Spend an hour in Nile Rodgers' company and the conversation veers from Chic, Sister Sledge and Diana Ross through to Daft Punk, Pitbull and Madonna via the inevitable chat about David Bowie, whose album Let's Dance Nile produced back in 1983. The most prolific man in pop has also worked with Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, Avicii and Pharrell Williams, though he's always open to more work. "If you've got talent, if you've got the right attitude and maybe some money, then I'll listen to what you have to say. I'm lucky enough to be able to work with who I like."
Read more: Nile Rodgers wins Icon of the Year 2016
Rodgers is famously the busiest man in show business, and when he isn't playing guitar, writing, producing, performing, collaborating or rehearsing, he can be found, well, asleep. There just aren't enough hours in the day for the man who invented the funkiest guitar sound in history and he's getting busier the older he gets (he's currently 63). Five years ago he also penned a wonderful book about his extraordinary life - Le Freak: An Upside Down Story Of Family, Disco And Destiny - a life that was actually more extraordinary before he started making music. Rodgers was raised among bohemians, criminals and drug addicts in Lower Manhattan, the Bronx and Los Angeles by his African-American mother, white Jewish stepfather and both biological grandmothers. And he never looked back.
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
His book hasn't escaped the notice of Robert Fox - who produced the David Bowie show Lazarus - who wants to turn it into a full-blown stage production. "I said that was all very well and good," says Rodgers, smiling (he never does anything but smile), "but who's going to write it? And Robert says that he wants me to write it, so I'm going to have to find some time to do that too. After I've finished collecting my GQ Award, that is!"
Blazer by Maison Margiela. At Cloak. cloakwardrobe.com. Waistcoat, £525. Shirt, £345. Both by Dolce & Gabbana. dolcegabbana.com. Hat by Kangol, £42. kangolstore.com
Want more? Get the latest issue of British GQ
The latest issue of British GQ is available now on newsstands and as a digital edition which you can download on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire or Android device
Alternatively, subscribe to 6 issues of GQ for only £15, including free access to our iPad & iPhone editions on your Apple devices.
