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Bootsy Collins is a celebrated American bassist, singer, and songwriter known for his foundational contributions to funk music with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, establishing a distinctive sound that propelled his career into influential collaborations and a lasting legacy.
Bootsy Collins and experimental guitarist Buckethead have announced a brand-new collaboration, expected to be characteristic of their unique and vibrant styles.
Bootsy Collins has partnered with Fretboard Brewing Company to launch his signature IPA, "Bootsy's Brewski," described as a colorful beer reflecting the bassist's persona.
Bootsy Collins has taken on a role with the new imprint, The Funk Garage, which operates alongside other Mascot labels such as Mascot Records, Provogue, Music Theories Recordings, and Cool.
In July 2010, Bootsy Collins teamed up with Scene Four to launch the online bass guitar school, Bootsy Collin's Funk University (Funk U).
A collection of limited-run, custom-made collectibles from Bootsy Collins & Wax Poetics, including back issues from their store.
In 2005, Collins appeared alongside Madonna, Iggy Pop, Little Richard, and Questlove from The Roots in an American TV commercial for the Motorola ROKR phone.
In the fall of 2011, Collins was featured in a TV commercial for Old Navy, promoting "boots" made by Bootsy to be sold at their stores.
In March 2011, Collins and his wife visited Franklin L. Williams M.S #7's Little Kids Rock program, donating a bass, giving lessons, and rapping with children. He is now an honorary board member.
William Earl “Bootsy” Collins was born on October 26, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s, first with James Brown’s backing band, The J.B.’s. During his 11-month tenure with Brown, Collins played on pivotal funk recordings including “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” and “Soul Power.” His unique basslines, characterized by syncopated 16th-note patterns and a strong slap technique, quickly set him apart as an innovator in the genre. Following his work with James Brown, Collins continued to shape the sound of funk by joining George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective in 1972, where he contributed to numerous albums and gained songwriting credits.
In 1976, Collins further expanded his musical footprint by forming Bootsy’s Rubber Band as a touring unit within the P-Funk collective. The group released five albums, with “Bootsy? Player of the Year” (1978) topping the R&B album chart and producing the #1 R&B single “Bootzilla.” Throughout his career, Collins developed various alter egos, such as Casper the Funky Ghost and Bootzilla, and embraced his signature “space bass” and colorful persona. His influence extended beyond funk through collaborations across diverse genres, including dance music with Deee-Lite and electronic big beat with Fatboy Slim, contributing to tracks that garnered significant commercial and critical success. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic, and in 2020, Rolling Stone ranked him as the fourth greatest bassist of all time.
In later decades, Collins continued to diversify his work, appearing in media, collaborating with a range of artists, and even launching an online bass guitar school, Funk University, in 2010. While health reasons led him to retire from live performances in 2019, he remained active in the studio, releasing new music and mentoring emerging musicians. His consistent dedication to his craft and the evolution of funk has cemented his status as a legendary figure in music, with his unmistakable style and persona leaving an enduring mark on popular culture, showcased through references in television, music, and various brand partnerships.
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