Music

A Q&A with Daft Punk Producer Nile Rogers

This was sent out in Q Magazine’s weekly newsletter today:

Books, documentaries, French robots, not to mention so many hits eventually there will be a chart just devoted just to his work, Nile Rodgers is a force in modern pop culture. When not contributing to Daft Punk albums or telling his remarkable story in his 2011 autobiography Le Freak: An Upside Down Story Of Family, Disco And Destiny, Rodgers can be found on the road performing the songs he wrote for the likes of Madonna, INXS, Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry and, of course, his own band Chic. With a packed summer of dates including a headline slot at Bristol’s Love Saves The Day on 26 May ahead, Q spoke to Rodgers In a rare quiet moment at his New York studio.

How the devil are you?
“I’m great, really wonderful.”

You’re playing loads of shows this summer…
“As we’ve done for the last two years straight! A quick history on that is I was blind-sided with cancer a couple of years ago and after my operation I said to myself: The main thing I’m going to give myself as part of my therapy is I’m going to do a lot of work and I’m not going to stop! I read somewhere that somebody said if you have a reason to get up the next day it will prolong your life [laughs] So I said: That’s it, I’m going to have a reason to get up the next day, and put together this absurd schedule. What’s been great is I haven’t let anyone down yet over the last two years. Every gig, every speaking engagement, every book signing, every deadline, I’ve made everyone one.”

It sounds like it working for you?
“It’s great. I feel like a million dollars. I’ve written ten songs in the last couple of weeks, played a party last night, doing a musical benefit for the rainforest in a couple of days. It’s a crazy, crazy schedule.”

People might know you better for your studio work, as a producer and a songwriter, but how much do you enjoy the live side of things?
“I love it! As a composer and person who makes records, there’s an enjoyment that you get out of that like anything else, but when you get to perform the music for people… in my case that was my original goal: I just wanted to play music, I just wanted be a minstrel and play stuff. The fact I never have to play a record I didn’t write or produce for the rest of my life, that’s amazing to me. I could have a five hour show and that could still be true. It’s incredible.” [laughs]

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Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 37948 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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