Hey Mike,

Do you check out many other threads or forums here at the org?
Also, do you check out any other Prince or Soul Asylum sites?

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Darn my mother!

Thanks for answering anyways!

sitruk7 said:

no, and no..

michael b.

on gett off vocal intro its prince,i could bet my life on it

why would he hate you?
michael bland is one of the best drummers in the world.he is famous,he played with varios people including your idol prince.
be privileged to have a chance to have a chance to talk to mister "shhhhh" himself

CuntOMatic said:

Yeah, how would he know...he was only around the studiosessions all the time for several years...HELLO?!?!
HAVE YOU BEEN STEALING FROM GRANDMA'S MEDICIN CABINET?

Sifi said:

yeah he knows,just like he knows prince's shoe size

Hi Michael,

Sorry if you have already answered this. I was wondering if there was ever a musicial piece that posed an incredible challenge for you, in getting down pack and what was it about the song that made it challenging. It doesn't have to be Prince related.

ccollin88 said:

Um... Michael doesn't even play on the track. How the hell would he know about Rosie's involvement if he wasn't in the studio when it was recorded?

CuntOMatic said:

Maybe Prince told him, maybe Rosie told him, maybe it came up in conversation. Maybe he saw it in video recording of the session, maybe it came up out of the blue. Bottom line is, you wouldn't know, because you were never there, before, during or after. If it makes you feel better----I believe you.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

The T-Wolves finally got some help in Mike James, and Randy Foye!

bobsteezy said:

BUT THEY LOSING kg to the lakers

wonder505 said:

the michel portal album, "minneapolis"..
it was challenging mainly because i approach music from a very objective space. that situation forced me to play from a subjective place. it's just difficult for me to not edit what i play, and having to live with it, no matter what..

michael b.

bobsteezy said:

they can use it.. LOL

michael b.

Michael - Can you say anything about what it was like to work with Har Mar Superstar and if there are any future plans? You are on the last album right? I saw you and Sonny play with Har Mar at the Pizza Luce block party last Summer and it was off the hook! It seemed like you were all really having fun! And if I'm not mistaken I think Har Mar said it was his first time ever playing with Sonny.

Michael.

You speak of your relationship with Prince as being business like. I have heard a story (correct me if im wrong) that the gold set of drums you play in the Peach video (and with Prince from then on), was a gift from Prince himself to you. If true, were you suprised at his friendly gesture being the boss and all, or was Prince always like that?

Also, where is that kit today? at your house or Paisley Park?

sonicfreak said:

i loved working with har mar! thanx for asking..
he's one of the most talented newer artists that i know of. great live singer!! great performer!!
and, just a very cool dude.
the album was basically made from start to finish in john fields' garage. it just happened to sound great, in there.
no future plans, dissappointingly..
yeah, that WAS the first time he met, or played with, sonny..
sonny learned the material in a couple days, when we found out john fields wasn't gonna be able to come to town.

michael b.

dnaplaya said:

we were friendly. still are. but, my main function in prince's life was to provide a service. i dunno why there is such an unwillingness to look at that as a reasonable scenario.. how much friendship can there exist between people who are unequally placed? first and foremost, prince was my boss. as an employer, you have to maintain a certain amount of latitude to be able to reprimand your work force, without feeling bad about it.. friendship interferes with that. he needed more to be able to tell us when we were messing up, than to hang out with us, and have pool parties and whatnot.
i think conventional wisdom would reveal it to be unwise to hire your friends, or get too friendly with people you may have to let go, any day..

you're wrong.
that set was NOT a gift. it was never offered to me..

what happened was, i had been rebuffed by a guy named steve ettleson at yamaha, when i first sought out an endorsement. so, i decided to stop using their products, and start using sonor. prn productions paid outright for that kit. prince had 2 different ideas on how to pimp out the set.
1. put fur all over it. and, 2. gold plate it..
the fur was gonna effect the sound too drastically. so, we went with the gold plating.

i presume that the kit is sitting in storage, at paisley park.

michael b.

Michael,

Did Prince have you do any drum solos when you toured with him (I know how much you like solos ).

Michael
you should use Remo powerstroke 3 drum heads
they the best in wide world

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Prince didn't give you the kit? The tight little bastard! I'd have given you the kit, Michael, that's just the kind of guy I am.

Moderation - comments removed 23 December 2012 (langebleu)

[Edited 7/18/06 14:54pm]

Sowhat said:

yes.

michael b.

ccollin88 said:

i do.. but only on the batter side of the kick.. coated.

michael b.

SDNafka said:

Moderation - comments removed 23 December 2012 (langebleu)

yamaha made good, right after i got fired from working with prince.. so, we're all good..

michael b.

Michael,

Is it your impression that Prince was more friendly and closer on a personal level with his earlier bands (like the Revolution) than say the NPG? And if so, why do you think that is?

Michael,

When he let you go, did you kind of see it coming or was it a complete surprise?

Also, in your opinion, why does Prince periodically kind of purge his band? Is it because he gets bored? Is he just always compeled to change things up?

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Did he know you would rather prefer to not do solos?

Michael,

Which do you enjoy more...recording in the studio or touring?

Sowhat said:

yeah, that's the impression i always got. i'm not sure why.. possibly because prince was still very much discovering himself as an artist, and they were helping him do that.. by the time we came around, he had defined himself, the long money had already been rolling in, and people he should have been able to trust probably burned him, along the way.. that's my guess.. i can't confirm all that. just speculating..

michael b.

Sowhat said:

a little of both..

any real musician craves new information. certain people, in certain configurations, produce a certain sound. i think you can exhaust the possibilities of any group of musicians, and want to move on. i dare say, i can relate.. i'm always seeking out different musicians to work with, for the exact same reason. i remember prince asking me, "why do you still wanna play at bunker's every monday night?" and i remember telling him, "i need to. all day long, out here, i gotta play what you say.. down there, i play what i say.." and he got it. everyone needs an outlet.. a fresh perspective, sometimes.. miles davis did it.. why not prince?



michael b.