Nile Rodgers has announced the release of a new song, called ‘I’ll Be There’.

Writing on his blog, the Chic man said the song was in tribute to his late Chic co-partner Bernard Edwards, who he found dead in a hotel room in Tokyo in 1996. It will be the lead single on the new Chic album.

He wrote: “I’m releasing the new record on March 20, 2015… on the vernal equinox. There will be a lot going on in the heavens that day, along with the total solar eclipse. The name of the song is “I’ll Be There.” The reason is: after I found Bernard’s body, I said to him “Now, I can be there for you in death, the way you were There For Me in Life.””

The song is based on an old Chic demo called ‘Love Somebody Today’, which features all of the original members of the band. “These recently-found lost tapes gives me the opportunity to play with my bandmates, who’ve passed away, again,” wrote Rodgers.

Lady Gaga is also thought to be working on new music with Nile Rodgers after a photo was recently posted online of the pair in a recording studio together. The photo, which was tweeted by Gaga fan page Lady Gaga Daily, also includes songwriter Diane Warren. “Lady Gaga in the studio working on new music with Nile Rodgers and Diane Warren,” the tweet read.

Gaga Daily reports that Warren said “Last night an all-time classic was born!” when asked about working with the singer. Rodgers has collaborated as producer and performer with other big name artists of late, including Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Disclosure, and Sam Smith.
[NME]