A friend of mine is a big Pearl Jam fan and he has made me aware of how well they take care of their fans. I've always wished Prince would take some cues from Pearl Jam as far as how to run a fan club.

For example, after EVERY Pearl Jam concert, you can order the CD of the show and download mp3s of the show just hours after it is over. Also, they have had a fan club for years and you get preferred seating for their concerts based on how long you've been in the club.

Also, they send lots of freebies to their fan club members like Christmas songs, special vinyl releases, etc. The NPGMC the last couple of years has been a good club, but there is so much more they could do. I hope perhaps the NPGMC will improve further and maybe someday be as good to Prince fans and Pearl Jam is to their fans.

I'm not complaining about the NPGMC... it was well worth it to me the last couple of years. I just think there is so much more that could be done and I don't know why Prince holds back so much of his music when he has so many concerts and unreleased songs in the vault, etc, etc.

TonyC said:

Yes, it's very odd that he keeps giving club members stuff that's already been on the old ahdio shows or remixes from the 80's, when there's supposedly all these great tracks in the vault.

Prince holds onto his material with a vice like grip because sadly in his mind he thinks thats one of the reasons that keeps his dwindling following coming back for more, you always want what you don't have, am i right?

Farfunknugin said:

I guess we'll never know for sure what is in Prince's head, but that may be part of his thinking. I suspect it is more likely that he's picky about what he releases and his older stuff in the vault (that we've never heard) sounds "stale" to him and he probably doesn't feel like it represents what he is about today.

For instance, I can't see him releasing any songs with "curse" words in them, even if he wrote the song 15 years ago and even if it is a killer song that we'd all love.

But we've all heard all the outtakes/unreleased songs, and we know that he has tons of superb songs in the Vault that he just won't release for some reason.

And he's stated publicly many times in his career how he planned to release a bunch of albums (like 3 or 4 a year) or let fans tape his live shows. But he never carries through with it.for some reason. Oh well, he makes some odd decisions, but obviously he sure must do something right considering how we've all been touched so deeply by his music.

Maybe someday he will release more of his music to his fans. And he will find that it will make us more devoted and appreciative rather than less so.

TonyC said:[quote]For example, after EVERY Pearl Jam concert, you can order the CD of the show and download mp3s of the show just hours after it is over.quote]

Man that would be so COOL! Wonder if Pearl Jam are more financially secure than Prince? Doing something like that would certainly undermine the bootleggers!

TonyC said:

Could'nt agree with you more!!

Being able to both order a copy of the CD from the concert you went to and d/l it from the net almost straight away is great.

Prince just needs to hook up with the right business managers and web design companies - not just the lowest bidder.

You should be a lill' patient here...

the club has just started... No promises and reduced price this time and still people keep complaining... What do you want then?

We all know that Prince ain't like to distribute only live stuff with the same songs over and over again (it's relative of course)... Live stuff bore me personnally I'd rather "live" the concert instead of listening to them... No artist has given us that much music (in terms of albums etc...)...

There something else than the club=spit audio material type of thing... there is the interactivity between the members, ther sense of friendhsip... Personnally I've never talked to as many folks as in the club's chat room. and i'm talking about interesting convos between orgers and others!!

We all should breathe a little and be patient...

TonyC said:

But u cannot compare Prince 2 Pearl Jam.
Prince will never b like Pearl Jam, and that´s for good!
U can also join the Peral Jam site if u want 2.
I´m so tired of this everlasting Pearl Jam - Prince comparison!

Peace

Philly76 said:

I can and did compare Prince to Pearl Jam. U can join the Pearl Jam site too, but I don't want to because I'm not a fan of their music. And if you are tired of the Pearl Jam/Prince comparison, I guess you should stop reading this thread and save yourself the fatigue and boredom.

I have bad news for you:

We'll never have those unreleased songs!!!






They say a dog ate the tapes

Jeez! Give TonyC a break - he was only making an observation & I dont see him 'complaining' at all.
He's just highlighting points of interest - I found it interesting anyway TC!

There are a number of artists I can think of that have had increadibly succesful websites centred around their fansbase - Bowie possibly being at the top of that list.
Prince should now seize the opportunity He has afford himself, and build upon the succesful aspects of last years club, and like TonyC said: take a look around - dont waste it, and leave it 2 some schmuck 2 handle!

I know that I would love nothing more than 2 be able 2 have a copy of a show I went 2 (man, the things I would do 4 a copy of The Forum aftershow in 1993!!!)

PANDURITO said:

Yes, you are probably right unless Prince passes away and his heirs decide to release the contents of the Vault. Of course I hope Prince lives a a long and happy life, Maybe he will slip and hit his head on the wet bathroom floor...then make a full recovery, but something will have been jostled in his brain and he'll decide to let us hear all those great unreleased songs.

I think the NPG doggie was probably eating demo tapes sent in by aspring musicians, not Prince's demo tapes. Although you never know with Prince.