Funk pioneer Bootsy Collins has announced his retirement from performing. In a post on his Facebook page, Bootsy explained that he will step away from the stage and focus on working in the studio and coaching rising young musicians due to ongoing health concerns.
As the post notes,
Time has come for Me to tell all our Funkateers that I will Not be Playing Bass in Concerts anymore. I have decided to become a Coach for up & coming Musicians. I know u r Disappointed just think for a moment how I feel. Doc said to much pressure on my Inner-Ear & Right Hand. Yeah, I had to make up my Mind so I did. 2019 Sheriff Ping Ping Ping will continue to Funk from the Studio but Not Live playing Bass on Stage. I know u got question & I don’t have answers, maybe one day u to will understand. Just remember; That This Year will be the Funkiest Year of them All. Watch for it. Bootsy baby!!!
The Cincinnati-born bassist has been a pillar in the funk community for decades. In 1970, his band, The Pacemakers, was hired to back up James Brown, later changing their name to The J.B.’s. He later linked up with George Clinton and became the longtime bassist for Parliament and Funkadelic. He has since worked on a variety of projects for a slew of different media, and is still considered to be one of the more influential bassists in the music world.
In 2017, Bootsy Collins released a new solo album, World Wide Funk, which featured a slew of talented collaborators including Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Mr. Talkbox, Big Daddy Kane, Kali Uchis, Eric Gales, Chuck D, Buckethead, and his late P-Funk bandmate Bernie Worrell, among many others.
As recently as last month, Bootsy was still hitting the stage, as he joined GRiZ in Detroit to perform a new track.
While we won’t be seeing Bootsy Collins onstage anymore, the funk is still strong with this musical alien, and we wish him the best as he shifts his focus to “coaching” and contributing from the studio.