After listening to the last album by Kool & the Gang, People Just Wanna Have fun, and in view of the anniversary for the 60 years of the band (that will be in 2024), we really needed to know more about it.
People Just Wanna Have fun is just what you would expect from them: enthralling rhythm and melodies you just can’t get out of your mind. Of course, the big one here is the single Let’s Party, but there is much more beyond that. You may find some nice acid jazz, as in 99 Miles to JC, lots of young artists and a mix of different music styles.
Every track is rich in positivity, which is not so obvious, given that it was produced during the pandemic.
They need no presentation, they are – as Robert “Kool” Bell points out – the most sampled band in hip hop, by far (previously, the record was held by James Brown). Above all, they left a non-fading mark in our memories, thanks to songs like Celebration, Get Down on it, Jungle Boogie, Ladies Night, and Open Sesame.
We had a chat with George Brown and Robert “Kool” Bell, on the occasion of the concert held at the Arena di Verona, being the second day of the Arena Suzuki dai 60 ai 2000 event (that will be broadcasted by the Italian public broadcasting television). We thank them deeply for their interior richness and humanity.
1) Especially in the last two albums, Kool & the Gang starred quite a few featuring artists. What makes you think: “hey, this one is interesting, I’d like to play with him/her”?
George: Because of their ability and flamboyance. I think that goes both ways: be it sports or music, you want the best players. So, the answer is: wonderful talent.
Robert: This album started from George, from the West Coast: a concept about the album, with young artists in California, and you know, with all the problems in the world today, we support that.
2) How much of Ronald and Dennis can be found in People Just Wanna Have Fun?
George: A lot of them can be found in the new album. A couple of songs, wonderful solos, so much.
Robert: As George said, they didn’t participate but there is much of them here.
I lost my brother 2 years ago, he already had this idea of an album in his mind, being the pursuit of happiness. You can listen to his solo on 99 miles to JC.
3) How do you feel about the generations intertwined in the history of Kool & the Gang?
George: Kool & the Gang has become a generational band and because of that, we have a great legacy. Being intertwined with young people today I think it’s being protocol in everything that we do, not just for the band but in life. The new music, it becomes a hybrid.
Just like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Little Richard, the Beatles did.
I think it’s a good thing because as humans we progress, we move forward, if that didn’t happen…
So yeah, we are evolving our music.
Robert: I think that’s part of our destiny over the years. Almost 60 years ago we started as a jazz and soul group, you know the story already. In the years, as a group we changed different names, we starred a lot of different people.
It’s all of part of our destiny, being in the business, being around today, after so many years.
4) How did you manage to keep the positivity pervading the songs of this album, during the pandemic?
George: Because as a first thing we made sure that everyone was safe, sanitized and had a mask, we were all vaccinated.
We have a wonderful Kool & the Gang family with engineers, producers, and that’s all the people that work with us to make it happen. So many people helped us move forward, it was wonderful support.
Robert: Yeah, we kept recording the tracks in George’s studio, and that’s how we pulled it together during the pandemics.
5) Looking behind, contemplating these 59 years, do you have some dearest memories you’d like to share?
George: We have wonderful memories: people getting married, babies, ceremonies, all those are portions of life. Sure, as a band we won awards, we did great things, and all those are memorable things, but these events in personal life, that’s really deep.
Robert: I have lots of great memories, starting with Elton John we had to find a way to play with him, and it was a great show.
We had 48 shows with Van Halen, and that was really great, and also 10 shows with Kid Rock.
There was also this great show in Kenya for AIDS awareness.
These are only some of the great memories over the years.
6) How do you feel about the upcoming sixtieth birthday of the band? Do you have anything special in store for that?
George: There are no secrets here. The band will tour and perform and make people happy around the world.
So, get a chance to hear that.
Sixty years is a blessing, that’s really a blessing. Many groups try to reach such a record.
So that’s what it’s gonna be for this anniversary, after 60 years we keep moving forward.
Robert: Yeah, there will be different little things, as George said, lots of events. There will also be some events with Le Kool champagne.
7) Talking about this, the Veneto Region is renowned for its wines, notably the Prosecco, but I know you have your own champagne adventure, LeKool, since you love this french wine. Which wine are you gonna choose for the 60th anniversary?
Robert: We did a TV show here and we will be back in Italy. We’ve been in Naples, in Sicily, in Milan and it’s good to be back for our first time in Verona, we’re looking forward to do some great things again here.
We talked to a distiller right now, and about the Le Kool champagne, we’re going to distribute it here as well. For the 60th anniversary we want to be in multiple cities and we want to be in some other parts of the world as well.
As for the wine, it might be a combination.
Robert’s champagne website: https://lekoolchampagne.com
Thanks to Sfera Cubica for the pictures and support.