The resurgence of Nile Rodgers has been a magnificent one. Cancer tried to knock him down, but he’s strapped on a smile and his guitar and got down and dirty and managed to pull through with a positivity that belies the tribulations of Nile’s life, as wonderfully chronicled in his excellent Le Freak biography.
While the world sulked in recession, Rodgers and his merry band decided to sprinkle that unswerving positivity everywhere they went. Armed with the back-catalogue of the Chic Organization, injecting sunshine into the soul of the world wasn’t ever going to be too difficult a task.
And now, in a UK exclusive for the Quietus, we’re thrilled to share a short film – ‘We Are Family’ – which shows Nile’s continued journey of unwavering good vibrations.
Back in April 2012, Rodgers threw a party for fans and friends at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Typically, Nile greets friends new and old with that infectious enthusiasm, while playing songs and spreading grins bigger than Bernard Edwards’ basslines.
This short, observational film came about through a dare set by Rodgers to filmmaker Astrid Edwards. Rodgers has long talked about his extended family online, and talking to them about the homecoming party, Astrid replied “that would make a great little film” to which he replied “just do it”.
In many ways, the idea and the execution of the film is the most Chic thing ever. It’s a spontaneous, warm celebration of music that brought people together and made outrageous things happen. It is also honest, to which Rodgers said: “I love the timeless optimistic spirit of me and my disco generation compadres at a quasi-outlaw party captured on camera like this.”
Unbelievably, Nile Rodgers has put together the most dysfunctional family together, made up of people all over the world. ‘We Are Family’ gets a snapshot of it. Now we can all join in.
We Are Family from Astrid Edwards on Vimeo.
Dir: Astrid Edwards © Rockmother Films 2012
Have a read of Edwards’s blog here. Niles Rodgers’s blog can be found here, and head over to the website for his NPO We Are Family Foundation here for more details on their work.
