Bootsy Collins Announces New Memoir Funked Around Found Out

The "Straight Up, Real Deal" Story

The 74-year-old Funk icon Bootsy Collins is set to reveal the details of his storied five-decade career in a new book published by Mariner Books. Written in collaboration with pop culture historian Caseen Gaines, the memoir is described as an unfiltered look at the life of a musician who became an avatar for his genre, influencing major artists such as Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Collins released a statement emphasizing that the book will provide an honest account of his journey through the music industry.

"Alright y’all pay attention, because here’s the key change: You’ve heard the records, but it’s finally time to tell my story — the whole truth, nothin’ but the truth, straight up, real deal. If I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’ — ­and I ain’t ready to go yet."

— Bootsy Collins

The memoir will also feature a "funky" foreword written by Collins’ longtime friend and frequent collaborator, Snoop Dogg. The title, Funked Around, Found Out, serves as a summary of a career that saw Collins rise from a young musician in Ohio to a global superstar so popular that he eventually had multiple impersonators.

From Cincinnati to the JB's and P-Funk

The book will meticulously trace Collins' early years in Cincinnati, where he and his brother, Phelps “Catfish” Collins, first performed together in a group called the Pacemakers. Their talent eventually led them to join James Brown’s backing band, becoming the JB’s. During this formative period, Collins backed the "Godfather of Soul" on legendary recordings such as "Sex Machine." However, the relationship with Brown was fraught with tension; the memoir explores Collins' tumultuous bond with his mentor, who famously imposed "frivolous fines" on the bassist and other band members when their performances did not meet his exacting standards.

After splitting from Brown, the Collins brothers joined George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective. As a vital member of P-Funk, Bootsy played on classic albums that defined the era, including Mothership Connection and One Nation Under a Groove. The memoir will examine the rift that developed between Clinton and Collins, as well as their "occasionally challenging friendship." While still touring with P-Funk in the mid-Seventies, Collins launched his own successful solo act, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and he has continued to record as a solo artist ever since.

Survival, Recovery, and the Black Mafia Family

Beyond the musical highlights, Funked Around, Found Out promises to deliver "dishy tidbits" and harrowing accounts of Collins' personal life. The bassist reflects on his drug use during his time with the JB's and the motorcycle crash that nearly killed him. This accident served as a turning point, forcing him to clean up his act and re-evaluate his life. He also writes about his 1990s collaboration with the group Deee-Lite on the global hit "Groove Is in the Heart," a song he claims saved his career "but not his soul."

The memoir includes several startling anecdotes from his time on the road, including a terrifying incident where he was targeted by a member of Florida’s Black Mafia Family following a one-night stand. In another segment, Collins recounts a run-in with law enforcement where the LAPD allegedly confused the members of Parliament-Funkadelic for escaped convicts, resulting in a "detailed cavity search" of the musicians.

Artist Background and Genre Influence

According to verified artist data, the entity known as Bootsy Collins was formed in 1951. While he is most recognized as a pioneer of funk, his musical reach extends into Metal and Funk Metal. His upcoming memoir aims to connect these various phases of his life, providing what he calls the "whole truth" of a 74-year journey that helped shape the landscape of modern music.