Prince Doesn't Hate The Bootleg Market...He's Jealous Of It

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Thread started 09/29/09 1:12pm

ernestsewell

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Prince Doesn't Hate The Bootleg Market...He's Jealous Of It

It hit me earlier in a thread when a DVD vs the overpriced and underwhelming Opus was discussed.

Prince has released very few really good DVDs, especially concerts. Aladdin was half the show, poorly shot and edited and packaged. Rave was underwhelming at best, and we know the stories behind that. We have a stack of DVDs and VHS' that are hodge podges of videos loosely wrapped with some story line that makes as much sense as Spender & Heidi's "career".

The bootleggers have put out everything Prince does, it seems. Example: All 21 shows of the O2 concerts were recorded on audio, and all but 1 after show was recorded (if I recall). A good handful of DVDs were released as well. Yes, the quality suffered because the audio was audience not soundboard; the videos were hand held, not pro shot. But the fact is, a group of fans dedication for Prince music galvanized them to the point of committing to not only sneaking recording equipment into the arena, but also sitting quietly throughout the performance so there is as little audience interruption as possible.

We've seen classic shows such as the First Avenue performance. Let's face it, it was classic BECAUSE it was recorded. If it just went down in history as a one-off performance, and we heard that's where three tracks on PR were recorded, we'd think.....eh. But the fact that we saw Prince on the cusp of uber fame, premiering not only Wendy, but 5 new songs, plus a Joni Mitchell cover....it's now classic. It's now highly sought after. Most of us wouldn't really give a shit about Joni Mitchell's music, but if Prince does a cover of "A Case Of U", then suddenly, we're all over it. The same arguments can be made for the Trojan Horse after show, and other various "classic" shows.

Now why Prince doesn't record AND release things is beyond anyone. Why he loses interest in a project is really unknown in the long run. But imagine if he had the foresight to release a pro shot of almost every tour he's done? He gets mad at the bootleggers for doing it, and let's face it - little money is made on bootlegs. St. Paul and I were briefly discussing bootlegs the other day, and I explained that a fan isn't interested in making money, they're in it for the experience, every nugget possible gobbled up. It's all about trading and increasing your personal library of Prince music. I myself have made two bootlegs, plus one song remix six years ago, and never even tried to put a fake UPC code on it, or sell it. I put it on the usual areas and fans seemed to enjoy it. It was for the love of the music, not for the idea of making money.

Releases like The Hits, or Aladdin are bread crumbs at best. Despite the audience recordings, the 02 DVDs are the true meaty morsels we want. 21 nights and he can't find ONE show to put out? Or even two or three to edit together as one (which is often done)?

Has Prince given up against the bootleggers? Perhaps he has in some ways. He's locked down his releases, his videos, YouTube, and anyone/thing else that dares cross his sacred purple line of making money. But what Prince doesn't realize is that the bootleggers have helped his career more than any $2500 opus, $30 coffee table book, Oprah appearance, PBS interview, or special retailer deal ever could. The bootleggers, are in a way, his (un)official production company. Often times even the artwork is miles above the nonsense that he or Sam Jennings or whoever has come up with to put on an album. (A good example is the Statix artwork that was put out for every NPGMC release in 2001. There was no artwork provided by NPGMC, but yet this fan with a great photoshop talent released awesome artwork, every month totally different, and fully based on the NPGMC's own website graphics. NPGMC even contacted Statix to have them officially make artwork for NPGMC. It was THAT good. Statix refused, but continued to make artwork themselves for the fans, and as a fan, making NO money on it.)

Prince HAS to know his career has been catapulted by the fans buying his stuff, going to his shows, and also digging into the bootlegs and passing them around. He also has to know that him passing out cassettes to band members, and employees has created this market. The bootleg market is more than The Black Album or First Avenue. He himself stated he's one of the most bootlegged artists since Dylan (both having infamous unreleased albums). Yet instead of understand the bootleg market, and what's out there (we know he knows), he ignores it, and shuts it down with a mantra of people stealing his bread and bling.

Prince has it in him, and in the vault, to release things, new and old, tours and videos, etc. I think it's a money issue. His base has dwindled, and perhaps he's not seeing the ratio of upfront money vs. possible net profits after the fact. It's like he's throwing a fit, a brat driven tantrum, and NOT releasing stuff just to piss off the fans who might give a copy to a friend. Is he SO worried about a DVD ending up on the internet that he just won't release it at all???? Surely not, but probably so.

In the end, with mediocre releases like _____, _____, and _____ (fill in the blank), it was the bootleggers who kept Prince's career interesting even through his worst years.

Ernest L Sewell, IV
Confessions Of A Prince Realist. You might want to sit down for this.
"An ass hanging out on stage is an ass hanging out on stage. Period."

luvsexy4all	dontcha think him appearing so retentive in fact creates interest enough for fans to seek out his underground stuff? perhaps calculating in itself
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