I don't know the why's or any other part of the story of this occasion, and it would be interesting to learn about this, but I can't believe that the possible reasons you've listed for a rejection of the project/collaboration by Wendy and Lisa could be thought of as petty or shortsighted. Those things--trust and respect--mean a lot for the creators of these works.

>

Others?

Use the search box. This was discussed in recent weeks, and it was all laid out.

http://www.landisarts.com...view99.htm

Exclusive: The Artist Portrays Music's Future

Enigmatic ex-Prince talks of digital music age, new album by Revolution and more via e-mail.

As the millennium approaches, The Artist continues to work with former Sly and the Family Stone member Larry Graham and his band GCS2000, as well as with soul singer Chaka Khan. He is also preparing the release of Roadhouse Garden, a new album of unreleased 1980s recordings with his Purple Rain-era band, the Revolution.

The following is a SonicNet Music News interview with The Artist:

SonicNet: Earlier this year, you launched a revamped version of your official "Love 4 One Another" website with significant input from your fans or "friends." While a few musicians have hired fans of their music to establish homepages, no one has given as much control of their online presence over to their "friends." Can you please talk about why you wanted to do that with "Love 4 One Another" and what unique elements they bring to the table?

The Artist: On the site itself -- located within the center of the palm logo, there is the word: ONE ... the key 2 control of any kind is the ability 2 submit 2 a higher ideal. In this case the ideal was UNITY. Once we all agreed 2 submit, unity was achieved. As well as their obvious artistic qualities, the members of the collective r seekers of truth and very positive people. They have all agreed 2 allow their screen names 2 serve as the highest reflection of themselves.

SonicNet: One of the many facets of the site is a section called "Into the Light" that contains essays about topics such as vegetarianism, race and religion. What is the artist's -- and The Artist's -- role in promoting discussion about issues of the day?

The Artist: The Artist's role is 2 speak the truth thru the music. In a world where there is so much disagreement -- unity is unique. It just makes good sense 2 eat vegetation that produces seed 2 promote health and well-being. Songs that give musical voice 2 this fact r refreshing. The same principle used in creating the site can b used in regards 2 race and religion as well. It is important 2 focus on what we AGREE on in these crucial times.

SonicNet: The "Fresh Jelly" section of "Love 4 One Another" includes two new songs: "U're Still The One" and "Madrid 2 Chicago." What was the inspiration behind these two tracks?

The Artist: Mayte [The Artist's wife] now lives in Spain, and the flight eye have grown accustomed 2 is "Madrid 2 Chicago." A snapshot of the new house is featured on "Love 4 One Another" in the "Innerview" section The Collective produced recently. "U're Still the One" is a well-written pop song that begged 4 VOLUME. We gave it that.

SonicNet: Can you tell us when we'll see the release of Roadhouse Garden? Please describe the sound and vibe of the material on the album. Can you reveal some of the songs to be included?

The Artist: Eye have been allowing 4 the run of Girl Bros. [the 1998 album by Revolution members Wendy & Lisa] b4 the release of the Garden record. It has songs on it that feature The Revolution in a front role, as a band; where songs on Crystal Ball were more recent "bootlegs" with various other musicians. Some song titles include: "Splash," "All My Dreams" and "In a Dark Room with No Light." The beauty of r ownership of the master tapes will b felt when one hears the REMIXED newly digitized versions of these classic REVOLUTION songs. A quick sound comparison of 1999: The New Master and the older version strikes at the very heart of the issue of The Creator of the music being the one who dictates its path. This is in accordance with UNIVERSAL LAW.

archive-Chris-Nelson 10/01/1998

Prince and the Revolution have rejoined forces.

That's according to The Artist, at least, the man formerly known as Prince and the leader

of the seminal Minneapolis funk-pop group that, in no uncertain terms, changed the face

of rock in the '80s and hence.

Although fans of The Artist have long been accustomed to his habit of unleashing

surprising batches of work at a moment's notice, few were prepared for the

announcement the Purple One made Wednesday that he is gearing up to release a new

album of material with his 1980s backing band, the Revolution.

The Artist revealed the news about the forthcoming release, tentatively titled

Roadhouse Garden, in a nonchalant posting to his official "Love 4 One Another"

website.

"Prince and the Revolution R releasing a new album on NPG [Records]," the notice read,

referring to his record label. "Songs include things left unfinished when the band broke

up in the '80s and several new cuts that The Artist is putting 2gether using parts from

many tunes."

Word of fresh tracks from the band with which Prince recorded his seminal Purple

Rain

(1984) -- the album that included songs from The Artist's first movie -- surprised even those who at times have been close to the reclusive musician.

"That's news to me," said Alan Leeds, Prince's tour manager for the 1999 (1982)

through Lovesexy (1988) albums and the manager of Paisley Park Records, the

label Prince founded in the mid-'80s, through 1992. "As legend has it, he's got a vault full

of wonderful old material," Leeds said Thursday (Oct. 1), "and any classic-era Prince

material is interesting to hear."

"Roadhouse Garden," the proposed title track of the album, is just one of scores of tracks

that never made it out, Leeds said.

The Revolution -- Wendy and Lisa (Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, guitar and

keyboards, respectively), Bobby Z (percussion), Brown Mark (bass) and Matt Fink

(keyboards), plus occasional collaborators Sheila E. on drums and Eric Leeds (Alan's

brother) on sax -- accompanied Prince during the peak of the Minneapolis musician's

fame and appear on Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day (1985), which

featured the song Paisley Park

on to experiment with sounds other than the funk-rock mix he took to the top of the charts.

"I know there was a lot of material that he recorded with them that has never seen the

light of day," said Sam Jennings, the 27-year-old operator of the "Chicago Prince Nation"

website. "The idea of being able to hear that finally is pretty exciting."

Among the most popular Revolution-era songs that have circulated as bootlegs are

tracks such as "In All My Dreams," "Old Friends For Sale" and "Large Room With No

Light."

In recent years, The Artist has often hit fans with heavy doses of new and unreleased

tracks. His latest album, Newpower Soul (recorded with his current backing band,

the New Power Generation), was released only months after The Artist issued Crystal

Ball

, a three-CD set of material from his fabled vaults. Two songs on that collection,

"Movie Star" and "Sexual Suicide"

Of course, the Prince of 12 years ago is a different musician than today's Artist, Leeds

said. During his time with the Revolution, the prolific singer born Prince Rogers Nelson

was a young creator, soaking up musical knowledge and influences at every turn, he

said.

"In the course of a jam, someone might play a lick, and he would turn around and say,

'Hey, where did that idea come from?' and Eric or Sheila or Wendy would say, 'Oh, that's

a line from an old Joni Mitchell song, or an old Tito Puente song,' " Leeds recalled. "That

was the atmosphere that existed back in those days. I'm not so sure that same

atmosphere exists today. This is a grown man now who has had the benefit of playing

and listening to many kinds of music. He's not as unspoiled as [he was] back then."

The Artist, who recently canceled several tour dates due to an injured ankle, included in

his announcement-post an open call for members of the Revolution to accompany him

on upcoming tours with the New Power Generation.

It also mentioned an invitation to Wendy and Lisa to help produce Roadhouse

Garden

. On Thursday, publicists for the duo -- which is preparing for a self-titled

release as the Girl Bros. later this month -- said they had no knowledge of Wendy and

Lisa's involvement in a Revolution album.

Matthew Peterson, a 23-year-old Prince fan from Chicago, said that he hopes any

release will include contributions from Wendy and Lisa, who were widely known to have

split from his Purple Highness on unfriendly terms. "If they weren't involved, it wouldn't sit

well with me, but I would probably check it out," Peterson said.

Although no release date or tour plans have been scheduled, an album by the ex-Prince

and the Revolution would undoubtedly spark wide interest, according to 30-year-old

Pierre Igot of Nova Scotia, Canada. "There are still a lot of people who go to see him in

concert because of the Revolution period, people who don't necessarily buy the latest

album," said Igot, who maintains the "Le Grind" Artist fan-site.

"It will be interesting to see whether he's gonna release this 'new' old material through

his own independent channels or [if] he's going to try to reach a wider audience," he

said. "Obviously a lot of people are still in love with that Prince and the Revolution

period."