Renowned bassist Bootsy Collins, who announced his retirement from performing live in 2019, will make his triumphant return to the stage to play the halftime show at the Cincinnati Bengals’ home playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night at Paycor Stadium. The Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer best known for his work with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic also released the new single “The Ickey Shuffle” inspired by and featuring former Bengals running back Ickey Woods.
Longtime Cincinnati Bengals fan and hometown hero Bootsy Collins will take the stage with The Ohio Players for Sunday night’s halftime show. Bootsy was originally slated to perform during halftime of the Bengals’ January 2 game versus the Buffalo Bills, which was suspended after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed during the first quarter. Collins shared the following about his experience at the game:
“We was ready to funk it out with the Bengals Who-Dey Baby and something just wasn’t right, everything just went chaotic. I immediately started watching the monitor in my dressing room and seen that beautiful young man on the ground. Patti my wife immediately looked at me and I said Patti, God is trying to tell us that we all need to be On The One right now and she agreed. Bless that young man.”
As for “The Ickey Shuffle,” the song was released to be spun alongside the famed running back’s iconic shuffle. Ickey Woods played for the Bengals between 1988 and 1991. He gained prominence in 1988 when he began celebrating touchdowns with a memorable dance. The team made it all the way to the Super Bowl that season but lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
Bootsy Collins’ “The Ickey Shuffle” also features contributions from the bassist’s son, Ouiwey Collins. A visual for the track incorporates members of the Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleading squad. Partial proceeds from the single — described in press materials as “a tribute and unifying statement to encourage sportsmanship, funk and peace” — will be donated to the Jovante Woods Foundation.
Watch Bootsy Collins’ “The Ickey Shuffle” video below:
