The legendary Nile Rodgers and his band CHIC have today released the brand new track ‘I’ll Be There’.
The single will feature on the new album ‘It’s About Time’ – the band’s first since ‘CHIC-ism’ in 1992 – which will follow in June, released via Parlophone / Warner Bros. Records.
Check ou the new video
here.
‘I’ll Be There’ will be available as a digital bundle alongside another new song ‘Back In The Old School’. The package is completed with instrumental versions of both tracks.
‘I’ll Be There’ was inspired by Rodgers’ Chic partner Bernard Edwards who died in 1996.
“1996 may seem like a long time ago, but it feels like yesterday to me... as well as an eternity,” said Rodgers in a blog post. “The name of the song is I'll Be There. The reason is: after I found Bernard's body, I said to him, ‘Now, I can be there for you in death, the way you were there for me in life.’”
One of the album’s tracks is based a recording of a practice tape of track titled ‘Love Somebody Today’ which features all of the members of the original core band. Rodgers added: “These recently-found lost tapes gives me the opportunity to play with my bandmates, whove passed away, again. I completed the track and wrote a new song.”
To coincide with the album’s release, Nile Rodgers and CHIC will play the British Summertime Festival in London’s Hyde Park on June 21st. The bill also features Kylie Minogue and Grace Jones. Their UK tour commences tonight at London’s Roundhouse:
March
20th – London, Roundhouse
21st – London, Roundhouse
22nd – Leeds, O2 Academy
23rd – Glasgow, O2 Academy
24th – Manchester, O2 Apollo
25th – Birmingham, O2 Academy
