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

[@thomasorozco]

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

[@Kelvin71]

The irony being Le Freak outlived Studio 54.

[@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.

[@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 .

[@michaeljacksondianarosspro9548]

I literally watch this every day.

[@InglésconRobert2025]

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!

[@doobyboy21]

What a smooth guy ! Love Nile Rodgers !

[@gusdogbrownlab435]

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

[@Erdinc99]

How in the world can you dislike this?

[@Koloviv48i]

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

[@Coasterdude02149]

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

[@williamrobinson7435]

This is just great! Thanks for posting.

[@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

[@BushCampingTools]

OMG! Amazing story.

[@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 .

[@christopherdolce4636]

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

[@bensblues]

what a legend

[@jfgreen1959]

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

[@tvacchino]

That was fantastic!!

[@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

[@threalismaradona9899]

That guitar is the Excalibur of music

[@andreak8384]

Great song love it tq Nile Rodgers and Chic

[@RomanskyJr]

A legend…. Simply…

[@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.

[@ustheserfs]

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

[@andreak8384]

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

[@genebernard8236]

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

[@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

[@malcolmhodgson7540]

Fantastic

[@alainlaferriere9383]

Genius!!

[@franciscorafael7975]

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

[@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.

[@lilyofthevalley5586]

He's awesome! Great funny Story.

[@cydrums3411]

This is great!

[@lvsoccerdad]

Nile we love you. H•O•F

[@perfumetherapie]

This man never ages!

[@bradley9848]

Lol that Van Halen mention

[@eoinoconnell185]

Genius

[@LeonardoIII]

Great one

[@davidnelson5474]

Lol. That was great.

[@craigusselman546]

Freakin hilarious!

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

FUCK OFF LOVE IT!!!!

[@ethanang3527]

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

[@joelok48]

Pure CHARM💕💕

[@hoyavp2236]

Man, could you imagine the stories he has?

[@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.

[@mattma96]

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

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

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

[@ethanang8099]

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

[@Keninoz1]

Great story :)

[@mamalongsplants1559]

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

[@pozzodusty1626]

Number one

[@darrylnelson05]

And they are still doing the Freak today.

[@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.

[@patrickhicks9880]

grace jones missed out there

[@andreak8384]

2021

[@PantherPaw]

DUDE !!

[@vipertagtc9684]

Aaaaaafuckofffff

[@ethanang8099]

That is the original demo.

[@recontraufa]

Un Maestro

[@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