One more thing about the soundcheck – a fifty-something guy dressed in a shabby silver/grey suit showed up with his guitar and Prince was kind enough to take a back seat and invite the guy up on-stage to show his chops playing with the band. Once the guy got onstage he proceeded to jam on exactly the same riff for a couple of minutes. I was in the second row and could see Prince exchange arched-eyebrow glances with Candy as the guy continued to play the same riff over and over again.

The funny thing was that at the end, the guy tried to give Prince a tape of his music. Some people in the crowd started shouting ‘no’ when they saw the tape appear (we’d all obviously read the Divinity thread). I held my breath as I waited to see how P would handle this. In fact, he was very cool – he whispered something into the guy’s ear and after 15 seconds, the guy got the message and picked up his tape and left.

Interesting afternote: during the actual concert, Prince made a funny comment – something like: “I’m now going to do my guitar solo – the same notes over and over again”. It sounded like a wicked reference to the guy at the soundcheck – did anyone else notice this? A great soundcheck/ show/ aftershow – it’s nice to see Prince look so happy and see him act so graciously toward his fans. The music was truly astounding – reminded me a lot of parade-era Prince; the band has a magnificent organic sound, and the New York crowd gave him a great reception.

The funniest moment of the concert was when P stopped the band during the concert because he didn’t think the crowd were feeling it enough; he then looked out at the audience and said: “Do you know who I am?” in a Morris Day style voice. Priceless.

" ... P stopped the band during the concert because he didn’t think the crowd were feeling it enough; he then looked out at the audience and said: “Do you know who I am?” in a Morris Day style voice ..."

Hahaaaaa! I LUV IT!!!

shane said:

That's what I'M TALKIN' BOUT!!!!! GO, BOY!!! :LOL:

border=0 height=80 width=80 alt='violectrica got their NeoPet at http://www.neopets.com>

I hope that guitar man doesn't start a thread here bitching about how Prince didn't want his tape.
And if he does, he better not bring up an irrelevant disability!

I am the man that was on stage last night & boy am I upset Prince didn't want my tape. I am handicapped, because I dress like Chuck Berry & Prince made me cry. He also felt up my woman.

I don't believe that Prince's later reference to himself playing the same notes over and over again had anything to do with the other gentleman who was given the huge oppty to jam. I think he said this during "rollercoaster" where all he had to do indeed was play the same riff over and over and over again. Mmmmmm.....I NEVER KNEW I WOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH THE REDUDANT!!!! I too held my breath not so much when the tape was handed to him but when the man's wife started taking pictures. I almost drowned in my own gulp and was getting ready to move from the 3rd row to the last so that I wouldn't get caught up in any potential crossfire! But he DID say toward the end of the show, after singing Purple Rain, even after the beginning of the show where he reassured everyone "last I checked it's not 1984 so if you wanna Purple Rain take a walk out the door" that "change is good".....and Prince's smooth and calm reaction to the picture/tape "no-no" a clear indication that he is a new man and is in newly found harmony with the universe. Don't get me wrong, not a green light to start snappin' pics.

PRINCE, YES A NEW YORK CITY CONCERT WAS LONG OVERDUE
FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER 9/11, I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE SET TO DO
WELL WE REALLY DID GET IT AND FOR THAT I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU!

actually it was during 'pass the peas' and i dont think it was a reference to the soundcheck guy. i thought it was phucked up that dude had his wife take the pix after Prince let him get up there and do his thing.

shane said:

This wasn't a jab at that guy. He went on to say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" referring to how perfect the guitar riff is for "Pass The Peas".

Too bad about the "Divinity" guitar player. I don't know who he was, but the dude that took the stage during soundcheck Atlanta 4/4 was SMOKIN'! I mean damn good. Prince even asked him if he had his own band and the guy said yes and requested to play at the Celebration. Can't remember the name of his band, but I know he got it from a Prince lyric. Yes, it was "Dishwater Blonde". If they're all as good as he was, look 4 them. Wonder if the guy reads the org?

Also at the soundcheck, Prince sat behind everybody in the middle of the theater for Extraordinary and Joy in Repitition. He made a comment when two young women walked by (as if he were them) "Girl, that ain't Prince!." He was pretty funny the whole time!

shane said:

Sheesh! When will these stupid idiots ever learn not to do stuff like this??? Do they need a brick house to fall on them so that they get the message? Message to all: PRINCE DOES NOT WANT YOUR MUSIC!!!!!

.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 19 5:38:04 PDT 2002 by luvy]

The Lakeland Legend grows..

IrishEcho said:

ROFLMAO!!!!! I busted out laughing when I read that. Too damn funny!

A couple of other funny things at the concert: Prince asked a guy in the front row if he wanted to be a follower or a leader - the guy replied 'a follower' so Prince told him to follow him up onstage - the guy sat down on some cushions and P said that he was going to play a guitar solo just for him and he proceeded to do just that. Also, during another song, Prince accepted flowers from a very cute girl in a skintight dress and then brought her onstage and started slow-dancing with her - she was crying her eyes out as he was twirling her around. It was very cute.

You know, this thread goes against every "Prince is such a fuckwad!!" post....

So what gives, is Prince a fuckwad who's undeserving of fan support, or is he the calm, funny, very human person portrayed in most of these posts on this thread??...I wanna know whether I should go to the concert pissed off or happy to see him...

1
[This message was edited Wed May 15 21:01:28 PDT 2002 by ChickenLittle]

I think people's experiences at the concerts are tempered by a few things - did they manage to get good seats, were things organized, was Prince 'on' that night? For me, the answer to all three was yes - if I was in the 15th row on the side, I'm sure I wouldn't have enjoyed the concert as much. Someone said before that with Prince, it's either feast or famine and there's definitely some truth there. In NY, he seemed very gracious and the crowd seemed to respond to him in a positive way. At this stage, we all know the set list so it all comes down to what version of Prince is your favorite - if you like the dancing, fornicating Prince of old, then you're going to be disappointed. If you accept the fact that he's changed but is still making some great music then you'll enjoy yourself. Either way, P definitely seems alot more humble and at ease with himself and his fans than he has ever been and the chance to see him at a soundcheck should not be missed. That's my two cents.

ChickenLittle said:

I had a very different experience in NYC - sorry to hear about what happened in Chicago - I'm also a little surprised that things went so badly for the members - I always thought Prince loved playing in Chicago.

ChickenLittle said:

The preferred seating arrangement happened in part becaues of what happened in Chicago...so it wasn't a "hit or miss" thing...

ChickenLittle said:

A set full of covers at the Chicago gigs? Those 3 different Chicagoans that told me about it lied!

Supernova said:

LoL...and it's the exact same set of covers on the other tour stops...not to mention that I didn't realize our $100 would guarantee no covers performed while on tour...then again, Prince NEVER does cover material on tour...








....sheddup...
[This message was edited Thu Apr 11 14:43:36 PDT 2002 by wellbeyond]

a
[This message was edited Wed May 15 21:02:35 PDT 2002 by ChickenLittle]

z
[This message was edited Wed May 15 21:03:14 PDT 2002 by ChickenLittle]

Somebody forgot to take his prosac.

z
[This message was edited Wed May 15 21:00:56 PDT 2002 by ChickenLittle]

aw that was a nice story about Prince taking the flowers from that girl and then slowdancing with her on stage...

lucky girl.

psychodelicide said:

I wish a "brick house" would fall on me!!

LOL!!!!