I have returned (after a very unintentional extended hiatus) with a new in-depth, two-part interview with Steve Parke. In our story he discusses working with Prince, creating the "Glam Slam" music video set, the painting which eventually became the Graffiti Bridge album cover, working with Wendy and Lisa, fDeluxe and much, much more:

Part I:

http://beautifulnightschi...parke.html

Part II:

http://beautifulnightschi...art-2.html

(All photos courtesy of Steve Parke Photography Facebook page, except where indicated.)

(courtesy of jerseyfestfair.com)

Very nice interview, loving the photos..and I really love this statement from

him:

thanks for sharing...

I'll have to check this out later when I have some free time.

That stage design model is amazing, imagine owning that!

Another great interview thanks. It's interesting about the NPS, I can see now what they were going for, it's a shame it never turned out that way, it would've looked so much better.

The Chanhassen Arboretum photoshoot, is that the autumnal one where Prince is all in black and in specs? That is a really great shoot. I love his work for fDeluxe too, they really suited the sound and atmosphere of the album.

Fascinating interview. I'm amazed at how deep and intelligent many of Prince's former associates come across in these interviews, he seems to choose bright, deep people. Once again a great interview - Dyes seems to find out facts and info and anecdotes that many interviewers would miss or would simply not bother asking........thank you!

Great read! All interviews on her blog are fantastic! Insightful, intelligent - the interviewer and those being interviewed.

What becomes apparent when reading interviews by former associates is that Prince throughout his career has been flying by the seat of his pants. And that he gives unknown young people opportunities, he randomly hears about someone or he likes something they do so he then invites them to work for or with him, and they learn on the job and help him produce his creative vision. At some point they move on for one reason or another.

Superconductor said:

Great read! All interviews on her blog are fantastic! Insightful, intelligent - the interviewer and those being interviewed.

What becomes apparent when reading interviews by former associates is that Prince throughout his career has been flying by the seat of his pants. And that he gives unknown young people opportunities, he randomly hears about someone or he likes something they do so he then invites them to work for or with him, and they learn on the job and help him produce his creative vision. At some point they move on for one reason or another.

Exactly, I respect him for that.Him hiring the 18 year old to do Breakfast video makes sense..Her life has changed for the better because of it or i should say, oppoetunitiues will come her way

Thanks this is becoming a "dont miss" series of interviews, cant wait for Tony M

What are the Prince photos featured in part1 of the interview, never seen them before?

naffi said:

Fantastic read Dye, love the photos, great to read the behind the scenes stories and how it all evolved.

Exactly, I respect him for that.Him hiring the 18 year old to do Breakfast video makes sense..Her life has changed for the better because of it or i should say, oppoetunitiues will come her way

Hmmm okay, if you say so, I would have said, getting someone already interested in video/movie making would have been more beneficial than someone who had never even thought about it. [Edited 10/27/13 19:24pm]

Hmmm back, well, lets say, maybe she didnlt know what she wanted...she did a great job for a novice..he can help who he wants

NouveauDance said:

That stage design model is amazing, imagine owning that!

Another great interview thanks. It's interesting about the NPS, I can see now what they were going for, it's a shame it never turned out that way, it would've looked so much better.

The Chanhassen Arboretum photoshoot, is that the autumnal one where Prince is all in black and in specs? That is a really great shoot. I love his work for fDeluxe too, they really suited the sound and atmosphere of the album.

I agree... Wonderful interview, as always. Thank you.

These are great! Thanks for these interviews! Never knew about Steve Parke before.

Yeah, it's funny how Prince just gives opportunities to inexperienced newcomers - and this one wasn't even a cute chick! (tho' I still think a cute chick has a higher chance of getting a prime opportunity...)

Lots of great info, but this part stuck out to me - how Steve talks about how much Prince and the band rehearsed. Then,

He said "Well, obviously, they were just samples running in the background." I said "No, man, they triggered all those samples....They were samples, but, they were triggered by the drummer or the keyboard player in appropriate places. It wasn't just a track running behind the whole song." He said "Are you sure?" I said "Yeah, man, I was there." He said "There's no way they could do that." I said "You want to know how they did that? They rehearsed it. Eight hours a day."

So many stories about his work ethic. And it seems like Steve Parke has a great work ethic too. I have a new appreciation for him.

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed the interview (or didn't really enjoy it, but, read it anyway). Steve really had a lot to say in the 3+ hours we spoke on the phone. I couldn't include it all in the interview.

If anyone is ever interested to know what I'm what working on or any stories coming up in the future (or just the occasional bit of randomness), you can like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/...NightsBlog.