http://www.reuters.com/ar...QZ20090329

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Funk rocker Prince blasted a concert promotion giant for its poor sound equipment as he struggled to perform three concerts in one night at separate venues in Los Angeles.
The man who once sang about traveling "Around the World in a Day," shuttled among three venues on Saturday at a new downtown entertainment complex operated by AEG Live.

But his ambitious promotion for an upcoming album hit a snag soon after he hit the stage at the 7,100-capacity Nokia Theater. He had problems with the monitors, and constant pleas to the venue's crew to fix them never had much impact.

"This is my celebration. I don't care what goes wrong," he said midway through the 90-minute set, before scrunching up his nose in disgust.

The second show, at the 1,100-capacity Conga Room, began with a five-minute soundcheck and lasted about an hour. Each of the shows was promoted as being "full-length."

The third show, scheduled to begin at midnight, kicked off an hour late as Prince and his crew grappled with sound issues, forcing fans to wait in a long line outside the 2,300-capacity Club Nokia. He began the show before many entered the venue.

Toward the end of the show, he mentioned a few AEG executives by name, and told fans to complain to them about the buzzing speakers.

"I came to see Alicia Keys here, and it was the worst sound I've ever heard," Prince said, noting that the AEG had spent plenty of money on seating and lighting.

"If you fix the sound, I'll be here every night, and I'll do it for free."

Prince played most of his hits, like "1999," "Kiss" and "Let's Go Crazy," at the first show, which was attended by celebrities like basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. The set lists and the bands were different for each show.

Prince's new album, the three-disc set "Lotusflow3r," will be released on Sunday exclusively at big-box retailer Target Corp and on his Web site.

Officials at AEG did not reply to a late-night email seeking reaction to Prince's criticisms. The firm is owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz.

Papaj said:

Thanks

Poor prince, Wanted to bring lots of entertainment to the people and the damn engineers fucked up

He should have played "In A Large Room With No Sound"

blacksweat said:

thanks

I think it's cool that Prince didn't ignore the sound issues and is just as pissed as the fans are.

Still playing the hits then.

swanny said:

Actually, check out the complete setlist....Dude was pulling out stuff he hasn't played in years....

Think I might have to speak to some of the peeps I know over at AEG on Monday

murph said:

I seen it. And there are plenty on there. He is the Cher of touring for men.

Fair review thanks

This is why I always stay away from the 1st few weeks of Showes.If you rember back at Vegas there were lots of Problems at the start.I know Prince is going to keep up with this LA stay.I will travel soon!AS The showes go on less hype will b around and True fans will be able to Hear and see every NOTE.

swanny said:

-----
Stop being ignorant. Plenty of hits as well as rarely played gems. Seems he tried to do something for everyone. No idioit is going to do a whole concert of rare songs.

I went to the Nokia last month to see Tina Marie & The Time.While Tina was performing there was a MAJOR sound issue!So it is not just with Prince!Nokia needs to get their sound guys/system together!!!!Get with it!And yes I have a bone to pick with Prince for performing those songs at the Nokia Club without me & 2 have Chaka!Grrrrr!BUt I still love the man!Just crying over missing the shows!lmao Thanks for the reports

laurarichardson said:

Who's ignorant? Its Prince who peddles out the "playing the hits for the last time" mantra and before you blame the promotor for that too, please note Prince said it himself on Leno before the Musicology tour.

Yet here we are again with 1999, Lets go Crazy, Kiss etc etc.

Stop getting yer knickers damp thinking about Prince and look at the facts for once.

swanny said:

I believe he said that about the hits in London...we are now in the U.S....HELLO.
And befor you tell people to get their facts right...get urs right!!
You need togo change your knickers cuz they smell.

swanny said:

Prince said there were SOME hits that would no longer be played. How in the world could he not play any ever again? The casual fans would be disappointed and with so many 'hits', that cuts out a big part of the catalog, many of which even the regulars would still like to hear. Even now, people are complaining about the last show's setlist, because it was the more obscure stuff.

swanny said:

Nah...you could not have looked at the set list...lol....Because I didn't see a bunch of hits...In fact, the LA Times review of those shows made it a point to say Prince did a lot of obscure songs and album cuts...I mean when was the last time he played these songs live?:

if i was your girlfriend
Empty Room
Under The Cherry Moon
Dreaming Of U
Lay U're Hands On Me
The Sun, The Moon And Stars
Sometimes It Snows In April
I Like it There
I Love U But I Don’t Trust U Anymore
She Spoke To Me
Chaos & Disorder
A Large Room With No Light
I'm Yours (from the first Prince album...He hasn't done this song in over 25 plus years...lol)
Scandalous


And all this was done with left field covers like Elvis' "All shook Up" (folks are saying that he injected soul into this one...) and a smart cover of Jimi's "Spanish Magic.."along with some of the "hits" and new songs...

Again, there is nothing wrong with having smart criticism about Prince....People catch too much shit on this site for attempting to have a strong debate about the man...

But when folks like yourself start posting up stuff that's just not true (this is not about whether or not you liked the performance...This is about posting bullshit just to make a few Sonny & Cher jokes...lol...but in order for it to be funny in this instance, it has to be truthful...and you are full of shit...Ha!) it gives the folks who are sincerely critical of Prince on this board a bad name...

murph said:

Switch your brain on.

NOKIA Theater
old skool company
crimson and clover
1999
I Feel 4 U
controversy
shhh
if i was your girlfriend
kiss
play that funky music
Hollywood Swinging
Harmonica solo
Prince speech about loving one another
Come Together
Purple Rain
Lets Go Crazy
The Bird
Jungle Love
The Glamourous Life with Sheila E!!!!!


Yeah there really are no hits there? And why are you having a pop at me? I never said I wouldn't play the hits again and then promptly did?

metallicjigolo said:

Check your facts before posting. He said it as part of the promotion of the Musicology tour.

Why would he be on Leno promoting a tour in London anyway. Like duh!!!!

Serena said:

Funny that. I see people moaning that he played Lets Go Crazy. But whatever suits your argument eh.

swanny said:

Still stuck in 2001-2004 eh? He hasn't said that since then.

Boy, you ____ really do love to hanggg onto the past. I think if you were in the states you would fit the bill for a die-hard Republican.

xlr8r said:

So the posters in London 2007 promoting the shows as the last chance to hear the hits were in my imagination then?

Oh I get it! That sneaky promotor put that on without Prince noticing.

Get you facts straight before posting bollocks as fact.

swanny said:

He played in the U.S. last night last I heard


If he goes to the UK and plays all hits then talk shit. Get YOUR facts straight.

swanny said:

I'm popping at you because you were making it seem like dude did a shit load of hits and leaned heavy on those hits for the sake of making a funny joke (again, the Sonny & Cher shit was funny...But it was steeped in BS....lol)

Posting up a few hits from the first show underlines this point...He played just six songs that can really be considered "hits"....

Again, I've seen set list for Prince shows in the past where he was leaning heavy on the hits...But I can't find anything right with complaining about shows in which the man plays obscure songs like "I'm Yours.."...But there is no one else on this site complaining about Prince doing the "hits" to the degree u r doing... When he's giving you "In A Large Room With No Light" complaining makes little sense....
[Edited 3/29/09 14:01pm]

murph said:

You do realize your posting to swanny-nigel swan. He is like OKP's maxxx regarding Prince/R Kelly murph.

Dont even bother.

xlr8r said:

Oh geezus, I didn't realize that. Now I recognize the bitter 'attitude for attitude's sake' bit. Thanks for the tip, it'll save me the aggravation!

xlr8r said:

At least Maxxx is up on his Prince....

murph said:

Lou.

Sounds like a shame about the acoustics or tech probs, must be very dissapointing for a musician, were any of these probs very apparant from within the house sound?