[First thread has gotten wayyyyy too long. Please post on Part 2 here http://prince.org/msg/7/440048 - thanks - luv4u

Hey all!

This is the official thread regarding discussing Mayte's book.

Some of you have asked why older threads were removed.

The reason is that we were asked by Mayte's publishers to not have discussions regarding the leaked manuscript as this was not representative of the final book. We were attempting to get a statement from them.

However, as of today - promotional copies have been sent to the media and reviewers, and the marketing campaign by the publishing company has begun, so we can begin discussion officially without risking upsetting anyone.

Please keep discussion civil - flaming will not be tolerated.

As the book will inevitably discuss drug references, Ben and the entire staff team have decided that we are sunsetting the "no drugs" rule that we originally intended to follow until April 21st. As long as this conversation is dealt with in a civil manner. Basically, if we can all agree to be adults here, then everything will be OK. We mods have a difficult enough job and we don't need things descending into anarchy.

P.S - The reason this thread is not in Associated Artists is because the book is directly about her life with Prince, and even if we put the thread over there we'd end up with a million new topics about it here.

wow

this seems weird

.

[Edited 3/15/17 7:04am]

I have the book on order and of course plan to read it but there's something about seeing this headline. I can't imagine what Prince would think of it.

The photo of Mayte on the deck of the house was nice in the People article.

least87 said:

I have the book on order and of course plan to read it but there's something about seeing this headline. I can't imagine what Prince would think of it.

He's not here. That's the point. Isn't it better that the people he left behind tell their stories, as long as it's done out of love? They certainly have the right to do so.

If you read the excerpt, it's heart-breaking stuff. Everyone who reads it will feel such sympathy for Prince and Mayte over these events. Most couples probably wouldn't survive it, let alone a famous couple with so many other pressures.

Prince didn't like anyone talking about him. If he walked into a 7-11 and bought a soda and then the person who served him told his friend "Hey, Prince came in today" - Prince wouldn't like it. That's because he built his career from mystery and enigma as well as talent. He's the guy who didn't do interviews when he had the biggest album in the world.

But you can't maintain enigma when you're gone.

If anything, I personally feel like everyone who has a story to tell, should tell it. Because that's all that's left now. It humanises him. It allows us to see him as a multi-dimensional human being.

Mayte was unquestionably one of the most important relationships in Prince's entire life. Nobody is going to deny that. I personally support her telling her story. Other people won't, and that's their prerogative.

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

I have such mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I do no know of any other woman that had a newborn child die, and was, and still is expected not to talk about it ever, in the real world the mother would be embraced and comforted. I think medical experts would say it is very unhealthy to suppress all of that. On the other hand, the head line "tell all" is so trashy and does not feel loving at all. The adoration and disgust I am sure will be all over the place. But in the end she can just take all that emotion to the bank.

Most people talk about this with family or a therapist not with the media. If she wrote a book to help women get over this sort of thing that would be great but that is not what she is doing.

Also she keeps going on about the test she did not have. Does she not realize that the test would not have stopped a genetic defect and I doubt he would have wanted her to abort the baby which would have been the only thing they could have done. So what is her point? Is she blaming him for a genetic defect?

There is no love in the way she is presenting herself.

it's incredibly sad, but you know, it just reminds me that all of us, the great and the small are struck by tragedy. After reading it I could see how Prince supposedly once made sense of it, that god was punishing him for his sins.

laurarichardson said:

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

I have such mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I do no know of any other woman that had a newborn child die, and was, and still is expected not to talk about it ever, in the real world the mother would be embraced and comforted. I think medical experts would say it is very unhealthy to suppress all of that. On the other hand, the head line "tell all" is so trashy and does not feel loving at all. The adoration and disgust I am sure will be all over the place. But in the end she can just take all that emotion to the bank.

Most people talk about this with family or a therapist not with the media. If she wrote a book to help women get over this sort of thing that would be great but that is not what she is doing.

Also she keeps going on about the test she did not have. Does she not realize that the test would not have stopped a genetic defect and I doubt he would have wanted her to abort the baby which would have been the only thing they could have done. So what is her point? Is she blaming him for a genetic defect?

There is no love in the way she is presenting herself.

this'll be one of the first of many, if going by superstars past is any way to measure. Elvis has had books written about him by just about everyone associated with him, some of them very exploitive some of them hagiographic and some of them are very good. Mj has had a few, one by his bodyguards, some people have said that bodyguards should keep things confidential and i could see that argument.

Militant said:

least87 said:

I have the book on order and of course plan to read it but there's something about seeing this headline. I can't imagine what Prince would think of it.

He's not here. That's the point. Isn't it better that the people he left behind tell their stories, as long as it's done out of love? They certainly have the right to do so.

If you read the excerpt, it's heart-breaking stuff. Everyone who reads it will feel such sympathy for Prince and Mayte over these events. Most couples probably wouldn't survive it, let alone a famous couple with so many other pressures.

Prince didn't like anyone talking about him. If he walked into a 7-11 and bought a soda and then the person who served him told his friend "Hey, Prince came in today" - Prince wouldn't like it. That's because he built his career from mystery and enigma as well as talent. He's the guy who didn't do interviews when he had the biggest album in the world.

But you can't maintain enigma when you're gone.

If anything, I personally feel like everyone who has a story to tell, should tell it. Because that's all that's left now. It humanises him. It allows us to see him as a multi-dimensional human being.

Mayte was unquestionably one of the most important relationships in Prince's entire life. Nobody is going to deny that. I personally support her telling her story. Other people won't, and that's their prerogative.

Since he is not here it all the more reason to be respectful that was his son as much as he was Mayte's. Next she will be showing pics of the baby, how about elavator pics, or authosy photos were do you draw the line of just being disrespectul and greedy but I guess as long as we know every intimate detail of his life it is okay.

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

laurarichardson said:

Since he is not here it all the more reason to be respectful that was his son as much as he was Mayte's. Next she will be showing pics of the baby, how about elavator pics, or authosy photos were do you draw the line of just being disrespectul and greedy but I guess as long as we know every intimate detail of his life it is okay.

i hear you guys but being realistic, it's going to happen. Money and vanity are powerful motivators. The best any of us can really hope for is truthfullness without sensationalism which we probably won't get. Everyone has an axe to grind and you know what? had Prince ever published his own memoir, i doubt if his would have been revealing at all. Most autobios are very deceptive, Bruce Springsteen's recent bio is about as honest and good as I've ever seen, usually they are purely self-serving with the subject not admitting to any shortcomings.

I think Mayte certainly has the right to tell her version. Hopefully, it's done in truth.

I am a HUGE Prince fan, but demanding that people act like he didn't make mistakes, even if unintentional, is very hypocritical.

If she can sell a book based on her life with a music idol, why not? Especially, IF she is not being vindictive or has an axe to grind. Now if she is making up stuff just to sell books, that's different...

rogifan said:

Mayte has a right to tell her side of the story my first question would be when did Prince tell his?

Prince told his stories in song form. He told his story (as regards to Mayte many times).

From love (The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, The One), lust (Come), marriage (Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife), conception/pregnancy (Sex In The Summer where he used the baby's heartbeat, I would also put New World in this category, as in imagining the world that would exist for his children), the heartbreak at losing the child (Comeback), to the break-up of their marriage (Wasted Kisses, Eye Love But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore). Many more examples.

Stating that Prince didn't tell his story because he didn't write a book doesn't make any sense. He wasn't an author. He was a songwriter.

Militant said:

rogifan said:

Mayte has a right to tell her side of the story my first question would be when did Prince tell his?

Prince told his stories in song form. He told his story (as regards to Mayte many times).

From love (The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, The One), lust (Come), marriage (Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife), conception/pregnancy (Sex In The Summer where he used the baby's heartbeat, I would also put New World in this category, as in imagining the world that would exist for his children), the heartbreak at losing the child (Comeback), to the break-up of their marriage (Wasted Kisses, Eye Love But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore). Many more examples.

Stating that Prince didn't tell his story because he didn't write a book doesn't make any sense. He wasn't an author. He was a songwriter.

ok, but i think he was using her (or whoever) as a muse. And those songs weren't blatantly directed at anyone, only we might assume who they'd be about, most fans would think that they were just songs and wouldn't care for the background of them. But even there, that thing I'm talking about, how people try to paint themselves in a way to absolve them, Prince's songs (I love you but don't trust you anymore, man 0' war) have him playing victim which is probably way too simple to be true. Still, a song is a song and a book is a book, he never named anyone in a song that I know of and if he did, he usually used a nickname of some kind.

Strawberrylova123 said:

Why the PILLS headline..so unnecessary

ya, that's what i'm wondering and if mayte had any sense she would have asked that the words "tell all" not be on the cover [snip - no personal attacks on people please - mods]

Militant said:

fair point on closing my original thread Militant.

My original point was as follows:

RE Mayte's revelations today in People Magazine - where do we draw the line on revelations?

laurarichardson said:

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

I have such mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I do no know of any other woman that had a newborn child die, and was, and still is expected not to talk about it ever, in the real world the mother would be embraced and comforted. I think medical experts would say it is very unhealthy to suppress all of that. On the other hand, the head line "tell all" is so trashy and does not feel loving at all. The adoration and disgust I am sure will be all over the place. But in the end she can just take all that emotion to the bank.

Most people talk about this with family or a therapist not with the media. If she wrote a book to help women get over this sort of thing that would be great but that is not what she is doing.

Also she keeps going on about the test she did not have. Does she not realize that the test would not have stopped a genetic defect and I doubt he would have wanted her to abort the baby which would have been the only thing they could have done. So what is her point? Is she blaming him for a genetic defect?

There is no love in the way she is presenting herself.

I have not read the book, but this very sad event that her and Prince shared is something the public already knew about. It had also been discussed in other biographies most likely not in detail or from any personal perspective. I dont condemn her in any way for discussing it, she most likely is just being honest in her recount of something that happened in their relationship and its not as if she talks about something the public didnt already know about.

I have not read the book, I am personally interested in what she has to say and I dont see why she is apparently by some seemingly being condemed for writing a book about most likely one of the most significant chapters of her life. People write books about famous people they knew from a personal perspective, that happens all the time, I dont see what the big deal is. People were most likely writing books about Prince possibly without Prince's approval way before he passed, did that stop anyone from reading them.

rogifan said:

So basically this thread will just turn into a drug/illness/gossip/conspiracy thread. And already the tabloid trash media is focusing on "pills". [Edited 3/15/17 7:21am]

This is what I don't want to see and wouldn't without this forthconing book.

so, to continue. I guess she has every right to do a book..it was her loss too. However of everyone involved in his circle this is the one I dreaded the most. Other books will follow an inevitable pattern i.e. cute stories, some insights into the recording process, his work ethic, charitable works, funny stories, he was a hard task master etc.

Mayte's book however crosses a huge line for me in that we all know how firecely private P was, this was a shattering moment for him too & he did not want this part of life shared. To do a book like this should require 100% approval from both parties - it wasn't done when he was alive & yet as soon as he's gone here we have the full account. By the looks of it no details spared & fully sensationalised in People magazine...& inevitably will be picked up by tabloids across the globe.

So, as we approach April 21st 2017..this book will dominate...as if we & more importantly his family aren't hurt enough. It refelcts incredibly badly IMHO on her & her motives.

What a world we live in.

Militant said:

least87 said:

I have the book on order and of course plan to read it but there's something about seeing this headline. I can't imagine what Prince would think of it.

He's not here. That's the point. Isn't it better that the people he left behind tell their stories, as long as it's done out of love? They certainly have the right to do so.

If you read the excerpt, it's heart-breaking stuff. Everyone who reads it will feel such sympathy for Prince and Mayte over these events. Most couples probably wouldn't survive it, let alone a famous couple with so many other pressures.

Prince didn't like anyone talking about him. If he walked into a 7-11 and bought a soda and then the person who served him told his friend "Hey, Prince came in today" - Prince wouldn't like it. That's because he built his career from mystery and enigma as well as talent. He's the guy who didn't do interviews when he had the biggest album in the world.

But you can't maintain enigma when you're gone.

If anything, I personally feel like everyone who has a story to tell, should tell it. Because that's all that's left now. It humanises him. It allows us to see him as a multi-dimensional human being.

Mayte was unquestionably one of the most important relationships in Prince's entire life. Nobody is going to deny that. I personally support her telling her story. Other people won't, and that's their prerogative.

Well said.

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

fair point on closing my original thread Militant.

My original point was as follows:

RE Mayte's revelations today in People Magazine - where do we draw the line on revelations?

just read it..won't link it [sorry but I cant bring myself to]..i feel sick after reading it & suspect you will too? Q is...where do we draw the line on these books / stories etc. Do you want a Judith Hill tell all [as she did re the events on the plane] , inevitably Wendy & Lisa amongst many others will be doing their books etc. In your opinion what do you want...is it a case of what the hell..if I dont wnat it I wont look / buy it OR do you want to know everything?

The pain & mixed emotions regarding P's mind set start all over again.

By not buying the book and not reading sensationalistic gutter press articles.

rogifan said:

PeteSilas said:

laurarichardson said:

Militant said:

He's not here. That's the point. Isn't it better that the people he left behind tell their stories, as long as it's done out of love? They certainly have the right to do so.

If you read the excerpt, it's heart-breaking stuff. Everyone who reads it will feel such sympathy for Prince and Mayte over these events. Most couples probably wouldn't survive it, let alone a famous couple with so many other pressures.

Prince didn't like anyone talking about him. If he walked into a 7-11 and bought a soda and then the person who served him told his friend "Hey, Prince came in today" - Prince wouldn't like it. That's because he built his career from mystery and enigma as well as talent. He's the guy who didn't do interviews when he had the biggest album in the world.

But you can't maintain enigma when you're gone.

If anything, I personally feel like everyone who has a story to tell, should tell it. Because that's all that's left now. It humanises him. It allows us to see him as a multi-dimensional human being.

Mayte was unquestionably one of the most important relationships in Prince's entire life. Nobody is going to deny that. I personally support her telling her story. Other people won't, and that's their prerogative.

Since he is not here it all the more reason to be respectful that was his son as much as he was Mayte's. Next she will be showing pics of the baby, how about elavator pics, or authosy photos were do you draw the line of just being disrespectul and greedy but I guess as long as we know every intimate detail of his life it is okay.

I appreciate people around Prince sharing their stories - I think they give all of us - and the world - more insight into what he was like and what it meant to know him. I just wish "People" magazine could do without the sensational, gossipy headline.

laurarichardson said:

rogifan said:

Not the same at all. And we can never say for sure who these songs were written for/about. The idea that Prince didn't write a tell-all because his tell-all was in his songs...not buying it.

He said many times he was open book because everything about him is in the songs. How much more plain could he have made himself.

Bingo.

Some people here would look at a song like "Call My Name" with the lyrics:

"Heard your voice this morning calling out my name
It had been so long since I heard it
That it didn't sound quite the same, no
But it let me know that my name had never really been spoken before
Before the day I carried you through the Bridle Path door"

and they would say "oh, we don't know who the song is about! We can't say for sure!"

Never mind the fact that the Bridle Path is literally the neighborhood where Prince and Mani lived after they got married.

Prince wrote everything about his life in his songs. Like most songwriters.