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Thread started 09/24/17 12:26pm

galapogosian

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Did Prince ever play METAL?

I was watching Rob Caggiano play a purple guitar in Anthrax, and I wondered: Did Prince ever play metal? What was the closest he got to the razor's edge? I'm looking for hard guitar- something surprising.

Thanks.

nB6w7bR.jpg

I wish Prince love, long life, and freedom from the shackles of Jehovah.
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Reply #1 posted 09/24/17 12:39pm

ludwig

galapogosian said:

I was watching Rob Caggiano play a purple guitar in Anthrax, and I wondered: Did Prince ever play metal? What was the closest he got to the razor's edge? I'm looking for hard guitar- something surprising.

Thanks.

nB6w7bR.jpg

He played "classic rock" and funk rock, but not metal. I think the closest song to metal is the last song on his first album called "I'm yours".

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Reply #2 posted 09/24/17 12:59pm

stpaisios

Song Purple Rain actually is a bit metal in more traditional sense. But Prince really didn't need to spend his energy on that atmosphere, riffs, solos etc. he had to much funk & swing in him to do that.

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Reply #3 posted 09/24/17 1:05pm

purplerabbitho
le

Man, I can't say I like metal all that much. I like Metallica and if Guns N Roses (if they count as metal) but most metal to me sounds like macho male postering, fake gothic ponderings, unoriginal musicianship -- all disguised behind volume.

I like hard rock, alternative rock etc...however.

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Reply #4 posted 09/24/17 1:36pm

coldasice

His live guitar solos were sometimes on the verge
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Reply #5 posted 09/24/17 2:08pm

2004Fan

Indeed! biggrin

coldasice said:

His live guitar solos were sometimes on the verge

I am here! Where R U?! Gotta broken heart again...
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Reply #6 posted 09/24/17 5:03pm

67Cadillac

Endorphinmachine, if not metal, rocks pretty hard.
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Reply #7 posted 09/24/17 5:37pm

rogifan

This reminds me of an anecdote from Steve Parke’s Minnesota book signing. Steve Vai had given Morris Hayes a guitar to give to Prince. I guess he was a Prince fan. It was a 7 string guitar. When Morris gave the guitar to Prince and explained the backstory Prince looked at him and said “I can do it with 6”. lol
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
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Reply #8 posted 09/24/17 7:56pm

alandail

how about 1/3 of the Chaos and Disorder album?

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Reply #9 posted 09/24/17 9:13pm

controversy99

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I can think of two instances:

Bataclan 2002 show had a couple of solidly metal songs: (1) Good Morning 2 U opening song/riff, (2) killer version of Whole Lotta Love.

The Undertaker had a little metal: (1) cover of Honky Tonk Women, (2) rocking version of Bambi.

I'm Yours and Bambi sound like attempts at metal, but they're not quite "thick" enough to really pack that metal punch.
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #10 posted 09/24/17 10:00pm

rogifan

alandail said:

how about 1/3 of the Chaos and Disorder album?



Chaos and Disorder and I Like it There might not be metal but they rock pretty hard.






[Edited 9/24/17 22:19pm]
Paisley Park is in your heart
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Reply #11 posted 09/24/17 11:52pm

SimonCharles

galapogosian said:

I was watching Rob Caggiano play a purple guitar in Anthrax, and I wondered: Did Prince ever play metal? What was the closest he got to the razor's edge? I'm looking for hard guitar- something surprising.

Thanks.

nB6w7bR.jpg

I'd argue that the closest to "metal" might be the version of Sister from the Lovesexy Tour - I can't think of any other proper examples - possibly the version of Let's Go Crazy from the same tour...other than that it was just rock, really...I think...mother memory may be playing tricks on me, of course. The version of Whole Lotta Love he did at Hammersmith on the One Nite Alone show was quite rocky too, not metally enough, really...again, mother memory messes about with me...I remember being freaked out by the appearance of Whole Lotta Love on the setlist, that's for sure.

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Reply #12 posted 09/25/17 1:49am

Thibaut

The ending guitar solo on Digital Garden sounds close to metal to me

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Reply #13 posted 09/25/17 4:09am

mediumdry

Find a recording of his 8 March 1982 show. The opening Bambi is as close to metal as I've ever heard him. Can't currently find it on youtube, but there are multiple bootlegs with the show on it.

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #14 posted 09/25/17 4:21am

james

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Bambi

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Reply #15 posted 09/25/17 9:18am

rogifan

Some sweet guitar here. I’d love more of this stuff to come out.

https://m.mixcloud.com/So...shows-sbd/
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
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Reply #16 posted 09/25/17 9:30am

scratchtasia

I thought that slowed-down version of "Let's Go Crazy" he was doing with 3rdeyegirl leaned toward metal, or at least a heavy blues. YMMV.

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Reply #17 posted 09/25/17 9:48am

novabrkr

"I'm Yours" and "Bambi" are the closest thing to metal he ever did, although that would be metal in the "early heavy metal" sense, preceding 80s metal bands like Metallica. I'd say the intro to "I'm Yours" qualifies as "early heaby metal" easily, but once Prince's soft falsetto vocals kick in, the mood changes quite a bit. "Bambi" is more rooted on funk/rock than metal, but well, so was a lot of stuff considered to be metal at the time.

Maybe the title track from "Chaos & Disorder" and "I Like It There" could be considered to be pretty close to the 90s "alternative metal" type of stuff too (the entire vibe of the Chaos & Disorder album isn't that far removed from what, say, Smashing Pumpkins did at the time).

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Reply #18 posted 09/25/17 9:52am

2004Fan

oh yes!!!!

rogifan said:

Some sweet guitar here. I’d love more of this stuff to come out. https://m.mixcloud.com/So...shows-sbd/

I am here! Where R U?! Gotta broken heart again...
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Reply #19 posted 09/25/17 9:58am

bonatoc

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There's this insane guitar solo on one of the live "Days of Wild" takes.
The one where he seems to be stuck on one note, and he just uses
the semitones above and below the note (which is in my book, your typical "metal" cliché riff).

I think the closest to Metal is "Loose!", even though the riff is made by a keyboard-triggered sample.
The "lack" of melody on the lead vocal, the delivery (one note, yelled) is evocative of the urgency of Metal,
even if the production choices are closer to hardcore techno (which is basically Metal played by synths).

Sonically, I think the harshest guitars sounds you will get from Prince are to be found in the mid-90's.
The whole Power Trio smorgasbord that is 1994's "The Undertaker" is to me the closest he ever got to Metal.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #20 posted 09/25/17 12:30pm

TheDigitalGard
ener

galapogosian said:

I was watching Rob Caggiano play a purple guitar in Anthrax, and I wondered: Did Prince ever play metal? What was the closest he got to the razor's edge? I'm looking for hard guitar- something surprising.

Thanks.

No, he didn't.

Try 9-5 People for something surprising.

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Reply #21 posted 09/25/17 12:37pm

2freaky4church
1

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His guitar solos.

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #22 posted 09/25/17 8:43pm

lakerlaker52

SimonCharles said:


I'd argue that the closest to "metal" might be the version of Sister from the Lovesexy Tour.



That's the first thing I thought of - especially if we're talking about thrash metal. Has all the hallmarks of thrash that bands like Metallica were cranking out during that same year: blistering tempo, chugging 16th-note rhythm guitars, double kick drum, screaming vocals and guitar solos. I love that version because it's such a unique sound for him.
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Reply #23 posted 09/25/17 9:25pm

SimonCharles

lakerlaker52 said:

SimonCharles said:

I'd argue that the closest to "metal" might be the version of Sister from the Lovesexy Tour.

That's the first thing I thought of - especially if we're talking about thrash metal. Has all the hallmarks of thrash that bands like Metallica were cranking out during that same year: blistering tempo, chugging 16th-note rhythm guitars, double kick drum, screaming vocals and guitar solos. I love that version because it's such a unique sound for him.

Couldn't agree more.

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Reply #24 posted 09/25/17 10:26pm

blizzybiz

not sure if it's mentioned here, but wasn't there a long metal guitar solo on one of the NPG CLub Ahdio tracks? I know there is, but can't remember which one. It's a long solo and I assumed it was Prince doing what Prince did; showing that he can pretty much play anything he wants.

Edit: Ahdio 2, starts at approx 43:07

edit: nevermind, it was Jacob Armen, Crazy Fingers

[Edited 9/25/17 22:29pm]

[Edited 9/25/17 22:35pm]

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Reply #25 posted 09/26/17 7:00am

khelm9

Definitely yes on "Sister" from the Lovesexy tour. Obviously Bambi and Endorphimachine are 2 of his hardest rockers. I have always thought the riff from "Dreamer" was borderline metal. And the 2nd half of "Wall of Berlin" is straighforward hard rock if not pure metal.

[Edited 9/26/17 7:01am]

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Reply #26 posted 09/26/17 7:11am

alandail

blizzybiz said:

not sure if it's mentioned here, but wasn't there a long metal guitar solo on one of the NPG CLub Ahdio tracks? I know there is, but can't remember which one. It's a long solo and I assumed it was Prince doing what Prince did; showing that he can pretty much play anything he wants.

Edit: Ahdio 2, starts at approx 43:07

edit: nevermind, it was Jacob Armen, Crazy Fingers

[Edited 9/25/17 22:29pm]

[Edited 9/25/17 22:35pm]

I thought you were talking about the Days of Wild Jam

edit: at the end of Ahdio #1

[Edited 9/26/17 7:16am]

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Reply #27 posted 09/26/17 8:13am

2045RadicalMat
tZ

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Closest COMPOSITION i can think of is the great (*though much maligned on ORG) song suite "3 chains O Gold"

Chugging power chords, a bit Iommi-ish odd intervals, fantastic drumming by Mr Bland, great solos. ....so. ..to fit the standard. ...imagine Rob Halford singing the "I've got 3 chains of gold" bit....and if that doesn't suit you, imagine James LaBrie? Or has been metal Hetfield (*add "oh yeah" to the song however)
♫"Trollin, Trolling! We could have fun just trollin'!"♫
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Reply #28 posted 09/26/17 8:57am

paisleypark4

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That ending on AINTTURNINAROUND was pretty hard too.

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Reply #29 posted 09/26/17 8:57am

blizzybiz

2045RadicalMattZ said:

Closest COMPOSITION i can think of is the great (*though much maligned on ORG) song suite "3 chains O Gold" Chugging power chords, a bit Iommi-ish odd intervals, fantastic drumming by Mr Bland, great solos. ....so. ..to fit the standard. ...imagine Rob Halford singing the "I've got 3 chains of gold" bit....and if that doesn't suit you, imagine James LaBrie? Or has been metal Hetfield (*add "oh yeah" to the song however)

the dive bomb leading into the solo was definitely metal

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