To Krystal: Don't worry prince.org is my first love. I know you guys are crazed too. I'm going away for the weekend and have no time to write a story now but I'll tell one on Monday or so.

To TheMax: Cool post on the TC thread. I like that guy.

To Casimir: Prince, may I have a bass too?

Just another comment on Joni's bass. (OK I'm obsessed )

Now I do vaguely remember Joni telling me Prince gave her a bass when we were staying in Robin's apartment. She did tell me it was a cheap bass and that they gave it to her to show more of her body. (See how obsessed he was about our looks?) I just brushed it off cuz at the time I took things like that for granted. I was also under a lot of pressure as the musical director and practically had an ulcer near the end. So stuff like that barely registered with me at that time.

There are a lot of things we took for granted at the time. I should have had Prince sign my keyboard just like Joanie should have had him sign her bass. Many things just seemed blassidy blah blah when we were in the situation. Besides, when you're working closely with someone, it's kinda awkward to ask for a picture or autograph. It just would have been so weird. After we left, I realized stuff I should have done or appreciated. But I'll always treasure the memories.

Have a nice weekend you all!
[Edited 5/28/05 7:46am]

I FOUND JONI!!!!! I found her!!!!!

Stay tuned!!!!!

Hey Joni,

So whaddaya think? Cool huh?

artpal said:

This is awesome, pal. Does this take you one step closer to reuniting The Dames?

Terilicious said:

Well, yes, sure it does. I'm still not sure if I'm gonna reunite the band, but for now she and I are just freakin' out over this reconnection.

She doesn't want to talk to me on the phone. She wants to fly over here TOMORROW and then talk. I feel the same way - I'm just freakin'.

It's so cool to meet up with someone who actually knows how I feel about this whole experience. It's different when you talk about it with someone else who's been through it. It's sort of like a super niche support group, if you know what I mean.

In March, I met Alisa in Philly and we freaked out too. Her boyfriend, a real Prince freak, told us about this thread. We couldn't believe people were actually interested in or even informed about the Uptown Dames. So I decided to take a peak at this thread - and look at what's happening now.

Thanks y'all for affecting all this!!!!

artpal said:

yey!!!! I am happy you are connecting with old friends...I am suprised you gals even existed and it wasn't a figmant of my imagination...because I remember inquiring about you all for awhile, sometime on here and even making mention,and who would have thought that my first response would be from one of the key players herself.

boriquateddy said:[quote]

artpal said:

Thanks, Boriquateddy. Yes, you were the one who persisted. Thanks to you! What a coincidence that this thread started out at the same time Alisa and I reunited.

Some of you may have noticed that I deleted the scanned article about Joni at her request. Sorry bout that. It's a long story and I don't know the details but I'm hoping to convince her to let me repost it with some things blocked out of it.

artpal said:

YAY! Artpal I am so happy for you! You two have alot to talk about! This is so exciting!

artpal said:[quote]

boriquateddy said:

tis okay....thank her for sharing whatever she is comfortable with...and invite her over to hang out.....we wont bite..well, unless she wants us too....

sosgemini said:

Joni says she will post something. I remember having to wait a few days before I could post here when I first joined. Anyway, she couldn't make it here yesterday after all. After the initial excitement she realized she had a life to tend to. But we'll see each other soon.

Meanwhile, a story of our jam session with Prince coming soon.

Ready for the Prince jam session story?

One rehearsal, Prince came in and decided to be a little bit more particular about what Tracy was playing on the guitar. I don’t remember him walking into the room or how it first started. It’s a blur to me right now cuz the main part of the story is what sears into my memory.

We were playing a tune called “There’s No Time to Spare,” written by one of Robin’s friends (I think). This tune had a typical Minneapolis sound with the straight mechanical meat and funky guitar. He asked Tracy for her guitar and put it on to play with us. (Tracy, I know you’re out there reading this, but I sure hope you never wiped off that guitar  ). We didn’t look at each other – we just looked at him. I had to consciously keep my lower jaw from falling onto my keyboard. It was like time froze – I couldn’t believe it.

Prince asked Joni what key we were in. According to the article I just deleted, a shocked Joni barely squeaked the correct answer out. He wanted to play the same melody I was playing on the keyboard, so he uttered the only sentence he spoke directly to me, “play that melody on your keyboard, Liza.” I played it – and he started copying it on his guitar. “Again.” He was still trying to work it out. Then “again…” until he got it. (Isn’t that a trip, I – ME – MYSELF – was teaching Prince how to play a melody!!!!)

Then he told us to hit it. All eyes shifted to Kim the drummer, who clicked her sticks together for four beats. Then we hit it.

With Prince on guitar.

I can’t tell you what a difference his playing made. No offense to Tracy, but hey this was Prince, and if he had taken my keyboard, the same thing would have happened. He opened up the tune to places it had never been before. Nothing fancy – really simple – like Joni’s bass idea from before – but very insightful. It’s hard to describe something as abstract as music with something as lo rez as words, but I’m sorry to say I have no recording of this. I have a vague recollection in my head though.

We just kept playing the tune, and I was in heaven. I think all the others were too. We were freakin’ jamming with PRINCE!!!!! Alisa and I told her boyfriend the story last March and I could tell she was equally shocked and excited. When the song ended, I had to make sure my lower jaw was still connected to my skull. If memory serves me right, we looked at each other with our jaws dropped because of what he had just done musically.

I will never forget that moment. Never never never.
[Edited 6/1/05 7:09am]
[Edited 6/1/05 7:10am]

Thanks artpal!! I'm not a musician but I can understand how playing with someone as gifted as Prince can make other elements just fall into place when creating music and keep the other musicians reaching for a new level of excellence! Cool story...btw do you remember what Prince looked like? Long hair, beard like in Graffiti Bridge?
[Edited 6/1/05 7:41am]

I'm confused. Is artpal Robin?

Scroll up - there's tons of photos of artpal and I think you'll notice some slight physical differences between the aforementioned keyboard player and Ms Power

Hey now, I understand y'all been waiting for me to come through..I am one of the uptown dames, which one am I???>

Krystal666 said:

He didn't have a beard, but he did have long hair - like Beethoven wild hair. When we were shooting the video, he was wearing wire rimmed glasses.

What do you remember Bassdame?

bassdame said:

HMMM...Joni? Your name is BASSdame...

Welcome aboard bassdame! Thanks so much for joining us. I think most of us here have listened to some of the Dames' music and we were so excited when artpal "found" you. I'm putting in my petition: PLEASE re-group and be what The Dames were meant to be-a funky ass group. (I HAVE to say it...please don't put RP anywhere near a microphone!) Now really is the time for you guys to get it going. Everything old is new again. And the influence of 80's music can be heard everywhere. Congratulations on reuniting with your friend, artpal! Now go make music damnit!
[Edited 6/4/05 12:36pm]

bassdame said:

welcome bassdame..its soo nice to have another member of the purple camp join us...plese do share with us what you've been up to....

What the heck - doesn't hurt - I'll search for the other dames. Since a lot of you seem to live in Minneapolis, maybe you can help us out.

The other keyboard player is Lisa Briones, who lived in MN at the time. She's half Filipino half white. She also sings a little jazz here and there.

The drummer is Kim Griffen, who was also living in MN at the time. Kim might be the hardest to track down cuz according to Joni she was a bit of a drifter. At that time I understand she was living with her grandfather. ???

Dancer Dione's real name is Kim Arland, who was also living in MN. She was a model as well as a dancer.

The other dancer was Kimberly Rasheed, who was going to law school at the time. She's probably a high priced lawyer by now.

All of them are in their late 30's to mid 40's in age.

You know the rule of 6 degrees of separation. If you have friends or friends of friends who are musicians in MN, then we can find them. With the internet, communication can be pretty quick. Thanks in advance for your help. I'm doing a search on the internet.

Joni and I will be seeing each other next week around Thursday or Friday. Meanwhile, we're trying not to talk too much to each other cuz we'd rather do it in person.

So whatever Joni has to add will be news to me too. C'mon Bassdame, tell us a story!
[Edited 6/6/05 15:39pm]

Hey artpal! Just checking in to keep this thread alive! Do you have any cool stories of you and Robin hitting the town?! I would of loved to hang with you girls...the Dames seemed like a fun group of chickies!

Krystal666 said:

How about some real stories about casting couch action and favors in the backseat of limos that Robin and the like do in Hollywood everyday??!

GCS4ever said:

Omg, artpal ignore him! Don't awnser that...the Prince camp will hunt you down! ...hee hee....just kidding...we don't wanna know stuff like that!

Krystal666 said:

Hey - just got back from an artistic retreat in the wilderness. Working on an indie documentary.

So anyway, hm - what an interesting request. I'm gonna have to think about that one. Just got back and have to unpack my camper, so I'll think then. I'll be back in a while.

artpal said:

We missed you artpal!

artpal said:

Psyche. You didn't think I'd REALLY consider telling THOSE stories did you?

Thanks, Krystal, I missed y'all too.

As far as nights on the town with Robin - other than that night I met Jerome, the only other time I was out with her and the Dames was to see TC Ellis' show at the Glam Slam. That's how I learned who he was.

Nothing special - we all got decked out again and drove over in a car. Kimberly was driving - I noticed she was driving a stick shift. I know how to do that too, and so did some others I think. I understand many think women rarely do that, but since we were women who played music in a male dominated industry, we tended to be "tomboyish". That was interesting for me to note, since on stage and video we portrayed ourselves to be girly girls. Off stage, we wore sweats, jeans and sneakers - we looked so different in real life.

We sat in the back balcony to see the show. It was awrright, I guess. Then we simply went back home. Our schedule was grueling, so there wasn't a whole lot of time to hang out like that. Besides, I was there for only three weeks.

You know who might have more stories is Bassdame cuz apparently after I left MN, she remained there for a long ass time. When Robin called me in 2000 she said Bassdame was there for a year as I recall. So if you want more stories, you're gonna have to bug her.

Hi artpal,
I just want to say thank you for all your posts on this thread! It's really been a pleasure reading your stories, and I love hearing your point of view, as a musician, and as someone who's been there. You've given me some great insights as to the 'atmosphere' of working with P, how he works as a musician, and his personality, and I'm LOVIN' IT!

THANKYOU! Keep the stories comin'! Bassdame?

bizarre said:

You're welcome, Bizarre. I think Bassdame is busy with her own business. She's coming to see me this Tuesday. Can't wait.

Someone on housequake.com asked me an interesting question so I'll post that info here too. Here goes:


"So what, if anything did you learn from a musical point of view working at Paisley? Any insight into how Prince writes music, chord progressions, etc?"

Well, I learned mostly that Prince likes my ideas so I learned to believe in myself. I did learn his philosophy about stage dramatics - the importance of creating visual interest with theatrical gimmicks. For example, he encouraged Robin to change outfits, bring on a teddy bear, etc.

At the beginning of the show, he had some "ugly or plain" looking women come on the stage and start playing horribly on our instruments, only to have the real Dames storm in and take over. It was kinda dramatic.

He also taught Robin something about "mystique" where you try to keep some mysterious distance from the fans. That way they'll always be intrigued.

He also had a mind for things that gained publicity. After I left Paisley, he changed his name to "The Artist..." with that symbol. I was pretty sure that was a publicity thing as well as a statement to the record company.

As far a chord progressions, I didn't learn much other than that jam session we had with him. It's not something theoretical - it's just a feel. I personally don't think in terms of chord progressions and modulations etc. I just hear something in my head and play it. It's more intuitive. I got a sense that he is the same way when he played with us.

I did hear from Robin that when he writes, he goes through several revisions before he's done. He writes into the night and wakes up late the next day.

That's all for now.

artpal said:

Thanks for that insight into Prince's mind artpal! Wow he is such a genius. That is always one of the things I liked about Prince...he is very much a showman. Michael Jackson was a showman too but Prince is something he is not, a talented musician with great songs (well imo) he is like the total package! Those are some pretty intersting ideas! Pretty entertaining to watch probably too. The teddy bear?