Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards were turned away from Studio 54 on New Year’s Eve ’77 because Grace Jones forgot to tell the doorman to let them in. So, they went back to Nile’s apartment and wrote a song about how pissed off they were which morphed into a dance they had no idea how to do. That’s the origin story of Freak Out – a “fuck-you” to the security guard at the backdoor of Studio 54?. I know I’m being very cryptic – because Nile Rogers tells this story so amazing funnily, that I would only ruin it for you. Please Please Please promise me you will see the video attached here ?

‘78-79 was fantastic music-wise for us in Delhi. Disco was at it’s peak with and Chic had a string of monster hits – “Freak Out”, “Good Times”, “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)”, “Everybody Dance” and “I Want Your Love”. Rogers & Edwards’ tunes played over and over on the radio. And over and over at our parties too. And on our walkmans which had just come out. I can even remember ‘Freak Out’ blasting from our our Philips HiQ stereo!

Rogers and Edwards started out as session players on a traveling Sesame Street show, where they decided to form a band, Chic.  They kind of stumbled into disco music having tried punk and jazz fusion earlier with no success. Their first two hits were “Dance Dance Dance” and “Everybody Dance” but it was their third single “Freak Out” which went to #1 all over the world, including our Dilli! The thumping groove with Edwards on bass guitar is mind boggling. It just grabs your head and feet and never lets go, literally forcing you to dance! It doesn’t matter what the steps are – after all, they didn’t know what the dance steps were when they wrote it so you really can just Freak Out! ????

Rogers and Edwards (and the Chic sound) are amongst the most influential names in the music history of the 70s and 80s. They were legendary producers and song writers, writing & producing records for huge names like, Diana Ross, Madonna, David Bowie, Blondie, Duran Duran, INXS, and, Sister Sledge.  All these names coming up soon!

BTW, here’s the mis-heard lyrics for “Freak Out” – “AAHHHH FREE COW”!  You can never unhear this now!

Dance Dance Dance

Good Times

I Want Your Love