"Well, one night, when I was chilling in the Americana Hotel in New York, where nobody was supposed to know I was, a knock came on my door. All kinds of things went through my mind.

"Had the Boss [James Brown] found me? Was it the police come to get me for smoking weed? Was it this girl's husband come to shoot me? Please let it be one of the latter two, I prayed. I didn't feel like being bothered with the Boss tonight. Anything else I could handle.

"I looked through the peephole and saw sunglasses, funny hats, a lot of leather clothes, boots, and strange jewelry on about four or five people. I hoped that they were people. They looked like creatures from outer space.

"I finally recognized Bootsy [Collins]. Still a little apprehensive, I opened the door and in walked Bootsy, George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, Garry Shider, and Cordell "Boogie" Mosson.

"Bootsy started talking, and the fact that he was somewhat speaking English calmed us down a little. He introduced me to George and the others, and they also spoke in a way that I kind of understood."