Funk Legend Bootsy Collins to Release Debut Memoir in 2027
Bassist Bootsy Collins has announced his first memoir, titled "Funked Around, Found Out," which will be published on March 23, 2027. Co-written with pop culture historian Caseen Gaines, the book traces Collins' five-decade career from his early days with the Pacemakers through stints with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. It also includes a foreword by Snoop Dogg and recounts personal anecdotes, including encounters with the LAPD and his complex relationships with Brown and George Clinton.
The 2027 release will chronicle Collins' rise from Cincinnati, where he and his brother Phelps initially performed as the Pacemakers before joining James Brown's backing ensemble. It further details his eventual shift to George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic, spanning a half-century of musical innovation.
Personal episodes include a threatening run-in with Florida's Black Mafia and a police stop where the band was mistaken for fugitives. The text also examines his complicated dynamics with Brown, who penalized musicians for subpar performances, and Clinton, alongside a foreword from Snoop Dogg.
This memoir could offer a rare, unfiltered perspective on the cultural and interpersonal dynamics of funk's golden era. It may deepen public understanding of the creative tensions within Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown's orbit, potentially inspiring renewed academic or fan interest. The Snoop Dogg foreword could also bridge generational gaps, introducing Collins' legacy to younger listeners who may not know his foundational influence.