ARTISTS

Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins is best known as the bassist for Parliament/Funkadelic and later as leader of Bootsy’s Rubberband in the late 70’s.

Bootsy and his band use HERCULES guitar/bass stands GS414B, GS414X and GS432X; violin stand DS571XB; cello stand DS580X; keyboard stand KS240B and bench KB200B; and music stand BS500. Bootsy says,"I needed a stand that could stand the roar of the fans, And along with that, handle my main Wo-Man, my Space Bass that is. With Hercules, I got what I need so musicians please, get up off yo knee's, this is the One-built-to-be-Funked! Bootsy baby!!!"

Bootsy started in music long before he became a part of Parliament/Funkadelic. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, he started playing guitar and bass at an early age. When he was 15, he was leading a band that was doing recording sessions at Kings Records with Charles Spurling. James Brown, “The Godfather of Soul,” was so impressed with the band that after sending them out on tour with Hanks Ballard, and Marva Whitney, he called for them in 1969 while performing in Columbus, Georgia and asked them to become his regular band. Thus the J.B’s were born. These were the Original JB’s.

After touring Africa and Europe with James Brown, Bootsy and the group —being pushed by the evolution of time and the peace and love movement— began to want to do their own thing. They began to get restless. When the group returned from England in 1971, they decided to leave James Brown and launch their own career. They called themselves "The House Guest.” When Bootsy was asked about the band name he replied, "Well we had been everywhere and everywhere we went we ended up staying with someone because we were always broke, right after we had done a heck of a gig."

Bootsy then met up with Parliament/Funkadelic’s George Clinton, and from their Bootsy was given the freedom and the rights to the Mothership to be Co-pilot along with George Clinton himself. He has played with many top artist: Dee-Lite, Ice Cube, Roots, Herbie Handcock, Keith Richards, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, Snoop Dogg, and many, many others.

The rest of this story is still P-Funkin’ history on the One in the Making.

To continue Bootsy's bio go to: www.bootsycollins.com  or visit Bootsy at www.myspace.com/bootzillaproductions.com. Enroll at Bootsy's Funk University. Visit www.thefunkuniversity for more info.