Just been catching up with the news on here after being away for a little while, and I read Ben's excellent blog about Aaron downing tools at Housequake (a very sad state of affairs indeed...we're behind you all the way Aaron, and thanks for the effort you put into the site over the years).

It got me thinking; just how far would Prince have to go for you not to be a fan anymore? It's been a fairly rocky patch for Prince and his fans recently (the Ireland debacle, the continued internet issues, etc) but what would be the last straw?

I'd hate for Prince to become the equivalent of Michael Jackson, whose music I can barely listen to these days due to the way he has acted in the past decade or so, and the fact that he hasnt contributed anything musically since Dangerous. Im not suggesting Prince will end up anything like MJ, they are two totally different people. But do you think Prince could ever go so far as to turn you off to his music because of the actions of the man??
[Edited 2/17/09 4:22am]

He's gone well beyond that point for me. However, I still like his old work & would probably see him live if the price was reasonable.

What stop me liking his music? Stuff that's been part of my life for forever...? Nothing would stop me loving some of his music really. It's up to him what he does with the internet, or his website, it depends how you define 'fan' I suppose. If you're depending on him for news / info / new music every day or minute of your life then... that's a bit different. It doesn't really affect me, I've got TONNES of his music to listen to. The Dublin cancellation was disappointing, definitely, but it wouldn't stop me getting tix to go and see him again, he's worth it, and worth every penny! I've got great memories of the O2, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life seeing him live, but it's those 'rare', 'special' things that happen in life that make it so incredible sometimes. Yes, it's disappointing that you can't access his music on the internet, especially for the younger generation, and I don't really understand it, but then again I have a sneaking admiration for it too, he's always been different, and that's one of the things I've always accepted and loved or admired about him. I think people take it far too personally, it's MUSIC, you either love it or hate it, take it or leave it. Take or leave him I would say. On the MJ thing, it does make me stop and think, it does 'tar' things a bit yes... but I'm not going to switch off the radio if he comes on and it's a song I love, you know? So, to answer the question - I don't know, if it was proved that he was a mass murderer / rapist / child molester I wouldn't buy anymore of his music no, or go to see him in concert, but then he'd be in jail anyway! Probably!

Oh, and yes, I enjoy reading and posting on the org. now and again, I'm glad it's here, although it seems that most of the people who had most to contribute, about the actual music and background seem to have gone, which I think is more to do with the some of the mentality on the org. than Prince! And I do think it's a shame about HQ! But one of the things that MIGHT make me fed up being a fan and push me to my limit, is reading some of the constant negative, slagging him off just for the sake of it, posts that seem to accompany every new piece of information about him. I think those people are really weird to be honest. Isn't it all supposed to be 'fun', and one of the 'nice' things in our life?!
[Edited 2/17/09 9:38am]

DaveT said:

And you seem to be kind of comparing shutting down websites, cancelling A concert, limiting access to music on the internet, and him not doing exactly what we WANT him to do, with alleged child molestation! ? You know...?

If he went back in time and erased all his albums Prince - SOTT, otherwise i'm stuck. Whatever he does now doesnt really matter, well hasnt mattered in a long time.
But....if he re-recorded his albums new-master style.....

If I found out he were homophobic, I'd be done. It's hard enough with him excluding people because of his faith.

I can't really see any circumstances under which I'd stop listening completely.

Prince has composed the soundtrack to my adult life, more or less. I could stop listening to his music about as easily as I could cut off my ears.

Genesia said:

I went 3 years without listening to Prince music.

Vendetta1 said:

Can I ask why was that?

I've been a fan since before 1983, there's nothing he could do to make me not be a fan.

garganta said:

The slave thing and the Mayte thing. I was creeped out about him drooling over her while she was still a minor.

Vendetta1 said:

I see. Thanks

Vendetta1 said:

Y'know...I didn't listen to him all that much in the 90s, either. I still bought his albums (primarily out of habit). But I was blissfully unaware of the whole Mayte thing until I heard he was getting married.

I wasn't on the internet until '96. I was just to busy making a living and getting a degree to pay attention to that stuff.

Genesia said:

I wasn't on the net either. The whole Oprah special did me in. when the audience oohed and aahed over him seeing a 16 year old Mayte walking by, I just about lost my cookies.

Jeffiner said:

I knew someone would make that point, which is exactly why I qualified my question with the point "Im not suggesting Prince will end up anything like MJ, they are two totally different people". So I'll reiterate, I dont think what Prince has done or will do in the future will be anywhere near as bad as what MJ is alleged to have done in the past. I was merely using it as an example of someones actions outside of their music career turning me off of their music. I couldn't think of a better example than MJ.

DaveT said:

Ok, qualify and reiterate away!! I wasn't having an argument with you Dave, just making the point that what Prince gets so much stick about, is not really worth worrying over, that there's a huge difference in how 'bad' Prince has been in comparison to a lot of things in the world. Oops, pun not really intended!
[Edited 2/17/09 7:38am]

Genesia said:

Snap!

DaveT said:

The difference being that Prince's arseholery is well documented, whereas Michael's is only, as you said yourself, alleged. Personally I'd want some hard evidence before turning my back on a favourite artist.
With Prince we have hard evidence, with Michael we don't. It's really an unfair comparison.

Vendetta1 said:

I didn't see that 'til much later, either.

viewaskew said:

Do you really think Prince wants more than this....he's 50 ...he makes music some people buy it and like it ...he does a gig and it sell's out ...do you really think Prince cares about anything else outside of his life other than this .....NO...

The other stuff is private and personal, if he wants to get rid of HQ or the Org then he can ..but do you think he really cares what happened to HQ...or the Org..NO ...why because he was here before HQ and will be after...

As far as Prince is concerned a fan/fam is someone who takes the time to buy his music or go to his concert he does not care if you have done this for 10 years or 10 days ..you just like something he's done...
[Edited 2/17/09 7:57am]

The Rainbow Children did it for me. No joy in his Jesus, anti-semetic, politically counter-productive.

It was the first time he explicitly started to work against the conscious revolutionary spirit that made everything up to Lovesexy so inspiring and forward-looking.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt even though I wasn't digging the music so much, but the second he laid into Jewish people, he lost me.

Jehovah's killed the man's muse. He doesn't inspire me anymore. He has no generosity.

In this world of today where artists sell scandal more than music it's hard to picture Prince doing anything to alienate me as an admirer of his work. I have some great memories and Prince provided the soundtrack to a lot of them growing up. I have no real problems with the way he handles his business because it's his business to handle in the first place. I'm just as excited when he releases new music today as I was when I was copping all the 12" vinyl remixes in the 80's. Keep in mind that he hasn't done any of the ridiculous things we've seen from other artists who still want you to buy their work (R.Kelly, Britney and recently Chris Brown). Leave the drama at the door. I'm here for the music.

DaveT said:

I've been a fan of his MUSIC for many years now and always will be.
His music has imprinted in me forever, If he quit singing i still be a big fan
I could go weeks / months with out his music and still be a fan

Anyrhing he does or says / any aspects of his personal life does not effect me persoanly

I have a life.... Why would i care about his *besides wishing him well*
I aint gonna lie..... I just want and love his music

I think if I was one of the Dublin people, or someone who had bought a ticket to a then cancelled concert that would be enough. I'd still listen to the music I guess because I love it, but it would be with a sour taste in my mouth. If he charges $77 for membership to the new site I would also be put off him in the same way. We're all in the middle or a recession, we don't need fat cats like him taking more money off us.

I just got tix to go see eric clapton.

Jeffiner said:

Oh, don't worry, I know you weren't been argumentative I just wanted to re-word it a bit in case anyone got the wrong end of the stick...you know how it is on here sometimes

I was just curious as to whether people had theoretical lines that if a fave artist of theirs crossed it would cause them to view their music in a different, possibly negative light. I think its definately a factor alot of musicians and artist dont think about that much, all the more worrying really in an age where anything and everything that someone who is in the public does is made public knowledge.

? Eric Clapton
[Edited 2/17/09 9:09am]

http://store.ericclapton....-4-cup-set

He does some good merchandise!

garfield101 said:

I've seen Eric Clapton live, quite a long time ago though, with Mark Knopfler - you'll have a great time!

jab87 said:

I bought a ticket to Dublin, I was going to take my little boy to his first Prince concert, he was just 5 and really looking forward to it. Of course we were disappointed, I was mostly disappointed for my son. But, no it hasn't left a sour taste, these things happen, all the time! We went to Dublin anyway, we all had a blast, I met up with some people from the org., and made a couple of good friends, so did my son! It's called looking at the positive instead of the negative! Wow, some people are very easily put off in life, I'm a bit worried for you all