Why is it that most bands don’t cut it when it comes to playing Funk?

Because they consider the Funk to be a music genre to be learned, copied, packaged and sold. They think that adding all the elements together will equal the desired result—so they get the wah-wah pedal, the slapped bass, and sometimes they even hire old musicians who’ve been there—but there’s something missing. Oh, if I named names this would turn into a political statement …

All I’m going to say is: there is no doing the Funk halfway.

• Kool & The Gang – Be My Lady