James Brown. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Deee-Lite. Fatboy Slim. Public Enemy. Only one name forms the common denominator in all that: funk legend and master bassist Bootsy Collins!

Bootsy Collins played along in the earliest version of The J.B.’s, James Brown's backing band. They recorded legendary tracks with him, songs like ‘Soul Power’ or ‘Sex Machine’ and also ‘The Grunt’ (which has been sampled by Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan and Black Eyed Peas too). Bootsy Collins was later beamed up into George Clinton's intergalactic funk ship – Parliament and Funkadelic.

As of ’76, he also led his own band: Bootsy’s Rubber Band, from which the first three albums are associated with the most essential of the P-Funk legacy. Bootsy was also to be heard on Deee-Lite’s ‘Groove is in the Heart’, on albums by Snoop Dogg, and on ‘The Joker’ by Fatboy Slim. More info? Flea from RHCP names him as his biggest influence and Bootsy also made his entrance into the renowned Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame.

There is soon to be a new album from the man who also hides behind names like Casper The Funky Ghost and Bootzilla. Or simply as Professor Collins, as Bootsy also teaches at the Funk University he established, an online bass-guitar school.

Finally back in Belgium for an indoor show. May the funk be with you!