The School Bell’s About to Ring at Bootsy’s Funk University!

Meet Mark von Bergen –

Too cool for school? Certainly not this one. As reported earlier right here, the Funkiest Man Alive, William “Bootsy” Collins, is launching Funk University because, well, “the state of funk is kind of funked up.” He explains that he has reached the time in his life when he “can’t keep all this funk to myself,” that “it is written in the Funk Scribes” that the University must be formed and formed now. Who is going to argue with that?

Classes at this Web-only school start July 1, 2010 and cost $34.99 a month, $189.99 for a six-month semester, and $349.99 for a full year. As a student already enrolled, I just got my first funkwork assignment: instead of asking his students to prepare, Professor Bootsy is inviting enrollees to submit questions to some of his faculty, including Brian Hardgroove, bassist for Public Enemy; Divinity Roxx, Beyonce’s bassist; Frankie “Kash” Waddy, drummer for Parliament (a drummer? – yes, of course!); and Meshell Ndegeocello. Now that’s the kind of homework I can get into.

When school opens in a month, I will report directly from the virtual classroom of Funk U. Join me as I get shown around the Mothership by the likes of Flea, Les Claypool, and Victor Wooten. Better yet, do as I have done and enroll right now at www.thefunkuniversity.com because as Professor Bootsy reminds us, “a groove is a terrible thing to waste.” – Mark von Bergen