ALAN LEEDS - THE QUESTIONS, THE ANSWERS & MORE BESIDES...

Alan Leeds IS cool.

You might expect a guy who has spent the better part of the last three decades hanging around rock royalty to be egotistical and unapproachable. But, Alan Leeds is generous, warm hearted, and real. He is so incognito, so chilled, he is more like your best friend from college. He has no need to boast or get puffed up, he's seen it all...the fans, the groupies, the superstar ego tantrums, the paparazzi, the bright lights, the cities, the drama, ad nauseum.

Simply listing just a few of the names in the social circles Leeds floated in over the years reads like a proverbial who's who of popular culture: James Brown, Jean Michel Basquiat Kid Creole, George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic, KISS, Prince, Bootsy Collins, Sheila E., D'Angelo, Maxwell, Renee Neufville, Raphael Saadiq and Meshell N'degeocello.

Raphael Saadiq, Jerome Benton & Alan Leeds at the Grammy Jam in L.A. 2004:

© Alan Leeds

Leeds managed Prince’s tours from 1983 through to 1990's Nude tour as well as helping co-ordinate movies, one-off shows, recording sessions, rehearsals - you name it, he was more than likely involved in some way with it. In 1990 Alan moved from being tour and production manager to studio executive and personal assistant and came off the road to run Prince's multi-million dollar studio complex Paisley Park. Leeds took a break from his almost ten year stint with Prince in 1992 and currently manages D'angelo amongst many others. Oh, and did I mention his brother Eric? He plays one mean saxaphone you know....

Dr Fink & Eric Leeds Family Jamm soundcheck 2003:

© Heaven Productions

Today, Leed's reputation as a trustworthy manager and superstar networker in the music industry precedes him. He is helping to guide the careers of R&B artists such as Maxwell, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, and The Roots who have emerged on the tour scene in the last decade. They look to Leeds for his experience, knowledge and wisdom, hoping to be led down the same path as James Brown and Prince. Leeds has become a legendary music figure in his own right and is still leading the way.

Over the past couple of weeks, Alan Leeds has sat down and poured over the 20 best questions and answered them to the very best of his ability. I know for a fact that he dedicated a substantial part of his personal time to do this for both us and the Prince community at large, and approached it (as you yourselves will see) as a fellow music fan. So I would personally like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank him for not only doing so (and doing so with such dedicated vigour!) but also for graciously supplying us with numerous photos from his own personal collection.

Alan & Lisa Coleman - 2004:

© Alan Leeds

Congratulations to Orger JimmyNothing - whos question was chosen by Alan as his personal favourite. In the spirit of Christmas Alan has very kindly delved into his personal archives and donated something really special as a prize, I'll let Alan explain further:

'It's a one-of-a-kind, professionally dry mounted color print of a 1988 photo. While it could be framed, obviously the dry mount negates the need and it can be handsomely displayed as-is. It was originally part of a promo shoot and the photographer had several original prints dry mounted for us personally. It measures 14" x 11", has sharp, vivid color and looks a lot better than in my scan. Fact is, it's genuinely one-of-a-kind.'



Many congratulations Keith!

Merry Christmas to all reading this in our diverse Prince community, enjoy.
BananaCologne x
PS: Alan's answer to Question 18 is very, VERY cool



ALAN LEEDS - PRINCE.ORG QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION (December 2005)

First of all, I'd like to thank Prince.Org and its many members for keeping the faith. That such an active and provocative site has thrived for so long is a testimony to Prince's lasting value as an artist and the loyalty of the myriad fans he's touched through the years. The music fan in me sees it as an honor to share my thoughts.

The questions I was submitted proved thoughtful and, in some cases, inspiring. The process of thinking about the answers is tantamount to sitting around a living room kicking around "old times" with dear friends...

QUESTION 1:
Firstly, it's an honour. Having been in the music biz for a few years myself and a fellow funky music fan for as long as I can remember, I can only image the historical music moments you witnessed and the fires you had to put out (I also managed musicians, so I totally empathize with you here). You've also written some of the most informative liner notes I've ever read, not only for Prince, but for countless other artists. You're truly a great musical historian.

With all of this in mind... Have you ever thought of writing a book about all of your experiences? Each chapter could be about a different artist or time in your career. Just a thought. I would certainly cherish a book like that!
Thanks!
(Orger: tbag)

Thanks for the kudos. I think my awe of those who create great music is what drove me into the music business in the first place and I've been very blessed to cross paths with many wonderful artists. In a sense, my career has been that of the ultimate fan because most of the artists I've been fortunate enough to work with are the very artists of whom I'd be fans of anyway.

Yes, not only have I thought about writing a book but I'm about two-thirds finished with a memoir that basically covers my early years, particularly with James Brown. The sub-text of the memoir is the oddity of finding myself - a young white fan - ensconced in the r&b world of the "chitlin' circuit" during an era when racial politics (IE civil rights, Viet Nam etc.) seemed to inflict itself into every aspect of our society. It was an exciting, liberating period of our history and to have found myself in the middle of it, from the perch of The Godfather of Soul, was a singular experience.

There have been several decent books that touch on that era, Peter Guralnick's Sam Cooke biography is an excellent example, but never a book from one who was actually on the inside. My goal is to capture the flavor and excitement of the period and hopefully give the reader at least a touch of how invigorating it was.

I'm not interested in doing any "tell all" books that cheapen or exploit the unique access I've had to artists. But there are other book ideas floating around in my head and if God and personal responsibilities ever provide me enough time, maybe I'll get one of them finished.

QUESTION 2:
Without out a doubt, Prince is one of the all time greats and a unique artist without peer, yet it seems as if his back catalog, as well as existing concert footage/music videos is far from getting the royal treatment that has been given to other artists such as Bowie, Springsteen, Madonna, Michael Jackson,and The Beatles, etc. If it were up to you, what would be done to preserve Prince's legacy in terms of unreleased material, and re-mastering / re-releasing his existing albums and so forth?
(Orger: skywalker)

From a fan's viewpoint, the state of Prince's archive is a travesty. Unfortunately, Warner Brothers and Prince seem to share a lack of vision when it comes to legacy material. Of course their on-going legal differences don't help matters. From a musicologist's (note the lower case - no pun intended) point of view, all of his classic albums should be available in remastered form with relevant bonus cuts and detailed liner notes.

While the "Hits" 3 CD set was a welcome release, it should have been expanded into a proper box set with alternate takes, unissued material and, perhaps, some illustrative "live" tracks. I enjoyed doing the liner notes for the "Hits" package and Prince was very helpful and supportive during the writing process. But an expanded booklet (big enough to be legible without a magnifying glass) could have also contained essays from band members, recording engineers, if not the man himself.

I also believe a "Prince Live" career retrospective could make for a phenomenal box set. He had so many significant gigs professionally recorded that one could easily document every phase of his career with terrific concert material. Packaged with dignity, such a set could go a long way towards, once and for all, cementing Prince's place alongside the musical giants of our lifetime.

Unfortunately, all of these 'projects' would require a great deal of cooperation between Prince and Warner Brothers - something that doesn't seem the least bit likely.

QUESTION 3:
Can you please share with us one anecdote from your time working with Prince (which you don't think you've widely shared before in print) that you think will surprise or amuse us?
(Orger: langebleu)

I'm asked this a lot. I can't remember if I've shared this story before, but I frequently reflect on a conversation Prince and I had in Studio A at Paisley Park around 1988.

As a tour manager, I prided myself on having made the transition from the old school music business of a briefcase and an ounce of pot into the new school of computerized stage production, E-Mail and cell phones. The business had changed from a think-on-your-feet ‘street’ world into an increasingly sophisticated corporate entity. I had seen a lot of my old road pals from the 70's drop by the wayside, grumbling the proverbial "things ain't what they used to be". I was grateful to have been young enough to adapt. But this conversation with Prince showed me I still had a ways to go!

He had just spent the entire day in the studio creating still another funky masterpiece - I can't remember the song, it might have been something for "Lovesexy". Of course we were accustomed to him doing that. It wasn't unusual for Prince to show up at Paisley around 11 in the morning, gradually work his way through his mail, business matters that demanded his attention and finally into the studio an hour or two later. Sometimes he had a song in mind - perhaps a lyric he'd written the night before. Sometimes he turned on the tape and just let things flow. But it never ceased to amaze me that on any given day, by 6 or 7 PM he'd have a new song damn near finished! On this particular day, he called my office and said, "Hey, come downstairs a minute - I've got something to play for you."

Such calls weren't rare but he seldom volunteered to play something unless he was truly excited about it, so I raced to the studio. When he would play something new for you, he'd often dance around the studio, illustrating the songs nuances or emphasize certain parts by singing along in your ear so you wouldn't miss a lyric. On this day, by the third time through the high volume playback, he began shouting his concept for a video clip! I was astounded - not only had he created the song from scratch in a single day but he already had a video concept!

After the playback stopped he saw the puzzled look on my face and quizzed me about it. I said, "I can't believe you already have a video in mind".
He responded somewhat snidely, "Alan, don't you get it? These kids today don't hear music like we do! They have to SEE music. That's what MTV has done. I have to think that way."

In retrospect, it was hardly the most profound statement in the world, but it was an awakening for me - a reminder that the more experience one has in the music business, the more one's liable to get stuck in their ways of thinking. It was an eye-opener for me that served me well a couple years later when I gave up the tour manager role in order to take the helm of Paisley Park Records.

QUESTION 4:
What was your view of Alex Hahn's book, Possessed, which featured many quotes from you - did you find it an accurate depiction of the behind the scenes events in Prince's life?
(Orger: NightGod)

I think Alex Hahn's "Possessed" is the best Prince book of its kind to date. Alex devoted a ton of time and labor to get things as accurate as possible. I recognize that any Prince fan (including myself) can quibble with Alex's personal feelings about Prince and his music but that's what makes being a fan (and the book) so much fun! The book did get a little sketchy in the latter years, probably because Alex ran out of reliable sources. Those who have intimate knowledge of Prince's activities from the mid-1990's onward were either unavailable or unwilling to offer Hahn much insight.

I do think that any discussion of Prince books should include a nod to Per Nilsen for his tireless efforts to document the raw statistics of Prince's recordings, tours and day-to-day chronology. Nilsen's books will live forever as THE references on those subjects.

QUESTION 5:
Hello Mr Leeds,
Do you despair at the state of music now? With the exception of some true talent that is making music now, there really is nothing around. Who do you think will be the next big thing - who looks promising?
Many thanks,
Nichola
(Orger: Nichola)

Music today?!?! That's a more complicated subject than it should be. There is wonderful music being made today by wonderful artists. But there are several other factors that effect our awareness of it and our access to it.
First of all, the genres of music that my generation holds dear - r&b, funk, rock, jazz, salsa etc. - have all been DEFINED. Unlike the 1960's and 1970's when many of these music forms were being INVENTED before our eyes, today those forms and basic styles have been pretty much been explored. There are only so many notes, chords and rhythms...and only so many ways to combine them into song. It's pretty much all been done. On the other hand, the wild card is the individuality of the artist and the countless ways to mix these genres and develop music with a fresh flavor. That's where new music comes in. As long as artists keep their work honest and personal, there's going to be stimulating new music.

Unfortunately, the "evolution" of the music BUSINESS doesn't encourage that. It's equally significant that music plays a somewhat different role in today's cultural landscape than it did 30 years ago. Compared to today, the access to music 30 years ago was limited to radio, records, concerts and the mere handful of television programs that hosted the artists we favored. In plain language, it took a lot longer to get tired of a record or a musical style because we weren't assaulted with it everywhere we went.

Music also did not have the competition in the marketplace that it has today. We didn't have computer games, cell phones, DVD players to bring movies into the home, and hundreds of 24 hour cable TV outlets to (a) occupy our time, (b) attract our dollars, and (c) offer alternative access to music. Today we hear contemporary music everywhere we go - in the stores we shop, our ring tones, video game soundtracks, movie soundtracks and even the airplane headphones when we travel. In this age of rabid competition for the entertainment dollar and youngsters who have to "see" music, not just hear it (see Question 3), music has become like wallpaper. Music today is a constant and visual soundtrack to our lives....as opposed to something we have to seek out and appreciate with our ears and imaginations. To all but the diehard music fans, listening to music has become an almost subliminal exercise.

The result of all of this changing culture is a music industry that has forgotten how to creatively market anything "left of center" and can no longer afford to take chances on artists and music that don't lend themselves to ring tones and the red carpet.

All of this to say, the changes have been sad but inevitable. If you want to attack today's music, you have to attack today's mainstream culture and that's a hopeless (and pointless) task.

Meanwhile, support your record stores! Look behind the displays in the front of the store and don't be afraid to go beyond your usual categories. It's so arrogant to call anything non-western "World Music", but go there anyway. The same technological shrinking of the globe that has hurt the American music scene, has brought new ideas and influences to other cultures. Some of the most exciting music today is in languages other than English.

And God forbid we actually learn something about cultures other than ours. Isn't that what white Americans did in the 1950's and 1960's when they discovered soul music? There is some terrific music hiding in the bins deep inside your record store - you gotta spend the time to dig - but it's there.

QUESTION 6:
When was the last time you spoke to Prince - did you part company amicably?
(Orger: metalorange)

I've spoken to Prince briefly a couple of times when he visited shows on tours I managed such as Maxwell and D'Angelo. While I've heard from mutual business associates that he wasn't pleased about any of his former employees cooperating with Alex Hahn's book project, in 1992 Prince and I certainly parted company amicably.

By then, Prince's differences with Warner Brothers had infected everything we were trying to accomplish with Paisley Park Records. It became clear to me that Prince's frustration had turned into confusion about what to expect from the label. Realistically, the label's mandate was always unclear. What WAS clear was that Prince wasn't taking the responsibility to produce competitive records and turn the label around. As a result, Warner Brothers' support and confidence waned and I was caught between a rock and a hard place - understanding the very real frustrations and agendas on both sides. I could see it was never going to work.

Meanwhile, Prince was developing some creative and innovative ideas for alternative marketing - in effect, wanting to release records that bypassed Warner Brothers and the standard industry pipeline. Despite what he thought, I sympathized with Prince and found some of his ideas fresh and challenging. Unfortunately, it was also my job to remind him that he was about 5 years ahead of time (personal computers and internet usage wasn't yet commonplace) and that there was a legal obligation to Warner Brothers and the funding they had provided Paisley Park Records - not to mention a contract!

We agreed to disagree and parted ways. However, I was happy to get a call a couple years later to consult on a brief Japanese tour - help negotiate the promoter deal, put a crew together and baby sit logistics. And, of course, I was called on for the "Hits" project.

I have nothing but fond memories of my 10 "purple" years and my life was forever changed by the experience and knowledge I was afforded by being part of his world.

QUESTION 7:
Since you managed Prince's tours from some the highest points of his career, what were some of the extremes girls went to try and get to Prince at his hotel?
(Orger: Astasheiks)

Strangely enough, girls weren't the "problem" on tour one might think. In part due to the efficient security we carried and our extremely detailed relationships with hotels, travel agents, club managers and venues. We carefully orchestrated his discreet comings and goings and made every effort to secure as much privacy as humanly possible. So despite his sexy reputation, Prince wasn't often accessible to the typical groupies who regularly hounded artists. He might extend himself to meet a seemingly interesting young lady at a club but let's not forget that he tended to tour with ‘in house’ female companions so there was nary a lonely night.

QUESTION 8:
Hiya! Thank you for doing this, it's a nice gesture on your part.

My question is about Kylie Minogue. I understand there is a song called "Babydoll" that Prince wrote either for or with Kylie, could you please tell me if he wrote it for her or with her, if this was ever actually recorded?

Thanx again!
(Orger: MonEl)

Thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately, I'm of no help at all on this one. I have no knowledge about the song or Prince's collaboration with Kylie.

QUESTION 9:
Dear Mr.Leeds,
Knowing that you were the road manager for Prince, James Brown and others, the list is impressive, working with those talented, diverse artists. My questions are and I'll try to be breif: you write the liner notes to all James Brown's cd's, etc., is Universal/Polydor planning new, unissued live J.B. cd's in the near future? The Godfather of Funk in concert is the real deal. I hope someday U Music will release the complete show in Zaire, Africa 1974, the Rumble in the Jungle.1974 I think is Brown's most productive period.
(Orger: DarylB)

Universal does not own the tapes of the much bootlegged 1974 James Brown concert in Zaire. Hopefully the owners will someday negotiate a proper release of this great show.

However, I'll jump the gun a bit and share what we hope will soon become exciting news. 2006 may see the official DVD release of two recently discovered James Brown concert videos from 1966 and 1967. Both are complete shows and are the earliest known videos of actual Brown concerts. (Only the T.A.M.I. Show and several brief TV appearances precede them). Suffice-it-to-say the shows are historically fascinating and musically thrilling. There have also been conversations about issuing official DVD's of Brown's 1968 Boston and 1971 Paris shows - both of which have also been widely bootlegged.

For several years we have kicked around the idea of a "STARTIME LIVE" box set, comprising both well known and previously unissued concert material. The powers-to-be at Universal have yet to give this ambitious project the green light so keep your fingers crossed.

QUESTION 10:
How did meet Prince? What was your first meeting like?
(Orger: slm4m)

I met Prince in early, 1983. I had been managing a KISS tour which was winding down. It turned out that production manager, Tom Marzullo, split his time between Kiss and Prince's 1999 Tour which had also been on the road for several months. Marzullo asked me if I'd be interested in the Prince gig since they'd been through several tour managers without success. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I left the Kiss tour after a show in Phoenix and joined Prince in San Diego. (Ironically, their next show was back in Phoenix and the same limo company that had carried Kiss was hired to pick up the Prince entourage two days later. The look of confusion on the driver's face when I met him in baggage claim was priceless).

I didn't know a soul in the Prince camp besides Marzullo but was quickly introduced to manager Steve Fargnoli and bodyguard Big Chick (Huntsberry). I was quickly warned not to approach Prince - to wait until he spoke to me. After a quick, introductory shake of the hands, we didn't speak more than 4 or 5 words a day for at least a week. Any question I needed answered was funneled through Chick or Steven.

At one point I needed to review some hotel choices for upcoming cities and wanted to get Prince's input in case he had any favorites in those areas. So I asked Chick to tell Prince I needed to see him. After I explained my reason, Chick replied, "Buddy, don't do that. If you ask him about hotels he'll only think you don't know what you're doing. That's what he hired you for." It was beginning to occur to me why Prince went through so many tour managers.

A couple of weeks passed without incident. Then one night, after a show, I was in a hotel lounge with most of the Revolution when we spotted Prince and Chick walking towards our table. As luck would have it, the one empty seat was next to me and Prince dropped himself into it. I got up and motioned to Chick to take my seat but he waved me off. Suddenly all of the spontaneity at the table disappeared as even the veteran band members waited to see where Prince might take the conversation. Instead, without any greeting or political nicety, Prince simply turned to me and said, "tell me some James Brown stories". And that opened up ten years of more conversations than I dare to remember - LOL.

Alan Leeds, some musician guy, and German promoter Roland
Fackel arriving in Belgium for a Parade tour show - 1986:


QUESTION 11:
Of all the things you were a part of, what makes you most proud? What is your biggest work-related achievement?

I adored the liner notes you wrote for both Star Time and The Hits/The B-sides. I must admit I am rather envious of all the inside information you have about Prince's music. For most of us, lines notes like yours make all the difference. I loved reading so many great inside stories on both JB and Prince, that I want to thank you for those jobs. I certainly hope that if Prince ever opens that vault, you will be involved in writing the liner notes.
Again, many thanks!
(Orger: HamsterHuey)

Wow, thanks again. It's really gratifying to know people actually read those liner notes and credits. We try to put as much care into them as possible, under the assumption that musicologists, and fans alike, will turn to them as reference in years to come. Which segues into your question of "what makes me the most proud". In 1992 I shared a Grammy Award with James Brown, Universal producer Harry Weinger and writers Nelson George and Cliff White for our essays in the James Brown STARTIME box set. While I'm proud of the Grammy, I'm more proud of the inscription James Brown wrote in the box set booklet I passed around to him and his musicians like a high school yearbook. Brown wrote, "Thanks for helping with our Grammy" (his underlining). If my office ever catches fire, that booklet is what I’ll grab first.

QUESTION 12:
If you could go back and change something about your time with Prince, what would it be?
(Orger: babynoz)

I'm not much for hindsight, because there are usually reasons why things turn out the way they do. For example, I would have loved if Paisley Park Records had turned into a ‘real’ record label - in the sense of seeking talent with legitimate and competitive market potential - but it was never meant to be.

Warner Brothers' original interest in the joint venture was based on Prince's success as a producer of acts such as The Time, Vanity 6 and The Family. Unfortunately, by the time he had authority over his own label, Prince's ambitions as a producer had changed. Some of the early signings were obscure acts that Prince's managers handled. Unwisely, Prince failed to disguise his lack of interest in most of these projects from Warner Brothers.

Signing icons like George Clinton and Mavis Staples were admirable gestures. Prince made some very nice records with Mavis, but trying to market her in a contemporary fashion - IE "Melody Cool" - didn't make sense to me. As for my friend George, his affairs were then in disarray and we inherited an unfinished album that was already dated. Warners and George had both hoped Prince would devote more time towards working with him but it never really happened. Soon the label became known as a playground for Prince girlfriends as albums by Jill Jones (whom I adore - a more talented lady than the album suggests), Taja Seville, Ingrid Chavez and finally an unknown Carmen Electra, came and went.

The fact is, unlike those who are primarily producers by trade, Prince's interest in working with other artists usually hinges on their ability to fit into an alter ego role or some other aspect of his own orbit. It worked like a charm with Vanity and Morris Day, but if an artist was married to his or her own ideas and concepts, Prince would often lose interest. And when he lost interest, that usually transformed into a lack of enthusiasm in the Warner Brothers promotion and marketing departments. I ended up spending several very frustrating years trying to get Warners and the industry to take Paisley Park Records seriously when Paisley Park Records simply didn't want to be taken seriously. Without competitive product and Prince's consistent enthusiasm, it was a no-win.

I hesitated citing this example because I don't want it to appear as sour grapes - I learned a lot and appreciated the experience of running a label. But I think the real tragedy is Prince's lost opportunity to build a legitimate, respected forum for his extra-curricular output.

QUESTION 13:
Is there a concrete plan for Prince's music once he passes away?
(Orger: Graycap23)

I have no idea if Prince has a will or any other legal contingency for what happens to his archive in the case of his death. I hope he does.

Though no lawyer, I assume his tape archive would be viewed as part of his general estate. On the other hand, anything that was recorded during the years he was under contract to Warner Brothers couldn't technically be released without Warners approval or involvement.

I recall Prince expressing his distaste for what happened to the Jimi Hendrix archive and even some reservations about the James Brown reissues I've been involved with. He once sarcastically asked, "Does James know you have all these out-takes and unissued songs?" I assured him that JB was cool with how we were treating his archive (and even cooler with the bucks he was raking in) but I don't think Prince was convinced.

Despite legitimate arguments to the contrary, when it comes to catalogue - compilations and reissues - I've found that many artists lack the overview to understand what the audience for these projects really wants. Some artists are simply too close to their songs - which frequently end up meaning something entirely different to their audience. And their memories are often less accurate than a researcher's homework.

QUESTION 14:
Did the members of the Lovesexy band and touring entourage really understand the whole concept behind the album , was it explained to you all by Prince or were you all just going along with the ride ?
(Orger: moonshine)

I don't think Prince ever directly explained Lovesexy. But casual conversations with some of us revealed a lot. It had been a dark time for him. There was the lingering frustration over SIGN O' THE TIMES and then the BLACK ALBUM fiasco. He was juggling relationships with several ladies - each of whom seemed to bring out a different side of him. There was the explosion of hip-hop, an art form he didn't initially relate to and saw as a threat. And there was the sting of some critics who suggested his music was no longer "black" enough.

As usual, Prince's answer to an unpleasant reality was to construct a reality of his own. Thus: LOVESEXY. No matter how complicated or controversial he seemed to make it, the story was basically just old fashioned good over evil. Infusing a spiritual context to sexuality turned off some listeners and confused many more. But I think that was needlessly complicated too. I think all he was saying was that anything as good as sex can't be evil. If it had been the 1970's, it would have been an easy sell. But in the midst of the 1980's A.I.D.S. explosion, the timing was challenging to say the least.

QUESTION 15:
Who in the world chose the singles from SOTT? Do you think If I Was Your Girlfriend was the right choice as second single from SOTT? Do you know if tracks like Housequake, Hot Thing or Adore were EVER considered for release as singles on their own? ...Basically - what happened?!?
(Orger: Scrambledeggsaresoboring)

Prince ultimately chose the singles. He'd solicit opinions from some us but at the end of the day, he called the shots. "SIGN O' THE TIMES" was a no brainer for the first single but the release of "Girlfriend" stopped radio in its' tracks - homophobes misinterpreted the lyrics and it's charming eccentricity simply didn't fit a format. Meanwhile black radio was clamoring for "Housequake" which was already surfacing as the club/party jam of the year. We all felt it should have been the obvious choice for the second single. So did Prince. TOO obvious.

I can't say if Prince was knowingly pushing the envelope or naively believed that "Girlfriend" could be a radio hit, but he (and the album project) were devastated by its failure. That we were touring Europe instead of helping the album in America didn't help (also his choice).

Of course "Housequake" was the third single but as the "B" side to the hugely successful "U Got The Look". Despite the 3rd singles success, the album's momentum had been sidetracked by the failure of "Girlfriend" and lack of a U.S. tour. For the record, "Hot Thing" was the "B" side on the 4th single, "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man". For whatever reason, Prince was usually shy about releasing a ballad as the plug side of a single. "Adore" could have been a huge hit.

The subject of selecting singles goes back to the issue of an artist viewing his or her music differently than the public does. While Prince always hated anything too obvious, selecting singles is not the time to be clever. If you accept singles as a marketing tool for an album, then obvious is what the party calls for! Some wheels don't need reinventing.

QUESTION 16:
Other than Prince, who have been your favorite people to work with?
(Orger: DirkFunk)

I think each was my favorite at the time I worked for them. It may sound evasive but they're all favorites in their own ways. The James Brown years were exciting, learning experiences. His professionalism and respect of show business tradition gave me a foundation that many of my peers today weren't lucky enough to receive. The Bootsy Collins/George Clinton period taught me there is always another way to do things and to have fun doing it. The Prince years, and particularly the PURPLE RAIN phenomenon, provided a glimpse of super-stardom in the modern, media-driven world that few people ever get to experience. And the more recent years with Maxwell and D'Angelo provided me the opportunity to apply what I've learned and to pass it on to the youngsters I find myself working with. Both artists were new to the touring end of the industry and I'm very proud of what we accomplished in each case.

QUESTION 17:
What do you feel when some people don´t consider Prince as great as some of the famous (and "serious") american songwriters like Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, etc, but see him as a pop star only? What would you say to them?
(Orger: GustavoRibas)

I'd say they're tone deaf! LOL

On a serious note, I'm not sure we need to distinguish between "pop" art and "serious" art when it comes to non-classical music. Anything "pop" needs to be judged within its' own context. For example, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and the Gershwins were all considered "pop" in their eras.

In a sense, Prince has been his own worst enemy when it comes to being judged on musical merit, because of his career-long obsession with image and celebrity. When one thinks of the skimpy clothing of "Dirty Mind", the mid-1980's fixation on all things purple, the ever-changing wardrobe and hair styles or the very public evolution of his spirituality, it can become a distraction from the music. Of course, those factors often illustrated or accented aspects of his music and represented his "show biz" instincts as a performer. But it can be argued that he sometimes went overboard in placing more attention on the wrapping than the contents of the package.

I remember a conversation we had back in the late 1980's during which he expressed his frustration at not being taken more seriously as a musician and composer. I suggested that since he always embraced extremes, why not throw away all the props and do a tour in a turtle neck and a pair of jeans where he and his band simply sang and played.

Incredulous at my hubris, he replied, "What? And look like you instead of a star? Nobody will pay to see someone who looks like an everyday guy!"
To put it simply, the idea scared the velvet pants off of him.

Ironically, that's why I found the ONE NITE ALONE tour so refreshing and it's a shame that the "live" box set and Las Vegas DVD don't quite capture the unique charm of that tour. Given the critical acclaim of the tour's early months, I found the set list and sequencing on the box set very curious. The pacing and song selection just didn't make me feel the way the shows had. Since the box set and DVD will be the lasting impression of that tour, maybe it means he's still afraid.

QUESTION 18:
Dear Alan,
Can u remember the most poignant story from ur time 2gether with Prince, which made u think something along the lines of, 'he is human, after all', and can u please share this little-known emotional story with us?
love,
Anji
(Orger: Anji)

I can think of several. Believe it or not, like most people whose outward extremes contradict their opposite inner extremes, Prince is a genuinely sensitive man. Playing amateur shrink for a moment, I suppose his rejections as a youngster inspired a stony surface as a protective device - actually, not a bad thing to have in the music business.

One story that comes to mind took place in a limo en route to the Hollywood premiere of PURPLE RAIN. Big Chick was riding up front with the driver and I was in the back with Prince who was holding a single flower he had impulsively plucked from a garden in front of our hotel. The ride was tensely quiet. Remember this was a movie nobody thought would ever get made. "Who is this singer Prince who thinks he's all that to make a movie", said most in the industry and much of the media. We all knew this was either going to turn Prince into a major star or be one of the most embarrassing flops of all time.

We had carefully plotted a caravan of limos so as to orchestrate the arrivals of the various figures in the movie. One by one, limos deposited Billy Sparks, Morris Day and Jerome, The Time, Apollonia 6, Wendy & Lisa, Bobby Z, Dr. Fink and Brownmark. And they each worked their way up the red carpet, stopping for waves to fans, quick TV interviews and hundreds of photographers. The idea was, of course, that Prince would be the last to arrive and be met at curbside by a group of our security guys with whom we were in touch via walkie talkies (remember, this was before everyone had cell phones).

We had pre-arranged a spot a block behind the theatre where we would temporarily park and wait for the cue to pull around and make the "grand entrance". At that point I would also jump out of the car and run ahead to make certain everything at curbside was just the way we wanted and then give the driver the final "go". When we reached the appointed spot and parked, Chick turned on the walkie-talkie as Prince anxiously asked him, "What's going on there? Can we go yet?"

Chick turned around toward us and reported, "the guys say there's a traffic jam 2 blocks long, more fans than the police can handle and more cameras than a photography store!"

At that point Prince suddenly lost it. Just for a flash, but like any mortal human being, he lost it. He suddenly gripped my hand in a desperate vice and his voice broke as he strained to whisper in a tone that sounded like a petrified ten year old, "Whhh..aa..tttt d-diid he saayy?"

I was stunned too, but instinct took over and I hung onto his hand firmly and said calmly, "He said we're gonna have a day to be proud of and it's gonna be fun. Now let me get to theatre and I'll meet you there."

It was touching and revealing - probably the only moment through the whole, tedious making of the movie that he showed any doubt or vulnerability. And just as quickly, he caught himself....probably frustrated that he had let his guard down....and said, "Yeah, hurry up over there. And don't let them mess this up!"

QUESTION 19:
Dear Mr Leeds, I'm a Prince fan from India.
Behind that public persona, I have a gut feeling that Prince is a really simple man with a simple lifestyle, how right am I? Does he really have an extravagant lifestyle of a rock star or is he a well-grounded person?
(Orger: armybrat)

I think he's somewhere in the middle - neither extravagant by celebrity standards nor grounded in an every day sense. He certainly has the sense of entitlement that most celebrities are susceptible to. When he wants or needs something, the word "no" is missing from his dictionary. But he's never been about "bling" for bling's sake - preferring to design his own clothes and privately acquire the things other wealthy celebrities publicly spend thousands of dollars on. His homes, both in suburban Minneapolis and in Beverly Hills, have generally been exclusive and in good taste (only one was painted purple) without being garish. He's been through the gamut of luxury cars from BMW's to a Rolls but you won't find him on MTV showing off a parking lot-size collection. Most of his indulgences, such as corporate jets, limos on 24 hour call and exclusive hotel suites have more to do with his privacy than opulence.

Like most anyone who would find themselves with his resources and access, Prince enjoys the many conveniences and privileges of wealth and celebrity. On the other hand, his personal taste isn't particularly sophisticated. He enjoys movies, playing certain sports and, more than anything else, playing music.

QUESTION 20:
Hi Alan. Thank you for doing this.
In your liner notes for The Hits you said '...our wildest imaginations couldn't conjure up what a collection like this might contain in another 15 years.' What are your opinions on the output of the past 15 years and do you believe that that statement rings true today for the next 15 years?
(Orger: JimmyNothing)

I guess I have to eat my words as I've found the last 15 years somewhat disappointing. It's not surprising that Prince no longer rules the charts in the trendy, youth-oriented world of pop music, but that didn't have to have any bearing on the quality of his output. Unfortunately, the reality of his aging didn't seem to sit well with him until recently. His insular lifestyle discouraged the kinds of life experiences that could have expanded his palette and some of his music during much of the 1990's suggested an inner turmoil.

Obviously, none of us can (or should) speak for him, but in my opinion, Prince's music in the 1990's suffered because, for the first time, he allowed outside trends to influence his work. While I doubt he would admit it, whatever the hip-hop explosion meant to him failed to believably translate to his music. He tried incorporating rap but the "keep it real" hip-hop community wasn't buying Tony M or a gun-shaped microphone from a guy Prince's age who had grown up in a relatively middle-class Midwestern environment. Then he went retro, as if he had stubbornly decided that if he couldn't regain street cred, he'd go the opposite direction and resurrect artists like Chaka Khan and Larry Graham. It made for some entertaining music but nothing that really stuck to the ribs.

Then there are his on-going differences with the music industry and how music is marketed to the public. He has good points in his arguments and tons of sympathy from other artists, young and not so young, but for a while it seemed like he spent more energy in promoting his views and marketing concepts than creating the music itself. When the music did seem to step up a notch, such as on the RAINBOW CHILDREN album, it was compromised by a few curiously disturbing lyrics and the hugely annoying segues.

Despite all of the above, the last three years have given reason for hope that the Prince legacy is anything but complete. Now that he's obviously grown secure with his age and established his spiritual beliefs for all who care to know, there are indications that his music may cleanse itself of the extra agendas. I have no doubt that he can still stumble on a brilliant new song in his sleep. His effortless command of the stage and awesomely rich catalogue will always lure ticket buyers into any venue he chooses to visit. We music fans will always be richer for his presence.

L-R: Gwen Leeds, Alan Leeds, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo, Juanita Escovedo,
Juan Escovedo, Miko Weaver, Tristan Leeds (kneeling)

© Alan Leeds

To round off the edges somewhat, I grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns and posed a couple of further questions to Alan that have cropped up from time to time on message boards across the community - such as the sad demise of the much-missed 'Controversy' fan magazine, and what REALLY happened between Prince, Wendy & Lisa and 'that comment'... as well as asking him to inform us what his future plans are and what D'Angelo is currently up to, etc.
- BananaCologne

I can't knowingly comment on the 'Controversy' fan club situation. I'm a bit old school when it comes to fan clubs, believing that they ALL deserve respect and support to at least some degree. But in today's music business, fan clubs (to use the term broadly) have become a huge revenue source thanks to the internet.....downloads, merchandising etc. Big revenue breeds control, so there you have it.

For many years Prince's desire to control fan access had more to do with his privacy and the marketing of his "mystique" than anything financial. But now that's changed and his cutting edge efforts through his own website speak for themselves. I believe most fans are capable of understanding this, after all they're of the internet generation too. But Prince's legal gripes with 'Controversy' seemed extreme to me and certainly, from a public relations standpoint, the situation was badly bungled.

As to Wendy and Lisa, I know Prince has genuine respect and fondness for them both. That he invited Wendy to appear with him on the Tavis Smiley Show was probably a gesture aimed to those harboring the same feelings as yours. Having said that, their relationship is personal and deserves to stay that way. Wendy and Lisa certainly don't need me or anyone else to express their feelings, nor does Prince. Analyzing their relationships and suspicions about Prince's sexual politics are issues better left alone - until and unless he finds reason to publicly express himself on the subject(s). No matter what I, or any fan, might suspect personally, unless any of the three "go public", I choose to consider it a non-issue.

Wendy, Sheila as Morris, and Alan at The Family Jamm 2003:

© Heaven Productions


MY WORLD:
D'Angelo is continuing to work on his next album - he's got enough amazing material for ten albums by now - LOL. Unfortunately, due to an on-going dispute with Virgin Records, there's still no deadline to deliver a finished record - much less a release date. I could do another number on the pitfalls and limitations of today's music industry and how they inhibit a pure artist such as D'Angelo, but I'll spare you the pain. Sooner or later, an album will find its way to the public and, God willing, D'Angelo will be motivated to find his way back to the stage. And then we can re-start our mission to share this young man's true stature. At his core, he probably IS the most gifted and exciting artist and performer since Prince. I live for the day when the rest of the world can discover what a few of us already know about the depths of his gift.

Beyond D'Angelo, there is RENEE NEUFVILLE who is an equally astounding talent of great versatility and depth. Her success as half of ZHANE and more recent recording and touring exposure with Roy Hargrove's RH Factor has only scratched the surface of the delightfully rich music she can bring to the world. To those who wrote in asking about new music, I hope 2006 is the year we can talk about Renee in the same breath.

I am also involved, as an Associate Producer, with a Paramount Pictures film project based on the life of James Brown. It's in the earliest of stages, the first draft of the script isn't even delivered yet. But it's an exciting project that I'm looking forward to as a challenge and a new adventure.


FINAL THOUGHTS:
In summation, I find it difficult to do this much thinking and writing about Prince without adding some final thoughts. Personally, I find it discouraging that Prince's proselytizing in recent years even hints at religious, racial or sexual prejudices that he never represented back in the day. When Prince burst on the scene in the early 1980's I saw him as an appealing liberator of sorts. He offered liberation from the wimpy disco era that came before him. He offered liberation from the racial and sexual constrictions that the Reagan years seemed to symbolize. Those of us who felt we understood his music only saw bold truth and honesty. Songs like "Bambi", "Dirty Mind", "Controversy", "1999", "Little Red Corvette", "Erotic City" and even "Darling Nikki" seemed so poetically realistic and timely that they couldn't seem any "dirtier" to me than they did to him. The biggest disappointment of Prince today is that he no longer feels the same way.

This has been huge fun for me. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be a fan before I set foot in this business. Listening to the music I loved took me places my feet couldn't. It made me feel ways I couldn't otherwise feel. And it made me forge thoughts I couldn't otherwise think. One of the many blessings of a gift such as Prince's is the ability to take fans outside themselves. He should be grateful there are so many of you along for the ride. I hope sharing some of my memories will inspire you to put on some music, close your eyes, open your mind and take one of those magical rides. It's never been about me - it's always been about the MUSIC!

Have a great holiday season and a wonderful 2006!
- Alan Leeds (Minneapolis, December 2005)

L-R: Bobby Byrd, Vicki Anderson-Byrd, Universal Records' Harry Weinger,
the late great Lyn Collins, Alan Leeds, Martha High & Marva Whitney:

© Alan Leeds


© Fruity Parfume Inc. for prince.org

FUCKING AWESOME!!! Thanks BC!!

fantastic read

Very interesting indeed

Goddamn, that was just wonderful. I absolutely love the way he summarized the problems with Prince's more recent output. Great read.

oh my goodness...words can't express how i feel about this. HUGE thanx to both alan and 'nana for taking their time to put this together to share with all of us. it's stuff like this that makes me happy to be a prince fan.

That was amazing, and by far the most riveting thing I've read on the Org. Thanks to Alan and BC for sharing this wonderful treat with us!

Very, very cool. Thanks!!!

Awesome read!

Thank You!

Thanks!

WORD!!!

Thanks Nana U Da Man!
Alan

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you, thank you so much for this interview to everyone involved - fascinating, insightful and thought provoking.

A great Xmas present from the org and Mr Leeds

Thanks!!!!
For all the info and...
Especially for the photographs!!!

So...how's everybody doing?

yea

awesome

job well done

congrats

The org fuckin' rules.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the above thank you Alan and 'nana.

Sad that we often relegate our best friends to mere acquaintances. Alan knows of what he speaks. Some would do well to listen. There is much truth here.

Fantastic reading! Great questions and brilliant, thoughtful answers.

I saw a documentary on Prince and listening to Alan Leeds in that was great. Now after reading his answers here.....I can only imagine that if his memoirs get published it will be an awesome read.

Thank you Alan.

Steve

Melbourne,Australia

Good read. Thanks to Mr. Leeds and 'Nana.

That was an absolutely fantastic read. I can't say how greatful I am for someone such as Mr. Leeds to do something like this out of his precious time. I can't say thank you enough.

Thanks for putting this together 'Nana and Alan!

That was simply incredible. Truly for me the highlight of the org for me in 2005. Thanks to Nana for such a great interview with someone as insightful and incredible as Alan Leeds. I'm so glad to still be a Prince fan after this.

Prince.org is a cemetery where folks mourn Prince instead of celebrate him and his music. Last time I checked, Prince isn't dead yet.

Great gift for x-mas! I loved the way Alan broke it down on Prince's output the last 15 years. Agreed with Alan on so many points especially how Prince's "views" have changed since the early days on things such as race, religion, sexuality etc. Kinda sad when you think about it but Prince doesn't seem to be the open-minded all inclusive person he use to be. Just my opinion. I Still have much love though.

brilliant. thank you for sharing.

i really enjoyed question 5 and 15

What an AWSOME gift!

Thank you Mr. Leeds and EVERYONE here at the Org.

Peace in '06

Didn't expect such forthright responses and I'm in total agreement. Thank you so much for your honest insights.

Happy Holidays, the org rocks!

The perfect gift for any Prince fan! Thanks so much!!!

excellent work

Wow. I'm so chuffed that one of my questions was chosen. It really is a cool Christmas present! Thanks so much to Alan, 'Nana and the Org.

What great, well-considered responses. I was particularly fascinated to hear that he pretty much feels the same frustrations most of us do about re-masters/vault material, that era of poor quality protege albums, and poor single choices. It's just great to hear someone from the inside of Prince's camp talking honestly and directly.

Great stuff!

WOW

Very very good indeed.
His answer to Q20 and his "final thoughts" echo what I'm sure many of us older fans feel.
Kudos.

Great interview! Thanks Alan and BC!

Very insightful. If this doesn't get the org a Nobel Prize, nothing will.

Wow -- one heck of a read from Alan, a guy whose integrity, honesty and level-headedness is certainly in part responsible for so many things cherished by folks who love the Prince of the past, present and future! Prince should consider himself fortunate to have had Alan at his side for so long and it is definitely obvious that Alan counts his blessings from each and every professional and personal experience he's had.

Makes one jealous in a very good-natured way. Major thanks to the org, 'Nana and Alan for putting so much effort into this -- it was like reading outtakes from The Hits liner notes!

This was great!!! Thanks to 'Nana and Mr Leeds!

btw--question #18 is the stuff, man.

It’s obvious that Alan approached this online contribution -- one that will probably be seen by something like 20,000 people -- with the same care, class, and thoughtfulness that he would have if it were appearing in a magazine with a circulation of 200,000 or in the liner notes of an album destined for sales of 2 million.

That tells me a great deal about Alan’s character and the respect that he has for the music and his fellow music connoisseurs.

'nana ~ what a phenomenal read!!!! Enlightening, intelligent and a rare glimpse inside. Thank you so much to both you and Mr. Leeds. What a great Christmas gift for us!!!! Love you 'nana!!!!!

Wow, that was a great read, never skiped, just fantastic, thank U Alan, that was just one heck of a read.

But a huge shout out to BC,great job

WOW WOW WOW

Wow! This is the best Christmas present I could have asked for! Many thanks to Alan and everyone involved in making this happen. How awesome, to get such thoughtful and insightful answers from an insider (who's an admitted big fan too!).

Some highlights for me:

"I think Alex Hahn's "Possessed" is the best Prince book of its kind to date. Alex devoted a ton of time and labor to get things as accurate as possible." So there, all you critics!

"From a fan's viewpoint, the state of Prince's archive is a travesty." Amen!

"...Though no lawyer, I assume his tape archive would be viewed as part of his general estate. On the other hand, anything that was recorded during the years he was under contract to Warner Brothers couldn't technically be released without Warners approval or involvement."
Oh no, if that's true, then forget about hearing anything from the vault, at least as long as he's alive! I can't imagine WB and Prince ever coming to an agreement. Or, as Alan talked about in another answer, that the material would be treated and packaged appropriately.

The answer to Question 20 in its entirety.

P.S. Thanks also for the exclusive pics!

and this should be written in the bible of musical truth cuz he told it

well done!


a true christmas gift indeed.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

oh my goodness...words can't express how i feel about this. HUGE thanx to both alan and 'nana for taking their time to put this together to share with all of us. it's stuff like this that makes me happy to be a prince fan.

" The biggest disappointment of Prince today is that he no longer feels the same way"


That says it all. Lovesexy is the 1 til my day is done! may u live 2 see the dawn:)

thx Alan!

This is absolutely the best and relevant interview that I've ever seen the org produce. Big Ups to everyone involved. It was quite a coup for this "fam forum". Thank You Mr Leeds for your integrity, unreserved (though at all times repectful) candor, and for keeping the fire of a music fan in your heart over these many years of productive professional management. It's so easy to get jaded once inside the business but it seems obvious to me from reading this interview that you have kept the faith my friend. Kudos and again...many thanks

Unbelievable! Thanks to all who made this happen, especially Mr. Leeds!

Wow! How succinct, thoughtful, interesting and heartfelt. I feel that this interview is better then all the books put together, ya know?

Thanks to Mr.Leeds and the org peeps for putting this together.

A liberator, exactly!

Excellent Q&A; the best thing I've read on any Prince related website. Alan's insight to Prince's world is so fascinating. And his critique of Prince's last 15 years is on point. Thank you so much for posting this!

Incredible! THANK YOU ALAN!!!

This was an absolutely refreshing response to the questions that we posed. I am very grateful to Alan for spending his time in such a manner. I for one will be printing this out and adding it as a footnote to my Prince books. I'm sure whom ever inherits my books will appreciate the addition.
Take care. -Mg

psykosoul said:

fantastic read

co-sign

"A united state of mind will never be divided
The real definition of unity is 1
People can slam their door, disagree and fight it
But how U gonna love the Father but not love the Son?
United States of Division"

Excellent interview!
And Prince, before you get angry with Alan for sharing some inside info, just know that it makes me want to go out and buy some more of your music for Christmas gifts!

Tim Kaye
www.myspace.com/timkaye

Well done!

(wow, he answered my question )
Thanks a lot Alan, for the very detailed replies...it´s great that a person so close to Prince takes some time to write in such a true and detailed way
Thanks the org for making it possible. Merry Xmas to u all.

YAY!
That was awesome. Thanks to all who made that possible and to Alan Leeds for agreeing do this.
Fantastic.

That was great
Thank you!

/Katarina

THANK U ORG AND THANK U ALAN.
It was a great piece to read and a very nice christmas present.
Mr. Leeds, u are a very nice and truthful character.

Art.

WOW!

That interview has cleared up so many things... Not least, the fact that everything recorded whilst under contract with Warner Bros. belongs to Warners Bros. Who would have thought it was so cut and dried?

The other thing that intrigued me was this photo...



Without the weird straightened hair and moustache, Miko looks ten years younger than he did ten years ago! He's quite foxy now.

Amen!

Much love to Mr.Leeds!

Ditto to all the above - truly one of, if not the, best things I've read on the org.
It made me realize - I'm an Alan Leeds fan! (and Eric, of course). How wierd, to realize I'm a fan of someone who is, essentially, an executive/manager. But, I guess I'm a fan of him as a "musicologist" - a fan of his writing (liner notes etc.), a fan of his taste (the musicians he works with and mentions), and a fan of his work - I guess over the years I've come to see him as partly BRINGING us the output of these artists. And if you look at the period he was involved with P, and the answer to Q20, it just makes you wonder about the significance of his presence and input...

(Oh, and how funny that his views on P's work so closely reflect the mainstream wisdom here at the org, in particular of us oldtimers!)

HOLY CRAP!!! I'm SO GLAD I finally got a chance to read this!!! I've been wanting to all day

FANTASTIC interview!!! Thank you SO MUCH Alan for taking the time to share your thoughts!!

'Nana, thank you for putting this together - you fuckin' ROCK!!!


I think my favorite part is him singing in your ear along w/ the song so you don't miss anything

WOW, sweet interview guys. Really great read

What a great reading this was!
Alan Leeds is the coolest guy & it's always
intresting 2 hear what he has 2 say.
/peace Manki

Amazing... honest, professional and modest. thanks Mr. Leeds and Bananacologne... thank you very much!

tx alot guys! The final note of Alan hits the spot. Prince isn't the same anymore and it is a shame...

wasitgood4u said:

on point about today's music,which is reason why we love those artists that come out of left field. their music is different from mainstream.
and i can also relate to prince stony expression i know what it is like to be rejected,those moments in your life stay in your head forever, just trying to protect your feelings.

THANK YOU THANK U THANK YOU !!!!!

This is pretty cool to hear some one from the music b talk about his experiences but my god, almost every damn question had "did Prince" "Is Prince" "Was Prince" "What do you think if Prince" ect. Can you imagine if every day you were hounded with questions about some one else. I do understand what he did and what he does for music folks but gawd!

Thanks to everyone involved in this!

What a great X-Mas gift. Thanks!! I loved the inside baseball politics. The singles choices debates could go on forever. Just remember, without Prince's brilliant contrarian musical mind "Kiss" and "When Doves Cry" probably wouldn't have been first singles. Imagine the enormous pressure on Prince's shoulders to live up to his immense gifts and our expectations. There have been no artists in pop history with his complexity. Unfortunately, too much credit is given to business over art. Leeds' final thought on Prince's conservative leanings of late were needed. Especially coming from someone who obviously cares about what Prince's greatest music represents.

Phill said:

This was an AWSOME response and I thank Alan to the end of the world for it, cuz he didn't have 2 do it.

This showed me that while living in the now can produce astonishing results for a period, there comes a time where one should take the time to plan for the future in more aspects of life than Prince did. Then again, maybe Prince wants his career to reflect "the now" more than a "optimized marketing experience"...that means including the ups and the downs, manufactured or not. Everyone has bad times....I'm sure Prince is aware of his. From early on U could tell that Prince wanted U 2 get a glimpse of what was going on with him....and he's kept that promise.


At the end of it all...The Warners situation is crappy and all. That said...Prince needs to sit down and tell himself to stop all the complaing and tell himself THAT HE SIGNED THOSE CONTRACTS and he needs to deal with the reprocussions of that. He reaped whatever benefits there were to reap from those deals...and benefits don't come without downsides. He was a grown ass man when he entered those agreements and I see him as only being pissed at himself.

Superb interview. I appreciate Alan's candidness.

Alan reminds me of a Beta commercial....



Alan doesn't make your Funk and R & B records...he makes your Funk and R & B records funkier and blusier...lol...kinda reminds me of Tommy Dowd...ANOTHER gift to music...RIP Tommy.

The Truth!

I KNEW it was out there!!!

Sure, we all have similar opinions/thoughts, but to have them repeated by the man who was there says more than alot!

That pretty much sums it up for me!

Great questions, .Orgers!

Great organization, Bananacologne!!

Great photos and responses, Mr. Alan Leeds!!!

A HUGE thanks to all involved and Happy Holidays!


A Christmas beer for everyone->

To be Org interviewed next; Per Neilson.

At least my own wishful thinking

That was a sincere read,,,he(Alan) got more common sense than ALL of the people in Paisley Park including shorty himself IMHO

I disageree with him on The Rainbow Children tho,,,,I wouldn't change a THING from that album. It is what it is, and I dig it for all its segues and shocking messages, its his(Prince) beliefs, whether we agree with them or not.

Love is just like the faucet
It turns off and on
Sometimes when you think it's on baby
It has turned off and gone


Lady Day

Yeshua4all said:

Harlepolis said:

To be Org interviewed next; Per Neilson.

At least my own wishful thinking

That was a sincere read,,,he(Alan) got more common sense than ALL of the people in Paisley Park including shorty himself IMHO

I disageree with him on The Rainbow Children tho,,,,I wouldn't change a THING from that album. It is what it is, and I dig it for all its segues and shocking messages, its his(Prince) beliefs, whether we agree with them or not.

it´s funny because one of the first things Prince asked Alan was some James Brown stories

It´s great that Alan could tell us some PRINCE stories in a no-gossip and respectful way, that made me admire him even more...now Prince knows how WE feel as fans.

Thanks again, Prince.org, for making it possible. I hope there are more in the future.

Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

Mr. Leeds has provided much depth and insight. He has validated and put into context a lot of what I been feeling and, what others have written here about Prince.

I'm feeling a little verklempt, discuss amongst yourselves....

GustavoRibas said:

it´s funny because one of the first things Prince asked Alan was some James Brown stories

It´s great that Alan could tell us some PRINCE stories in a no-gossip and respectful way, that made me admire him even more...now Prince knows how WE feel as fans.

Thanks again, Prince.org, for making it possible. I hope there are more in the future.

Alan Leeds is awesome and a good guy.

Again... great read.

Anyone know whats up with brother Eric? Any new music?

After reading this i'mma have to reconsider deactivating my account.

Everything i wanted to say has been said on this thread already. Alan is one cool MOFO! Much love and respect to everyone who made this happen!

This really is a wonderful Christmas gift!

First of all, Thanks to Mr. Leeds for taking the time to do this and thank you for answering one of my questions. It's so refresing to hear such insightful, thoughtful and candid thoughts from someone on the inside. And the fact that there was nothing salacious or gossipy included reflects well the character and integrity of Mr. Leeds. Prince is fortunate to have had you with him for so many years. Btw, the pictures are great, nice to see the Leeds family.

Thanks also for confirming that Prince the person, is very much as I imagine him to be.

Thanks to 'Nana and the Org for making it happen.

And about TRC, I disagree as well, but there ya go.

that was great! Really insightful and quite in depth. Alan's views on the music industry and Prince's dealing with it was very insightful.

thank you for this!

More interesting than the new single , thanks Alan Leeds and thanks Prince Org people!

OK, I could REALLY be friends with this man. For other reasons besides this interview, Alan seems like he would be just cool to hang out with or a great person to come over to play cards with on a Friday night.

This was a wonderful read, and I'm sooooo glad Alan didn't make Prince out to be some perfect savior who makes no mistakes or bad decisions, like unfortunately some of Prince's fans still make him out to be. This was what I call a REAL interview. No one is perfect, no not even Prince.

Alan, if you read this, thanks so much for the interview.

Thank you so much for this fantastic Christmas gift! It was the best interview I have ever read on this site. Do I dare hope for a part 2?

That was so very cool of him .

He seems like a nice dude .

Now that's a Christmas present! Way better than an electric griddle.

Thanks 'nana.

Phill said:

Yeah, really. I guess we should've asked him what his favourite sandwich is and shit like that instead.

Thank you, I really enjoyed reading it

Prince needs Wendy & Lisa so bad!!!!! God!!! Please reveal to Prince that he needs W&L!

Dear Mr Leeds,

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, but also to give us such elaborate answers!


A great Xmas gift!

And a for Nana.

Thanks for pulling this off.

Nana, you rock!


And, Mr. Leeds is true class in an industry seemingly devoid of it.

This was an immense treat.

Thankyou so much for organising this, and a big thanks to Mr Leeds for agreeing to it. Merry Christmas from South Africa!

That was grand! The selection of questions was really nice and the answers made a very interesting reading. The time both of you guys spent was really worth it!

D.
--

Excellent read, thanks for the interview !

Thanks to 'Nana and Alan for an engrossing read. This is the man who should be both managing and producing Prince.

Awesome. Thank you, guys!

This was awesome! Thanks to the Org and Mr. Leeds for a great holiday gift!

That was an awesome read, thanks 2 everybody making this happen!!

Yes, great read
Thanks Prince.org and Mr. Leeds.

I got a laugh out of "resurrecting Chaka Khan and Larry Graham"

,
[Edited 12/27/05 10:50am]

This was quite simply, amazing

Alan Leeds- thank you so much for taking the time to do this. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for my gift! You really didn't have to offer a gift- taking the time to answer these Q's was more than enough. You have made this an extra special Christmas for me and I will cherish the colour print. I know exactly where I'm going to put it and I think I'll post a photograph here at the org to show it in it's new home. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

'Nana- This was such a great read. I was excited when I first read about the interview and was looking forward to reading the answers (as you know! ) and it has surpassed all of my expectations. You have done an amazing job and you are an org LEGEND!

Thank you to all involved in this and fingers crossed for a book!

Thanku so for this!

that was beautiful! really great, looved the story about prince lettin his guard down in the limo. can't wait for the memoirs! thanks alan!

wow that was a great read. it's not like we need to understand Prince any better but it sure did have great insights from a person who was closer than anyone else on earth.

Thanks 'Nana and Alan.



ps - my question was cool too tho.

I've read this article a few times now (it's THAT good!) and my favorite part is the story Alan tells about Prince playing the new track for him. His mention of Prince singing lyrics right into his ear at certain points reminds me of the video of Kiss, when Prince does exactly the same thing to Wendy.

I think the most amazing this about this article is the lack of negativity shown by Orgers. I'm used to the negativity now, and it's really refreshing that everyone genuinely enjoyed and could agree with the honest statements that Alan made.

Alan was very candid about Prince's legacy and his recent output, but he remains optimistic about Prince's potential to amaze us. I couldn't agree more.

I've never been one to wish for "the good old days" when it comes to Prince. I'm more interested to hear what he does next, and part of that appeal is not knowing that eveything he does will suit my taste.

Thanks again to Alan for the time.

Right on...thank you Mr Leeds...and the staff here at the org...RIGHT ON !!!!

by the way Alan Leeds is just as insightful on the james brown "soul survivor" documentary...

Wowugotit said:

TheCatWoman said:

...I would have asked him if he had any knowledge of Prince suit with Warner Brothers and if there was any truth to the amount of money P won. I heard it was somewhere around $500,000,000.

fukkin' fantastic! Thanks so much for this Q&A..! the best one yet!

Alan has so many stories to share, it would take volumes to capture.

He's Very Cool to do this interview. A Great read. He's Honest and Nice. He Rocks.....

Rhondab said:

Wowugotit said:

Prince needs Wendy & Lisa so bad!!!!! God!!! Please reveal to Prince that he needs W&L!

WTH!!!!

MuaPetahl said:

Great work. That was nice to read.

Great stuff!!!

Brilliant!

I have vegemite and you don't!

What a wonderful Xmas gift. Thanx!

NightGod said:

absolutely bloody brilliant.

The time and consideration that Mr Leeds must have put into this is truly amazing.
Thanks to all who made this possible.

Fuck the funk - it's time to ditch the worn-out Vegas horns fills, pick up the geee-tar and finally ROCK THE MUTHA-FUCKER!! He hinted at this on Chaos, now it's time to step up and fully DELIVER!!

KrystleEyes 22/03/05

HamsterHuey said:

What a great interview. Big thank you to Bananacologne for coordinating this, and another big thank you to Alan Leeds for providing some great insight into Prince and his music.

Thank you so much, Mr. Leeds.

It is so refreshing to hear that someone in your position is still well aware of how we feel as fans. I particularly found interesting your points regarding the state of Prince's archives and the quality of his work over the past 10 years. Also, your business insights help all of us have a better context for the output that we are receiving and for setting our expectations.

Thanks to the whole orger team who put this together! It was extremely well done.

This didn't jump out at me the first time I read it, but it's in his answer to Question 15: "For whatever reason, Prince was usually shy about releasing a ballad as the plug side of a single." Well, I guess he changed in that respect!

Alan Leeds - LEGEND

GREAT READ THANKS SO MUCH

You know ,if i want to listen to a machine id just go put my clothes in it!P '98

wow! thanks Banana and Mr. Leeds. that was cool

now THIS is why we have an internet.

Thank you Mr. Leeds. That was fantastic. Class act all the way.

This reminds us that despite all of the unconventional decisions Prince has made & continues to make, he has made some very wise & conventional decisions, such as having Alan Leeds in his career. It's probably no coincidence that he was part of Prince's most successful ten years.

The answer to question 2 was very enlightening, and a bit depressing.

I like this, too: "What? And look like you instead of a star? Nobody will pay to see someone who looks like an everyday guy!" We all know nobody's ever been popular who wore jeans!

thanks Alan. Knowing there are people like you in the music biz makes me have faith in it.

I like how Prince travels with the ladies.

andyman91 said:

Gracias a Sr Leeds y Nana; wonderful read, very insightful! Bravo!

Thank you Alan Leeds for being a pure class act, honest, down to earth, and graciously offering your time and energy to bless the Org. Prince was fortunate to have you.

The Org friggin RAWKS! I'm proud to be a member of this site and the Prince fan community. Most people don't get an opportunity to access the wealth of information people like 'Nana (and many others) have a passion to offer.

Ice Creeeeeam!!!!


Live like its the style...

laurarichardson said:

Mr. Leeds certainly gave well thought out answers. What a gentleman

nice read , thanks

HamsterHuey said:

This was perhaps one of the best free insights into Prince's musical genius and artistic and business shortfalls. The questions were professionally answered, the selection of questions were outstanding, and conducted with class.

To the Prince.org community -- Thanks!

Thank you Nana and thank you Mr. Leeds

Edmonton, AB - - If you're happy and you know it your hands, if you're happy and you know it do a

What I love best about these type of "insider" interviews is the revelation of the human side of the subject.

Especially, Prince. He has spent so much energy trying to control and manipulate his image and projections that a fan can lose any sense of connection. People want to see the human side of other people. That may not be what makes us interested at first, but it is defintely what keeps one coming back. Think of any relationship you've had. Especially, long term. The musical relationship a fan has with an artist is just that, a relationship.

I have also thought how cool it would be for Prince to show up in jeans and a T-shirt on Jay Leno or Oprah and be an ordinary guy. I haven't walked in his shoes and I don't have his brain chemistry, but I think Prince would be suprised at the response he would get from fans and casual listners.

Mr. Leeds nailed the 90's inner turmoil and the late 90's early 2000's spiritual growth. The name change to a symbol was not about contracts, it was about spiritual growth. Prince's best music is still to come. Mainly because he has grown. Just like the rest of us because after all he is human.

Mr. Leeds comments on Prince's coming to grips on aging were interesting.

Truly exceptional interview!!! Thanks Mr. Leeds and BC
[Edited 12/27/05 19:06pm]

andyman91 said:

That's why you're paying big money to see an aftershow in 2002?

The last thing I want to see Prince do, is to get outside producers.

calldapplwondery83 said:

Bfunkthe1 said:

He is so right on about so many things. I particularly agreed with what he said about some artists not having the perspective to make the best decisions about how to present their material.

The One Night Alone box set was a great example. As good as it is, anyone who's been to a Prince concert knows it could have been much better. And It Ain't Over was particularly disappointing.

And the Rainbow Children. I love the record as is, but the public's inability to hear the amazing music tells me that he probably shouldn't have had Darth Vadar narrate it.

Prince is great for having his own vision and sticking to his own beliefs, but all artists should listen to outside opinions occasionally, and trust in other folks' talents (like film directors).

HamsterHuey said:

Very cool!
Thanks for coordinating this. I'm going to print it out and add to my Prince file.

prince.org

Eye absolutely LOVE Alan's story n response 2 ?uestion 18.

The whole Q&A has left me yearning 4 Alan 2 write something more comprehensive on the man himself. Not only does Alan have an excellent way with words, n share a unique n thoroughly fascinating perspective on Prince, but eye love that he also comes across as a truly genuine, humble kinda guy.

Eye have a sneaking suspicion Prince will have read the transcript by now n eye'd b surprised if he hasn't, at the very least, gauged the responses here. 1 can only hope that the right buttons r b ing pushed 2 make Prince reCONsider his legacy and the somewhat sad state of affairs it is b ing left 2 die n.

A simple 'thank u' doesn't quite seem sufficient, but nonetheless, Alan, thank u.
U r an absolute legend around these parts!

love,
Anji

P.S.

Best of luck with D'Angelo. Given his predicament, y don't u give P a call this New Year?
There can b all kinds of musical alter-egos under 3121. Don't u wanna come?

setyrmindphree said:

altavista said:

altavista said:

"Jill Jones(whom I adore-a more talented lady than the album suggests)"

Tell 'em,Alan!

setyrmindphree said:

altavista said:

alexnvrmnd said:

metalorange said:

As I read the second paragraph in Question #20, I keep thinking...you mean to tell me that no-one was around to tell Prince that his music was wack in the 90s. He didn't have any friends to tell him to be himself and let the music flow.

I question this because this interview gives the impression that Prince was confused at times and didn't know which direction to take. Where were his friends/collegeus...OR....is Prince the type of person who just doesn't listen and takes advice well.

wonder505 said:

I agree wholeheartedly about the comments on Prince and hip-hop.
There are very few good Prince "rap" tunes ("18 and over" sticks out in my mind as the only really good one.)
I was sad to see Prince inject rap into his early 90's work.
Even back then, it was clear that Prince was so above it, and not very good at it.
I mean, come on man, you're a musical genuis. If I want guys who couldn't write an original melody or play an instrument to save their lives (excluding The Roots here), I'll turn to rap. But usually, I don't.

eugnj420 said:

The 'act' of discarding the PRINCE name inevitably gave rise 2 spiritual growth. During those tumultuous years, the name 'change' can b viewed of as 1 of the pivotol factors that P held on 2, n that pulled him thru. Eye suspect he let go of the notion ONLY when he no longer felt he needed it's support.

love

.
[Edited 12/28/05 17:06pm]

Thank you Mr. Nana and Mr. Leeds & Orgers - for the questions

Thanks Alan, I can't wait for the book. I read Miles copeland's book about the Police, and it was great, and not exploitive.

Here's some of my favorite quotes-

wonder505 said:

Wowugotit said:

Alan Leeds gets it. Prince lost HIS sound in the 90's by trying to incorporate what others were doing. When Emanicaption came out, a fellow Prince fan and keyboard player at that time for La Bouche told me he recognized several of the loops on that cd from libraries. I notice them everytime I played that cd after that.

I also agree that Prince seems to have refound his own sound the past three years and I'm hopeful we'll be seeing/hearing some good/great things from him again soon.

My feelings on this interview:

Good side - the stories about Prince in the purple limo during the Groman's publicity stunt and about Prince having a vision for a Lovesexy video and song were very insightful, and I got very wrapped up in them while reading.

Bad side - the whole deal about Prince not knowing the legacy he is leaving behind. He most certainly knows his legacy, and he is just doing what he can to make sure that he has a say in what legacy is left behind. Repackaging songs and live set, etc., is just rehashing the past. Like what they did to Jimi Hendrix - just saying that man's name makes me so mad. Look what they did to him.

Overall, good interview, but from someone who hasn't really kept up with Prince since parting ways, and therefore only a limited viewpoint.

MarcelJ said:

setyrmindphree said:

alexnvrmind, do u disagree that the 'act' of discarding the PRINCE name inevitably gave rise 2 spiritual growth?

2 reiterate, during those tumultuous years, the name 'change' can b viewed of as 1 of the pivotol factors that P held on 2, n that pulled him thru. Eye suspect he let go of the notion ONLY when he no longer felt he needed it's support.

love

alexnvrmnd said:

setyrmindphree said:

Where did he "admit" that his first take of it being spiritual was wrong or a lie. I'm actually not challenging you, I would be interested in reading or listening to what he said. Because I don't know, and would like to, did the WB conflict start before or after the name change? Wasn't the name change in '93 sometime?

Well, he admitted it by simply saying his reason for changing his name was for business or contracual reasons. That's pretty much saying "It wasn't what I said it was before" because before, all he said was that his reason for doing it was for something spiritual and some Higher Power told him what his name "really was". He didn't need to scream the words, "I admit I lied before about why I changed my name!" for him to still basically say his original explanation was not on the up and up. Again, I point to altavista's post of his quotes as proof. He only said it was spiritual to begin with so he could seem more ethereal, philisophical, spiritual, and mysterious (which is an aura he's been trying to project his entire career).

Wow, what beautiful feelings that read brought back for P's music!

MarcelJ said:

dewalliz said:

I sure learnt a lot today. Thanks BC!

Good read. One man amounts to a great deal more than another man's opinion of him.

baXtos said:

baXtos said:

dewalliz said:

CandaceS said:

While I can understand the thought behind "Bring Wendy and Lisa back" or "Bring (insert random former bandmember here) back", even "Bring the Linn drum and Oberheims back", I think it may be missing the point.

I'll go on record to say that my favorite "Prince era" did involve collaborations with some amazing people, but life isn't about going back to repeat the same old stuff, is it? Wendy and Lisa have matured and (to me at least) always been great songwriters and musicians, but I can't help but think that if Prince, Wendy and Lisa locked themselves away and recorded a new album, that most of those wishing for it would be disappointed. Why? They have all grown older and lead different lives than they did in the 80's. The end result, as beautiful and breathtaking as it would be, would not be Purple Rain part deux, Parade Returns or Sign of the Times - the six disc set.

Here's my idea of a more sensible wish for the future of Prince. I'd like to see Prince to collaborate with some talented new people. I'd like to hear him pushed in new directions, not pushed back to where he was 20 years ago.

Ok, now I'm stretching, but I'd also like to see Prince as part of a band that's not his own. I'd love to see him just jam on bass for a tour for someone else, just because I love his bass playing so much. However, I can't think of any existing group that he could do that with.
[Edited 12/29/05 18:58pm]

NightGod said:

Just so everybody is in the loop here, constructive criticism is welcomed on this thread, as are thoughts on Alan and his answers. However...ANY sign of veering too far off track, and I will ensure we get back on it - swiftly.

Just so we're all on the same page...mmmk?

Do continue.

He's collaborating with Clare Fischer again so maybe there's more truth to these W&L rumours than meets the eye.

I agree with someone here who wrote that the 90's music was overrall pretty good--actually, the shit was great, at times. The slog, musically, has more to do with Prince's religious ideals, where risk is not part of the plan. His lyrics have to please the Watchtower masters, and his sound has to be pleasing to his new ideas about a more fascist and controlling God. Hardcore religious people just don't make good music. The religion stunts growth in the psyche--democracy is what brings out the fire and artistic want in artists. Prince is fried, in that respect.

Leeds pretty much summed up my thoughts about Prince. He is a man or honor and truth, and he seems to still really care about Prince. The Church only cares about controlling Prince's mind and money.

Real friends know when to pull the cold water in the face bit. Prince is afraid of having real friends. He looks in the mirror and that man staring back, doesn't smile. He is calculating, at this very moment, in becoming a by the numbers pop artist, devoid of any real artistry. It is all about the surface now--so we all better get used to it.

Wave your wildsigns high!!

Many thanks to Mr. Leeds and 'nana for taking the time to put this together. It is a great read!

JimmyNothing said:

2freaky4church1 said:

thank you to Alan and all the orgers involved in this !!!


nickfunk

BIG THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...

Excellent read for me as long time follower.

eugnj420 said:

thank you very much for putting this interview together! it was a great read!

I guess this puts to rest the idea that DMSR and POSSESSED were accurate. Now maybe I can get some rest! lol

There ain't no arguing with a man that was there!

this was wonderful....thanks to all involved in putting it together.

I think fans of hiphop/rap can be far too precious about the genre of music. There's far too much concern about the artist being 'real' and from the street. Even within the field, acts have a go at each other for not being 'real' enough; it seems like you are not taken seriously unless you have been shot in a drive-by!

If you're not too precious about it, you can see it more simply as a genre of music that bits and pieces can be borrowed from, much like hiphop borrows heavily from rock and funk. In that context, Prince was actually quite successful - somebody must have liked his hiphop imitative work, because Diamonds & Pearls was one of his biggest selling albums.

metalorange said:

Actually Irresistable Bitch and Heaven Must Be Near are arguably hip hop cuts although that prolly wasnt his intention. Funky as a mofo too.

Wonderful interview!

I finally had a chance to sit and read this (on my first day back at work - lol), and it is a wonderful read! Thanks Alan and everyone who wrote such great questions.

thanks to Mr. Leeds for taking the time to respond! very interesting

This was the best read. I thoroughly appreciated the in-depth answers, for a better insight to how Prince's musicmanship had evolved during the first 15 years. I can only hope that Prince can pull out some funk again and wax it.

Alan makes a couple references to Prince's 'disturbing lyrics'. Do you know what he is refering to, and why?

"Personally, I find it discouraging that Prince's proselytizing in recent years even hints at religious, racial or sexual prejudices that he never represented back in the day"

and more importantly:

"When the music did seem to step up a notch, such as on the RAINBOW CHILDREN album, it was compromised by a few curiously disturbing lyrics"

KingOfNYC said:

metalorange said:

MAMMOTH UPS

Alan,..So Cool.

Thank you Mr. Leeds I really appreciate that you go your own way and tell what you think could be told and keep private what should be private.

Much respect and have a very pleasing 2006

Peace

Juize

Great read! Thank U Alan 4 sharing your insights and experiences with us. Best of luck in the future and I can't wait 4 that D'Angelo joint 2 drop someday.

We need 2 come 2gether...come 2gether as ONE

what a great read...what a cool cat...

Thanks mr Leeds for taking the time to do this. Absolutely facinating stuff for music fanatics like myself.

I too am fascinated with the musical process and those who create it (even though i play nothing myself.) What i wouldn't give to sit down and hear the stories you must have to tell.

looking forward to that book of yours.

(btw I'm a big Meshell & Dangelo fan myself...i think they are both the 'real deals' too...i'm looking forward watching both of their careers evolve as well.)

thanks again for contributing to this site AND more importantly for contributing to the MUSIC we've loved so much over the years.

wow. this article took me back 2 the genisis of the purple path it's been an amazing road with more 2 come thanks alan 4 helping 2 nurture and guide a revolution of music and mind

since i'm not over here much, i just saw this, wow very insightful. i might print this out for my dad who loves to collect vinyl. its nice to hear more about what prince is like.

i just read this whole thing now.

awesome. im speechless really.

be the change you wish to see in the world.....ghandi.

vi

metalorange said:

This is pretty awesome guys thanks for posting this.

Peace

2freaky4church1 said:

That was amazing. It just doesn't get much better than that.

~B