Bootsy Collins, renowned for his iconic fashion and cosmic Space Bass, is widely regarded as one of the greatest bassists of all time. His legendary basslines have powered tracks for artists like Parliament-Funkadelic, James Brown, Deee-Lite, and Snoop Dogg. However, many might be surprised to learn that Collins initially began his musical journey as a guitarist, only switching to bass under unique circumstances.
In a recent interview with Bass Player, Collins shared the story behind his switch to bass, admitting that the decision was not originally his own. “You would have to say that the bass chose me because I was actually playing guitar,” he revealed. He went on to explain that his desire to emulate his older brother, Catfish Collins, who was eight years his senior, played a key role in his musical path.
“When I got the opportunity to be in his band, he needed a bass player as opposed to a guitar player. I told him I could do that, but I had never even attempted to play bass,” Collins recalled with a laugh. “I asked him to get me four bass strings because I only had a $29 guitar from Sears and Roebuck, and that’s how I started playing bass.”
After playing his first night in the club with his brother, Collins found the experience exhilarating, saying, “We had so much fun, man.” He quickly discovered that playing bass came naturally to him. “I didn’t get no training, there was nobody to teach me,” he said. “Today, they’ve got everything to teach you; you just go online and it’s all there. But I just played and practiced all the time, and things would come to me.”
Collins has also previously spoken about another pivotal moment in his career: stepping into the bass role in James Brown’s band, which transformed both his career and playing style.
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