There's very little argument that Chic was and is disco's greatest band; both because, well, they were a pretty great band, and because history is written by the winners. And, boy, is Nile Rodgers winning right now.
When Chic appeared in the late '70s, they bucked the trend by stripping disco's sound down to its basic elements; their funky, stylish grooves had an organic sense of interplay that was missing from many of their overproduced competitors. Chic's sound was anchored by the scratchy, James Brown-style rhythm guitar of Nile Rodgers and those indelible, widely imitated (sometimes outright stolen) bass lines; as producers, they used keyboard and string embellishments economically, which kept the emphasis on rhythm.
Chic's distinctive approach not only resulted in some of the finest dance singles of their time, but also helped create a template for urban funk, dance-pop, and even hip-hop in the post-disco era. Not coincidentally, Nile wound up as one of the most successful producers of the '80s; famously churning out hits with the likes of Madonna, David Bowie, Duran Duran and INXS. Most recently, he resurfaced on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, playing some of the most memorable parts on the year's most hyped album, and interest in Rodgers' career has subsequently skyrocketed.
Nile Rodgers & Chic Australian Tour Dates
Fri Dec 6 - Subsonic Music Festival (Riverwood Downs Park, Barrington Tops, NSW)Sat Dec 7 - Sydney Opera House
Sun Dec 8 - Astor Theatre (Perth)
Fri Dec 13 - Billboard The Venue (Melbourne)
Sat Dec 14 - Meredith Amphitheatre (Meredith, VIC)
Sun Dec 15 - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
