gopartyman said:

Thank guys for all the comments, usually most just receive stupid comments, but seems some are reading my message and seeing where I'm coming from. Please don't all get me wrong, I love Prince's work and will continue my obsession. I would not hesitate to do the same trip again, and will next year, to wherever it's happening.

Portions of the show sure were up to standard. I see one comment regarding the just short of 2 hour shows are 'standard' nowadays. Yes.... maybe for Ga Ga or Justin Bieber, as they just have little material, but Prince has so much to choose. I don't expect 4+ hours as the last show I saw in Melbourne, but seriously 1 hour and 14 minutes on the stage, no, don't cut it.

brussels last weekend 3 hrs, antwerp yesterday 2 hrs 15 min. guess i am a lucky man:-D

First, Prince is an artist that you must see him at least five times to get the best moment. One out of five is just nothing, three of them is better than all other artists and the fifth has got the energy and the passion or the personality, just choose. You cannot order that, one fine night alla the stars shine in the right direction and there he is - the Prince we know can move mountains, put fire to hearts and let tears drop.

Second, it was in Italy. It's a completely nutty country. I can understand why they didn't get the things to work. Since the roman emipre crashed, they have done nothing good, except for a few world cup football victories. Sorry all of you Italians, I've been to your country several times and something is very wrong there. I'm not coming back if I don't have to.

(Check out Sticky like glue from Amager bio Denmark. That was a moment to remember.)

I did not comment on the concert yet because I just don't like the P bashing going on here sometimes.

However, honestly, I also was a little dissapointed about the concert. Same issues as abovementioned, lighting, sound, feeble interaction with audiance in the first half of the concert, interaction between musicians seemed to exist of worshipping Prince and in stead of having fun making music together, and no horns; what's up with that?

Also, Shelby is a good singer, however I sensed her solo song was not received very positive, really was a showstopper and killed the atmosphere with most of audiance. She probably will get away with singing nothing compares 2 you....(do I remember correctly that she sing that song in Werchter?) Just didn't work for me. My standpoint on Shelby's performance: we'r here to hear P his musical talents, not for a gospel session of an unknown woman, no matter how good she sings.

I agree that the background singers did not spread an energetic vibe, however, that's really just a matter of taste. They just made me miss ROSIE! Really miss her powerfull voice and positive, enigmatic presence on stage.

Prince will be Prince; his guitar solo's are jawdropping amazingly mindblowing ecstatic! He's the best! His voice gives me the chills, sometimes it snows in April was superb, just as many other parts. And that was the issue; I thought it fluctuated during the show, went from amazing -to- no, what is this??? -to- WOW -to- Oh no -to- Great....

Was it just my impression or was the audiance this summer in Werchter and the audiance in Antwerpen largely Dutch?

fansince1983 said:

First, Prince is an artist that you must see him at least five times to get the best moment. One out of five is just nothing, three of them is better than all other artists and the fifth has got the energy and the passion or the personality, just choose. You cannot order that, one fine night alla the stars shine in the right direction and there he is - the Prince we know can move mountains, put fire to hearts and let tears drop.

Second, it was in Italy. It's a completely nutty country. I can understand why they didn't get the things to work. Since the roman emipre crashed, they have done nothing good, except for a few world cup football victories. Sorry all of you Italians, I've been to your country several times and something is very wrong there. I'm not coming back if I don't have to.

(Check out Sticky like glue from Amager bio Denmark. That was a moment to remember.)

Eh, as far as I understand, the president owns 99% of the media and has total control on all information the Italians receive by TV networks. Did you follow all his financial and sexual escapades and the way he designed Italian laws so he can't be hold liable? The people vote for him and let him get away with everything, Berluscone being re-elected really sursprised me. That might explain most disfunctioning? I'm just guessing

Nobody forced you to spend 5000€ on that.

dJJ said:

fansince1983 said:

First, Prince is an artist that you must see him at least five times to get the best moment. One out of five is just nothing, three of them is better than all other artists and the fifth has got the energy and the passion or the personality, just choose. You cannot order that, one fine night alla the stars shine in the right direction and there he is - the Prince we know can move mountains, put fire to hearts and let tears drop.

Second, it was in Italy. It's a completely nutty country. I can understand why they didn't get the things to work. Since the roman emipre crashed, they have done nothing good, except for a few world cup football victories. Sorry all of you Italians, I've been to your country several times and something is very wrong there. I'm not coming back if I don't have to.

(Check out Sticky like glue from Amager bio Denmark. That was a moment to remember.)

Eh, as far as I understand, the president owns 99% of the media and has total control on all information the Italians receive by TV networks. Did you follow all his financial and sexual escapades and the way he designed Italian laws so he can't be hold liable? The people vote for him and let him get away with everything, Berluscone being re-elected really sursprised me. That might explain most disfunctioning? I'm just guessing

This is getting silly......

eireboy34 said:

dJJ said:

Eh, as far as I understand, the president owns 99% of the media and has total control on all information the Italians receive by TV networks. Did you follow all his financial and sexual escapades and the way he designed Italian laws so he can't be hold liable? The people vote for him and let him get away with everything, Berluscone being re-elected really sursprised me. That might explain most disfunctioning? I'm just guessing

This is getting silly......

Well, if there's a country where you would encounter problems of different kinds, technical, public or whatever, Italy is the country where it happens. But never mind I drop the Italy subject and go back to my main point:

It takes five times the get the purple high. As well as the purple low... He's an artist simply, not a machine.

gopartyman said:

Where do I start.... please hang with me. OK, I am a crazy Prince nut.... having now just been to my 14^th show, this time in Rome, traveling a round trip of almost 32,000 km from Melbourne. Cost of the total journey for myself an the little lady was around 5000 EURO including flights, hotels and show tickets.

I have made many trips to Europe to see the man, The UK, Sweden etc. Plus numerous trips to Minneapolis/Paisley Park including June 7, 2008 50^th birthday bash at Cabooze and First Ave. So yes, I am qualified in this criticism of our man.

Well, the show in Rome. It was a RIP, BIG TIME.

Firstly, the start time. It was listed as 8.59pm. The show finally started at 9.38 after many technical issues, clearly in the booth there was a lot of frantic activity.... I was extremely worried as I knew from my research the PalaLottomatica (the stadium) has a 12:00 midnight curfew. Everyone out of the building by then. This meant the show had to be finished by 11.30, or there abouts.

Next. The technical issues. Lighting.... What the hell? How long was our man in the dark? There were some quite long periods where there were just no lights at all. Also, bad targeting of spots. There were 4 guys sitting atop the stage platform for the entire show, each one had control of a spot. They were just plain bad. Prince did 'Nothing compares to you' with one of the girls.... about 1 full minute Prince was in the dark!

The big screen. Anyone seeing excerpts of the show on YT will see there was a large cell in the center of the big screen that died at about 10:00. Just a big black square. The tech guys played, the screen came and went as they tried this and that, right to the end of the show, it was just a mess, and it never was repaired. I don't watch the screen, but the problem stood out like a sore thumb.

Princes guitar crapped out right at the start of (I think for memory) 1999, he went off stage, however from where I was, I could clearly see his silhouette in the darkened area off the side of the stage.. Drooped shoulders, possible 45 seconds he stood still, waiting for the replacement guitar to be handed to him. He really didn't look interested. His facial expressions showed total lack of interest for most of the night.

Next I must comment on the stage layout. We were front row of the lower balcony, maybe in the 4:30 position in relation to the stage. There were large speaker stacks on the stage to the sides. We could only just see half of JB slammin the skins. Could only see the top of Renato's head.... no bass player or 2^nd keyboardist. I have been to other concerts where the stage layout had been better planned! There was plenty of room on this one.

Next, the actual performance. Prince is a superstar. I took my wife to her first Prince concert after years of telling her that she'll just never understand until she sees. She loved it, but was disappointed by the set list and other issues mentioned. Not really a lot of thought went into it. No ballads? What??? I was expecting one as he pulls 'em off so well. Nothing from 20ten? Nothing!

Now, one thing that really pissed me off were the 3 woman. I don't know who they are, as I just don't care, I don't study these short stayers at all. They took up way way too much stage time. Prince should junk them and bring in a horn section. Where's Eric? Maceo? Cathy? Big hole in the stage. There were no Bass solos, really no drum or keyboard solo either. We have 3 on keys, but no horns, c'mon!

Getting back to the show start time. 9.38pm. At 11.22pm, “goodnight”. All the lights came on. The Romans just up and walked. No chanting “Encore”, nothing. Prince then came back a few minutes later with the one and only encore “Peach”. The stadium was fully lit. I know he was returning for this following info from other shows in the tour, plus watching the stage guys, I knew he was coming back. Did anyone realize how short the show time actually was? I had a stopwatch running the time Prince was on stage. 1 hour 14 minutes. That's it. The last time I saw Prince was in Melbourne in October 2003 (too long ago) the show was just over 4 hours.

So at 11:30, the show was over and the security guys came, 'get out'.... I like to watch the stage guys climbing the scaffolding set while I cool down, but not this time. My research was correct, game over, get out before 12:00 midnight

Really disappointed. Prince has the power to perform, but this was just sad. My wife says maybe it's because he's getting old.... I don't think so! He looks super fit to me!

Love to hear others comment on their experience.

I`m sorry to read that, man. You sound really dissapointed, and I understand why. The lighting was bad, and the bigscreen with "the black whole" in the middle was a chatastrophy. I (for the first time this tour) had a seat instead of a ticket in the pit, and I was really counting on the bigscreen to see that beautiful face... and then the bigscreen goes completely black. Come on!

I also knew that he was going to come back after the light was turned on, but I seemed to be the only one who cared. I had a couple sitting next to me and the guy was on his phone texting most of the concert? Everybody left quick.

I think you and your wife was out of luck with this one. The energy was low and the crowd gave nothing. Prince is always a proffessional, but this night was work for him. Not for fun.

The show in Milano the next day was completely different...

Tell the Mrs, he is not getting old to me it seems like our man is just getting younger.

gopartyman said:

Thank guys for the comments, I really just wanted to express my disappointment. The pointless reply comments I just don't understand. Nothing intelligent to say, please don't! Problem with the org.

With regard to Chiquetet's comments,

The lighting, no, I believe most of the problems were just that.... problems. Not just stage lights out, but the entire stadium in darkness. Seen enough Prince to see things weren't quite right.

As for the apparent lack of interest, again, may not have been that noticeable to the Roman crowd, but to a Prince fam, just that's what I saw. My wife commented too, unprompted at the show.

My wife loved the show, yes, but didn't quite measure up to her expectations. Her first real concert, and years of me saying how special his shows are.

I do know Shelby, she was just plain bad. Swap the girls for Horns! I do have Indigo nights, good work. Cathy, yes, sorry, Candy. However I do know she doesn't like to tour with him.

Now to follow on again with the bad crew problems, lighting, tech issues at the start, I'm talking probably from a value for money standpoint. Prince make huge money for these shows, HUGE. I expect nothing but the very best from all concerned in the execution of the show. In the past, this is what I've seen. It is up to him to select the team, the best team as he usually has. Seems to me, he's cutting costs.

One other point, the guitars! Where the cloud.... symbol or the lightning bolt? They're trademarks... be like going to a Kiss concert and not seeing Gene with the axe!

I do see the comments here from people going to the shows all over Europe etc., but just as I believe I have seen enough shows, after-shows and sound-checks to be a very qualified critic.

Just have to say. Shelby is NOT bad!!! She is 2 cool

That is why I would never spend that much money, as much as I love him, I just can't justify that amount of money for a concert.

I have spent reasonable amounts to go a few hundred kilometres to see him but nothing like $5k !!

When you mentioned taking your wife & she was disappointed with the show... This happened to me in July, I took my girlfriend all the way to Belguim (drove from london) and said "just wait and see" it was my 14th show too. It was pouring with rain and Larry Graham went on way too long (boring set). When Prince came on stage I just didn't feel that he was enjoying it. Probs my worst P concert and didn't really impress my girlfriend. Will take her to an aftershow at the next available opportunity.

Prince has still got it though....have you heard LE NEW MORNING and VIAGE 2????

I'm guessing you are not purchasing foot spray & a ticket NYC then lol?
[Edited 11/12/10 0:28am]

gopartyman said:

Where do I start.... please hang with me. OK, I am a crazy Prince nut.... having now just been to my 14^th show, this time in Rome, traveling a round trip of almost 32,000 km from Melbourne. Cost of the total journey for myself an the little lady was around 5000 EURO including flights, hotels and show tickets.

Are we sure we are converting correctly here?
Are we sure that couldn't have been done more cheaply?

Well, the show in Rome. It was a RIP, BIG TIME.

Firstly, the start time. It was listed as 8.59pm. The show finally started at 9.38 after many technical issues, clearly in the booth there was a lot of frantic activity.... I was extremely worried as I knew from my research the PalaLottomatica (the stadium) has a 12:00 midnight curfew. Everyone out of the building by then. This meant the show had to be finished by 11.30, or there abouts.

I see a lot of interpretation here.

Next. The technical issues. Lighting.... What the hell? How long was our man in the dark? There were some quite long periods where there were just no lights at all. Also, bad targeting of spots. There were 4 guys sitting atop the stage platform for the entire show, each one had control of a spot. They were just plain bad. Prince did 'Nothing compares to you' with one of the girls.... about 1 full minute Prince was in the dark!

I hear music. I might see Prince.
Did you read about the Milano show start?

The big screen. Anyone seeing excerpts of the show on YT will see there was a large cell in the center of the big screen that died at about 10:00. Just a big black square. The tech guys played, the screen came and went as they tried this and that, right to the end of the show, it was just a mess, and it never was repaired. I don't watch the screen, but the problem stood out like a sore thumb.

And it was fixed in Milano; I asked the guys, they did not hav any idea what was the cause.

She loved it, but was disappointed by the set list and other issues mentioned. Not really a lot of thought went into it. No ballads? What??? I was expecting one as he pulls 'em off so well. Nothing from 20ten? Nothing!

The whole scandinavia-etc leg lacked 20ten material.
Only at the aftershow(s) he did some.
Ballads are a taste thing.

Now, one thing that really pissed me off were the 3 woman. I don't know who they are,

Their names were mentioned quite a lot and they have been around a while.
Please show more respect.

as I just don't care, I don't study these short stayers at all.

Shelby has been along since at least 2007.

They took up way way too much stage time.

Did you see Nude?

I had a stopwatch running the time Prince was on stage. 1 hour 14 minutes. That's it. The last time I saw Prince was in Melbourne in October 2003 (too long ago) the show was just over 4 hours.

P routinely plays 4 hour shows.
And you mean that he as onstage for 4 hours?

So at 11:30, the show was over and the security guys came, 'get out'.... I like to watch the stage guys climbing the scaffolding set while I cool down, but not this time. My research was correct, game over, get out before 12:00 midnight

Really disappointed. Prince has the power to perform, but this was just sad. My wife says maybe it's because he's getting old.... I don't think so! He looks super fit to me!

Love to hear others comment on their experience.

You gambled and you lost.
You should have researched a bit more.
You should have been a lot less demanding.
This enables more enjoyment.
Take the Milano show for example (one day later).
You sound a bit spoiled with just a few shows under your belt. How come?
Who'd plunk down 5000 euro for just one show?
So why did you?
And forget about teh show the next day?
Etc.

Response to udo, firstly yes, 5000 Euro is correct, I'm a company director so the funds are not of concern. Could have been done more cheaply, yes, but I like to spoil! With regards to ballads, I understand it's a taste thing, but I, like many, appreciate the highs and lows in regard to pace, where Prince can change it in a flash. This show was seriously linear.

The 3 woman, yes, I do know the names, now, but they are just annoying. We pay to see Prince. If he thinks it cool to add these back-up singers, one song only please! Shelby was really not appreciated at all by the crowd. Big hole was the lack of horns....

With regard to the other shows, just no time. We have business to attend! It was a short lead in time to arrange. I bought the tix before the NYC shows were announced. Even these I wouldn't attend simply as it's a mixed bag show. Larry Graham, not for me thanks!

that was a lot of cash to spend & all the way from oz?!!

that's dedication, & its a shame you had a bad experience, that sux

u spent sooo much money, took sooooooooooo much effort, did u go to milan?? WTF!

milan was the next day?..

it might have gone some way to fix the previous gig. you could have got tix & internal flights for around 200 euro, not much more of a dent when u already forked out 5000?

[Edited 11/13/10 11:34am]

I have seen more than 100 shows by the man. There was NEVER a bad one!!!!

Only bad audience - like in Sheffield - where prince asked wheter the crowd was missing their remote controlls. So maybe YOU had a very bad day.

gopartyman said:

Response to udo, firstly yes, 5000 Euro is correct, I'm a company director so the funds are not of concern.

Why then name them?

Could have been done more cheaply, yes, but I like to spoil!

Why then name the money at all?

With regards to ballads, I understand it's a taste thing, but I, like many, appreciate the highs and lows in regard to pace, where Prince can change it in a flash. This show was seriously linear.

The setlist was in line with most if not all of the 'scandinavia' -leg of the 20ten shows and maybe even somewhat with the summer 20ten shows.

The 3 woman, yes, I do know the names, now, but they are just annoying.

They were present at all shows in 2010 and I remmeber them even from 2009.

You could have been warned.

We pay to see Prince.

He's a musician. So let's put the sounds first.

If he thinks it cool to add these back-up singers, one song only please! Shelby was really not appreciated at all by the crowd. Big hole was the lack of horns....

He hasn't had horns in his band in 2009 and 2010. The last time I recall was 1993 or so.

With regard to the other shows, just no time. We have business to attend!

If one day is so critical... Why then travel to the other side of the globe? Travel costs time as well.

It was a short lead in time to arrange. I bought the tix before the NYC shows were announced. Even these I wouldn't attend simply as it's a mixed bag show. Larry Graham, not for me thanks!

The european shows are a rehearsal for the USA shows he said in interviews.

I seen Prince 112 times most of the time in the front row.All my aftershowes I have always been in the front row.Shit happens at these shows.U must b ready 4 anything!

How do I did in the front row at aftershowes-I wait for 12-18 hours any weather!I race triathon for the past 20 years-So standing or sit somewhere is EASY!

I love every NOTE the man makes!