He had just lost a child, was going through a divorce, both his parents died, he was helping his sister deal with her stuff. I mean, when you consider the timing of it all, it's entirely possible that Larry and Tina gave the guy some much-needed support when he probably on the verge of a becoming a complete and utter cliche': a self-destroyed artistic genius. That would have been so damn lame.

No one can say would what have happened for sure, but I'm not so sure I'd change the whole Larry thing.

I think it's time to give Larry a break. I know some of you are gonna be snarky about this, because you simply can't help yourself and you probably have a soft spot for stard who burn out quick (pick one) or stars who tried to keep the "edge" they had well into old age (pathetic Madonna), but I kinda like the person Prince is now, and Larry had a lot to do with it.

gogol said:

Larry is cool with me I'm happy he was there to give a brotha some guidance when he needed it the most. I like the person Prince evolved into and if his faith helped him get there then I'm all for it

I love Larry and I'm sure he helped P get through the rough parts of his life in the 90's. P is only human. He's not Superman.

People in life should be thankful if they have one good friend that they can rely on or talk to.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I agree-one is very lucky in life to find a good friendship Larry did what he was supposed to do-help another person that just happened to be the baddest musician on the planet I would hate to think where Prince's career would have gone without some guidance.

gogol said:

Or it's possible that they were like vultures, moving in on him when he was most susceptible.

When Prince has faced life challenges, I assume he dealt with them to the best of his ability, like most people do. Unless he chooses to talk about it I don't have a whole lot to say because I don't consider it any of my business.

Those few times where he has spoken about Larry or his faith I accepted his explanations at face value and understood why he made certain choices even if I might have chosen differently in a similar situation. It's his life and I wish him well. I have no idea whether Larry saved his life or not.


spelling
[Edited 1/23/10 15:45pm]

gogol said:

Prince had to face bad situations, it is true but no human is exempt and only he had his personal values. Accepting that Larry Prince saved Prince´s life is like taking away all moral and spiritual value from Prince, the circumstances provide opportunities, the person chooses the way

he maybe gave prince a new religious outlook on life

i think he was responsible in influncing some of the worst music in princes career

lets be honest

sorry.....

im in a fucking bad mood-just heard that new fucking song

Larry gets all respect from me so he definitely deserves a break. Yes Prince chose the path but when the s*** had hit the fan completely, Larry was someone who Prince trusted and he was there for Prince. What better friend than that can you get?

they are responsible for "PURPLE AND GOLD"....

there is JW subtext all over this thing...

they sucked the life right out of the most inspiring person of our times

itsjustaroundthecorner said:

What pisses me of is the venom against this Larry or anything religious. For fuck's sake, If I respect people who go to some place at a lake to get fucked in the asshole or stick their dick in some hole in a dark room to get sucked anonymously, why the fuck shouldn't I respect a Jehova's witness?
Apparently Prince had some empty space that needed to be filled and now handing out Watchtowers satisfies him. Fine. I don't think it's any worse than paying 300 dollar to be whipped, locked up in a batroom, almost getting choked with a garbage bag and hit on balls with a fork till bleeding as I witnessed recently.
This anti religious sentiment is annoying me more and more. Sometimes I work for the muslims and the next day for the SM dominatrixes; none of them bothered me.

The point is, how many superstars died from drug overdosis, alcoholism, extreme thrills? Apparently superstardom does that with people. So of all the options, being a JW is not that bad. And yes, I fucking like the MPLS/LF albums and all the other post JW stuff. Some more than fucking Purple Rain.

* I know that it was a lot of fucks, but I just had to get it off my chest*

I don't think Larry saved Prince's life. I think he's definitely a good friend, and perhaps a good spiritual voice for Prince.

I'm not crazy about all of Prince's religious rants, but I respect him having faith. I don't have to listen to what I don't want to, and I can certainly roll my eyes when I'm not feeling a new song or vibe.

I think Larry gets a bad rep too. He's a heck of a bass player. People here are upset with Larry because they think he's a bad musical influence, and they way Prince circa '79 - '88 back.

But saved his life... hence the reason why Prince is so close to him... no.

Larry's a good musician, and Prince obviously likes much of what he hears... both musically and spiritually.

I agree. Larry was a friend and a father figure for Prince when he needed one most.

There were articles that came out around that time when people were saying how Prince was firing people just for looking him in the eye, and after Larry came along everything changed.


Prince has had Christian Religious imagery and lyrics in his music from the very beginning. So that kinda stuff doesn't bother me.

Paris9748430 said:

Agreed..Larry was a good influence on Prince. Prince's life as very hard at the time, he gave him a sense of positive direction

1013Nightlife said:

What are you talking about? I can't see what links your statement to the subject.

jonylawson said:

besides the Prince/ Larry Graham album GCS2000 is maybe the worst pseudo funk album in history... yuck.

thedance said:

That's just stupidity. Not the criticisms about GCS2000, but the opinion that Larry influenced the worst music in Prince's career.

Because Larry Graham has been an influence on Prince's music from the very beginning.

How the fuck do you know that Larry himself was the main influence on these songs???

Just talking shit a mile a minute and haven't made a coherent argument yet.

Unless you consider "Oh Noes, Larry iz teh bad" a coherent argument.

So please stop acting like you know what the fuck you're talking about, because you don't!!!

perhaps larry did not save prince's life but he definently salvaged his spirit.
prince went through a very rough time, thank god Adonai prince had a true friend in larry graham and did he not seek out drugs to cope with all the pain he went through.

i luv prince, he is a beautiful person to me inspite of what others might think.

Paris9748430 said:

"stupidity"? Now you better wash your mouth.

Listen to "The Christ" (formerly: "The Cross"), or any other self-censored songs.

that's stupidity, honey.....


---
[Edited 1/23/10 23:13pm]

About the only good thing Larry did for Prince was to get him to quit cursing in his lyrics.

Besides that, Larry at the present moment will Contribute to him not spending eternity with Jesus! Mark my Words, Jesus don't play, and any person or religion that teaches the opposite or something different than John 14:6 according to Jesus will not spend eternity with Jesus as Larry and his JWs teach!!!!!

thedance said:

That was a choice that PRINCE made!!!

He didn't put a fucking gun to his head.

He hasn't sung that song in over 10 years, so what else you got???

Isabell said:

The subject is that Larry guy and Prince being a Jehova's witness and the question is if that Larry guy saved his life and some other people think not because they see the JW as the root of all evil, stating - and I quote - They are responsible for "PURPLE AND GOLD", there is JW subtext all over this thing, they sucked the life right out of the most inspiring person of our times.

And thus my reaction.

Jeez.
[Edited 1/24/10 1:29am]

Paris9748430 said:

[Edited 1/24/10 1:10am]

PPL DONT KILL ME FOR THIS BUT WHO IS THIS LARRY GUY?????

alexothetimes said:

Larry Graham. Former bass player of Sly and etc.
He was allready a JW when he met Prince - perhaps played the bass for Prince- and apparently through him Prince became a JW too.
They are kind of best friends and go handing out watchtowers together.

1013Nightlife said:

hmmmmm.....i never heard of a person so close to prince like that.....prince is such an enigma

Far from saving Prince's life, Larry actually killed him. Prince was then reborn as a disinfected, JW loving, close minded clone.

And the music died. Although in fairness Prince's music had been on the life support machine for a few years. I guess Larry just pulled the plug.