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Nile Rodgers told Bootle crowd 'Madonna wanted to show me who's boss'

The CHIC co-founder shared stories and joked with the crowd as he displayed his musical legacy

[The Nile Rodgers & Chic at Salt and Tar in Bootle]

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The Nile Rodgers & Chic at Salt and Tar in Bootle on Monday (August 17)(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

"I tell every audience this", Nile Rodgers told the crowd at Bootle's Salt and Tar festival on Monday night. "I write and produce songs for a lot of really big superstars." It was a line he would go on to prove over and over again.

As generations gathered to dance to songs - written for some decades before they were born, and for others, during the height of their youth - it became clear just how extraordinary Rodgers' musical legacy is.

As rain threatened over the final night of the festival, spirits were in no danger of being dampened. The crowd were asked: "Are you ready to freak out with CHIC?" before the band - a glittering vision in purple - appeared, and a sea of ponchos began to move.

[The Nile Rodgers & Chic fans in ponchos at the Salt and Tar in Bootle]

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Fans weren't put off by a bit of rain (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

From 1970s to the 2020s and back again, Nile Rodgers and CHIC then delivered a medley of funk, disco, soul and pop opening with the instantly recognisable 'Freak Out' and followed by hit after hit, including 'I Want Your Love' and 'Soup for One'.

"This is the first song I ever wrote for CHIC," Rodgers said before playing 'Everybody Dance', beginning a series of stories that revealed just how extraordinary his back catalogue really is.

For anyone who did not already know the extent of Rodgers' song writing and production credits, there was no escaping it by the end of the night. Showcasing his eclectic history of collaborations, the crowd heard hits from Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Daft Punk, Beyonc, Madonna and Luther Vandross.

Recalling working with Madonna on her second studio album, which he produced, Rodgers told the story of pushing for 'Material Girl' as the title. Madonna declined, and the album became 'Like a Virgin', with Rodgers joking that she wanted to "show me who's the boss".

David Bowie's 'China Girl' and more were woven into the set, with 'Let's Dance' seeing the crowd follow suit.

[The Nile Rodgers & Chic at the Salt and Tar in Bootle]

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Nile Rodgers has written, produced, and performed on records that have sold more than 750 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' resurrected the Monday-night crowd before 'Lose Yourself to Dance', perfectly captured what the evening was about.

There was also a poignant tribute to CHIC's late co-founder Bernard Edwards, whose bass playing and musical partnership with Rodgers helped create the band's unmistakable sound.

Rodgers also spoke about receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, saying that normally such awards are given posthumously. He joked to the crowd that perhaps the Grammys had called his doctor and discovered things about him that he didn't know.

[Nile Rodgers laughed and joked with the crowd ]

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Nile Rodgers laughed and joked with the crowd (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The award recognised a career that has influenced generations of musicians, and in Bootle, the crowd were getting to hear exactly why.

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