Yeah, yeah...I know. I've heard it before. Prince screwed us back when, he doesn't keep promises, yadda yadda...

But how does that justify defying his wishes? Tit for a tat? Does it resolve anything? Why should he give a crap about any of us when he doesn't know which of us are stabbing him in the back? Who should he trust? Has loyalty been proven? Have we stopped complaining? Does he do anything right? at all?

Sure there are a lot of things that Prince does or says that I don't agree with. We are human, this is natural. But, it does not give me or anyone, the right to go into his performance and record it for personal pleasure or that of others. Bootleggers are worse than the labels...they don't even have contracts!

I fail to see how one could enjoy the music so much, yet turn around and do something so blatenlty wrong and hurtful! YES, I said it! HURTFUL. I get the feeling that some of you don't seem to think Prince has feelings...well I would argue that. And if you agree he has feelings then maybe you could think of how it must feel to have an audience stare at you cheering and praising your work as it's being stolen right out from underneath you... how screwed...

I would have a hard time at a show looking into the eyes of my fans, wondering which one of these jerks is recording me right now? That is energy better spent on his performance and connecting with fans, but at this rate who would want to?



I really think that some fans believe that because of some bad decisions on Prince's part this warrents deceptive, sneaky, callus, lawbreaking acts that solve nothing and give the fanbase as a whole a negative and bad wave throughout.

I'm sorry, it is wrong.

~Do unto others as you would have done unto you~

have you actually read what's going on with this lawsuit? the circumstances involved?


another person jumping to Prince's defense on the issue, that doesn't have a clear grasp of what's actually at issue here.

matthew didn't record them. nor did he host them. they were links to other sites.

ALL concerts by ALL major artists are recorded so stop acting as if this is an issue only with Prince.

I ran into a few people last night at Springsteen who were taping but you don't see Springsteen losing any sleep do you?

It's my bet that they are going to try and use him [Lank] to get at who IS doing the actual recording.

And what difference does that make? Prince doesn't like bootlegs, so why wouldnt he go after someone linked to them? I think he is trying to send a message...

It doesnt bother Springsteen so therefore it shouldnt bother Prince? Who are you to say what should or shouldnt bother him?



This is an issue between Prince and his fans...who cares about anyone else? Everyone knows fast food is bad for you, so why are there still drive-thrus?
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 22:28:27 PDT 2002 by Berry]

Berry said:

I wonder how many James Brown, Sly Stone and Funkadelic bootlegs Prince picked up in his youth. You can bet your life on it he's collected them. Like any music lover does. Fame though often comes with egos and greed. Prince should think back to how he was when he was listening the musicians he admired.

Berry said:

Springsteen may or may not be bothered but he has enough class as a multimillionaire (as is Prince) not to bother and alienate his fanbase about something so petty as an audience recording.

AaronForever said:

I read what's going on with it...and this "I didn't host the songs, I just provided links" argument is tired and sooo wrong. I mean, damn. Botton line; songs were posted as links. Prince kindly asked that they be removed, which is his right. He got a less than kind response...in fact the response from freemyheart amounted to "fuck you, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing until I'm sued." Well he's now being sued. And now he's trying to play the victim role. Bunhca asses. If you're going to try and justify it, at least come up with a better strategy. All of you act like you have intimate knowledge as to what the legalities at issue are. Silly people. I mean...bootlegging is illegal. I woudl think that most here agree with that regardless of other artist's thoughts on how their product is handled. And when a person sells them he's breaking the law, regardless of whether or not he recorded it. So your argument is moot.

So should a painter be able to choose which paintings he exhibits and which he keeps for him/herself? Do you think that you can go into a museum and take a picture of a painting and reproduce it without authorization?

And, maybe Prince had boots. You don't know for sure. And if so, does that mean he can't have a change of heart on the matter? We all grow and have changing views over time.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 22:35:42 PDT 2002 by Berry]

Prince on many occasions (which others on this site have documented) has made pro-bootlegging and audience recording statements.


But even if it is "hurtful to Prince" that people bootleg there is a solution: Follow the lead of Pearl Jam and The Who and release the stuff and then people will not pay money for audience recordings.

Just keep in mind that Berry is a self-professed "FAM" and move on to the next thread.




.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 22:35:07 PDT 2002 by lovemachine]

I agree with EVERYTHING you said.

THANK YOU for saying it.

It amazes me that anyone who claims to admire Prince, either strictly as a musician and/or on a more personal level along with the music, can feel it's alright to go against his personal wishes regarding bootlegging and sneaking recording devices into his shows when they know how passionately he feels about those issues.

I can totally understand Prince always feeling so suspicious and mistrustful of his (so-called) fans. He never knows who is only there to be a parasite off of his talent, off of HIS hard work. So many of his (so-called) fans are only interested in what they they get out of him (illegally recording and bootlegging his shows), what they can get for themselves. They don't care about him or his art, or respect him as a person. I think it's sickening.

I am not one of those people who thinks Prince can do no wrong. He has done and said things over the years that I do not agree with, and when he does, I will speak up and say how I feel. But in terms of this particular issue, I am with Prince. 100%. Bootleggers, either who are doing it for profit or to augment their own personal collection, are blatantly disregarding and disrespecting his personal wishes, are breaking the law, and are USING HIM, AND HIS TALENT, THEIR OWN SELFISH MEANS.

I just hope he knows he still has fans out here who have some values, who respect him, and who are not out to stab him in the back and use him for their own purposes.

Bootleggers, and people who go against the law and against Prince's own personal wishes by sneaking recording devices into PP or any other venue, are duplicitous users and I can't comprehend how they could ever stand there and look Prince in the face - at concerts or soundchecks or the Celebration or wherever - knowing they are doing something both illegal AND something so against a man and a musician they claim to respect and admire.



Exactly.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 22:38:19 PDT 2002 by TheVioletFemme]

lovemachine, that was a rude and an unneccessary comment. It must be a good thread...how many times did u post here???

lovemachine said:

She may be self-professed, but she has certainly not refrained from criticising Prince sometimes in the past. In some cases (it seemed to be to me, since many others gave entirely different eye-witness accounts about a situation) in an exaggerated sense.

...and you know what else sucks...I hate not knowing about certain shows or songs because I don't have boots and that makes me look less knowledgable about my favorite artist.

Berry said:

Bruce said one time something like that the bootlegers are killing the music

Berry said:

he's wasting his time. you seriously think that Prince is going to get at the bootleggers by going after matthew? matthew isn't in contact with the people recording or manufacturing them. the message Prince is sending is that he has disdain for his fans and would rather waste his time going after small potatoes than stopping the bootlegging himself.

BlackandRising said:

we're talking about legalities here. so far you've failed to prove what matthew has done is illegal. the attitudes on either side do not matter. ethically wrong? perhaps. on both sides. legally wrong? we'll see.

Aaron- proving that he has a disdain for his fans? I beg to differ! He asked him to take them down...he said no. he challenged Prince. Period.

And you are totally right regarding the legallities. But it DOES send a BIG msg. This may never make it to a court room, and that is precisely my point. Prince was challenged and now he is going to try to make his point.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 22:56:30 PDT 2002 by Berry]

Berry said:

no, it really isn't a good thread, because there are already about 10 of them on this topic in the last week. but posting on them wouldn't be good enough for you, you need the attention.

Berry said:

Prince is beyond being told no?

Aaron- Your on the insult bandwagon too huh?. I havent been out here [for some time] until tonite and I felt like starting a post...I felt like writing... i'm glad u have me all figured out

Berry said:

ON the insult bandwagon? i don't know where you've been sister, but i DRIVE the insult bandwagon


it's nice that you wanted to write. would have been nicer if you'd done some reading first. there are many many threads on this topic.

I don't have the time like some of you campers!

AaronForever said:

I for one am glad Berry began this thread. And maybe you feel differently than she (or I, or some others) may feel regading the topic of bootlegging or Prince's going after Matthew, but it would be great if you could debate the issues and state your feelings minus the personal slams against Berry.

AaronForever said:

True

Berry said:

Same thing for me and for many here, I guess.

They have to start somewhere...

Berry said:

Would you say it if "they" have started with you?

How? I don't have a website or access to boots?


And if Prince or anyone from NPG asked me to do something, I would definately consider the consequences if I didn't...I sure the hell wouldnt challenge a millionaire with an amazing legal team
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 23:19:17 PDT 2002 by Berry]