Is anyone out there finding the unbelievable Prince craze sweeping London right now a little kinda weird?

It's just that for the past 4 years, I've been such a closet Prince fan, enjoying his entire back catalogue on my iPOD (rarely listening to anything else), watching the movies Purple Rain and Under The Cherry Moon, and his concert DVDs, all rather covertly because telling someone you like Prince (the last 5-10 years) results in you being looked at almost like a leper!

My sisters always tease me about it.

But now, all of a sudden, I'm not the black sheep anymore. I'm not the 'different' guy. Suddenly, the entire city are in love with Prince. Posters on the Tube, London newspapers, the television news, the BBC, morning television - everywhere is alive with Prince! People want tickets.

It's just kind of a weird feeling suddenly having to share our idol with the entire nation who up until recently were happy just to take the p*ss out of him.

I remember people frowning on me when they saw the cover of "Lovesexy". Nah, Prince doesn't do that kind of stuff anymore.

I think its good that hes getting the respect he deserves from more people for his music. The more the merrier..as they say.
Im sure hes happy with raking in all the Cash he must be getting too haha.

I must be hangin out with the wrong people ! Here's my story...

I'm 28 I love Prince's old stuff more than his new. Whenever I tell anyone I like Prince they say 'oh thats interesting' or take a pop at my musical taste. I bought 10 tickets over 3 dates thinking some people would love to go see him with me. But I was so wrong ! After emailing 7-8 mates NONE of them said they wanted to see him ! I then had to sell 5 of my tickets on Ebay it got that bad !

My current situation is I am going to one concert on my own (3rd Aug) then my sister out of pity is coming with me on Sep 16th and I might have to find a concert buddy on here to come with me for the final show on the 21st Sep.

Its a sad state of affairs I'm telling you ! I might be advertising for a concert buddy on here nearer to 21st Sep (BLOCK 110 Row G) so keep a look out folks !
[Edited 8/2/07 14:55pm]

maceoparker007 said:

Dude, I'm going on my own the 1st time, then on my own the 2nd time (VIP), then 3third time I'm going with my 2 sisters (both excited actually cause of all the hype. Annoyed though cause I booked my little sister's ticket just the other day, and she's ended up with a better seat than me!!

Now everybody wants to be Prince's best friend.

lol even if i didnt like Prince i'd still take a free ticket
(that is if you were offering the tickets to your friends for free)
Even if you don't particularly like Prince its still good music to dance to and what not.

When has Prince ever been underground??

You should just make a t-shirt saying "I liked Prince before the London hype" if it means that much to you.

ps. I had to go on my own to the opening night because no one else fancied it. Strange! My wife is coming with me on the 7th Aug, again, it's kind of a pity thing because she felt sorry for me travelling to London and staying over night on my own.

Going on my own on the 14th Aug too. What a looser!!!

Yeah maybe thats where I'm going wrong should have offered them for free

Guess money dont matter 2nite....Hey I ain't got no money but I'm rich on personality !...

kitkatb said:

Can I just say... thanks to all of you!

I too am going on my own, and I thought I was a right sad Billy-no-Mates until I heard there are others like me! Over the years I have used friends as companions to Prince gigs, ever since Nude in '90. At last count, it was 11 people I had dragged along. Not one came to more than 1 show until I met my wife who came to JOTY '98 and then ONA in 2002 - that one nearly resulted in divorce as I dragged her to the 3rd row for the soundcheck, then she had the cheek to say that she did not want to go to the aftershow, and did not want me to go either! I ask you... Granted, she was 7.5 months pregnant, but it was an aftershow at the Marquee!
Anyway, did not go to the aftershow, am still married, and aforementioned wife will not come to see Prince again. I, however, will...

Neli said:

There's your answer Take the kid

great story ! Well welcome to the club..Prince fans unite, seeing him live just has to be done with or without friends/partners/wives/husbands.

Neli said:

jarvis76 said:

Cheers mate, got 3 of them now - just a bit young to see the man yet. Their time will come...

maceoparker007 said:

There has definitely been a sea change in opinion. For ONA 5 years ago, 4 friends (including my girlfriend at the time) came along.

This time around I have 20+ friends coming to various dates. I think the ticket price helps. If the tickets were £70 or £80, I think half those people would pull out. But then again, they've all bought aftershow tickets aswell, so they're spending £60+ each.

Neli said:

I took my 8 year old nephew last night, and he LOVED the show. About an hour in he asked me how long was left. I said, "It's up to Prince but probably about an hour and a half". His reply was, "ONLY an hour and a half. Are you sure? It has to be more!"

It was also my 14 year old brother's first concert (he's not really into music) and he said it "made quite an impression" on him. Which I took as a positive.

Well, I hope he comes to Phoenix...I already have two friends lined up to go with...and they don't like Prince at all...but I'm just so excited at the thought of seeing him live that they want to be there...

...no, I was stupid and did not go to Vegas...instead I went to Europe for a month...only so much cash to go around...I should have shortened that trip by a week and gone...

I actually *PREFER* to go on my own to a concert than drag a non-fan with me just for the sake of having some company.

There's nothing worse than having a relative or friend standing next you throughout the concert. You wanna go crazy and dance, while they stand there like a zombie cause they don't know any of the songs and just aren't into it enough.

That's why I tend to go on my own to concerts nowadays.

I see your point.....but you always get alot of people jumping on the bandwagon when an artist suddenly becomes popular again! I think its pretty easy to tell the genuine fans from the dodgy ones though.

Still it is nice that Prince is finally getting the props in the media that ne deserves! Just be happy that you're one of the ones who was ahead of the crowd in recoginising what a talent he is!

Totally with you, Dave on this. I really relish going to things on my own as it's just a total adventure and you can't get bored. I'm pretty shy but when you go to a gig or a club by yourself, it's pretty usual to end up talking with somebody anyway. I don't see too many people also on their own but always find that somebody will include me in if I'm standing close to their crowd because, you know, that's what going out (as opposed to staying in) is all about, isn't it?
I used to go to gigs and clubs with dates, friends etc but after the nth time of having to leave early just to keep tight with whoever suddenly decided after admission was paid for, that they were hungry, tired or that the place was no good (whenever I was diggin' it), I just made a firm decision to go solo from there on in and haven't regretted it once. I know people like to share experiences but I have to admit that I like to have experiences that are just, like, MINE!!
My girlfriend (about 8 years younger and from Japan) had never really heard of Prince and didn't recognise any songs so I was hoping she'd refuse the offer of a ticket because I didn't want to have to stand listening to her say 'It's too loud' or 'I can't see him' or 'When does it finish?' lol. Luckily she did which, of course, allowed me to buy another ticket for another show. Hee hee.

I did have a Prince girlfriend just before her (something of a legend on the Prince boards so shall be nameless) and it would have been really cool if we'd gone together to a Prince gig but unfortunately he wasn't touring at the time.

Meanwhile, it'll be a groove to be surrounded by Prince maniacs and I'm looking forward to striking up new friendships with whoever I meet!

DaveDare79 said: