Finally told a Prince story I hadn't read on here!

I'm at University here in Glasgow, and fortunate enough to receive a scholarship during my time there. Today there was a lunch for the beneficiaries of the scholarship, where I met some very interesting and talented people, one of whom actually studies music in Boston and has won some prestigious awards for his classical piano playing.

Anyway, enough of the boring history! Talking about his creative process in terms of writing music, I happened to mention that I was a huge Prince fan, and found the whole process simply amazing, something I could never achieve or even imagine. He then went on to tell me a story he was told by a student of John Blackwell (I didn't know he taught as well) about his first ever concert in the NPG.

John was comfortable in the rehearsals beforehand, but was very nervous in his first live performance. At one point, he missed a snare, something the vast majority of us wouldn't even notice. Also at this point, Prince was in the middle of one of his turns and splits, and Blackwell noticed 2 fingers being stuck up in his direction.

After a bit of trying to work out what happened, John Blackwell realised that Prince had just fined him $200 for missing a snare whilst in the middle of doing the splits for something he barely noticed he'd done himself. Allegedly, things didn't get much better after that!

He ended the concert owing Prince around $2k and told if he was that bad again he wouldn't be drummer for the NPG for much longer!

I'm not sure if this is a story he tells students that's embellished a little, or to try and make a point, but I figured I'd share it anyway.....

lol

I believe it....James Brown was also notorious for this.

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

Oh aye. Prince has been doing this for years. Pre NPG too. I thought it was common knowledge?

studal said:

nice story! i read once he fined wendy m 4 getting tanked up one night on tour during the parade era... !
i wanna fine him 4 his long bouncy hairdo in the early days..the way he flicked it around.
he can b such a meanosauraus

Sounds like James.

Cool story. This is why Prince is such a great bandleader and live performer.

And no would ever say that John Blackwell didn't step up to the plate and more than make up for any early mistakes. That guy is just incredible.

Comment was posted on the official website during the early stages of the 2001 Hit 'N Run shows regarding the reported improvement of John Blackwell's drumming as the tour progresssed.

Efan said:

put it where it feel good

Thanks for sharing

"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man." General Ann Dunwoody

alxndrstff said:

I'm at University here in Glasgow, and fortunate enough to receive a scholarship during my time there. Today there was a lunch for the beneficiaries of the scholarship, where I met some very interesting and talented people, one of whom actually studies music in Boston and has won some prestigious awards for his classical piano playing.

Anyway, enough of the boring history! Talking about his creative process in terms of writing music, I happened to mention that I was a huge Prince fan, and found the whole process simply amazing, something I could never achieve or even imagine. He then went on to tell me a story he was told by a student of John Blackwell (I didn't know he taught as well) about his first ever concert in the NPG.

John was comfortable in the rehearsals beforehand, but was very nervous in his first live performance. At one point, he missed a snare, something the vast majority of us wouldn't even notice. Also at this point, Prince was in the middle of one of his turns and splits, and Blackwell noticed 2 fingers being stuck up in his direction.

After a bit of trying to work out what happened, John Blackwell realised that Prince had just fined him $200 for missing a snare whilst in the middle of doing the splits for something he barely noticed he'd done himself. Allegedly, things didn't get much better after that!

He ended the concert owing Prince around $2k and told if he was that bad again he wouldn't be drummer for the NPG for much longer!

I'm not sure if this is a story he tells students that's embellished a little, or to try and make a point, but I figured I'd share it anyway.....

.. consequences for messing up .. nice story

im suprised the band didn't give him two hits

my friend told me that she saw Prince in Court beacues of parking tickest or something like that No Joke.

Thanks for sharing, how interesting!

fan09 said:

Thank U 4 sharing...and congratulations on your scholarship.

Well, damn, Prince.

i think he's done that to the others in the band too.. i dont remember who though ... probably all of them
[Edited 6/21/08 12:43pm]

Flowerz said:

I heard John tell this story at a drum workshop he did in Dublin last October so I guess it's true (why would he lie?) there was a bit more to the story but that's the basic gist of it all right.

He told a few stories - stuff about recording with Prince in Paisley and making everybody sit and watch him as he played all the instruments on a track but kicking everyone out the door when it was time to do the vocal take.

The funniest story he told was -

The band had a day off and John went to the mall.

The next day NPG are sound checking and Prince turns to John and says "Did you have a good day yesterday?"
And John says "Yeah, I went to the mall, went to see a movie".

And Prince says "Uh-huh - What were you wearing?"
John: "What?"
Prince: "What were you wearing?"
John: " Like jeans and a T-Shirt"
Prince: "I Know. I saw you."
-
John: "....oh, you saw me?"
Prince: "Yeah. Are you N P G?"
John: "What?"
Prince: "The band - are you eNn Pee Gee?"
John: "Yeah I'm in NPG."
Prince: "And you were wearing jeans and a T-shirt?"
John: "It was my day off."
Prince: "It doesn't matter if you're on stage or off stage, day off or a show day, if you're in NPG you wear a suit - now - I'm gonna have to fine you"
John: "Fine me?"
Prince: "Were you wearing shoes or sneakers"
John: "Shoes"
Prince: "Ok - We'll call it 10,000 for the T-shirt and 15,000 for the jeans"
John: "That's 25,000 dollars."
Prince: "If you're in NPG you have to wear a suit if you don't like that we can take you out of NPG"
John: "No...no....."

He said he's got a million more just like it.

Per5eph0ne said:

FunkinDaTrunk said:

I know Ray Charles was very very strict as well.

Madison88 said:

LMAO, that is a GREAT story!

yes, my boyfriend opened for him back in the late 80's and he hung out with everyone afterwards...including the "Rayettes". They had to be tough to hang with Ray or they were gone. I was lucky enough to meet him and he was always kind to me but if someone messed up on back up or in the band he was on them, seriously!

CJanssen said:

studal said:

Oh aye. Prince has been doing this for years. Pre NPG too. I thought it was common knowledge?

Not really and you can believe that I've read a LOT during my 23 years of famdom

Thanks for sharing alxndrstff

damn. stories are great
but that just goes to show how
professional he is. wish more musicians
were like him.

Madison88 said: