Chic

On April 16, 1996, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards played the last in a string of shows at Japan's Budokan Stadium. Two days later, Bernard Edwards would collapse and die in a Tokyo hotel room. Along with a collection of long-time working partners, Rodgers and Edwards filled out their live band with Sister Sledge and then recently emancipated Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Launching with a song from Rodger's recently released solo album and Sister Sledge's two top ten hits, Chic pump out a polished and controlled set of classic disco including "Good Times" and "Le Freak." Its most fascinating moment: the band go off script with a "surprise" guitar solo on "Le Freak" courtesy of Slash and a pre-encore interlude where Rodgers introduces each musician. As Rodgers introduces Bernard Edwards, his final on-stage statement eerily authenticates his own mortality, "I'm a little sick tonight, I have the Tokyo flu, but we're still here."