Reading some of these reviews of the first show I'm 'glad' it wasn't just me - the voice sounded distorted too and I enjoyed watching the girls of the band more than him...never thought I'd say it but I'm glad it's done now and out if the way.

By the numbers is correct...he looked thoroughly bored like his manager was pimping him out against his will. Maybe he was embarrassed by the position he's found himself in....it's been a shambles so far


And I wish my hearing would come back and they'd stop ringing and whistling
[Edited 2/17/14 5:56am]

rolyateel said:

Did anyone catch Prince's "flashing-light-in-the-heel" shoes?

Sort of thing my 4yr old son points at in the shoe shop!

Made me think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...TnCtcvr384

He wore flashy light trainers at some of the O2 shows too. So cute.

HoneyMonster said:

ThePartyman said:

I had a similar problem during parts of the SBE gig.

Ha! It's Donna for me. She made me feel kinda funny yesterday.

Me too. She was incredible. I'm ever so slightly in love.

ParadigmShift said:

And let's stop blaming his manager. She is simplay a facilitator. Prince makes the decisions, and she's there to carry them out.

Totally agree.

djfine said:

seems that the difference between the 2 Sunday was £60 and the difference between the 2 gigs THIS Sunday was 15 Songs; first gig of 11 hour Queuers were treated to 19 songs, 2 of which they had to refuse to leave for until Prince had no choice but to come back...and the second show got 34 tracks

Ppenguin said:

djfine said:

Totally agree.

seems that the difference between the 2 Sunday was £60 and the difference between the 2 gigs THIS Sunday was 15 Songs; first gig of 11 hour Queuers were treated to 19 songs, 2 of which they had to refuse to leave for until Prince had no choice but to come back...and the second show got 34 tracks

My moan! Well I was always planning to go to show 3 and during the day kept an eye on twitter to make sure it wasnt cancelled. And it was reconfirmed late in the evening. I drove down from Chester to see it and arrived at 2315.

As you all know now for the last few encores we were ushered into the venue and not charged. You may think we are exceptionally lucky but we were pretty much thrown down the stairs to the back where we couldnt see a damn thing and had a few songs either side of the encore break.

KOKO looked like it was too full from my perspective - squeezing another 200 people in was uncomfortable.

Of course we can say its unpredictable and there are no guarantees but I guess this is the problem with this type of tour. YOu can cancel anything at a whim, no refunds, no hassle.

I am usually very positive about Prince and normally defend these things but this was just not a nice solution. Several people I was with had travelled long distances to hear 10mins......

DoMeBaby69 said:

funkysingh said:

In total agreement, this has put me off going to any more of these hit and run gigs. Good luck to those trying to get in for the next.

I've been into Prince since 1986 and first saw him live in 1988. I've seen him every time he's been in London since and also went once to see him in Paris. I've not seen him this time round though. Not even tempted. This whole "guerilla gig" format is not for me. Too much "chaos and disorder". Release tickets in advance and I'll be first in line.

Careful there...you're showing your age

/

Must admit, the more I read about the tour, the more put off I am....the ones that queue the longest get the shortest show, the sound problems in small venues, the poor view unless you're 6ft plus (I'm a mere 5ft11 damn it!), the people shoving in the queue, the drunk / elbowing / rude people inside the venues, the miss-information, the weird price ranges.

/

I don't remember any of this being an issue back in 2007, but I guess that's the difference between an organised arena residency and a hit and run "tour"....

I just don't think they can have it both ways.

They can charge £10, and then its a bit pot luck. If you dip out, wekll, its still going to be a 90 odd minute show for £10.

Or they can charge £70 and give everyone a consistent show of 2 hours plus.

But it is a little unfair to charge £70 and then short change some people, not only compared to other people paying £70, but also cpompared to people who did only pay £10.

Especially when these are the people getting their earliest an queuing the longest.

From Nick Grimshaw's Instagram, from last night:

💜BISHES LIKE PRINCE💜 @ritaora @iamnaomicampbell

He was at Shepards Bush Empire, in the Standing area too ! Big fan I think.

johngordon said:

I just don't think they can have it both ways.

They can charge £10, and then its a bit pot luck. If you dip out, wekll, its still going to be a 90 odd minute show for £10.

Or they can charge £70 and give everyone a consistent show of 2 hours plus.

But it is a little unfair to charge £70 and then short change some people, not only compared to other people paying £70, but also cpompared to people who did only pay £10.

Especially when these are the people getting their earliest an queuing the longest.

Yeah I agree with that. People qing from 7am deserved better than that. I think the refusal to leave actually stopped the 3rd show. I think the intent was 3 short shows back to back. It was always gonna end in tears!!

Having said that, I'll be up qing again next week if something is announced cos I still havent seen a full electric set yet and my ears still function

DaveT said:

I'm afraid I only come here when the Prince storm is hitting England, but there were loads of similar complaints in 2007. Variable sound at different points in the main arena, people with expensive tickets being hidden behind the drums while latecomers like me hoovered up the prime tickets at bargain prices, setlists being the same, shows varying wildly in length and intensity, aftershow no-shows with poor communication with the venue, panicky pushy aggressive audiences etc.

And it was amazing.

This tour obviously has it's own perils and problems. But it's also amazing, and quite different from 2007.

Not saying that a little bit better organisation and communication wouldn't be welcome, but I do think it's easy to dwell on any problems and get all miserable about things.

I rather like never knowing quite what you're going to get (or even if you're going to get anything.)

Long may it run! Hope there's more to come.

Ppenguin said:

Reading some of these reviews of the first show I'm 'glad' it wasn't just me - the voice sounded distorted too and I enjoyed watching the girls of the band more than him...never thought I'd say it but I'm glad it's done now and out if the way. By the numbers is correct...he looked thoroughly bored like his manager was pimping him out against his will. Maybe he was embarrassed by the position he's found himself in....it's been a shambles so far And I wish my hearing would come back and they'd stop ringing and whistling [Edited 2/17/14 5:56am]

I'm so glad others feel like this too...

I was at the first show last night & really did feel like he was just going through the routine, almost felt rushed.

It was also the first time in a long time that I wasn't right down the front (Hop Farm, Malahide, Montreux was within a few feet) so it also felt different for me. I queued from 12pm & was number 641, but by the time I got in all of the good spots were taken & watched from one of the balconies. Such a long day with the queuing & felt knackered when I got home.

I'm just glad I made it to one of the 'secret' shows & can return to normal life again, the anxiety of the last couple of weeks & the feeling of missing out was just too much!!

Good luck at the shows tonight, I know people have been there 14 hours already!!!

james said:

And there's your reason why we were rushed out to make way for a second show...his msnager's address book had turned up and were ready. Bev Knight, Rita Ora, Naomi Campbell and Grim Grimshaw all conveniently at the longest show

Ppenguin said:

james said:

From Nick Grimshaw's Instagram, from last night:

💜BISHES LIKE PRINCE💜 @ritaora @iamnaomicampbell

He was at Shepards Bush Empire, in the Standing area too ! Big fan I think.

And there's your reason why we were rushed out to make way for a second show...his msnager's address book had turned up and were ready. Bev Knight, Rita Ora, Naomi Campbell and Grim Grimshaw all conveniently at the longest show

You are spot on there my friend

want another kick in the teeth...£70 for a KOKO 1st show rush job for 1500 fans

Ronnie Scotts is £35 for a 3hr slot....absolutely disgraceful exploitation

Ppenguin said:

want another kick in the teeth...£70 for a KOKO 1st show rush job for 1500 fans Ronnie Scotts is £35 for a 3hr slot....absolutely disgraceful exploitation

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

tashbootlegs said:

TracyTracy said:

basically loads of pushing and growling, she had a purple lead coming out of her earpiece and a note book, i wasn't sure for ages whether she worked at the venue or something but i don't think she did. she had a go at me for putting my arms in the air at the beginning and then pushed another girl really roughly loads of times. she didn't seem to be enjoying herself much though

Sounds like a typical London crowd

Hi Tracy - It's Andy from the queue. Nice meeting you and I hope you enjoyed the show despite... I was fuirther forward from you and encountered the same 'lady' She was trying to push to the front and someone objected. She then got SO self-righteous and claimed she was 'press' so needed to be at the front. Her friend argument was, 'does it look like we're at the front? well then, let us through' They were so rudely agressive, I intervened with 'why are you ruining it?' argument, and eventually she gave up and fortuneatly (for us) she moved back. Really in your face agressive though.

Loved the show. Loudest ever standing justr under the stack of speakers. And lovely to meet you. Remember 1399/1400 Prince fans are great.

egansmind said:

Ppenguin said:

want another kick in the teeth...£70 for a KOKO 1st show rush job for 1500 fans Ronnie Scotts is £35 for a 3hr slot....absolutely disgraceful exploitation

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

Cant see your problem, you had a choice, pay £70 and see the best musician in the world or dont pay and walk away.

Ppenguin said:

want another kick in the teeth...£70 for a KOKO 1st show rush job for 1500 fans Ronnie Scotts is £35 for a 3hr slot....absolutely disgraceful exploitation

You handed over £70 under your own free will.

egansmind said:

Ppenguin said:

want another kick in the teeth...£70 for a KOKO 1st show rush job for 1500 fans Ronnie Scotts is £35 for a 3hr slot....absolutely disgraceful exploitation

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

For those guys who probably would of queued for 14-18 hours before tonight's show, they probably deserve to get it for free!!! That & a head examination

andymacfunky said:

tashbootlegs said:

TracyTracy said: Sounds like a typical London crowd

Hi Tracy - It's Andy from the queue. Nice meeting you and I hope you enjoyed the show despite... I was fuirther forward from you and encountered the same 'lady' She was trying to push to the front and someone objected. She then got SO self-righteous and claimed she was 'press' so needed to be at the front. Her friend argument was, 'does it look like we're at the front? well then, let us through' They were so rudely agressive, I intervened with 'why are you ruining it?' argument, and eventually she gave up and fortuneatly (for us) she moved back. Really in your face agressive though.

Loved the show. Loudest ever standing justr under the stack of speakers. And lovely to meet you. Remember 1399/1400 Prince fans are great.

Hey Andy, good to hear from you! Horrible, horrible woman, really ruined the show for me. But yes, it's only a minority. Great show but I do feel a bit cheated that those who queued the longest had the shortest show. I was slightly tempted to queue again after but thought that 3x £70 was not really doable. So I got the bus home, had a sandwich and a glass of wine, checked the Org, and then decided to head back! I got in for U Got the Look at the very end of the second show, for free. Good to meet you - the queue was actually very pleasant, lots of lovely people. Good luck with making it to more shows if you try! I'm really hoping for Brixton.

Ppenguin said:

That's awesome! Nobody stopped you or I queuing there since 10am. This is fantastic for those that made the effort, they absolutely deserve a great show. I could have took the day off and queued as it's only a mile or 2 from the office but that was going to be too long queuing for me to bother.

powersoul99 said:

egansmind said:

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

Cant see your problem, you had a choice, pay £70 and see the best musician in the world or dont pay and walk away.

Have a heart love... noone knew how much we were expected to pay until we got to the front door!! This is after waiting many many hrs with a quite a few of us not being a locals, walking away isnt that easy an option nor is it simple..

Believe me a few did walk when the price was confirmed as £70.

I only got to see "U got the look" and can't decide whether this counts as one of my times seeing My musical hero. Can anyone tell me who was playing sax?

JOYJOY said:

powersoul99 said:

Cant see your problem, you had a choice, pay £70 and see the best musician in the world or dont pay and walk away.

Have a heart love... noone knew how much we were expected to pay until we got to the front door!! This is after waiting many many hrs with a quite a few of us not being a locals, walking away isnt that easy an option nor is it simple..

Believe me a few did walk when the price was confirmed as £70.

I think he should charge £70 or more to stop those turning up just to say they have prince, why would anyone think they could see a artist like Prince for peanuts? yes £10 was good but it attracts the wrong people as the true fans end up not getting in. It made great PR for him.

And dont start me on being local, i have gone to concerts all over europe and there are plenty that have gone to USA to follow Prince.

we al know what he is like and that is what makes him special.

aiden said:

I only got to see "U got the look" and can't decide whether this counts as one of my times seeing My musical hero. Can anyone tell me who was playing sax?

It was Marcus Anderson on sax - one of the NPG horns.

And yes, it definitely counts

powersoul99 said:

egansmind said:

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

Cant see your problem, you had a choice, pay £70 and see the best musician in the world or dont pay and walk away.

I would have loved the chance of paying £70 to see him again if someone had transported me from Cardiff to London and put me up for a night and explained to my family why I was going so early to stand in a queue for 14 hours !!!!!

powersoul99 said:

egansmind said:

Oh Dear, it just gets worse

Cant see your problem, you had a choice, pay £70 and see the best musician in the world or dont pay and walk away.

My only disappointment from last night was that I was fully prepared to go back in for a 3rd gig at £70 and he sacked it off.

I don't get all the whining about pushing through either. If you're standing it should be packed so tight that noone can get through. If there's space in front you, fill it or someone else will. (It wasn't me pushing before anyone starts I stood against the wall on the left)

It was my ever Prince gig (or first two Prince gigs) last night. I loved it - there was a really good atmosphere in the queue (I was the 111th in line) and the fans I met there were great. The shows themselves were amazing. Couldn't believe I was actually seeing Prince! Like someone has said, the vocals during the first show seemed a little distorted, but it was a good performance regardless. After two awesome shows, the hightlight had to be 'How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore' which was played during one of the encores of the 2nd show.

It was a long day - and I hadn't slept in over thirty hours - but I'll do it all again if I get the chance.

bashraka said:

the fro...the fro nice pic

I joined the queue just after 6pm and got into the venue at 9.45pm. The longer we queued the more convinced I became that the third show wouldn't happen, largely because even at that time there wasn't much of a queue behind me. I also had a feeling the second show would be better based on reports from earlier gigs, so abandoned my original plan to queue all day.

We met a really nice couple from Rickmansworth who had to leave the show early to get back to their twins, I hope the baby-sitters (parents) were understanding! On the flip-side, inside the venue there were a few idiots, particularly a bunch of brash tools wearing gold jackets, one of which kept swinging it above his head. I lost patience with him when it caught me in the eye. I gave him a shove, which may have been dangerous considering how boozed up his group were, but he moved away thankfully.

We were in the penultimate tier and had a good view of the stage. The sound was good throughout most of the gig, though during the encores the vocals weren't particularly clear. Also, being that bit further away from the PA meant I didn't get tinnitus!

Highlights for me; Endorphinmachine, The Love We Make, Plectrum Electrum, Something in the Water, Bambi, Dreamer, How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore. Only disappointment was Purple Rain, seemed a bit of a mess towards the end!

No complaints about ticket prices. When his manager asked on Twitter if people would be prepared to see him for £70, I happily said I would. Who knows if he'll come back to London after Manchester (or even if he'll throw in a last-minute show at Indigo on Wednesday) but if he does I'll do everything I can to be ready with £70 cash to do it all over again. To put it in perspective, Lady Gaga at the O2 will set you back £78. I think we got a bargain!

[Edited 2/18/14 2:50am]