Fillmore 2001 - the show that turned it all around...

I was just listening to this show this morning - I remember how excited I was reading about this at the time. Now, looking back, it was the precursor of a lot of what was to come, in the midst of the cookie-cutter Hit 'n' Run tour.

He played a couple of songs he hadn't played for a long time (I think this was even the live debut of Paisley Park) - he started doing this a lot more on the ONA tour and Xenophobia celebration.

Sheila E. showed up and played - the first time (I think) that he'd hooked up with a 'classic' band member in recent times - since then he's played again with Sheila, Eric Leeds, and even Eddie M and Wendy. And yes, Rosie was there too.

In short, this is when he started to embrace his past while also embracing the future - The Daisy Chain was played live within days of its download being available to NPGMC members.

Maybe he was inspired by playing in the Fillmore, the same place Jimi and Miles had played years earlier. I don't know, but he was certainly inspired to try something different that night. And John Blackwell kicked some butt - maybe he was trying to impress Sheila!

Within a day or two of that show, he held his first pre-show soundcheck gig, in Sacramento, I believe. Again, a sign of things to come.

IIRC, the NPGMC said they wanted to release this show online, but the sound quality on the recording was poor - anyone else remember this? Man, what a show - unfortunately I saw him a few days either side, in San Diego on April 27, and Hollywood on May 4 - both standard, cookie-cutter shows. LA was great, though, being in such a small venue, and with a bunch of movie stars and musicians all around me. Very cool. In fact, that's the last time I saw him. Man, now I'm excited about Boston on August 17

I think it was during the Daisy Chain that Prince, Larry and Rhonda were all on bass. My chest was thumping during that show. I think that was one of the last times I can remember Prince playing the drums as well. It was a great show.

booyah said:

booyah said:

I was just listening to this show this morning - I remember how excited I was reading about this at the time. Now, looking back, it was the precursor of a lot of what was to come, in the midst of the cookie-cutter Hit 'n' Run tour.

He played a couple of songs he hadn't played for a long time (I think this was even the live debut of Paisley Park) - he started doing this a lot more on the ONA tour and Xenophobia celebration.

Sheila E. showed up and played - the first time (I think) that he'd hooked up with a 'classic' band member in recent times - since then he's played again with Sheila, Eric Leeds, and even Eddie M and Wendy. And yes, Rosie was there too.

In short, this is when he started to embrace his past while also embracing the future - The Daisy Chain was played live within days of its download being available to NPGMC members.

Maybe he was inspired by playing in the Fillmore, the same place Jimi and Miles had played years earlier. I don't know, but he was certainly inspired to try something different that night. And John Blackwell kicked some butt - maybe he was trying to impress Sheila!

Within a day or two of that show, he held his first pre-show soundcheck gig, in Sacramento, I believe. Again, a sign of things to come.

IIRC, the NPGMC said they wanted to release this show online, but the sound quality on the recording was poor - anyone else remember this? Man, what a show - unfortunately I saw him a few days either side, in San Diego on April 27, and Hollywood on May 4 - both standard, cookie-cutter shows. LA was great, though, being in such a small venue, and with a bunch of movie stars and musicians all around me. Very cool. In fact, that's the last time I saw him. Man, now I'm excited about Boston on August 17

booyah said:

I was just listening to this show this morning - I remember how excited I was reading about this at the time. Now, looking back, it was the precursor of a lot of what was to come, in the midst of the cookie-cutter Hit 'n' Run tour.

He played a couple of songs he hadn't played for a long time (I think this was even the live debut of Paisley Park) - he started doing this a lot more on the ONA tour and Xenophobia celebration.

Sheila E. showed up and played - the first time (I think) that he'd hooked up with a 'classic' band member in recent times - since then he's played again with Sheila, Eric Leeds, and even Eddie M and Wendy. And yes, Rosie was there too.

In short, this is when he started to embrace his past while also embracing the future - The Daisy Chain was played live within days of its download being available to NPGMC members.

Maybe he was inspired by playing in the Fillmore, the same place Jimi and Miles had played years earlier. I don't know, but he was certainly inspired to try something different that night. And John Blackwell kicked some butt - maybe he was trying to impress Sheila!

Within a day or two of that show, he held his first pre-show soundcheck gig, in Sacramento, I believe. Again, a sign of things to come.

IIRC, the NPGMC said they wanted to release this show online, but the sound quality on the recording was poor - anyone else remember this? Man, what a show - unfortunately I saw him a few days either side, in San Diego on April 27, and Hollywood on May 4 - both standard, cookie-cutter shows. LA was great, though, being in such a small venue, and with a bunch of movie stars and musicians all around me. Very cool. In fact, that's the last time I saw him. Man, now I'm excited about Boston on August 17

coachsean said:

booyah said:

I was just listening to this show this morning - I remember how excited I was reading about this at the time. Now, looking back, it was the precursor of a lot of what was to come, in the midst of the cookie-cutter Hit 'n' Run tour.

He played a couple of songs he hadn't played for a long time (I think this was even the live debut of Paisley Park) - he started doing this a lot more on the ONA tour and Xenophobia celebration.

Sheila E. showed up and played - the first time (I think) that he'd hooked up with a 'classic' band member in recent times - since then he's played again with Sheila, Eric Leeds, and even Eddie M and Wendy. And yes, Rosie was there too.

In short, this is when he started to embrace his past while also embracing the future - The Daisy Chain was played live within days of its download being available to NPGMC members.

Maybe he was inspired by playing in the Fillmore, the same place Jimi and Miles had played years earlier. I don't know, but he was certainly inspired to try something different that night. And John Blackwell kicked some butt - maybe he was trying to impress Sheila!

Within a day or two of that show, he held his first pre-show soundcheck gig, in Sacramento, I believe. Again, a sign of things to come.

IIRC, the NPGMC said they wanted to release this show online, but the sound quality on the recording was poor - anyone else remember this? Man, what a show - unfortunately I saw him a few days either side, in San Diego on April 27, and Hollywood on May 4 - both standard, cookie-cutter shows. LA was great, though, being in such a small venue, and with a bunch of movie stars and musicians all around me. Very cool. In fact, that's the last time I saw him. Man, now I'm excited about Boston on August 17

ooops...
Actually i saw him in LA and your right that was a great show especially from the atmosphere and vibe of all the celebs there. But i also went to the Oakland show that preceded the Fillmore afterparty and both were out of this world. And he actually did the soundcheck at the Oakland show. I can't say it was his first...but i know it was extra cool being a part of that. Then the Fillmore..there was something special about the ghost of greats past coming alive with such a kick ass show that P and crew put on that night. I still remember my poor wife struggling up in the balcony to stay awake. To this day i thank her for hanging in there with me. Great, great nite. The recent Musicology show would be number 1 for me (out of 13 so far, # 14 coming May 24th) if it weren't for the soundcheck in Oaktown and the Fillmore Aftershow. Very hard for even a great show like he's doing now to compete with that.

Man, that WAS a great night. I sat in the second row during the soundcheck -- we had NO IDEA what a sound check was going to be like -- it was the first one, I am pretty sure. I was pinching my friend's leg the whole time to keep from losing it.

But I have to mention Ruby Skye (December 2000), too -- that was sort of the beginning for me of actually being able to get up close -- then club started the following February.

I have to agree with you. The Fillmore Aftershow 2001 previewed Prince's new, vital NPGMC future (Daisy Chain with a monstrous triple-bass assault), while simultaneously embracing the best artistic moments of his past (one of the first re-appearances of "Joy in Repetition" and the surprise welcome return to "Paisley Park").

Prince also seemed to come out of his pure Jehovah brainwash phase for the first time, when he welcomed old mates Sheila and Rosie, for outstanding cover versions of Santana and Aretha songs. Larry was there, but Larry wasn't allowed to take over the show, for the first time in years. Finally, Prince wasn't deferring to Larry's every move. It was about PRINCE again...not NPGCS or Sly & the Family Stone. Prince was firmly in the driver's seat instead of Larry "pulling his strings" from the wings.

Booyah, your title says it all...I'm gonna go put on this show right now, and think back to those purple chandeliers glowing in the Fillmore at 2:30 a.m. as "Daisy Chain" was beginning to coalesce out of the ether...daaayyyy-uuummmm this show meant so much in so many ways. Definitely a turning of the tide, a changing of the guard, or any other similar metaphor you want to throw in.

LesGrinds said:

This show deserve this honorable mention. Thanks, all. I didn't sleep for almost 48 hours because of all that went on. I went to work the day before, get home at night, the aftershow is announced, I checked to see if I was on the VIP list since I lived just on the other side of the border ("and Prince never plays Reno!"), a few hours later a friend of mine and someone from NPGMC notified me that I was on the list (yes, I was a member), I started my 4-hour drive across I-80, got to The Fillmore early in the morning, stood in line behind a few other people, a few hours later we were given numbers, and then a few hours later we bought our tickets, then I drove over to the Oakland Coliseum, the band shows up, then Prince shows up, and then they let us in for the soundcheck -- I was in the first group to walk in during "Paisley Park", Prince plays songs and talks with us, Rosie shows up and rehearses with Milennia, and then an hour or so later the show begins with Fonky Baldheads with whom Prince appears, then I leave during the encore and get over to The Fillmore where I stand in line for awhile, Prince's crew shows up, Semisonic leaves and Prince's crew goes inside, the rest of us are let in, I go front and center and watch the techs go to work on the sound and instruments, an hour or so later the aftershow begins with a 12-minute or so version of "Daisy Chain" -- every song was awesome! -- a couple hours later the sun is already rising and I'm on my 4-hour drive back home.

1. Sheila E. showed up after Prince invited her, but during the soundcheck he said something about her possibly not showing up but that he hoped she would.

2. Prince did play drums, but only for what? half-a-minute? after he threw Sheila off who had thrown Blackwell to the ground.

3. Within 12-hours, NPGMC said something great about the Fillmore show and how they'd be offering it to members. They never did.

4. Prince played Leno a few days later, two-nights in a row.

5. Prince adds Sacramento a day or so after that. The Time had just played Stockton (I was there too) but, disappointly, weren't part of Prince's show in Sacramento.

A couple of things about The Daisy Chain from that night:

The drum beat John Blackwell used must have evolved into Family Name - listen to this live version, and you'll hear major similarities. FN must have been written around this time.

What is Prince saying during it? Some scary spoken lyrics about someone shooting a machine gun in a dark nightclub, and when the lights went on, there were women, children, senior citizens all dead... That was a weird way to start a party. Then nothing else on the topic. Kind of like a new version of The War spoken over The Daisy Chain's beat...

What about that completely altered version of Purple Rain he did? AWESOME!!! He said it was a present for us. Damn, I wish that soundcheck was recorded like the Fillmore show!