The Prince Podcast crew is back going position-by-position naming their top musicians from all of Prince’s bands to form the ultimate Prince band line-up.

LISTEN HERE - http://podcastjuice.net/t...rince-band

Just loved it, a great mix of answers. The Najee jokes had me in stitches and I felt there were some great choices there. I am glad none of you chose the bodyguards and joked about how wack they were. I love it how you guys go on about how wack Juicy J is. Listening to it this morning and part of the Plectrum Electrum and "Who was Ratchet first" review casts, I decided to check out Juicy J for myself, and oh my God!!! I watched this shit called "Banz a make her dance" which consisted of two main lyrics, that one and the line "Bitches popping pussy, we just popping bandz" and then some bad rapping by celebrity rappers Lil Wayne and 2 Chains.

.

This crap is truly talentless shit hop and worse than most, why do people buy and listen to this hot mess, the dude is like 40 and he is singing this juvenile teenage shit. Anyway away from Juicy J and now my choices for ideal band members. Believe me, this was hard as 90% of the cats in his group were amazing and choosing individuals were not easy. There are far more Lisas, Sonnys, and Dez's than there are Najees and Apollonias.

.

Vocals, dancing and occasional rhythm guitar/solo - Prince

Lead Guitarist - Wendy (Great soloing, technique and adds an energy to Prince)

Rhythm Guitarist - Levi (I would have chose Miko, but he needs to be a lead guitarist, whereas Levi is more a rhythm player and has a bass background too)

Bass - Sonny Thompson - Honestly no one comes close, funky as hell

Drums - Michael B by an inch, Sheila E came close, but I want to utilise her talent somewhere else.

Keyboards 1 (And Piano) - Lisa as she is a classically trained player, pianist and great player

Keyboards 2 (Synths) - Matt Fink, as he is very talented and funky, but also a great rhythm player that easily compliments Lisa

Percussion and Congas - Sheila E, she can funk it up and bring the dance rhythms.

Backing Vox - Boni and Susannah

Dancers - Cat and Diamond and Pearl

Brass - Atlanta Bliss and Eric Leeds, also Maceo blowing that sax.

and a joke one

Triangle - Apollonia

Stripping - Carmen

Ass Shaking - Damaris

.

Basically a list similar to yours, but it would make a funky ass band and yes I realise some people are either unwell or dead, but this is hypothetical.

[Edited 1/15/15 2:43am]

[Edited 1/15/15 2:45am]

Drums-John Blackwell, Bass-Rhonda Smith, Keyboards-Dr. Fink, Rhythm Guitar-Mike Scott, Percussion-Sheila E, Woodwinds-Eric Leeds. Rhonda Smith can play both upright and electric bass. She's versatile. John Blackwell comes from a jazz fusion background and much of Prince's music can swing as far as rhythmic content is concerned. Dr. Fink and Renato Neto is a toss up but for nostalgic purposes, I'll go with Fink. Mike Scott can play in any style. Sheila E and Eric Leeds NUFF SAID.

Najee is primarily a soprano saxophonist. Eric Leeds can play all woodwinds from flute, tenor, baritone and alto sax. Najee is a good player, but Eric is a far better instrumentalist.

Awesome show.

Drums - I appreciate Blackwell is possibly the most well rounded drummer that's been in the paisley camp, and he's easily the most interesting to watch given his showy playing style. But Michael B is a beast. I'd pick Mr Bland every day. He plays on and contributed to so many great songs. I don't think Blackwell has. Percussion I'd pick Hannah.

Keys - Somewhat controversial but I'd have to say Josh Welton. I think a keyboard player needs to be contemporary. Welton has unquestionably changed or at least updated Princes sound. I think Mr Hayes or maybe Fink were probably Princes "best" keyboard players. Ideally I'd love to see Mr Hayes with Josh Welton taking on Tommy Barbarella's role. Barbarella is underrated too though. Totally get what's said about Renato Neto. The guy is an excellent player, I suspect from a technical standpoint probably the best, but there's just no sense of funk.

Horns - Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss. There is no question these two guys are the best players Prince has ever had. (Najee haha as if you said that)

Sonny T - Bass - Sonny T. Brown Mark is a great choice too.

Guitar - Mike Scott. Jessie J would be sick. If there's anyone who could upstage Prince...

Dancer - I don't think any of the dancers have made any impact. So long as they can actually dance. [insert pretty girls name here].

Backup - I'd take Shelby because of the way she watches Prince. Everything she does is done to compliment him. She doesn't take focus and she's got a great voice. I don't think Kip Blackshire was a bad backup vocalist either.

[Edited 1/15/15 14:43pm]

I'm like 5 minutes in and they want Bobby Z as main drummer. this has to be a joke.

for me,

Drums: Michael B.

Bass: Sonny T.

Rhythm Guitar: Wendy Melvoin

Lead Guitar: Levi Seacer Jr.

Keyboards/Synth: Dr. Fink

Keyboards/Synth: Lisa Coleman

Percussion: Sheila E.

Saxophone: Eric Leeds

Trumpet: Atlanta Bliss

[Edited 1/17/15 6:07am]

Noodled24 said:

Awesome show.

Drums - I appreciate Blackwell is possibly the most well rounded drummer that's been in the paisley camp, and he's easily the most interesting to watch given his showy playing style. But Michael B is a beast. I'd pick Mr Bland every day. He plays on and contributed to so many great songs. I don't think Blackwell has. Percussion I'd pick Hannah.

Keys - Somewhat controversial but I'd have to say Josh Welton. I think a keyboard player needs to be contemporary. Welton has unquestionably changed or at least updated Princes sound. I think Mr Hayes or maybe Fink were probably Princes "best" keyboard players. Ideally I'd love to see Mr Hayes with Josh Welton taking on Tommy Barbarella's role. Barbarella is underrated too though. Totally get what's said about Renato Neto. The guy is an excellent player, I suspect from a technical standpoint probably the best, but there's just no sense of funk.

Horns - Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss. There is no question these two guys are the best players Prince has ever had. (Najee haha as if you said that)

Sonny T - Bass - Sonny T. Brown Mark is a great choice too.

Guitar - Mike Scott. Jessie J would be sick. If there's anyone who could upstage Prince...

Dancer - I don't think any of the dancers have made any impact. So long as they can actually dance. [insert pretty girls name here].

Backup - I'd take Shelby because of the way she watches Prince. Everything she does is done to compliment him. She doesn't take focus and she's got a great voice. I don't think Kip Blackshire was a bad backup vocalist either.

[Edited 1/15/15 14:43pm]

Have to disagree on your statements on the dancers. I believe beginning with the Bodyguards, Cat, and Mayte added to the live show.

The Bodyguards added a swagger to his on-stage persona played off of him well. Cat upped his dance choreographer and took it to another level. Mayte brought a level of energy and sexuality to with playing off of their real life courtship.

antpooh said:

Dancer - I don't think any of the dancers have made any impact. So long as they can actually dance. [insert pretty girls name here].

Have to disagree on your statements on the dancers. I believe beginning with the Bodyguards, Cat, and Mayte added to the live show.

The Bodyguards added a swagger to his on-stage persona played off of him well. Cat upped his dance choreographer and took it to another level. Mayte brought a level of energy and sexuality to with playing off of their real life courtship.

I know what you're saying, but my thoughts are... if it wasn't Cat - it would have been someone else. I guess there is an argument that Mayte brought the whole Arabian theme with the belly dancing and the sword dancing. And I guess Cat brought some real choreography... I think you've got me there. 2 moments in the SOTT DVD stand out to me - Cat knocking down the bodyguards to the sound of a lone beating drum, and Prince sliding through her legs and ending up accross the stage with her skirt in his mouth.

I guess the bodyguards were to Prince what Jerome was to Morris Day. It's hard to imagine the character Morris becomes on stage without him being able to play off Jerome... I'd go so far to say that it's almost dissapointing if Morris performs and Jerome isn't there somewhere. But with Prince I don't get that feeling.

I suppose my thinking was that the dancer is more a reflection of what the band is doing. Rather than being a part of what the band is doing. They can definitely add to a live show, but if I go to a gig and there's no dancer I don't feel dissapointed.

Noodled24 said:

Awesome show.

Drums - I appreciate Blackwell is possibly the most well rounded drummer that's been in the paisley camp, and he's easily the most interesting to watch given his showy playing style. But Michael B is a beast. I'd pick Mr Bland every day. He plays on and contributed to so many great songs. I don't think Blackwell has. Percussion I'd pick Hannah.

Keys - Somewhat controversial but I'd have to say Josh Welton. I think a keyboard player needs to be contemporary. Welton has unquestionably changed or at least updated Princes sound. I think Mr Hayes or maybe Fink were probably Princes "best" keyboard players. Ideally I'd love to see Mr Hayes with Josh Welton taking on Tommy Barbarella's role. Barbarella is underrated too though. Totally get what's said about Renato Neto. The guy is an excellent player, I suspect from a technical standpoint probably the best, but there's just no sense of funk.

Horns - Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss. There is no question these two guys are the best players Prince has ever had. (Najee haha as if you said that)

Sonny T - Bass - Sonny T. Brown Mark is a great choice too.

Guitar - Mike Scott. Jessie J would be sick. If there's anyone who could upstage Prince...

Dancer - I don't think any of the dancers have made any impact. So long as they can actually dance. [insert pretty girls name here].

Backup - I'd take Shelby because of the way she watches Prince. Everything she does is done to compliment him. She doesn't take focus and she's got a great voice. I don't think Kip Blackshire was a bad backup vocalist either.

[Edited 1/15/15 14:43pm]

I aint mad at the Joshua Welton pick on keys. Only thing is did you hear Josh's synth stabs during "She's Always In My Hair" from the Arsenio Hall performance? I know Josh is talented but he would have to voice the synth harmonies on a song like "SAIMH" much better.

bashraka said:

Keys - Somewhat controversial but I'd have to say Josh Welton. I think a keyboard player needs to be contemporary. Welton has unquestionably changed or at least updated Princes sound. I think Mr Hayes or maybe Fink were probably Princes "best" keyboard players. Ideally I'd love to see Mr Hayes with Josh Welton taking on Tommy Barbarella's role. Barbarella is underrated too though. Totally get what's said about Renato Neto. The guy is an excellent player, I suspect from a technical standpoint probably the best, but there's just no sense of funk.

I aint mad at the Joshua Welton pick on keys. Only thing is did you hear Josh's synth stabs during "She's Always In My Hair" from the Arsenio Hall performance? I know Josh is talented but he would have to voice the synth harmonies on a song like "SAIMH" much better.

Off the top of my head I don't remember anything standing out that badly but I could be wrong, I've only seen the clip a couple of times.

I saw Prince in Manchester last year, I wasn't aware Josh was part of the band I was really surprised to see him. Some of the synth stuff he was doing was awesome. He brought a lot of energy, and a contemporary twist to some of Prince classics. I've got no problem with what he brings to the table, and it's been a while since Prince changed up his keyboards.