Sowhat said:

i don't typically like jamming..

michael b.

Sowhat said:

impossible to say... the gig at bagley's warehouse was pretty exhausting..
but, we're accustomed to rehearsing for anywhere between 8 and 12 hours..
so, i'm not sure what you're getting at..

michael b.

RodeoSchro said:

you've heard it.. you tell me..
that kind of thing is for the public to decide, anyway...

essentially, we worked on that record, the same way we worked on anything else..

michael b.

joelmarable said:

soundcheck at 2p. dinner at 6p. show at 8p. possible aftershow, never before 2a.

michael b.

SDNafka said:

we covered "villanova junction" often.. i'm pretty sure prince doesn't know the steve vai song you're talking about..

michael b.

nuthinbuttamuffin said:

it was mostly pretty similar throughout.. holland was always pretty much insanity..
japan was always more reserved.. and, we never got any real love when we'd play in mpls..

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Thanks Michael, if you don't recall it I think its safe to assume Prince never played it during the time you were with him....thanks so much for clearing that up.

OK, Michael, my trip to the Twin Cities is just around the corner. Monday July 3rd, I'm definately going to Bunkers to catch the Combo. The website doesn't mention what time the show starts.. and with your gig with Soul Asylum, are you going to be able to do both gigs that night, I spose as possible that I could catch Soul Asylum AND the Combo Also would love to say hi to Sonny and Margie (or does she prefer Margret?), are they cool with that and approchable?

Any other suggestions for checking out bands earlier or later on the 3rd or on the 4th..only concrete plan on the 4th is checking out the fireworks, but would love to hear some great music.

Thanks!!!

sovembol said:

the combo starts @ 920p. the soul asylum show is gonna be around 7p, i think.. not sure i'm gonna be playing with the combo, that night. sonny and margaret are totally cool. just don't get sideways with sonny, and he won't cuss you out... LOL

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

thanks.. really appreciate your answering

Michael, can you shed any light on the Tora Tora Experience project that was never released? There was a remix of Loose on the "Sampler Experience" cassette that was handed out at one of the Gold Experience shows I went to in 1995, which was said to be from "The Tora Tora Experience" - were you involved in this (to your knowledge)? Do you know if it was planned as a remix album?

booyah said:

i don't know anything about that...

sorry-

michael b.

being that you have insight into a world that most don't --- what 'illusion' are you most shocked that people believe?

hi mike got a few 4 u.
1.When u played with prince what are some of the compliments he gave and what does he thinks of your playing?
2Have u ever been amazed by something he;s done or played in concert that even made u go WOW?
3.Has prince ever been dissappointed with his own playing or performance?if so how did u know he was dissappointed in his performance.or does he always think he's great evertime?

Michael - I'll be watching you tonight at Taste with Soul Asylum. I just checked the GnR tour schedule and see they are in Norway on the 8th but then nothing for 10 days. Any chance Tommy will meet you in LA and do Leno?

Hey Michael B...

Here are my questions:

1. Where would you rank Prince among the great pop songwriters?

2. Why do you think Prince has such a hard time cracking 500,000 record sales these days even after doing tv appearances on SNL, American Idol, Good Morning America and BET?

3. Did you notice a decline in the quality of Prince's work post Lovesexy? The magic is no longer as evident these days - do you agree or what are your thoughts?

Thanks man...

Jay B

One more question...

Do you wear earplugs when playing? Why or why not? Do you ever worry about (or have you ever had) hearing problems with playing loud music all the time? Thanks man!

jubilee said:

i think people believe that prince is a stoic, strange character, all day and night.
he's actually a pretty funny individual. well developed sense of humor.

michael b.

sonicfreak said:

i haven't heard anything like that, but it would be awesome if he did..

michael b.

jayARDAHB said:

1. that's a difficult one. mainly, because prince's body of work is way more diverse than his contemporaries.. if you break it down to chart positions and whatnot, the beatles had 27 number one singles.. i think prince had 4..
someone correct me, if i'm wrong, cause i'm not certain.

2. i don't know.

3.not really, for me. i thought the batman soundtrack was really cool.. graffiti bridge had some great songs on it, to me, as well..
for me, my perspective on prince's work is skewed cause of the close working relationship, and preferential towards earlier work..

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

Thanks for responding!

Of the material you worked on and was released, what song or songs stick out? What was the most fun to play live?

It would be a treat to hear you, Sonny and Prince play together again!! For me, those were great times - it was really exciting being a fan because things were so alternative to the mainstream!!

What do you like more: Prince's rock and roll stuff or the funk/rnb material?

J

jayARDAHB said:

no preference. no preference.

michael b.

ebonyrhythmbuddha said:

No way!!! WOW!!

I don't know if you remember but I've heard Days of Wild live where you play real drums right over the tape drums that intro the song!! It was awesome!!

Did you feel disconnected from the material or something? Were you passionate about playing that music? As a fan, there are some songs that really stick out!! Mike, you look like you're having a good time whenever I see you playing!!

One of my favourite faces from you is during the Beautiful Experience video while you're playing the drum solo during The Jam!! It's funny how serious you look!!

Peace and thanks for responding again... this is awesome!
J

This thread is a very interesting read. Thanks guys for ur interesting questions and thank you, Michael B., for answering them!

How do you feel about people asking you mostly about your relationship with Prince and what you think about him etc.?

And what are you up to now?

VBB
[Edited 7/4/06 14:56pm]

jayARDAHB said:

i'm just not really that compartmentalized in my feelings about music..
as long as it's being done well, i don't really care what it is..

michael b.

VenusBlingBling said:

not sure how i feel about it.
i think people envision us hanging out, drinking wine coolers together.. LOL
prince is significantly older than i. it wasn't like we spent our spare time together. i don't think people in their early 30's SHOULD be hanging out, or trying to bond with 19 year olds. i had nothing to share, but my talent. we did some good work together, and enjoy seeing each other and working together, to this day. it's really no deeper than that. just members of the mutual admiration society.. that's all.

i joined soul asylum, two septembers ago. we're playing on the tonight show, this monday, july 10th. the album comes out the next day.

michael b.
[Edited 7/4/06 19:57pm]
[Edited 7/4/06 20:11pm]

joelmarable said:

1. the best compliment usually was when he'd tell the band to "listen to the drummer" while we'd record. it told me that my time was solid, and that he liked what was happening.

2. yeah. he jumped off the catwalk that bordered the stage, into a full split!!! sonny and i looked at each other in amazement.. i just thought to myself, "that's gotta be causing some damage.."

3.the first time we played the arsenio hall show, i remember him commenting under his breath, while we watched the show on tv later that night, that he bent one of his guitar strings sharp, on a note he played while soloing on the outro of "cream".. he's a perfectionist.. which means he constantly finds fault. that's just part of the deal.

michael b.
[Edited 7/4/06 20:14pm]

sonicfreak said:

some of musicians' hearing loss is due to drinking on the job. alcohol relaxes the muscles in the body.. delay's their reaction time. for instance, normally, when you walk past a jackhammer, your ears close pretty fast. but, if you've been boozing up, they don't tighten as well.. and i never drink when i work.
on really loud gigs, i have experienced some ringing, after, as well.

i wear in-ear monitors sometimes. but, usually, playing with ear plugs is uncomfortable, to me. i don't like it. nothing seems to sound good.
i seem to hear ok, still.. but, i wouldn't say what i do is smart.

michael b.

Hey Michael,

Which touring band (not counting the time you spent with Prince) do you feel was/is his strongest?

sitruk7 said:

i can't really say from experience. i never saw a prince concert, while i was coming up. the first time i saw prince play live, like in the same room as me, was at bunker's..
if i had to pick a favorite line up, based on footage i've seen, it would probably be the sign o' the times/lovesexy touring band.

michael b.