I am fine with NPG and The Rev doing what they are doing and the ones who've been out there performing and touring for years are fine too. While I have no plans to attend anything, there's people out there that this is very important to, it's helping them heal. What's not to like about that?

[Edited 2/21/18 16:03pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

pdiddy2011 said:

I went to the Revolution concert this past summer and it was VERY good. (Stokely from Mint Condition sang Prince's verses on a few songs.) Otherwise it was just the Revolution playing without a "real" frontman (although, they would take turns sometimes themselves).

I look forward to them coming back. If what I had experienced from the Revolution was subpar then I might agree and wouldn't pay to see them, but that was absolutely not the case. They kept the NPG excellence alive and I'm glad for it.

I can't comment on any of the other acts. I've only been interested in the Revolution. Unless I hear that some of the other acts are crushing it, I'll probably not bother.

[Edited 2/21/18 14:49pm]

The Family show in Minni seemed like more fun with Jerome rejoining

sonicfreak:

Late show last night at the Dakota SMOKED!! I was right next to the stage. Jellybean Johnson was playing guitar right in front of me. Jerome was a RIOT as usual, Eric blew the sax, Paul and Susannah did their thang. Before the show I spotted Bobby Z and Dr. Fink in the crowd. Towerds the end of the set all of a sudden Wendy Melvoin runs up and sits on a speaker cabinet right next to me. She was checking out Jellybean's guitar solo up close. Then Jerome and Jellybean tried to get her to play guitar which she declined.... until a few minutes later Jellybean went back to play drums on "Mutiny" and Wendy decided to come out and jam on his guitar. Such a great vibe! I have video of all this but I think it is against the rules still to post stuff here?

http://prince.org/msg/12/450390

That late show at the Dakota certainly sounds like it was a blast! I bet that was a cool, nostalgic vibe with all those legacy bandmates playing and supporting one another. I might have another act to follow. Also, I have read the NPG is doing their thing LIKE ALWAYS.

pdiddy2011 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

The Family show in Minni seemed like more fun with Jerome rejoining

sonicfreak:

Late show last night at the Dakota SMOKED!! I was right next to the stage. Jellybean Johnson was playing guitar right in front of me. Jerome was a RIOT as usual, Eric blew the sax, Paul and Susannah did their thang. Before the show I spotted Bobby Z and Dr. Fink in the crowd. Towerds the end of the set all of a sudden Wendy Melvoin runs up and sits on a speaker cabinet right next to me. She was checking out Jellybean's guitar solo up close. Then Jerome and Jellybean tried to get her to play guitar which she declined.... until a few minutes later Jellybean went back to play drums on "Mutiny" and Wendy decided to come out and jam on his guitar. Such a great vibe! I have video of all this but I think it is against the rules still to post stuff here?

http://prince.org/msg/12/450390

That late show at the Dakota certainly sounds like it was a blast! I bet that was a cool, nostalgic vibe with all those legacy bandmates playing and supporting one another. I might have another act to follow. Also, I have read the NPG is doing their thing LIKE ALWAYS.

I want an NPG show where they mix in obscure or non-hit songs with other album tracks from the 1991-1996 period. Or do a show focusing on the music on Come or Love Symbol

I waited 30 years to see the Revolution play again, I flew to NY from the UK for the gig, so I was happy when they played, Prince was never going to do a tour with them again and I couldn't see them playing/touring with his consent, so it was never going to happen. Prince was pretty stubborn and controlled/blocked some of his former musicians, we have all heard the stories, so now is their chance to go out and play the music and earn some £££, so I don't begrudge them.

If these bands that are touring suck, word will go round and peole won't buy the tickets, while they are playing well and people are enjoying it, let them play, I'd rather see people who worked with Prince and took a part in recording/playing these songs play them for the fans, rather than musicians who had nothing to do with Prince.

We are never going to see Prince live again, so this is the closest thing we will get, so enjoy it.

[Edited 2/22/18 13:15pm]

ecnirp98 said:

I waited 30 years to see the Revolution play again, I flew to NY from the UK for the gig, so I was happy when they played, Prince was never going to do a tour with them again and I couldn't see them playing/touring with his consent, so it was never going to happen. Prince was pretty stubborn and controlled/blocked some of his former musicians, we have all heard the stories, so now is their chance to go out and play the music and earn some £££, so I don't begrudge them.

If these bands that are touring suck, word will go round and peole won't buy the tickets, while they are playing well and people are enjoying it, let them play, I'd rather see people who worked with Prince and took a part in recording/playing these songs play them for the fans, rather than musicians who had nothing to do with Prince.

We are never going to see Prince live again, so this is the closest thing we will get, so enjoy it.

[Edited 2/22/18 13:15pm]

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

laurarichardson said:

ecnirp98 said:

I waited 30 years to see the Revolution play again, I flew to NY from the UK for the gig, so I was happy when they played, Prince was never going to do a tour with them again and I couldn't see them playing/touring with his consent, so it was never going to happen. Prince was pretty stubborn and controlled/blocked some of his former musicians, we have all heard the stories, so now is their chance to go out and play the music and earn some £££, so I don't begrudge them.

If these bands that are touring suck, word will go round and peole won't buy the tickets, while they are playing well and people are enjoying it, let them play, I'd rather see people who worked with Prince and took a part in recording/playing these songs play them for the fans, rather than musicians who had nothing to do with Prince.

We are never going to see Prince live again, so this is the closest thing we will get, so enjoy it.

[Edited 2/22/18 13:15pm]

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

Prince may have had a claim on the name The Revolution (though I don't think any of them has ever complained about him getting in the way of them using the name, and if I'm not mistaken they have on a few occasions when he was alive), but even if he did, there's no way he could legally have stopped them from playing under another moniker, such as rDeluxe or the Original 5ve.

databank said:

laurarichardson said:

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

Prince may have had a claim on the name The Revolution (though I don't think any of them has ever complained about him getting in the way of them using the name, and if I'm not mistaken they have on a few occasions when he was alive), but even if he did, there's no way he could legally have stopped them from playing under another moniker, such as rDeluxe or the Original 5ve.

Of course he did not have the power to stop them from working togrther as touring musicians. Tired of people not seeing the Purple gravey train riding.

laurarichardson said:

databank said:

Prince may have had a claim on the name The Revolution (though I don't think any of them has ever complained about him getting in the way of them using the name, and if I'm not mistaken they have on a few occasions when he was alive), but even if he did, there's no way he could legally have stopped them from playing under another moniker, such as rDeluxe or the Original 5ve.

Of course he did not have the power to stop them from working togrther as touring musicians. Tired of people not seeing the Purple gravey train riding.

They played as the Revolution a few times for benefit gigs, mainly for Bobby Z heart foundation I think, they got Prince's agreement for that, he was invited to play, but never did. I am sure if the current band members would have gone on tour as the 'Revolution' when Prince was alive without his permission, they would have encoutered his legal people, we all know how letigious Prince was in what he thought he owned, even when it was detrimental to himself/career. They could have toured under a different name, but still could have been difficult and ruined relationships etc.

As for Purple Gravy Train comment, I don't get it, they are earning musicians who are playing gigs for paying fans, who are happy to pay and see a great band, they are playing the music the fans want to hear, often stuff Prince didn't play anymore, for me they were his best band in the period he produced his best music, but this is all opinions. I don't know what their contracts were, I know from a member of the NPG they were not that well paid in the scheme of things, so I don't think Prince set them up for life with equal shares/royalties, so they should be able to go out and earn, playing the music that made them famius and the fans want to hear.

laurarichardson said:

ecnirp98 said:

I waited 30 years to see the Revolution play again, I flew to NY from the UK for the gig, so I was happy when they played, Prince was never going to do a tour with them again and I couldn't see them playing/touring with his consent, so it was never going to happen. Prince was pretty stubborn and controlled/blocked some of his former musicians, we have all heard the stories, so now is their chance to go out and play the music and earn some £££, so I don't begrudge them.

If these bands that are touring suck, word will go round and peole won't buy the tickets, while they are playing well and people are enjoying it, let them play, I'd rather see people who worked with Prince and took a part in recording/playing these songs play them for the fans, rather than musicians who had nothing to do with Prince.

We are never going to see Prince live again, so this is the closest thing we will get, so enjoy it.

[Edited 2/22/18 13:15pm]

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

What's foolish about advertising your skills? didn't Prince recruit some of 3rd eye girl from Internet videos?

ecnirp98 said:

laurarichardson said:

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

What's foolish about advertising your skills? didn't Prince recruit some of 3rd eye girl from Internet videos?

nothing at all, especially if you have to eat.

ecnirp98 said:

I don't understand why this is such an issue for some. Dang if they do, dang if they don't. What, are they supposed to do, act like Prince never existed? They all worked with him at some point or another and are a part of his legacy as well. This may also be a chance too for some that didn't get to know much about P in his heyday and some seeing his former bandmembers perform can be a learning experience and bring in new fans. I say they want to keep touring and keep his legacy alive by playing all the great music then more power to them.

there is a real fine line between exploitation and homage. Being a Bruce Lee fan I follow some of the pages of the various family members, they are selling bruce lee sunglasses and bruce lee tea and of course some of the fans are calling them out on it being exploitive. Is it exploitive? or are they fulfilling a legitimate demand? or both? Hard to say, tough questions. arguements on both sides. But I think if anyone has a right to "exploit" someone it's their own flesh and blood and in the case of the revolution, i've said it many times, they were in the trenches with prince, put up with his many moods, contributed to his growing stardom, helped him get established, they still are the band associated with his most vintage sound, so I say what's the problem? Most sidemen and session musicians get shit on and forgotten when they are often unsung heroes.

PeteSilas said:

there is a real fine line between exploitation and homage. Being a Bruce Lee fan I follow some of the pages of the various family members, they are selling bruce lee sunglasses and bruce lee tea and of course some of the fans are calling them out on it being exploitive. Is it exploitive? or are they fulfilling a legitimate demand? or both? Hard to say, tough questions. arguements on both sides. But I think if anyone has a right to "exploit" someone it's their own flesh and blood and in the case of the revolution, i've said it many times, they were in the trenches with prince, put up with his many moods, contributed to his growing stardom, helped him get established, they still are the band associated with his most vintage sound, so I say what's the problem? Most sidemen and session musicians get shit on and forgotten when they are often unsung heroes.

Interesting point about Bruce Lee (one of my hero's in life), I think the difference is the bands like the Revolution were part of what Prince created, they recorded allot of the music with him, they toured with him, were part of the 'image' he created, without anyone of them, it would have still been successful, but it would have been abit different without their input.

By the sounds of it, the products the Bruce Lee family are selling are exploiting his name, rather than things Bruce created or worked on, but if he had made his own tea recipe and they made it exactly as he did and then sold it, I see that as created by Bruce and would be ok for them to market.

At the end of the day, the fans decide if these things are successful or not by buying tickets and attending, I saw the Revolution last year in New York and they were great, I saw NPG in London and they were good, but no where near the Revolution, but I still enjoyed the show, to hear Prince music live is great, and whatever people dislike about it, these are talented musicians who worked with Prince, he was no fool and worked with the best, so I say enjoy the music, as we did with Prince, as you never know when it will end.

there certainly is a line that does get crossed as Colonel tom parker did with elvis anytime he could. Bruce's family doing that stuff, i don't know, i'm not too judgemental about, it is his family and there is money to be made but there is such a thing as good taste which is going to be different for anyone.

I'm surprised the npg wasn't as good as the revolution, i always thought they were superior instrumentalists although they weren't with the man in his prime. I agree, i think they deserve anything they can get, i wish i'd been able to make their last show but i got the date mixed up and missed them.

ecnirp98 said:

PeteSilas said:

there is a real fine line between exploitation and homage. Being a Bruce Lee fan I follow some of the pages of the various family members, they are selling bruce lee sunglasses and bruce lee tea and of course some of the fans are calling them out on it being exploitive. Is it exploitive? or are they fulfilling a legitimate demand? or both? Hard to say, tough questions. arguements on both sides. But I think if anyone has a right to "exploit" someone it's their own flesh and blood and in the case of the revolution, i've said it many times, they were in the trenches with prince, put up with his many moods, contributed to his growing stardom, helped him get established, they still are the band associated with his most vintage sound, so I say what's the problem? Most sidemen and session musicians get shit on and forgotten when they are often unsung heroes.

Interesting point about Bruce Lee (one of my hero's in life), I think the difference is the bands like the Revolution were part of what Prince created, they recorded allot of the music with him, they toured with him, were part of the 'image' he created, without anyone of them, it would have still been successful, but it would have been abit different without their input.

By the sounds of it, the products the Bruce Lee family are selling are exploiting his name, rather than things Bruce created or worked on, but if he had made his own tea recipe and they made it exactly as he did and then sold it, I see that as created by Bruce and would be ok for them to market.

At the end of the day, the fans decide if these things are successful or not by buying tickets and attending, I saw the Revolution last year in New York and they were great, I saw NPG in London and they were good, but no where near the Revolution, but I still enjoyed the show, to hear Prince music live is great, and whatever people dislike about it, these are talented musicians who worked with Prince, he was no fool and worked with the best, so I say enjoy the music, as we did with Prince, as you never know when it will end.

PeteSilas said:

there certainly is a line that does get crossed as Colonel tom parker did with elvis anytime he could. Bruce's family doing that stuff, i don't know, i'm not too judgemental about, it is his family and there is money to be made but there is such a thing as good taste which is going to be different for anyone.

I'm surprised the npg wasn't as good as the revolution, i always thought they were superior instrumentalists although they weren't with the man in his prime. I agree, i think they deserve anything they can get, i wish i'd been able to make their last show but i got the date mixed up and missed them.

ecnirp98 said:

Interesting point about Bruce Lee (one of my hero's in life), I think the difference is the bands like the Revolution were part of what Prince created, they recorded allot of the music with him, they toured with him, were part of the 'image' he created, without anyone of them, it would have still been successful, but it would have been abit different without their input.

By the sounds of it, the products the Bruce Lee family are selling are exploiting his name, rather than things Bruce created or worked on, but if he had made his own tea recipe and they made it exactly as he did and then sold it, I see that as created by Bruce and would be ok for them to market.

At the end of the day, the fans decide if these things are successful or not by buying tickets and attending, I saw the Revolution last year in New York and they were great, I saw NPG in London and they were good, but no where near the Revolution, but I still enjoyed the show, to hear Prince music live is great, and whatever people dislike about it, these are talented musicians who worked with Prince, he was no fool and worked with the best, so I say enjoy the music, as we did with Prince, as you never know when it will end.

I preferred the Revolution Setlist, they played the earlier stuff from the 80's from their era, also, I was really looking forward to seeing the Revolution again (last saw them in London 86) and they were always my favourite Prince band, so that probably coloured my judgement, it was also the first concert I'd been to since Prince's passing, so was one big emotional journey really, whereas the NPG didn't have that impact, but it was good show.

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

maybe a bit cynical as there seems to be some level of demand out there...but personally I wish all those involved would just quit it! The Revolotion, NPG combo, Morris Day & the Time etc...wish they would just be honest & say they were cashing in. People like Andre, Tony M [FFS!] & many others seem to be totally milking this. Next of course will be a new Rvolution album [no bad thing I guess], NPG album etc...more tours etc. I know P was ruthless & LOVVVVVED $ too...but all this hoo-ha sits uncomfortably with me.

Someone's just posted a clip of The Revolution playing Computer Blue and Mountains. No, I do not want the "legacy acts" to stop performing. Not when they play the music with such heart and soul and when they play music Prince rarely played live, later in his career.

*

There's another thread on here about Prince songs that make you tear up. Well, waking up this Sunday morning and seeing that clip did just that.

*

We're still a group, right?

ecnirp98 said:

laurarichardson said:

So Prince had the power to stop them from being touring musicians? Brown Mark was advertising his services as a bass player on Facebook. Do you think Prince was responsible for that foolishness.

What's foolish about advertising your skills? didn't Prince recruit some of 3rd eye girl from Internet videos?

Lord. The point is he was not even working as a musician prior to Prince's death. Mark had a longer carreer then the Third Eye girls. He talks like he is Stanley Clark or Larry Graham. As if he was in demand prior to Prince's death. He was not doing anything at all.

laurarichardson said:

ecnirp98 said:

What's foolish about advertising your skills? didn't Prince recruit some of 3rd eye girl from Internet videos?

Lord. The point is he was not even working as a musician prior to Prince's death. Mark had a longer carreer then the Third Eye girls. He talks like he is Stanley Clark or Larry Graham. As if he was in demand prior to Prince's death. He was not doing anything at all.

As an artist, it's a very thin line between what you really do, what you try to do what other people perceive you do.

.

Lots of musicians actually either do things that people don't know about (composing for ads or TV, being a session musician, professional stuff like that that pays but that you don't advertize), or try to launch/complete some projects (many projects will be attempted but not finalized), or just work on stuff and play your instrument and compose at home until some opportunity arises.

.

In the end there's a strange difference between how certain artists (musicians or otherwise) will talk about themselves and how we perceive them. Truly enough, many artists introduce themselves as if they'd done a million important things, and I used to find it arrogant when I was young and I didn't know better. Why they do that is because they have done a million things, many of them that no one's heard of but that are important to them, because in the end everyone's the lead character of one's own story.

.

As a creative person myself who's done a million things but didn't end-up having much of a career, who knows a lot of artists who have done a million things but didn't have much of a career, I've learned to understand this difference in how you perceive yourself and what you've accomplished and how the world does, and to be less jugemental when it comes to that.

.

BrownMark didn't have a long, fruitful career as a solo artist and God knows what he's been doing between his late 80's solo career and his Cryptic project in the early 2000's, and then again between Cryptic and the Revolution revival. But he's likeely to have been doing lots of things we just don't know of and that are related to music one way or another. And in the end he remains a past member of one of our time's greatest artist, back when Prince was at the peak of his career and released historical records Mark happened to be playing on. And he's a hell of a bass player! I can understand why he sees himself as someone who can be proud of his skills, career and accomplishments.

.

Again, I call for some respect and humility when people talk about artists. It's not so easy. Admitedly, Mark made enough money in the 80's that he should be able to live without working if he's handled his money carefully, but maybe he hasn't, and in any case the MF deserves respect because he's still playing the bass at the age many people retire after a boring life spent in an office doing a meaningless job.

.

What do you think would happen if we had a thread on Laura Richardson, her glorious career and astonishing professional accomplishments? I'm sure certain people might end-up saying certain things that you don't feel comfortable reading. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

databank said:

laurarichardson said:

Lord. The point is he was not even working as a musician prior to Prince's death. Mark had a longer carreer then the Third Eye girls. He talks like he is Stanley Clark or Larry Graham. As if he was in demand prior to Prince's death. He was not doing anything at all.

As an artist, it's a very thin line between what you really do, what you try to do what other people perceive you do.

.

Lots of musicians actually either do things that people don't know about (composing for ads or TV, being a session musician, professional stuff like that that pays but that you don't advertize), or try to launch/complete some projects (many projects will be attempted but not finalized), or just work on stuff and play your instrument and compose at home until some opportunity arises.

.

In the end there's a strange difference between how certain artists (musicians or otherwise) will talk about themselves and how we perceive them. Truly enough, many artists introduce themselves as if they'd done a million important things, and I used to find it arrogant when I was young and I didn't know better. Why they do that is because they have done a million things, many of them that no one's heard of but that are important to them, because in the end everyone's the lead character of one's own story.

.

As a creative person myself who's done a million things but didn't end-up having much of a career, who knows a lot of artists who have done a million things but didn't have much of a career, I've learned to understand this difference in how you perceive yourself and what you've accomplished and how the world does, and to be less jugemental when it comes to that.

.

BrownMark didn't have a long, fruitful career as a solo artist and God knows what he's been doing between his late 80's solo career and his Cryptic project in the early 2000's, and then again between Cryptic and the Revolution revival. But he's likeely to have been doing lots of things we just don't know of and that are related to music one way or another. And in the end he remains a past member of one of our time's greatest artist, back when Prince was at the peak of his career and released historical records Mark happened to be playing on. And he's a hell of a bass player! I can understand why he sees himself as someone who can be proud of his skills, career and accomplishments.

.

Again, I call for some respect and humility when people talk about artists. It's not so easy. Admitedly, Mark made enough money in the 80's that he should be able to live without working if he's handled his money carefully, but maybe he hasn't, and in any case the MF deserves respect because he's still playing the bass at the age many people retire after a boring life spent in an office doing a meaningless job.

.

What do you think would happen if we had a thread on Laura Richardson, her glorious career and astonishing professional accomplishments? I'm sure certain people might end-up saying certain things that you don't feel comfortable reading. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

Sigh, I did a little checking on Mr. Brown he really has not been doing anything and he himself complained about the ups and downs of his money troubles. If I sat on bum and did nothing I would not get mad if people told the truth at the end of the day I am accountable for my actions.

laurarichardson said:

databank said:

As an artist, it's a very thin line between what you really do, what you try to do what other people perceive you do.

.

Lots of musicians actually either do things that people don't know about (composing for ads or TV, being a session musician, professional stuff like that that pays but that you don't advertize), or try to launch/complete some projects (many projects will be attempted but not finalized), or just work on stuff and play your instrument and compose at home until some opportunity arises.

.

In the end there's a strange difference between how certain artists (musicians or otherwise) will talk about themselves and how we perceive them. Truly enough, many artists introduce themselves as if they'd done a million important things, and I used to find it arrogant when I was young and I didn't know better. Why they do that is because they have done a million things, many of them that no one's heard of but that are important to them, because in the end everyone's the lead character of one's own story.

.

As a creative person myself who's done a million things but didn't end-up having much of a career, who knows a lot of artists who have done a million things but didn't have much of a career, I've learned to understand this difference in how you perceive yourself and what you've accomplished and how the world does, and to be less jugemental when it comes to that.

.

BrownMark didn't have a long, fruitful career as a solo artist and God knows what he's been doing between his late 80's solo career and his Cryptic project in the early 2000's, and then again between Cryptic and the Revolution revival. But he's likeely to have been doing lots of things we just don't know of and that are related to music one way or another. And in the end he remains a past member of one of our time's greatest artist, back when Prince was at the peak of his career and released historical records Mark happened to be playing on. And he's a hell of a bass player! I can understand why he sees himself as someone who can be proud of his skills, career and accomplishments.

.

Again, I call for some respect and humility when people talk about artists. It's not so easy. Admitedly, Mark made enough money in the 80's that he should be able to live without working if he's handled his money carefully, but maybe he hasn't, and in any case the MF deserves respect because he's still playing the bass at the age many people retire after a boring life spent in an office doing a meaningless job.

.

What do you think would happen if we had a thread on Laura Richardson, her glorious career and astonishing professional accomplishments? I'm sure certain people might end-up saying certain things that you don't feel comfortable reading. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

Sigh, I did a little checking on Mr. Brown he really has not been doing anything and he himself complained about the ups and downs of his money troubles. If I sat on bum and did nothing I would not get mad if people told the truth at the end of the day I am accountable for my actions.

How exactly have you been doing your checking? Like you have spies who know him and stuff?

^ And anyway don't you have nothing better to do? Like yeah you've been stalking BrownMark so you can kick his ass on public forums and show him for the scam he is? I know you didn't mean it like that but that's very much how you make it sound. IDK what happened to you but you weren't like that before. What do you care whether Mark is working or not? What have all those people done to you? What has life done to you?

Have you reconsidered accepting KoolEaze's offer? Probably when he made it 10 years ago it was preposterous but now, well, his program could do you a lot of good

databank said:

^ And anyway don't you have nothing better to do? Like yeah you've been stalking BrownMark so you can kick his ass on public forums and show him for the scam he is? I know you didn't mean it like that but that's very much how you make it sound. IDK what happened to you but you weren't like that before. What do you care whether Mark is working or not? What have all those people done to you? What has life done to you?

Have you reconsidered accepting KoolEaze's offer? Probably when he made it 10 years ago it was preposterous but now, well, his program could do you a lot of good

i'm one of the few people here who will unashamedly say i loves laura. i know she can rub people the wrong way but she's the goods in my mind.

brown mark was a wonderful bassist, so good that prince once said he'd stop making bass parts if he didn't have him. And..., people don't mention it that often but out of all the revolution, he was the one treated the worst, given the least screen time in purple rain, no speaking part. Prince and the revolution isn't really any different than how you'd think any company would operate, the ceo or owner gets the lions share and everyone else gets what he gave them, that's just the way things are structured in society. most business would fall apart overnight if people actually had some self worth and would demand what they deserve but that won't happen because people are scared. On the other hand, there is a lot to be said for the leader, the guy who took the most risks, who put himself out there all the way for the world to either take him or chew him apart and spit him out. Springsteen said it in his book, when he was being the only member of his band being inducted into the hall of fame, that he took pride in being the guy who walked into Columbias office alone and got a deal, that takes a special kind of heart and courage. Two sides to every coin.

being an artist/musician is a fools game because their really is a lot various great talent out there, so much that not all of it can be assimilated by consumers, that does not mean that they aren't any good or are losers, i've seen tons, literally tons of great, talented people out here, so much that it's discouraging when you realize all your efforts and talents mean nothing.

databank said:

laurarichardson said:

Lord. The point is he was not even working as a musician prior to Prince's death. Mark had a longer carreer then the Third Eye girls. He talks like he is Stanley Clark or Larry Graham. As if he was in demand prior to Prince's death. He was not doing anything at all.

As an artist, it's a very thin line between what you really do, what you try to do what other people perceive you do.

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Lots of musicians actually either do things that people don't know about (composing for ads or TV, being a session musician, professional stuff like that that pays but that you don't advertize), or try to launch/complete some projects (many projects will be attempted but not finalized), or just work on stuff and play your instrument and compose at home until some opportunity arises.

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In the end there's a strange difference between how certain artists (musicians or otherwise) will talk about themselves and how we perceive them. Truly enough, many artists introduce themselves as if they'd done a million important things, and I used to find it arrogant when I was young and I didn't know better. Why they do that is because they have done a million things, many of them that no one's heard of but that are important to them, because in the end everyone's the lead character of one's own story.

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As a creative person myself who's done a million things but didn't end-up having much of a career, who knows a lot of artists who have done a million things but didn't have much of a career, I've learned to understand this difference in how you perceive yourself and what you've accomplished and how the world does, and to be less jugemental when it comes to that.

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BrownMark didn't have a long, fruitful career as a solo artist and God knows what he's been doing between his late 80's solo career and his Cryptic project in the early 2000's, and then again between Cryptic and the Revolution revival. But he's likeely to have been doing lots of things we just don't know of and that are related to music one way or another. And in the end he remains a past member of one of our time's greatest artist, back when Prince was at the peak of his career and released historical records Mark happened to be playing on. And he's a hell of a bass player! I can understand why he sees himself as someone who can be proud of his skills, career and accomplishments.

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Again, I call for some respect and humility when people talk about artists. It's not so easy. Admitedly, Mark made enough money in the 80's that he should be able to live without working if he's handled his money carefully, but maybe he hasn't, and in any case the MF deserves respect because he's still playing the bass at the age many people retire after a boring life spent in an office doing a meaningless job.

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What do you think would happen if we had a thread on Laura Richardson, her glorious career and astonishing professional accomplishments? I'm sure certain people might end-up saying certain things that you don't feel comfortable reading. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

PeteSilas said:

databank said:

PeteSilas said:

i'm one of the few people here who will unashamedly say i loves laura. i know she can rub people the wrong way but she's the goods in my mind.

Laura has been a member of this community for a long time and contrarily to some trolls who were only here to shit on Prince in his lifetime, she always had respect for him. She is cool in my book but I wish she would stop her campaign against former associates. As Luv4u recently said, those thongs scare associates away from interacting with us and as long as the Org is not associates-friendly, a lot of opportunities to learn about Prince will be lost. Cat recently cancelled a Q&A apparently because of some orgers' hostile behaviour.

I hear you, i remember a couple banned names ago (she's never been banned like i have, give her that) I once told her when I knew she would pop up to defend Prince; "he could piss right on my head and you'd defend him to me". but i love her.