, Fatboy Slim, and Praxis, among others. He has contributed his distinctive bass playing and vocals to various genres, including dance, electronic, and alternative metal.

Bootsy Collins is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with 15 other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 4 in its list of the 50 greatest bassists of all time.

22 Quotes by Bootsy Collins

  1. 1.

    But I’m always trying to plan ahead too and in doing so, and in working on this album, I’ve met a lot people that I hope to be involved with, on their records and in their situations.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  2. 2.

    To me, you go through things like that and you learn from it. You add it on to your life, to try to make your life better. Instead of dogging people, learn something from it. And keep stepping.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  3. 3.

    Catfish is not playing guitar no more, he’s doing like a home-front thing. He had been in the business around ten years before I got in it, so I guess he’s had enough of it.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  4. 4.

    Yeah, because what it all boils down to is at the end of the day, we are all riding on the same boat and we have to learn how to deal with each other. I think that the music and what we do in our actions is what can kind of bring us together, hopefully.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  5. 5.

    But by us doing a lot on the road, we were able to afford things like videos on the tours, cartoons that we’d open up the shows with. We were doing that way back when and now it’s the hippest thing to do. We’re just coming back around, I guess trying to play catch-up.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  6. 6.

    Well actually, we are working on the live album from the shows in Japan. I’m trying to get that finished.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  7. 7.

    I wanted to get my recording and become a musician again, work; with other people, do that kind of thing because I kind of got away from that for a while once we started happening, you know, selling records, sold out concerts.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  8. 8.

    Usually when I’m out doing stuff, I’m just out in the wild, doing the wild thing. I don’t really get a chance to just chill out until I come here, in my creative space.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  9. 9.

    You have to get up and plant the seed and see if it grows, but you can’t just wait around, you have to water it and take care of it.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  10. 10.

    When you’re used to playing with people, when you’re in a band, then you’re used to playing with each other. People nowadays aren’t used to playing with each other because they don’t have to.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  11. 11.

    I wanna keep creating those situations for myself so I don’t have to be out front all the time. Then when I do have to be out front, I can do it to the max.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  12. 12.

    When I was coming up, we weren’t trying to get a hit or get paid, we were just trying to do our thing. The only thing we were really trying to do was to be recognized for our originality.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  13. 13.

    We are all human and I want to relate that message to all people.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  14. 14.

    When we got with George, he didn’t care what was happening. He liked how crazy we were looking and dressing. I kinda liked being with George more so at the time, because George let us do what we wanted to do. But I needed both lessons.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  15. 15.

    A roast is like a get-together where people come down and talk about you and dog you out, the way you came up, the knucklehead things that you did, stuff like that.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  16. 16.

    I’ve thought maybe of getting younger artists out doing stuff, like I used to do a lot of. I don’t wanna do it day in and day out like I used to, but I still wanna do it.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  17. 17.

    We were brash young fellows’. I was always hanging with the older crowd anyway. The musicians were the Hip Cats, and I was hanging with them anyway. I Just started out real early.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  18. 18.

    It’s a whole other ball game and I am glad that I fit into that space where, whatever it is that you want to do and you are doing as long as you are happy with it, then you know What the Heck!

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  19. 19.

    I try to bring it across on my record, in my dress, in what I do and what I say because to me humor is important. You should have a dose of that and I guess giving it is what I’m here for.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  20. 20.

    I guess some of today’s programming has rubbed off on me because I find myself having to set time around for touring, putting that together and then setting time around for recording.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  21. 21.

    I like being out front, doing what I do, but then I also like playing in a band too. I’d like to do stuff like I did with Deee-lite. I went out and played with them and they were the stars, that was cool.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist

  22. 22.

    Nowadays, it’s like two different arenas, recording and touring. When I started way back in the day, doing both was nothing, you didn’t have to think about it, the road and recording.

    Bootsy Collins

    American bassist