Recorded in the early 2000s during Joe Kelley’s Upper Room radio era, this rare interview features Bernie Worrell—Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and the legendary “Wizard of Woo.”
In this conversation, Bernie reflects on his work with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, while also discussing his own musical path with the Woo Warriors.
He shares stories from the road, insights into recording live albums and DVDs, and his approach to sound, performance, and innovation as one of funk’s most influential keyboardists.
This episode captures Bernie at a unique moment—balancing legacy with forward momentum, and continuing to push the boundaries of funk.
It's almost sacrilege to interrupt the song as perfect as that.
Speaker A:But when you have a member of the Parliament Funkadelic Experience on the line with you, you just have to go immediately to talk to the wizard of Woo, Rock and Roll hall of Famer and my good friend here to the upper room with Joe Kelly, Mr. Bernie Worrell.
Speaker A:And we welcome now, Bernie.
Speaker A:How you doing, Bernie?
Speaker B:Oh, fine, Joe.
Speaker B:How you doing, man?
Speaker A:I'm doing great.
Speaker B:And I'm trying to recuperate from the.
Speaker B:The road and slight cold I got.
Speaker B:But other than that, the Wu was fine.
Speaker A:And you've been touring with a bunch of different people with your Woo Warriors.
Speaker A:And who else you been out with?
Speaker B:I was out with Jack Bruce, Vernon Reed on guitar and three Latin percussionists doing a European tour.
Speaker B:Then we did an American tour.
Speaker B:Then I've been out with Mo Steph Off Nar and the Wu Warriors.
Speaker A:So you've been all over the place in all different sorts of styles.
Speaker A:We've got a really.
Speaker A:We were talking before.
Speaker A:Really nice thing happening with the Woo warriors over at the Knitting Factory this Saturday.
Speaker A:What's going on?
Speaker B:Well, we'll be recording another live cd.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker B:And also there's a DVD in the making from the Knitting Factory show.
Speaker B:And I believe they're going to film again in Killington, Vermont.
Speaker A:Where are you playing?
Speaker A:The Wobbly Barn.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:And that's March.
Speaker B:I don't remember the date.
Speaker B:And also working on.
Speaker B:Going to be working on a compilation album, warriors, and another studio cd, the first one being just tied up in legal mess.
Speaker B:And so we've been writing new material, and hopefully that'll be sometime this summer.
Speaker A:So how's it sounding with the new tracks?
Speaker A:Any sneak peeks on the titles?
Speaker B:No titles yet, just working titles.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:You have to do lyrics also.
Speaker B:We're just basically tracking now.
Speaker A:And you might slip a few of those instrumentals into the live set, right?
Speaker B:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:But that won't come until around April.
Speaker B:Start doing some of the new tracks from the old.
Speaker B:Well, I can't say old, but the one that's tied up, we did a couple of songs from that cd, but did we change personnel?
Speaker B:But it's soon to come.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:And how's the current edition of the Woo Warriors?
Speaker A:I know last time I saw you at the Downtown, it was slamming.
Speaker A:Same personnel, same person, though.
Speaker B:Flash the Flash.
Speaker B:On guitar, Greg Fitz, of course.
Speaker B:On keyboards, Donna macpherson.
Speaker B:On bass, Jennifer Durkin, who we call Sonic Voce.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:On lead vocals, Native Of Connecticut originally.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And my tech, one of our new techs, Pretty, plays guitar also.
Speaker B:He joins us on stage.
Speaker B:That's a surprise to everybody.
Speaker B:On about three songs toward the end of the show.
Speaker A:How's he doing?
Speaker B:Pardon?
Speaker A:How's he doing?
Speaker B:Great guitarist, actually.
Speaker B:He plays about four different instruments.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker B:We didn't know it at first when we were turned on to him.
Speaker B:He's a sound man and no one even knew that he played guitar until maybe a few months after the fact.
Speaker A:And you've just been.
Speaker A:How's Mr. Brett doing?
Speaker B:Brett's doing fine.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Right now he's out with Enrique Iglesias.
Speaker A:Oh, okay.
Speaker B:He's.
Speaker B:What you call it?
Speaker B:Voting.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:He's voting for my, my original Blue warriors drummer, Van Romaine.
Speaker A:Oh, Van's doing it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Vance playing, doing the Enrique Iglesias today.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:And our listeners here can go right now while they're listening to us and go to a great website, berniewarl.com B E R N I E W O R rE double L dot com and there's the updated show list.
Speaker A:You can find out where the venues are going to be, having the Woo Warrior experience coming into town.
Speaker A:And most importantly, there's information how to order Bernie CDs.
Speaker A:And you sell T shirts.
Speaker A:And of course the sampler cd, right?
Speaker B:Yes, the sampler cd.
Speaker B:One should have it because it's all the real stuff from all the years on different keyboards from P Funk to tracks, some organ tracks that a lot of people haven't heard me play in a while.
Speaker B:So there's Mini Move, there's soloists, there's acoustic baby grand piano, there's Heron organ, there's Clavinet.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker B:And I'm proud of the CD now.
Speaker A:Now I have a musician pictures.
Speaker B:You know, you can get color or black and white pictures also.
Speaker A:Yeah, you've got.
Speaker A:You've got everything up there.
Speaker B:They'll be signed.
Speaker A:Now that's a real, real fan friendly musician.
Speaker A:So, you know, everybody should turn out to the Knitting Factory in the Soho section of Manhattan.
Speaker A:And yes, please come down and.
Speaker A:Yeah, have a Woo party and be heard on the upcoming live CD and dvd.
Speaker A:And I'm really looking forward to seeing you once again.
Speaker B:And another thing is we sign signing with another booking agency.
Speaker A:Oh, that's right.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And that's going to be.
Speaker B:We're going to be on the road like for a month at a time.
Speaker A:With the Woo Warriors.
Speaker B:Right, right.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker B:And so that's.
Speaker B:You could better also be posted on the website also once that takes place.
Speaker A:And there's a guest book on Bernie's website.
Speaker A:So if you've been following Bernie, which so many people have, just drop them a line and keep the discussion flowing.
Speaker A:And let's see, we're gonna get into a track right now which you might even play this Saturday night at New York City's Knitting Factory from your live cd.
Speaker A:It's called why Spy.
Speaker A:And Keith Richards was on this one, right?
Speaker B:Yes, Keith.
Speaker B:Keith Richards and Steve Jordan, original drummer for Letterman show.
Speaker A:So we'll listen to it right now.
Speaker A:And this was recorded at the Nitty Factory, right?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:But we'll listen to it right now and come back and talk a little bit more with Mr. Bernie Worrell.
Speaker A:Thought that version of Wise Spy was hot back a few years ago at the Knitting Factory.
Speaker A:You're in for a special treat because this Saturday evening over at Knitting Factory soho there is going to be another great concert which I believe begins at 11 o' clock in the evening.
Speaker A:And Bernie Worrell and the Woo warriors are going to be recording a live CD and also a dvd.
Speaker A:So Bernie, you must be really excited, right?
Speaker B:Yes, I'm getting to the almost.
Speaker B:Almost overboil point.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker A:So getting the band ready for, you know, something that you're recording for audio and also for video.
Speaker A:What goes into the preparation for that as far as getting everything set?
Speaker B:Well, we're a small unit and the people that we're working with know us, so they won't.
Speaker B:Preparation will basically be minimal.
Speaker B:Just hopefully they have some nice duds to wear.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:I know you'll be hooked up.
Speaker B:Oh yeah, I'm do the purple thing probably.
Speaker B:And now the DVD part.
Speaker B:I have no idea what.
Speaker B:I guess just smile and they'll be setting the lights set, doing soundshake probably.
Speaker A:And I'm sure there's always the chance for Bernie Worrell's friends, special guests to come by, right?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I don't know who's in town, but might have a couple surprises.
Speaker A:And we're gonna get the word out on the the news groups, the One Nation board and the Funk news groups for all, all the Woo warriors to come and represent for a nice concert.
Speaker B:So I appreciate that.
Speaker B:Yeah, basically we just could gonna not even think about the recording part of it.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Yeah, just a show because sometimes you can lose focus.
Speaker B:You know, we just want it to be natural and fun.
Speaker A:Well, we were talking off air about some things you're doing.
Speaker A:You played at BB Kings with another group of talented musicians, right?
Speaker B:Say again?
Speaker B:I'm sorry.
Speaker A:You played At BB Kings a few times over the past few months.
Speaker B:Right about.
Speaker B:I played BB Kings three times within, like, the last couple of months.
Speaker B:Once with.
Speaker B:I sat in with George Clinton and P Funk All Stars for a couple of songs I played.
Speaker B:I jammed on one song with the group.
Speaker B:Then George told the band to hush up and I did my solo thing and that bet.
Speaker B:George and I walked on stage together.
Speaker B:It was time for him to go on stage and everybody went wild.
Speaker B:And then I played there with Leon Lozintelli, Stanton Moore.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:Yes, Stanton.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:From Galactic on drums and Chris Wood from Martin Modesky Wood for a Big Apple Unity jam.
Speaker B:And that was sold out.
Speaker B:That was great also.
Speaker B:And then I just played there again with Jack Bruce from the Cream with Vernon Reed on guitar and the Cuikolan Express, which is the percussion section of the group.
Speaker B:Two sets of drums, Two full sets of drums and three kungas.
Speaker A:And you're such a varied musician and always keeping an open mind.
Speaker A:And it's great because now, you know, we were talking about your new booking agent.
Speaker A:You're gonna be in a lot of more cities and towns coming up this spring and summer.
Speaker B:So, yes, that's a blessing.
Speaker B:And hopefully we'll have the two of us.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Probably share it with.
Speaker B:Which we're into doing.
Speaker B:Because we all won together, you know, and whichever makes it.
Speaker B:Whatever makes it easiest.
Speaker B:Easy for everybody.
Speaker A:And it's probably a guarantee that you'll be doing a lot of the big summer festivals.
Speaker B:Keep your fingers crossed.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:That's why we did a lot of them last year and everybody.
Speaker B:It was positive.
Speaker B:It was positive feedback.
Speaker B:And so I would think that we'd be back doing it again this summer.
Speaker A:How have you run into Bootsy lately?
Speaker B:I just got back.
Speaker A:I asked.
Speaker A:I asked that for the Funketeers out there.
Speaker A:Probably.
Speaker A:Probably.
Speaker A:Kill me for not asking.
Speaker B:I just got back from Booty's a week ago last Monday.
Speaker A:So how's Rehab Studios going?
Speaker B:Fantastic.
Speaker B:Rewriting songs for a Nike commercial, which is going to be shot.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:Well, he has to submit it.
Speaker B:Everybody's keeping their fingers crossed that we get it.
Speaker B:But Gary Scheider was there, myself and Fred Wesley.
Speaker A:Oh, wow.
Speaker B:Fred Wesley did the horn arrangements.
Speaker B:Boochie and his brother Catfish are playing on it.
Speaker B:Garry Shotter and I built the tracks.
Speaker B:They asked for the old school thing like we used to do, so that was a gas.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And Bootsy's alive and well.
Speaker A:That's great because everybody misses him, but he's still out there.
Speaker A:He's going to surprise us.
Speaker A:I'm sure.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, well, his album, just.
Speaker B:What he just sent it in is.
Speaker B:Been a while.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker B:First started it, but that's coming out.
Speaker B:I don't know what month yet.
Speaker B:It's coming out in Germany.
Speaker B:Well, it's on Warner Brothers Germany, and I don't have a date yet, but I trust and hope that, that they'll do put some push behind it, get it over here in the States also.
Speaker A:Now, I have a question for the keyboard players and that wanted to know, any new gizmos, any more new equipment that you've been working into your arrangement on there with all those keyboards?
Speaker B:No, I have some pedals that I haven't used and I'm trying to get enough time to experiment within and interject that into some more sounds.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:And I had this friend of mine, he's a genius.
Speaker B:He builds pedals.
Speaker B:He takes them, rebuilds them and puts other.
Speaker B:I can't tell you, but other gadgets in the pedals.
Speaker B:They're like homemade and it's a blast.
Speaker A:So you're always there, but the thing that counts the most is the person working it.
Speaker A:And you're just.
Speaker A:Just a musical genius.
Speaker A:And we're going to be seeing Bernie Worrell over at the Knitting Factory this Saturday night.
Speaker A:Showtime about 11 o', clock, right?
Speaker B:Yes, I believe so.
Speaker A:But get there early, get a spot, say hello.
Speaker A:Bernie's always dropping in and out of the crowd, saying hi to people.
Speaker A:And the Woo warriors will be there.
Speaker B:And come get your woo down.
Speaker A:The Woo down.
Speaker A:And always a fantastic time.
Speaker A:And I'm looking forward to seeing you and saying hi to you and Judy.
Speaker B:Looking forward to seeing you too, Joe.
Speaker B:Hope all goes well with you.
Speaker B:I can't wait to get to the new studio.
Speaker A:And you know, Bernie, that's gonna be.
Speaker A:Supposedly we're starting February 25th, so just a couple weeks.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:So once we're in there and, and everything, you know, we'll.
Speaker A:We'll work something out to come up and do a live thing and get.
Speaker B:Mystic, Mystic, Mystic, Chris and Tina, all the Woo Warriors.
Speaker B:We could do a really nice thing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And you know what's cool?
Speaker A:We're going to have webcams in the studio, so if people aren't listening locally, they'll be able to see it live on our Internet site.
Speaker B:Oh, great.
Speaker A:So, hey, I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:This, I guarantee you this is the last time we ever speak in this old studio here.
Speaker A:But I want to thank Bernie's come up here and that was just a highlight.
Speaker A:Of my being in radio.
Speaker A:And I want to thank you for taking the time out way back in 99.
Speaker B:Thank you for having us.
Speaker B:Having me.
Speaker A:Okay, Bernie, you know what?
Speaker A:We're going to go back to Blacktronic Science, which came out in 93, and we'll play the Vision.
Speaker A:Take us out.
Speaker A:And thanks again.
Speaker A:I'll see you on Saturday.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Thank you, Joe.
Speaker A:Okay, everybody, it's going down the Knitting Factory this Saturday evening.
Speaker A:Showtime, 11 o'.
Speaker A:Clock.
Speaker A:Get there early.
Speaker A:In New York City, Bernie Worrell and the Woo warriors, filming and recording for a live CD and also a dvd, here's Bernie Worrell, the Vision.