Hey artpal and bassdame .... can you tell us aboit your first impression of Robin when you met her? Can you walk us throgh your first encounter with her?

Krystal666 said:

The first time Bassdame and I saw Robin was when we saw the DC premier of "Graffiti Bridge." Before that, we had only talked to her on the phone. We thought she looked beautiful, although I thought she had a big long face. Later on, Bassdame told me she had that same impression.

Shortly after that, we were flown to MN to do the "Number One" video. My memory is kind of vague, but I think we took a cab from the airport to Paisley Park. PP looked like a huge plain but modern white building. I think I was expecting something more magical or fancy. Anyway, in the distance we saw Robin waiting outside for us. She had on a tight fitting lacy outfit with heels and her hair and makeup were perfect. Her hair was big and wavy like Bassdame's hair. Her face looked normal - not horsey like in the movie. She was much more beautiful in person than in the film. Why - she looked a little like Bassdame! Hey, girl!

Robin seemed very nice and was excited to meet us.

I must have been tired because that's all I can remember. I hope Bassdame can recall more stuff.

The next thing I remember was staying at a real fancy hotel. Bassdame and I had our own rooms. You know, now that I think about it, I'm glad I had Bassdame as a friend to share this experience with. It was more fun with a friend.

artpal said:

Thanks alot artpal! Great descriptions! You really took me there! Yeah I'm sure it was way more fun to go on an adventure like that with a girl friend! Thanks again!

What happened to Jizzy on this forum? He sure disappeared. I think Artpal should have taken him up on his "Prince would like to speak 2 U" thing just 2 see how much BS would've come up.

But I love Ur stories Artpal & Bassdame!!
Please keep 'em coming. It took me all night last night to get caught up on this thread. I'd been outta pocket 4 a minute.

VannitySixx, Thanks for including the mEssAge fROm zElaiRa!!
I laughed my ass off for 20minutes on that.....(in the middle of the night, i work at night)...

PurpleRok said:

Thanks, PurpleRok! I'll let Bassdame and UptownDame take over with the stories.

I think Jizzy is someone else now. Guess who it is?

I just received a photo of Tracy the Dames guitarist. Here it is. She reminds me of Sheryl Crow. She's still in MN and as you can see is now really into horses.

artpal said:

Wow she DOES look like Sheryl Crow!

theAudience said:

That's funny as hell, Aud. But that's what I'm saying. It's a trip how the hardest of us male musicians, The Audience, BlaqueKnight and yours truly, peep this thread.

artpal said:

wow, she really does look like sheryl crow

... about your preferred instruments... is that too boring a question?

I'm just really curious, that's all.

These are very interesting stories. Very cool. I, myself have a P connection. I worked with Morris Day and Andre Cymone back in 95. I played lead guitar on a Morris song called "Skirt". We cut this at Andre's loft in Los Angeles. They were both cool. This was a little before Morris was going back out with the reformed Time. He wanted me to take Jessie's spot, but I already had booked gigs with my own band, so I couldn't commit to his thing. I know Tori, the cat Morris ended up getting. I've known him since 89, cuz we were both part of the Black Rock Coalition West Coast Chapter. I had actually met Andre before back in 86. It was at a Mazarati concert at The Palace in Hollywood.

artpal said:

Wow, Alisa is F.I.N.E! She can do rock? Sounds like my type of girl.

Yeah, she's smokin'

JesseDezz said:

Yeah, she is.

Heiress said:

Boring? Are you kidding? I'm a musician! I love talking about music!

Keyboards are my favorite for writing music because you can hear both melody and chords and even bass when you play them. On the other hand, my favorite instrument to play on stage is bass or guitar cuz I could be in the front dancing around and being expressive. But I am a much better keyboard player. As for violin, I get the most respect for that because people think it's a more "serious" instrument. I chuckle at that but such is the perception.

I love talking bout music.

blackguitaristz said:

Cool! I never met Morris. What's he like? Is he shy like Robin described to us?

blackguitaristz said:

I agree - and yes, she can do rock.

Krystal666 said:

Paisley Park part 2

Robin didn't meet me at the airport. I forget who came to pick me up. It might have been Joni. I piled my stuff in the little white Geo Metro that was to be our communal car for the ride to Robin's apartment. All the out of town Dames stayed there.

Minneapolis looked like any other city. I was glad it was Spring. It was still chilly, but not too bad.


I had no time to get settled. When I got to Robin's place, she informed me that we were to make our first public appearance as the entire band that night. Not to play, just to be seen as proof of her project coming to fruition. So, we got all decked out (Robin in Prince's pajamas) and headed out on the town. I will try to find the photos. Artpal posted some before.

I think it was a Charley O's. I know it was a steak house with a club type room downstairs. Players from the Timberwolves were in the house. It was definitely the hot spot. We were all crowded at a big table so Robin could show us off. Jerome was the first to make real contact. He plopped himself down at the
table and said "So, this is the band!" He proceeded to make various comments that could be taken as compliments. He was thinking, of course, that we were all not to be taken seriously, but he wasn't really insulting. (See Artpal's
previous post on her meeting with Jerome.) We stayed there until about 3am.

I got up the next day to start going over tunes and stuff with Liza & Robin. Instead I was taken to the gym. I was told I was to lose a couple pounds. They had arranged for a gym membership for some of us. We were to go everyday.

After the gym, I got a basic tour of the Beltway, so I could get my bearings. Then we went back to home base to prepare for the night of rehearsing at Paisley Park. Rehearsal ran from 10pm to 3am. We went early this night, because we were to be at Prince's rehearsal at 7 before we started ours.

I started getting ready. Took a shower and started putting my jeans and t-shirt on. I was stopped by Robin going "NO, NO, NO! You are not going to Paisley like that!" I said "Girl, I'm going to work. These are my work clothes." She told me that Prince would not be down for that. I told her that I didn't
bring enough dressy clothes for more than two nights out a week. She proceeded to tear trough her stuff and mine to make a suitable ensemble. I had people flying around me helping style my hair, ironing clothes. I appreciated the help. I did not think it was such a big deal. The girls started telling me
all the rules. "Don't talk to Prince unless he talks to you.""Always look your best." "Be a lady around him."

After I was done being whipped into shape for Prince presentation, we left for Paisley Park.

Next... meeting Prince.

artpal said:

Yes yes yes. That's why I need to find a piano here. My mom wanted me to take her old Baldwin Acrosonic (in beautiful shape), but too hard to ship to France. I like to tune stringed instruments to the piano.

But tell me, what are your preferred brands/models of instrument? This is an interesting question, considering that Prince likes some funny, cheap old stuff like the Hohner brand. I rather enjoy quirky eccentricity, but honestly I've heard nothing but Fenders and Gibsons at home my entire life... I was a bit shocked that Prince would play such a cheap guitar.

UptownDame said:

Oh Uptown Dame thank u sooooo much!!!! That story was fun to read. Be a lady around Prince. HA funny, I had a feeling he was uncomfortable around women who were not ladylike.

artpal said:

Nah, not with me. But that's probably cuz I'm a dude. He is very laid back though. Not really quiet, but just, ..it's like he thinks about what he's going to say before he says it, u know? He just doesn't talk from the top of his head. Andre is also very laid back. He has more "edge" to him than Morris though. I tell ya, if P and Andre aren't related. They truly do resemble, like brothers.

Prince is a WILD FREAK. He just Needs MORE FREAKS to Get Him All LOUD and OPEN... He is EXCITING and All. He Really Does BOUNCE OFF Of The People He Hangs With. So, like if he's with Calm he's Chill..Freak he's Freak. Ya Know I KNOW IT! He's a WILD DUDE who Needs to Get LOOSE!

Prince is a WILD FREAK. He just Needs MORE FREAKS to Get Him All LOUD and OPEN... He is EXCITING and All. He Really Does BOUNCE OFF Of The People He Hangs With. So, like if he's with Calm he's Chill..Freak he's Freak. Ya Know I KNOW IT! He's a WILD DUDE who Needs to Get LOOSE!

blackguitaristz said:

It's funny you should say that BG cuz I'm always debating people when they say this or that person looks like Prince. I tell them Andre is the only person I've ever seen that really resembles him including his family.

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled Dame stories!

continued here:

http://www.prince.org/msg/5/166432