Nile Rodgers amazing life story Guardian interview

Interview by Amy Fleming The Guardian, Saturday 7 July 2012.

 'I adore all my brothers, but they are lazy because I take care of everybody.' My mum got pregnant with me at 13. She gave me up for adoption, but then fought to retrieve me, and her father kicked her out as a result. So instead of going back to school, she got a job at IBM.

 Growing up, my relationship with my mother and stepfather was difficult because they were heroin addicts, so they were self-centred. They were kind people, but when you're an addict you are not only addicted to the drugs but to the process of going out and getting them too. As a kid, I didn't understand that their behaviour wasn't against me, but I internalised it as them not liking me: I was the bad kid. How could I be good enough to be loved and nurtured?

I had to take care of myself and, in the pursuit of their love, I wound up developing survival mechanisms and coping skills that have helped me throughout my life. I learned how to fix stuff because everything in their lives was broken and I was the one they could depend on. That's why I'm here talking to you now. I'm a record producer and songwriter, I'm a problem-solver. Madonna's Like a Virgin sold more than 20m records. Let's Dance, David Bowie's best-selling album, I made in 17 days.

I never wished my parents were normal because they were unique, special and fabulous. They got a lot of stares because they were an interracial couple in New York in the late 50s, but they were hip too. I used to play hooky from school and watch movies all day. While other people's parents were like characters from television, mine were like movie stars. I called all adults by their first names and my mum was just another adult.

I was the firstborn of my generation in the family but because I was so close to my parents in age they treated me with a kind of adult respect. They talked to me as an equal. We played chess. They needed a friend. The greatest lesson I learned from them was: treat people the way you'd like them to treat you.

All the other beatnik stuff was cool, too, but I was socialised to care about people from day one. My four half-brothers are the same. They may be lazy and good for nothin', but they're really nice guys – you'd want to have them as friends. I adore all my brothers, but they are lazy because I take care of everybody.

I got my first professional job [in the Sesame Street band] when I was 17 or 18. I was making more money than my parents, so they were all, like, great, we're not working. Ever.

Unfortunately, I was the only one who had the skill set to figure out how to pay rent.

I'm very responsible and that's another thing my family gave me. I don't want to let anyone down. I haven't had children of my own. I'm the patriarch of my family, I work too hard and I've changed more than enough diapers in my life, with my little brothers.

 My mum and brothers are all completely dependent on me. It's basically like we're still hippies and I'm the guy who goes out and panhandles all the money while they sit around. I wish it wasn't like that, but the great thing about it is that I have wonderful brothers who are the nicest, kindest guys in the world.