Basically I want to educate myself about different genres of music that I know little about and I thought I'd start with funk, and instead of going to WIki and stuff like that I'd like to hear your suggestions from a personal taste. I'm not sure if it counts but i like RHCP and Primus, and they're supposed to be inspired by funk, I think. I'd love to get suggestions not only of pure funk but good funk-inspired bands, too.
One of the reasons I'd like to listen to more funk, besides for pleasure, is to be exposed to some new funky basslines, slap or not. I'm a bassist so that's impotant to me, but not essential.

Buster Voodoo is a funky song tune, you should give it a listen.

Listening to some Freddie King atm, will give Buster Voodoo a listen too

It's a shame how funk (along with jazz and fusion) has been all but eradicated from the mainstream these days. I know a couple of modern funk acts, but it's mostly electronic-based stuff.

Bootsy Collins is the quintessential funk bassist if you don't know him already.

Parliament/Funkadelic (two different bands, same basic people) is the funk band you need to know, as far as I'm concerned. George Clinton, Bernie Worrel, Bootsie Collins and Eddie Hazel were all masters of their craft. You should also (obviously) check out James Brown - he may be known as the godfather of soul, but a lot of what he did was really funky too. Then there's Tower of Power, who are probably worth a look. And that's pretty much where my knowledge of old funk ends...

Oh, except http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe1ScoePqVA

If you like the Chilis and Primus you should also be listening to Faith No More, Mr. Bungle and maybe Extreme too (they're more than More than Words).

P Funk, like Mutant Penguin said, is the only funk band you need worry about

Thanks guys. Wow, that was easy.