It’s destiny: Nile Rodgers saves new Chic song for London on date of solar eclipse

 
Astronomy fan: Nile Rodgers and Chic will play in Camden (Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for EJAF)
Alistair Foster16 March 2015
The Weekender

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Nile Rodgers and his band Chic are performing their first new material in almost 25 years in London - because the concert date coincides with a solar eclipse.

The astronomy enthusiast believes it is destiny that single I’ll Be There is played first at the Camden Roundhouse on March 20. It is also the equinox, when day and night are the same length.

Rodgers said: “When I was a kid I was a junior astronomer. March 20 is the vernal equinox and you’re getting about a 90 per cent solar eclipse. It’s a pretty special moment and really cool to me. My record company wanted me to release in the US, but I lied to them and said my record wasn’t ready. It was ready last year though - I just wanted to save it for London.

“It’s an artistic decision. It makes sense with the artistic approach I made to this record.”

Rodgers, 62, began work on new album It’s About Time after he found some unfinished material he made with former bandmates, including late bassist Bernard Edwards.

London music festivals 2015

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He said the first single from the album is musically uplifting, but also deeply personal. “Bernard died almost 20 years ago and the new single, I’ll Be There, is like a conversation we would have together today about how much the world has changed,” he said. “He died after a concert and I found his body - it was almost poetic that he died doing what he loved.

“As I held his body I told him I would be there for him in death like he was there for me in life. I cry every time I sing it.”

The new album is not yet finished, but one track will feature four-part harmonies by Sir Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Chaka Khan and Janelle Monáe. Rodgers joked: “I thought I’d hire in a few good singers! I’d written some lyrics that were pretty difficult to execute - I know they’ll all rip it.”

Chic will perform at the Camden Roundhouse on March 20 and 21, and at the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park on June 21.

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