I was just wondering if y'all can remember the xact moment when U 1st heard a Prince song and became a fan.

4 me it was back in 1988 when I went 2 a chinese restaurant with my dad and we were waiting 4 our take-away food.

They had this giant tv in the waiting erea and some tv show was playing Prince's new singel "I Wish U Heaven".

From that very moment I was hooked.

I have 2 admit I'd never even heard of Prince before that, but I was only 11 yrs old, so.... Never really listened 2 music before that. Not on a conscious level anyway.

1st Album I ever bought was Lovesexy.

I can only wonder what the hell my parents thought about me saving up my pocket$ 4 a month and then going off 2 a recordstore 2 buy an album with a naked man on the cover...



Ah well.

I remember. I guess I was about 14 (I'm 20 now). A friend of mine was a die-hard Prince fan. Including Symbol-tattoo and all.
I happened to have some blank tapes, and asked him to make some Prince tapes for me. The tapes included songs like Dolphin, Strays Of The World, Come, and much more. Not exactly the standard songs....

I listened to them a few times and really digged it. A few days later we went shopping for CD's and I bought D&P, LoveSymbol album and Dirty Mind.
From that day on, I'm hooked.
In these six years, I've compiled a decent collection with some 300 Prince CD's and some rare Prince items.

Well my father who is a musician gave me a tape when I was only 11-12 years old in 1982. He just told me "You should listen to this guy. I think he is a musical genius." It was the 1999 album.

I remember me in my bedroom listening to this tape over and over again. It was so fresh so creative so new.

Then the addiction started hehe

1984. I was 13. Had heard 1999 and Little Red Corvette, thought they were kewl, nuttin' more than that.
Then they played When Doves Cry on the radio. Couldn't pinpoint the style of music. I heard a gospel voice, poppy synth, but also a GUITAR???
Purple Rain became the first album I bought and that summer I locked myself up in my room and played it until the scratches sounded like rain itself.....

The addiction came somewhat later, when I found out that all the singles had b-sides (HAD to have 'm) and the guy at the recordshop told me there were things like bootlegs.
For three years I bought EVERYTHING if it only MENTIONED the name Prince. Talking about FANatic.
Then I grew up. And I still don't wave my hand in the air when he shouts; "Raise your hand if U believe!" I will not, ever. I'll jump to a good groove though. But I can not groove to a lyric that goes "There's a new theocratic order now".

What attracted me in Prince's music THEN was the way he used every style to play his own music. Through him I discovered jazz, gospel and soul. These days I merely listen to him because he has this awsome voice that can still make me smile. TRC is great, but I am very mindfull of the lyrical content.

These days I listen to Bjork, The Strokes, Wendy & Lisa and NiN. Talking about diversity.
But also I like to rediscover music from the past. And it seems I have a tendency to pick up artists that end up playing at Paisley Park. I thought Nikka Costa was one of the funk/rock/grooviest albums of last year.

My musical mind needs stimulance and Prince's music got stuck between wanting too much but not sticking around long enough to see the seed grow into something MORE.
He seems to have found the MORE in TRC, so props for him, but I? I just put on Wendy & Lisa's latest and think about
'what could have been'.
[This message was edited Wed Aug 7 8:18:24 PDT 2002 by gooeythehamster]

I was on a camping trip with a friend of mine and her family. Her dad was a preacher and her older brother had just seen Purple Rain and was listening to the soundtrack. After hearing The Beautiful Ones I started seeking out all of Prince's music I could find. His sexual presence and spirituality was overwhelming. I was about 13 at the time and I knew there was something about the man and his music that would follow me the rest of my life.

Was in bed listening to a radio show called "op slag van maandag" They had an hour of Prince or so.I already liked his music but had never heard "god" & "how come u don't call me "

It hit me like lightning.

Been a fan eversince.

"1999" had come out in 82 when I was only a year old, but a few years afterward when I was about 10 years old, my friends and I were sitting around the jungle gym during recess discussing our highschool graduation. Someones sister was going to graduate and we found out at that time that come Senior year everyone voted on the class song. That's when a little girl sitting there with us said that we already have our class song. What? No doubt it should be 1999 because that is the year we were gonna graduate. I ran home after school to listen to it, that's when my mom told me to go to my uncle's house, a big Prince fan. I go there and he has the song on a cassette. He pops it in, and it was all history from there.

Well if i told u i would have 2 kill u LOL Lets jus say since i was about 5 but didnt no who he was till i was like 7 k peace all

Out of curiosity, I decided to watch the premier of "TMBGITW" on MTV Europe's Most Wanted. At the time I wasn't much of a Music fan, and really didn't have much in the way of a Music Collection. After seing the video I more or less rushed out to buy a copy on tape (as that was the only format I had at the time). Within a month, I had gone out to buy a CD player just so that I could have a copy of this song on the best possible format. It cost me £150 pounds for a portable CD player and a copy of the song.

Since that time, it was a standing order for people to pick up any Prince related stuff they could find for me.

I went out and bought EXODUS, The Gold Experience, The Vault, Emancipation, New Power Soul and Rave ond day of release. TRC was on pre-order from the moment it was available on-line.

From that day, I started to get into Music. Many a time people have commented on how wide my taste in musical styles is. This I have Prince to thank for, as through his Music I've been introduced to every possible style. I am more willing to give other artists a try and not just go for what is considered popular by the masses.

my spiel's here:

http://freaksonthisside.h...festo.html

My brother is also a prince fan, but I never paid attention to the music he listened to. Well when he started working he started buying cd's to replace all the tapes he had, so guess who got the old tapes.

I was about 11 years old and the first tape I listened to was Purple rain, I was hooked! Then my brother had to start buying me Prince merchandise to keep me happy.

Mine is quite an odd story... In about 1993 I was 13, and I had just broken up with my boyfriend as he immigrated to another country.

Of course I had heard of Prince before this time but never really had taken the time to get to know his music that well. One night not long after my ex had immigrated, I was sleeping at my best friends house, and she was watching some music videos on the tv, and woke me up to see Prince's "Peach" video because she was amazed how similar Prince's eyes were to my boyfriends... their eyes were one in the same... And I know this sounds strange, but give me a break, I was a 13 yr old who was still so "in love" with her ex.. and yea, I just started collecting anything I could on Prince, and mostly because of it's connection to my boyfriend... sounds insane I know..

And for the first 3 months or so, it wasn't so much about Prince, as it was about my boyfriend... but yea, of course exposure means addiction , especially when it comes to Prince..

The more music I heard, I realised what a talent he was, and soon the boyriend was an absolute after thought, and Prince was the new obsession.. I never really spoke to my bf again, but I thank him, because I wonder if I hadn't met him and all of that, would I have ever really got in to Prince the way I have... It's been almost 10 years now since then and for 10 years I have been completely in awe of Prince and his incredible and beautiful genius... I think my first cd I bought of his was his tripple the hits/b-sides cd, in about 1993, and yea, how could one not be absorbed and completely taken in when listening to those 3 cd's, now I have them all... and my life wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for 1993... Here's to random occurances, and ex boyfriends immigrating *grin*
[This message was edited Sat May 4 19:48:18 PDT 2002 by Diva]

It was 1980 and I'm only going to admit to being a couple of years younger than Prince. I heard I wanna be your lover on the radio and purchased the album. Then I started drooling because the brotha was FINNNNNEEEEE! And since then I have been a Prince veteran I believe now for 20 something years.
I became a fan because he was original and at that time I believe I was maybe 18 he was saying things that we spoke about only in private. He had no fear and he was a Rude Boy.
And that sh** turned me on. Plus he's got an ass like I've never seeeeennnnn.
Also I know I'm going to hell for a dirty mind. Prince MAKES ME THINK THOUGHTS. But I'll tell you I'm not going down alone. I'm telling. If I gotta go Prince got to go too. Is there anyone else going on this journey? I heard it's a winding road.

I saw the Gold video in late '96 I believe. I LOVED the line "Everybody want to sell what's already been sold/Everybody wants to tell what's already been told".
It was the first guitar solo I really heard!
I knew the name Prince but not really his music (though I remember being fascinated by the SOTT and the Batdance video when I was a little child).
I bought TGE, next Purple Rain and then I don't know what came next...but I know it's been an joyfantstic ride and it will be!

Actually... I should say "random" occurances... don't think there anything random about it... meant to be

.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 19 8:17:41 PDT 2002 by luvy]

Well, when I was in 2nd year at High School (about 13) My friend gave me the tape of the Diamonds & Pearls album. I told him I might listen to it but thought Prince was a poof .Anyway, I listened to it and it blew me away. I went out and started my C.D collection with Parade, my fave song is still Mountains, brilliant 8).Within a year and a half I had all of his albums and most singles, although they are sometimes hard to get in the U.K . So once I had got everything I started on vinyl and video and now have most of them, oh and of course I started to collect some "unofficial" stuff 2 . I sometimes find that the "unofficial" albums have better quality and packaging than the official releases 2, like Rave Un2 the Year 2000.
Anyway he rocks! . I even like a 2 or 3 songs on TRC!
But it makes me mad when he's not himself, like recently with Larry Graham around.

B Purple Again! :8

In 1991, with Cream. Cuz I'd just found out what he was singing about...

Funny, ain't it, how most Prince fans hear one or other song of his, went out 2 buy the singel, then the album and then bought about 50 cd's by Prince in the next couple of years

I can't imagine doing that with any other artist.

Even people who became fans as late as 1995 or 1996 still seem 2 go out and buy all of his other work.

FUCKING FANTASTIC!!!!!

The first two albums I bought with my own money were "Thriller" and "Purple Rain" way back in 1984. I was only 8 at the time. I was hooked by PR from the beginning...every song sounded different and even then I could identify an artist when I heard one. I bought ATWIAD when it was released...but I only listened to "Raspberry Beret." What's up with that

I didn't buy another album for several years for no apparent reason other than I was into hair bands at the time...OK...still am. However, I really dug "U Got The Look" and "Alphabet Street" (though that video really sucked )...I just never bought those albums.

Fast forward to 1989 and "Batman." I was already a movie geek, and by then I was 13 and bordering on hardcore freak. I had tracked the release of Batman all Spring and, of course, was first in line on opening day. I saw during the credits that the songs were by Prince, and couldn't get away from "Batdance" on MTV. In my efforts to collect all things Batman, I went out and purchased it.

I'm not sure why, but that album made me fall in love with his music all over again. I went back and listened to ATWIAD all the way through, bought "Parade" and SOTT, and began learning all I could about Prince.

It was at that point that I first began to understand his genius as a songwriter and producer. When I discovered that he had written many of my favorite songs from the 80's..."Glamorous Life," "Sugar Walls," "Jungle Love," "The Bird," "Manic Monday," and especially "Nothing Compares 2 U"...I knew I had to get my hands on everything he had ever done.

And so my collecting phase began...and ended when I started living by myself and had to pay bills. I literally bought everything I could. Then I ran across "Prince: A Documentary" and finally realized just how special he was. I've said this numerous times to my friends who just laugh at me, but I honestly believe he is the single most-talented person alive today. His abilities and talent are jaw-dropping...which is why it's so frustrating for us "serious" fans when he releases sub-par material.

So...after buying all that I could find, replacing all my tapes with CD's, and first listening to the album (still one of my favorites),what does he do? Changes his name to the aforementioned symbol and makes it very difficult for his fans to defend him. But stand by him I (and a lot of others) did, even though many fans jumped ship...and still haven't come back

I became even more hardcore during this period...for some reason I dug the weirdness of it all. And the music for the most part was very powerful. The NPG from 1993-1996 was incredible...pure power. It was also during this time that first discovered the Internet and its Prince fanbase...my interest grew again.

And so it continued...through the good AND the bad. I still believe in his music and his artistry. "The Rainbow Children" is the album he should've made 10 years ago...it's everything that drew me to Prince in the first place...killer funk, screaming solos, and spirituality. I really don't feel it's a completely JW album...though it definitely has tendencies in that direction.

I hope this year brings more challenging albums...and I'm so excited about this tour I can barely stand it. I know I'll always be a fan...it's too bad he won't always be around

Peace,

Matthew

Well, I've always liked Prince's music, but only started buying his CDs a couple of years ago (so I don't have a big collection). I was too young before to buy his stuff and go to concerts. I have vague memories of hearing his singles on the radio as a little kid.

Back in late '82, early '83 when I was about 11 or so I was in the car with my mom and on the radio came Delerious. Being a kid I was hooked on the kazoo part of the song as well as the drum beat. I also liked Little Red Corvette and 1999 (especially in the intro) but not as much as Delerious and I guess that's partially because the radio stations didn't play it as much as the other 2 songs.
When Purple Rain came out Prince became really known! I liked the songs that were played on the radio, even my mom went and bought the 45 of When Doves Cry, shit even my dad (a big time jazz nut) liked the song as well as Purple Rain. But I still wasn't a fan although every single that was played on the radio from that point on I liked, Raspberry Beret, Kiss, all of them. My best friend loved Prince and the Revolution and played me all their albums trying 2 get me in2 it. I liked the songs but I wasn't hooked...yet.
In '87 me and my friend were working and 1 of the guys we worked with brought in Sign 'O' the Times. My friend borrowed the album and told me that I had 2 listen 2 it. That's when I got hooked! I went out and bought the album 4 myself. I listened 2 it over and over and went back and bought all of his previous albums.
Of course when Lovesexy came out I went and bought it, loved it. My friend found a store in the city that had all sorts of Prince records, posters and books. When he took me down there I was amazed. They had all sorts of bootlegs. I heard about the Black album and asked if they had it and they did, really loved it. I read some bio's on Prince and after learning about him, how he came up and his music...that's when I became a fan! After that, everything Prince I had 2 have. But it's not quite the same anymore. I still love his music but I identify more with the Revolution material including SOTT (mostly revolution songs).

well i heard the hits disc 2 at a record store and liked the head synth solo.. so i got the hits/b-sides.. but really hated 80% of it. So after a month i listened to it again for bout.. .100 times and forced my self to like it.. but then I started to FEEL his music like prob most of y'all. So now anything he put out I can dig and I gotta get. So in short 3 years i went from a mild fan to obsessed with more than 100 cds and addiction is not a good thing.. but it ain bad either.

I grew up in Puerto Rico and my aunt living in the US was in the island on vacation. She came with gifts and she pulled out of a bag two LP's. One was for my cousin and one for me. I wanted the other one, but I was stuck with this blue cover LP with a naked guy on a white winged horse on the back cover. Didn't listened to it for a couple of days. Later on the radio I heard this song I Wanna Be Your Lover, I told my aunt, " That's why I wanted the other LP, because of that song." She replied," Your are wrong little cousin that song is on the LP I gave you."

OH MY GOD!!! I was hooked.

Wondering what the other LP was?
Off The Wall :p

I was 16, and my girlfriend's parents weren't home...she called me up and told me to hurry over right away, and I did...we went to the couch and started to take each other's clothes off...I was nervous yet excited and anxious all at the same time...I could feel her warm, soft hands roaming over my torso as we kissed, and I gasped loudly when her fingers caressed my manhood...my arousal intensified as I felt her nipples harden beneath my fingertips...she broke our kiss, and smiled into my eyes...then leaned back onto the couch, pulling my nude body onto hers...and....




Oh, wait...you're talking about the first time we became a Prince fan, aren't you??...Oh, well that was when I first heard Controversy, especially "Sexuality" and "Private Joy".....

Um...forget about all that other stuff up above there...heh...

My best friend Matt asked me to go see Purple Rain....supposed to be a very good movie. I went, not knowing much about this guy Prince at all. I was 16 at the time...and man, what a ryde!!!!!
I was so impressed with the man's charisma, his stage presence, and musical abilities. I had to buy that tape, and very tape before that. I've been buying up everything Prince related since then.
Some of his best songs have never been heard by the mass public. It's very sad. I feel as if i know Prince, just by listening to his songs.
I am in awe of his talent, and truely feel that he is the best performer/songwriter to have ever lived.

being 9 yrs old...seeing him on TV...
who knows why, but I was hooked. ~the beginning of the love affair~ I guess. Being that young, watching this man in leotards with the relaxed hair. Bought the 2nd album (I think that day...or a few days after that) and just stared at it over and over while playing it over and over. Taking the album outside, having all my young friends ask "whose that monkey man!?!" All my friends were into bands like KISS back in those days. Since then, its been waiting for the next experience, waiting for the next album cover...waiting for the next time I was swept away.

dug him since Soft & Wet.

Controversy was always extremely appealing b/c the my sister hid her copy (and her poster) from me for years 'cause I was too young (didn't work...)

first record I bought: 1999, got me completely hooked - purchased all the old albums

by PR, regularly searched old wrecka stows for unique 45's, 12" & B-sides

y'all know the rest...

In 1982 I was 12 years old. I heard "1999" on the radio one day and thought it was pretty good. Then my sister bought the album and she listened to the 1st 3 songs on 1999 over and over again. I got interested in Prince after hearing those 3 songs through my wall (I was, and still am, into Zeppelin, Floyd, and all the other classic rock groups). I was suprised that I liked this guy's songs...but the more I heard them the more and more I wanted to hear the whole album. So one day I asked my sister to play the rest of the album, and she said the rest of it sucked and it was real dirty. Well, of course, now I HAD to hear the rest of 1999. I confiscated the album one day and played the rest. I couldn't believe my ears...this stuff was awesome! "Let Pretend We're Married", "DMSR", "Free", and the rest. Well, that was it...I was hooked. I bought my own tape of 1999, and also picked up "Controversy" & "Dirty Mind". I remember bringing them to school and my friends & I listening to the tapes in the cafeteria, all hunched over this little tape player. If the nuns actually heard the stuff we were listening to, we'd had a boot in our behinds for sure.
When "Purple Rain" came out the album pretty took over my life for a little while. I listened to it constantly. I loved the movie and I remember wanting buttons on the side of my pants (thank God that no one granted that wish or I would have been gotten the shit kick out of me). From then on I have waited to hear anything he puts out. The enthusiasm has waned a bit for the last few years, I didn't like "Rave" at all, and TRC, while being a beautiful sounding album, the lyrics scarred me off a bit. I can't get over the JW twist. But over all I am still a fan...and like a lot of the stuff he released from the club last year. I liked "High" much more than TRC. But I don't think I'll ever get as into his music than I did from '82 to '88. I loved every album, and would get so excited whenever his name would be mentioned. I think a lot it has to do with me growing up as much as his music changing. But I treasure those albums and the memories from that time...Prince was a big part of my life back then.

In 83, a friend described the scene at the Dirty Mind tour show, where the bed comes out the stage. Me being the little mannish kid, I was so blown away that an artist did this. So I went and bought "For You" and was completely hooked by the time it got to the lyric "Im just a crazy fool.....". Wow!! FY still does it for me to this day.....listen to it and youll be surprised how fresh it still sounds after 23 years.