As for how he’s perceived by others, I think he gets taken a lot more seriously than he used to but a little more humility might help his cause. I think of his earth shaking solo on the all star tribute to George Harrison during the R & R Hall of Fame banquet a year or two ago. He absolutely stunned every guitarist in the room and stole the entire evening, but his arrogant slamming of the guitar at the end was tasteless and disrespectful to the other artists on the stage with him. That kind of behavior was appealingly rebellious in his early years but now seems childish and insecure from an adult with his long list of accomplishments.

I think that Alan doesn't have Prince's talent...

Prince is the baddest musician on the planet, and he knows it...

Personally, I don't think that he shows off his talents nearly enough.

I could be wrong, since I wasn't there, but I don't think he slammed the guitar down I think he tossed it to his guitar tech. That being, said unless Alan was there he needs to be quiet on this one.

I really doubt that Prince had any intention to be disrespectful to the other guitarists. That said, he probably came across that way... 'cause he was acting like Prince.

squirrelgrease said:

exactly. But to be honest, I'm very surprised Alan Leeds said this in the way he did.
To me, this was one of the best performances I've ever seen from him. Did he really need to toss his guitar? maybe not, but that's what he does. If anything, I just wish he hadn't walked off stage so quickly and made Dhani Harrison chase him down to give him hug.

His solo was very average that night.

Alan Leeds' comments were surprisingly honest and on point (if this is how things went down). statements like these need to come from people Prince can receive them from, even though that list is non-existent. it's called tough love and we're ALWAYS growing as ppl. i guess no more collabs with Alan.

btw -i've never heard anyone refer to the RRHOF solo as average.

His solo that night was amazing. To describe it as "average" is just plain wrong.

I agree with Leeds. Prince's behavior towards other artists in the past has been embarrassing and immature. I'm glad to see he's showing more respect towards others these days.

paisley16 said:

Exactly, and if I hadn't seen him do this many times in concert prior to the RRHOF telecast I could see where a legit point could be made.

Revolution said:

Prince is not the baddest musician on the planet. He may be one of the best multi-instrumentalist....There are better drummers, bassists, guitarists, and pianists, but he may collectively be better!!!!!

AVENUEMAN said:

S L O W L Y ...so's everyone understands....
PRINCE is the BADDEST musician on the PLANET.

My point was, that he KNOWS how good he is...that rubs some people the wrong way. Not me, I say, show off your gifts.

His solo was amazing. As arrogant as it seemed to toss his guitar into the air after it was over, he has an image to keep, and that is the BADDEST mofo of them all. His strut off the stage was consistant with everything else.

BTW, wasn't he inducted that night? I don't remember, but there is a reason he was inducted. Would you like Prince to all the sudden act fake and ruin the moment? Let Prince be Prince.

Other than the changes I'd like to force upon him to make me happier as a fan, er I mean friend, I think we should all let him behave like he wants. hahahaha

although u may not like what alan leeds had 2 say, one thing is 4 certain: he is NOT a "yes man"!!!!! that solo & moment was AMAZING!!!!! a TOTAL prince moment!!!!! i thought he tossed the guitar as well!!!!!

I do see what he means. I thought that everything was perfect until the moment he did his lil cocky strut off the stage (which he has done often in the past). Now, had it just been about Prince that night, that would have been awesome. He strutted away on SNL twice and it was dynamite. I just thought that at RRHOF it was inappropriate and a lil' it rude to the other honorees that were on that stage with him.

alwayslate said:

What other honorees were on the state during the George Harrison Tribute other than Prince?

Ifsixwuz9 said:

I forget which of them were inducted that night- some were already in, but again I'll say I didn't care about any of them, just George Harrison's son. Now, he seemed happy regardless, but I wish he hadn't had to chase after Prince to thank him- you know that whole night had to be emotional for Dhani and his family.

paisley16 said:

2004 inductee list
Bob Seger
George Harrison
Jackson Browne
Prince
The Dells
Traffic
ZZ Top

As far as I remember none of the people one this list other than Prince participated in the George Harrison Tribute.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Steve Winwood did. (i.e. traffic)
[Edited 4/19/07 20:13pm]

I understand to a degree, where Alan was coming from. Alan's a cat that has known P for many years. Therefore, he was there when P was really breaking as a superstar (pre Purple Rain). A lot of what Alan said is dead on true. The tossing of the axe, ...sure that's P's thing. He's been doing that since his 1999 tour. BUT, this wasn't a P concert. Yes, he was inducted that night and rightly so. His solo that night was typically good. I've seen P play better. But nevertheless, given that situation, he floored everybody else so I was cool with that. Since he did officially "turn it out" like Prince is so capable of doing, he SHOULD have shown some reserve and NOT tossed his axe. And not strutted off like some 14 year old who just got his first dry grind at the school's dance. I felt P was too old to do that shit when he was in his early 20's. Let alone at the RRHOF. THIS, I believe, is what Alan was really saying. Act like the legend that u are. Nobody in that room was surprised by P's guitar playing. Everybody in there has probably seen P in concert at one time or another. But like I stated, it wasn't a P concert. He was part of a tribute to another legend and one who had died. Show some tact and class. Everybody knows about the flippness. Seen it a million times. That's all good at a P show. But he played his ass off, take a bow and and show some gratitude that you're considered by your peers as a living legend and was inducted on your first entre to the Hall of Fame.

I totally disagree with his statement. Arrogance is what Prince needs more of. He needs to get back to being the bad ass he was in the early years from "Dirty Mind" through "Purple Rain". As for age, that ain't nothing but a damn number. You're only old if you think you're old. Prince doesn't look old either. Prince still has the looks to go out in the bikini underwear if he chose to go that route again. When you got it, (snap) flaunt it. If you simply think you got it, (snap) flaunt it dammitt and don't give a fuck what anybody else thinks about it.

Even if Prince did look old, take a lesson from The Barkays. Those guys are old as hell and still come out with the fire and snakes. They wouldn't look so hot in some bikini underwear ....but they aren't afraid to be old wild bad asses.
.
.
[Edited 4/20/07 19:15pm]

Prince doesn't cuss and sing Sister anymore... Gee Alan let us have something. When P finished his solo, tossed the guitar and strutted off stage, I actually saw it as a big "take that fuckers" to some of the other musicians there that night. I think P accepted his inductment with a sort of cyniscm to. Having said that, I think his actions were totally warranted because over the years P hasn't received his props from most of the crowd that was there that night. Prince has continued to be looked down on by some of the rock purists but he showed that night that he was a masterful rock guitarist and I think that had a lot to do with him just tossing the guitar and walking off after he set the stage ablaze. If u remember at the end of his opening medley he says something to the effect of "Thank u RROF u've been a great crowd a real knockout!" and he says it kinda Vegas style like he's playing with them and i think thats the mood he was in that night, playful and irreverant.

adorable2 said:

So, you're in Uptown, N.J...

JesseDezz said:

Yep baby wouldn't u like to come?

blackguitaristz said:

We'll just agree to disagree. As long as he didn't smash the guitar on the floor,hump a speaker, or set the guitar a flame on stage I don't see what the big deal is since he's been tossing his guitar to his tech for years and and years anyway.

adorable2 said:

Ifsixwuz9 said:

Ha ha! I can dig it to the 3rd degree, six. P wasn't going to pull a Hendrix at Monterey. At least not there anyways. The tossing of the guitar works the best when he's about to dance and do the splits. That's why he threw it into his act in the first place.

Prince was very cool and humble in that performance. U can see him checking with the others every 8 bars or so, 2 see if it's cool 2 keep soloing... like a true musician.

If he had slammed the guitar (as phrased above), then I might think that it was out of place, but he didn't.

He threw it upward (2 be caught by the guitar tech or stage hand).

Whenever Prince does this, I see it as a spiritual gesture... releasing the instrument 2 the heavens, and letting the energy flow.

...just my 2 cents.

Peace.

Giovanni777 said:

Hey G, you're right about P checking with the others to get the green light to keep wailing. Which they were going to give cuz they wanted him to keep going. Nobody else was as capable of doing so more than P anyways. It was his night and they all knew he deserved it. BUT because of all of this, is the VERY reason I thought P should have shown a little more humility. Understand, no one was more happier for P than me and to see him turning it out on the axe amongst his peers was what I wanted. I just believe in a certain ethos, that's all. It makes u look EVEN cooler when u show gratitude. ESPECIALLY right after u just got through kicking everybody's ass.