Nile "Boom" Rodgers
To Madonna fans, Nile Rodgers is beyond a legend. Nile and Madonna aligned and created one of the best pop albums of all-time. It's interesting to me that the albums Nile Rodgers produce become the songs and albums that the artists become most known for. He's so brilliant a producer that they have to fight off these songs in order to make way for their new material.
Of course, we all love the hits from the album, Virgin, Material Girl, Angel, Dress You Up but for me, it's the non hits that have remained my favorites since November of 1984. Stay, Pretender, Love Don't Live Here Anymore and Over and Over.
Here are some Madonna excerpts from his new autobiography, Le Freak.
Time is Money and the Money is Mine:
Madonna was exhibiting diva-like behavior long before she became a household name. Among the many recording studio anecdotes was one detailed recounting of Rodgers' time working with Madonna on her 1984 breakout album, Like A Virgin. "Madonna's superintense let's-get-down-to-business attitude sometimes rubbed people the wrong way," he writes. "One day, Madonna's insult slinging went too far. Our assistant had the temerity to go to the bathroom, and she freaked out on him.... 'Where the fuck is he going?' she said loudly enough that he could clearly hear. Unsatisfied, that she's made her point, she then let off a fusillade from her usual arsenal of one-liners: "Time is money, and the money is mine.'" Rodgers confronted the would-be pop star and the argument turned so heated, he quit the record for what would turn out to be "the shortest producer strike in history."
When Nile Quit Drugs:
“She had a birthday party at her house in Miami Beach. I was on a three-day binge and up all the time partying… I didn’t even want to go to sleep. I ran into Madonna at a club called Liquid, and she invited me over for her birthday party. My behaviour, which I don’t remember at all, was not so cool. I am almost positive that I was the last person to leave. And I was carried home, and it was really ugly. I was so embarrassed I didn’t even talk to Madonna for a long time. And then, when I saw her, and I apologised, she looked at me and she said, ‘Oh no, you were just a little drunk.’ I was like, ‘Here I was ready to have a big apology. A little drunk? Do you know I was so embarrassed I haven’t had another drink or drug in my life? It was hardly a little drunk.’ But to her it was nothing. She’s probably seen a lot worse. But thank god it all turned out just fine, and when I look back upon it, it was completely embarrassing, way out of character for me, and it was a resetting of my artistic and moral compass.
Honestly, I haven’t touched drink or drug again – and that was, like, 17 years ago.”
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Honestly, I haven’t touched drink or drug again – and that was, like, 17 years ago.”
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I put together this video of Madonna in January when I found out Nile was battling cancer. This is every time I could remember when Madonna mentioned Nile's name. Always great love and energy to Nile Rodgers.
Madonna thanks Nile on the Virgin Liner Notes.
