Nile Rodgers is still questioning why he is going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and not his musical partner Bernard Edwards and the rest of the members of Chic.
Chic had been nominated eleven times for the hall and never received the votes necessary for induction. This year, the Hall decided to induct Rodgers with an “Award of Musical Achievement” instead of recognizing his band. Outside of Chic, Rodgers has crafted music for Diana Ross, David Bowie, Sister Sledge, Duran Duran, Madonna, Jeff Beck, Al Jarreau, David Lee Roth and many others.
Rodgers told Billboard:
I’m still weird and ambivalent about that. It’s like, OK, the other stuff I’ve done achieved more than Chic? We were only successful for two years and only have three albums, but the collective sales and influence is pretty incredible. Le Freak alone, that song went to No. 1 three different times on Billboard.
As far as Chic performing at the induction:
It doesn’t make any sense to me; ‘wow, we’re OK to play, but not OK to be in?’ It’s weird, I’m cool; I’m fine with them recognizing the other achievements I’ve had in music. That’s great, and I’m thankful and grateful for it. But it’s still…weird.
Rodgers also told Billboard that the new Chic album, It’s About Time, should be out later this year. It was originally scheduled for last year but Nile decided to move it to 2017. “It hit me that 2017 was the 40th anniversary of Studio 54 and the 40th anniversary of Chic. We started together, so I’m thinking that’s a good omen for putting this thing out soon.”
