Nile Rodgers on the Origin of the Song "Freak Out"

Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Nile Rodgers shares a hilarious story about the origin of the hit song, "Le Freak (Aw Freak Out!)." Rodgers was a panelist at the May 13, 2016 Connecticut Forum, "Creative Artists," with fellow panelists Elizabeth Gilbert and Bill T. Jones. The Forum was moderated by Alison Stewart.

[@polotrey]

Nile is a fantastic story teller. I could hear him talk all day

[@olivervazquez8328]

I want a full length version of "fuck off" so bad

[@ethanang8099]

First vulgar song before rap.

[@BIGELOW.65]

If Studio 54 is no longer around and curse words are in today's music, NOW is a good time to record it.

[@thomasorozco]

Amazing Story I never heard in my life and I love that song and Niles Rodgers is a living legend! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@tonivertucci6504]

Nile Rodgers is such a cool genious . He's made alot of people successful . This is why I love the history of rockers . It's those behind the scenes that get me interested .

[@Storytime2023x]

Hearing this story for the first time in 2021. I was freaking out to this song back in the day as a kid.

[@andyrogers6375]

This man just gets cooler with age!

[@michaeljacksondianarosspro9548]

I literally watch this every day.

[@gusdogbrownlab435]

Excellent....3 of the very best came together....Rodgers, Edwards and Thompson

[@Erdinc99]

How in the world can you dislike this?

[@BushCampingTools]

OMG! Amazing story.

[@RomanskyJr]

A legend…. Simply…

[@jeromekell8569]

He's a important piece to Hip Hop music IN ITS ESSENCE!!! Before Sugar hill gang we was scratching & backspinning on turntables GOODTIMES!!!.... bklyn nyc

[@Coasterdude02149]

LMAO! He's great! I've heard the story a few times but never from Nile himself.....THE BEST!

[@Kelvin71]

The irony being Le Freak outlived Studio 54.

[@jfgreen1959]

I’m dying, thanks Niles, I needed a good laugh.

[@ustheserfs]

Niles influence is so pervasive, Johnny Marr is not only a m8 but also named his boy after him

[@threalismaradona9899]

That guitar is the Excalibur of music

[@andreak8384]

Great song love it tq Nile Rodgers and Chic

[@bensblues]

what a legend

[@alainlaferriere9383]

Genius!!

[@williamrobinson7435]

This is just great! Thanks for posting.

[@malcolmhodgson7540]

Fantastic

[@andreak8384]

I love this song n I have it in my 80s collection.2021

[@BKDRIVES]

thanks for posting this ! my favorite (artist,writer, performer) of all time ahead of McCartney and whoever and im a 56 year old white rocking drummer. he wrote non racist beautiful songs that left you happy and feeling good. wish he could live forever .

[@veronicamatchett8227]

love Nile Rogers and Chic - I watch his videos with Adam Lambert all the time - "Shady" "Lets Dance" and "Trespassing" - Nile just gets better, I could listen to him all day

[@franciscorafael7975]

WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MAESTRO,,, BRAVO, MUCHAS FELICIDADES Y SALUD, DIOS TE CUIDE.

[@bulk-slap7920]

Great story. Talking about turning Lemons into Leonade. Wow

[@williamdrijver4141]

Great history of an all time classic, and Nile always is a very positive person! Love to hear him talk about chic songs and work he did for other artists.

[@SpaceGhost67]

excellence... this song on earphones or any Chic number is like another dimension.

[@lilyofthevalley5586]

He's awesome! Great funny Story.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

FUCK OFF LOVE IT!!!!

[@nave37]

That was a great story I always wanted to hear it from him he turned a negative to a positive and it became a hit

[@genebernard8236]

Thank the heavens for blessing you with a creative mind, that song will have an impact forever.

[@lvsoccerdad]

Nile we love you. H•O•F

[@eoinoconnell185]

Genius

[@joelok48]

Pure CHARM💕💕

[@16davelle]

Nile Rogers is really a deep guy,he even used to be a Black Panther. The man could have been a professional orator had he chose to be for he is that good.His backstories to some of Chic's songs are nothing short of amazing.

[@cydrums3411]

This is great!

[@bradley9848]

Lol that Van Halen mention

[@andreak8384]

2021

[@davidnelson5474]

Lol. That was great.

[@perfumetherapie]

This man never ages!

[@LeonardoIII]

Great one

[@craigusselman546]

Freakin hilarious!

[@ethanang3527]

If they don’t made that joke, they will make it to studio 54. Grace must have overheard it.

[@recontraufa]

Un Maestro

[@hoyavp2236]

Man, could you imagine the stories he has?

[@pozzodusty1626]

Number one

[@mattma96]

Nile looks like he's in his 40's in this vid... Sheer UNbelievable......

[@patrickhicks9880]

grace jones missed out there

[@charlesharrison6457]

He also leaves out that Studio 54 was already thriving on songs they were playing from the prior album at the same time their doormen are turning away members of the band. In another rendition of this story, he also suggests there was definitely a racist aspect to their being denied entry.

[@Keninoz1]

Great story :)

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

an associate was just telling me this story a couple of months ago....

[@PantherPaw]

DUDE !!

[@mamalongsplants1559]

That's very funny.Mama Long Greenville Tx 😘😇

[@nightrangerrules938]

Funny how "Freak Out" ended became a signature dance song inside of Studio 54 yet the writers were not allowed in. I bet Nile has lots of disco era stories to tell.

[@ethanang8099]

Anybody have the full version of fu off? I need it like seriously.

[@vipertagtc9684]

Aaaaaafuckofffff

[@ethanang8099]

That is the original demo.

[@primtones]

Why did they use strings? Horns would've been so much better.

[@lilyofthevalley5586]

Waaaaaaaaaa!!!😂😂😂😂😂

[@ninosciorra6312]

Nike N1

[@Ezekiel33USA]

Grace Jones disliked this video.

[@theanalogguy1988]

Why she should dislike this?

[@mug2y]

Brilliant nile will see you in 2023 in Holland 🇳🇱 bospop

[@azynkron]

What a legend

[@doobyboy21]

What a smooth guy ! Love Nile Rodgers !

[@christopherdolce4636]

you can tell Nile has such a kind soul. he's pure genius.

[@tvacchino]

That was fantastic!!

[@Koloviv48i]

This is awesome, one of my favourite bands in early 80s Ghana discotheque scenes.