KEY POINTS:
James Brown is gone but his band will go on, just as he always wanted.
Bassist Fred Thomas said he expected to be practising with his bandmates within days as they ready themselves to tour this year. Thomas said the 11 band members could be ready later this month.
Brown's agent, Frank Copsidas, said it was more likely that the first date for the band would be some time next month, perhaps in Los Angeles. He said there was significant interest in the band.
Brown, who died Christmas Day, had always told Copsidas the show must go on without him. As for the band members, Copsidas said that Brown told him: "Gotta take care of them. They're family. They're like my kids."
