FAKING THE FUNK
RollingStone India|December 2022
HOW A BOOTSY COLLINS IMPERSONATOR OR TWO GOT AWAY WITH ONE OF THE WILDEST SCAMS IN MUSIC HISTORY
DAVID BROWNE
FAKING THE FUNK

AS THE EIGHTIES began winding down, Bootsy Collins was in his element during nights on the town in Washington, D.C. Flashing his signature star-shaped shades, according to one report, he was chilling with fellow musicians — including some who’d played with Miles Davis — and sharing stories about his former boss and colleague George Clinton from their Parliament-Funkadelic days. Every so often he’d slip into one of the giddy, over-the-top voices heard on Bootsy stompers like “Bootzilla.” And he was living as large as one would expect: “We’re gonna have fun with this plastic here!” he told a crowd in a restaurant, waving around a credit card.

But as the hours and days went on, the musicians he was spending time with began to think something was amiss. For starters, Bootsy didn’t live in D.C. Despite being one of pop’s monster bass players, he never picked up the instrument either, and kept complaining that Clinton and others in the P-Funk world had ripped him off. “He started going in on how George did this to him and so-and-so did that to him, and that he was starting to have hard times,” recalls Davis’ bass player Foley, a.k.a Joseph Lee McCreary Jr. When Collins began asking him for money, Foley really began growing suspicious. “I said, ‘What did you do with your royalties?’ ” Foley says. “He couldn’t really answer that. You’re Bootsy — you should be loaded. He would go into the Bootsy voice and try to change the subject.”

As it turns out, it wasn’t Bootsy Collins at all, but instead one of the most brazen impostors in music history. What’s more, this fake Bootsy wasn’t the only one strutting around.

Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av RollingStone India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av RollingStone India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ROLLINGSTONE INDIASe alt
SPICE WORLD
RollingStone India

SPICE WORLD

Ice Spice ignored the haters, commanded our attention, and became a new kind of star. Next up: a great debut album

time-read
10+ mins  |
October 2024
Pritam: THE HIT MAKER
RollingStone India

Pritam: THE HIT MAKER

INSIDE THE MIND OF HINDI FILM MUSIC DIRECTOR PRITAM CHAKRABORTY, WHO RECENTLY WON HIS FIRST NATIONAL AWARD FOR BRAHMASTRA: PART ONE - SHIVA, ON HOW HE CREATES SCORES THAT ENDURE AND SONGS THAT CLOCK MILLIONS OF STREAMS

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
K-Drama Flashback: 'My Name'
RollingStone India

K-Drama Flashback: 'My Name'

'My Name,' starring Han So-hee in the titular role, deftly subverts gender norms in society via a story of relentless fight for revenge

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I WENT TO SILENT HILL AGAIN
RollingStone India

LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I WENT TO SILENT HILL AGAIN

The 'Silent Hill 2' Remake has you returning to that restless dream from 23 years ago

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
FIFTY FIFTY: 'WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW OUR BEST SELVES'
RollingStone India

FIFTY FIFTY: 'WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW OUR BEST SELVES'

Fifty Fifty's single 'Cupid' was a viral hit. The K-pop girl group is back with renewed vigor, releasing its new album, 'Love Tune.' The following interview covers details, insights, and anecdotes

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
EXCISE DEPT: 'IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE STRONG, BOLD CONTRASTS'
RollingStone India

EXCISE DEPT: 'IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE STRONG, BOLD CONTRASTS'

From An Armory Of Instruments To Personal Stories Told With An Uncharacteristic Straightforwardness, The Delhi/Goa Band Are Taking Over The World With Their Latest Full-Length

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Mali is Heading to SXSW Sydney in October
RollingStone India

Mali is Heading to SXSW Sydney in October

For the longest time I have known that my music has a significant market outside the country,' says the Chennai/Mumbai pop artist

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Ji Chang-wook, Lee Jun-ho, and Cha Eun-woo to Star in Superhero K-Dramas
RollingStone India

Ji Chang-wook, Lee Jun-ho, and Cha Eun-woo to Star in Superhero K-Dramas

Features the upcoming 'Twelve,' 'Cashero,' and 'The Wonder Fools' with the Korean stars in exciting new roles

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Yoon Seobin Makes a Stylish Comeback with 'Rizz'
RollingStone India

Yoon Seobin Makes a Stylish Comeback with 'Rizz'

The Korean actor and singer well-known for starring in the K-drama Kissable Lips' returns to the music scene after a 10 months hiatus

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Markio Tanaldo Pours Out Emotions in 'Mera Koi Na'
RollingStone India

Markio Tanaldo Pours Out Emotions in 'Mera Koi Na'

The Arunachal Pradesh singer-songwriter's second release is a poignant Hindi song that pays tribute to his late father

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024