The Time has come again
JON BREAM, Star Tribune


Who first had the idea -- Tina Turner or the Time -- to use the 50th annual Grammy Awards to launch a comeback?

Well, the Time's reunion was batted around last fall. "There was a conference call," recalled keyboardist Monte Moir. Then bandmate Jimmy Jam mentioned the idea to the CEO of the Recording Academy, which stages the Grammys.

Before you could say "What time is it?" the seven original members reunited Feb. 10 after 18 years apart to perform with Rihanna on the Grammys. That brought a call from a Las Vegas promoter and, on Tuesday, the Time will begin a three-week engagement at the Flamingo Hotel.

While the comeback isn't as high-profile as Turner's fall arena tour after an eight-year retirement, it is heartening for fans of one of the tightest, funkiest and most fun R&B bands of the 1980s.

"We're getting along great," drummer Jellybean Johnson said last week while shopping for cymbals at the Guitar Center in Hollywood. "These guys are my brothers."

Why a reunion now?

"It's like Terry [Lewis] is telling all the interviewers: 'It's just time,'" said Johnson, who spent the past three weeks rehearsing in Los Angeles, where the other members live; only Johnson and Moir still live in the Twin Cities.

The project is being spearheaded by Lewis -- the group's bassist, Jam's partner in the Grammy-winning Flyte Tyme production team and "the consummate businessman," said Johnson. Lewis and frontman Morris Day cut the deal with the Flamingo.

The Time is actually the replacement for this 15-show engagement at a 700-seat showroom. Toni Braxton has been the longtime attraction there, but became ill.

The group is getting a " handsome" fee, Johnson said -- perhaps its biggest payday ever.

'Not a normal band'

This isn't just a dash for reunion cash. The Time is about three-fourths finished with a new album that could be available in the fall. One or two new numbers might sneak into the group's 90-minute Vegas set.

"It's certainly in the same vein," Moir said. "We didn't want to try anything new or hip-hop-ish. We're sticking to our roots."

But as Johnson points out, "This is not a normal band."

He was referring to three issues: There are now two versions of the Time; the original members have not always gotten along, and all of them have other musical obligations.

From the get-go, the Time has been a rocky proposition. In 1980 Prince, then a budding star, decided to give Flyte Tyme, a Minneapolis R&B band, a makeover. He made drummer Day the lead singer and wrote a bunch of songs for the band. The renamed Time had a series of R&B hits ("Cool," "777-9311," "The Walk"). The group toured with Prince for two successful years -- before "Purple Rain."

Then Prince booted Jam and Lewis from the band when a producing job caused them to miss a gig. Although it scored more hits, including "Jungle Love," the revamped group imploded after appearing in "Purple Rain."

The original members reunited in 1990 to appear in Prince's movie "Graffiti Bridge" and record the album "Pandemonium" before quickly disbanding again. Jam and Lewis -- by then top-flight producers -- and guitarist Jesse Johnson refused to tour with the group.

Day put together a new touring act six years later. Of the other original members, only Moir and Johnson joined him. That group, billed as Morris Day and the Time, has gigs booked through at least August -- including an Aug. 15 show at the Minnesota Zoo and one this weekend in Oklahoma.

Balancing the two lineups is "a problem," Johnson said, "but we're not looking at it like that." He sounded confident that the situation will sort itself out.

Similarly, the often-strident relationships among the original members have mellowed.

"Everybody's in a good place," Johnson said. "Of course, we're all 50 years old -- you should be at this point."

After three weeks together in Los Angeles, Moir said the band "has the potential to be a lot healthier than it's ever been. Everybody's in a different place these days. We've raised kids and gotten past some of the silliness that maybe went on in the earlier days."

Of course, this long-awaited comeback could be complicated by the Purple One. He owns the rights to the band's name.

"We've talked to him," Moir said. "He's given us his blessing to do what we've got to do."

That means an album and possibly more touring in the fall. Well, maybe.

Said Johnson: "It's like Morris said: 'It's a 12-step approach. One day at a time.'"

Jon Bream

http://www.startribune.co...82659.html

Thank God the new stuff won't be "hip-hopish". The Time should never be hip-hop. They are way too hip for that!

Thanks for the post !!

- JD

Anxiety said:

cool article - thanks for the post

im strangely bored by this news

Thanks for this post. I will be there. Vegas here I come!

It's strange that even a veteran music journalist like Bream, always soft pedals around the fact that the Time's first two albums were basically a Prince (songs, all instruments, background vocals) and Morris (vocals, some drums, some lyrics) duo.

It's just as interesting that they were able to become such a great live band that was completely separate from their recordings.

777-9311 is still one of P's finest bass/guitar moments!

jonylawson said:

You would be, as wanna-be Prince fan.

I, on the other hand, am mucho excited.

This is exciting. I'm glad that Jellybean seems to have told it like it is. A real reunion is going to be difficult, because everyone has other commitments. I think the key to this is the Vegas gigs. If demand is high, they will reunite for real and tour. But if it's mediocre I think the guys will move on to something else. All I truly want is new Time music, featuring the original members.

funksterr said:

Even though we might be in for a shocker, as this is the first Time project Prince seems NOT to be involved in.

I am curious with what kind of new material they come up with, having Jam & Lewis onboard to show off their Time skills for real for the first time...

i hope not but i am sure prince will nix this because he wont be able to stand the Time being more popular tham him and they WILL BE!! Especially with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Producing it. This will be big if Prince if not involved. They will finally be able to really shine. The talent in this band is....man i hope this happens is all i have to say. PLEASE HAPPEN!!

Anxiety said:

Well, that answers my question about that show. I'll save my dough.

RipHer2Shreds said:

but isn't it a free show?

Anxiety said:

No idea. I didn't know any of the MN Zoo shows were free. But knowing this will save me the gazillion dollars in gas it would take to get there.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I think the show is either $30 or $40 dollars.

simm0061 said:

ay yay yay. i'd pay almost twice that to see the original lineup do a full show, but i think i'd pay not quite half that price to see "morris day and the time". i think morris's knockoff version has tarnished the legacy of the original group.

When the BLEEP were the Grammy's?

berniejobs said:

That would be a disaster.

flying in 2 vegas on july 27th from Wales U.K. Got tics 4 the 31st CANT WAIT..... VEGAS BABY!
[Edited 6/23/08 15:43pm]

funkev said:

i'm more tempted to see the time in vegas than i was when prince was in vegas. i don't know why that is - it just seems like more of a natural setting for them than for prince. totally illogical of me, i know.

Anxiety said:

SAW THE TIME ONCE IN LONDONS HAMMERSMITH ODEON GREAT GIG BUT SO SHORT 45 MINS,HOPING 4 MORE IN VEGAS THAT WOULD BE SO NICE

jdcxc said:

yeah but then imagine Prince singing these songs by himself onstage..it just wouldnt be / sound / look right.... fuggetaboudit

It is about time!! The best part, the egos have been checked at the door and the band is ready to go.Thank God for old age and wisdom. Can't nobody touch the baddest R & B band in the land!!!

The TIME in Vegas (6/24) -- AMAZING

Just got back from the Flamingo, with my 15 year old son, and we are still in 'awe'. A few weeks ago I purchased the VIP tickets, just so we could be close to the stage. Upon our arrival, we were told to stay in our seats after the concert for a 'meet & greet' with the fellas. Our seats were right next to the stage, slightly left-of-center. We were so close, Morris was practically sweating on us, and many times it seemed like he was right in our faces.

The lineup:
Morris, Jerome, Jesse, Terry, Jimmy, Monte, & Jellybean.

The show started about 20 minutes late (after a brief tuning by the band), but when they came on it was like a long overdue explosion. (There were no ticking clocks and bells tolling). The set list, as far as I can remember was:

Get It Up
Cool
Girl
Wild & Loose
777-9311
The Stick
Blondie
My Drawers
Fishnet
Oak Tree
Jerk Out
Skillet

(Jesse sang the next three tunes !!! )
Be Your Man
Can You Help Me
Free World

(Monte sang this)
If You Were With Me Now

(The next two were sung by a young lady named Heidi. She had amazing abs.)
What Have You Done For Me Lately
Black Cat

Jesse solos

(This next song, per Morris, is new. I don't know if I have the correct title, but it was very good)
See Through

If The Kid Can't Make You Come (The band brought several women on stage, and there was a bald M'Chelle Ndegeochello look-alike who was acting a fool and Morris and Jerome had fun with her.)
Ice Cream Castles
Gigolos Get Lonely Too
The Walk
The Bird
Jungle Love

The whole set was about an hour and 45 minutes of solid funk (my editorial).

The band was very tight and seemed to gel like they used to. Jesse's guitar was incredible !! As a side note, my son had tired of hearing me rave about Jesse, and was questioning if he was really any different/better than Tori. NOW HE UNDERSTANDS ! Jesse was so fluid and made it look easy.

There were a few celebs in attendance, who were brought on stage during The Bird. Johnny Gil, Barry Bonds, and Kevin Smith (of Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back fame).

At the 'meet & greet', the band was very appreciative and friendly. Got pictures with everyone, and I was able to get one with Jesse who was very cool. My son was able to talk to Morris and Terry, and he was impressed by their modesty.

This was long overdue, and turned out better than expected. I hope the momentum keeps up. A great start !!

- JD

jwashin4 said:

Great post i'm going on the 31'st and cant wait i hope it will b as good as that

eye hav 2 get their new album wen it comes out!!!!

Seven-man funk band the Time reunites, 18 years after last studio album


at 17:50 on June 26, 2008, EDT.
By Ryan Pearson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES - Inside a red brick Hollywood rehearsal studio, the Time keeps on ticking.

The seven-man funk band from Minneapolis has reunited once again, 18 years after their last studio album, and sound crisp as they jam through "Cool" from their 1981 debut album.

"I'm so cool! Ain't nobody bad like me!" Morris Day calls out. "What time is it?"

Band members have made room in their schedules this summer for a series of concerts at the Flamingo hotel-casino in Las Vegas, starting Tuesday and running through Aug. 2. They'll perform hits like "Jungle Love," "The Stick" and "The Bird," and hope to rejoin after the shows to record a new studio album.

Gathered on chairs and a peeling studio couch to talk with The Associated Press, the fellas are dressed in dapper suits and share an easy camaraderie. Guitarist and songwriter Jesse Johnson comes off as the most thoughtful, with Day interjecting one-liners that crack up the group.

"We haven't had the opportunity that we're having right now to do it together," Johnson said. "Because of everybody's schedules, everybody's different locations ... we want to make the best of this. Because we don't know when and if we'll get the chance to do this again."

Day tees off.

"Let's just say that the stars are in alignment," he said, gesturing to his bandmates. "You see the stars lined up? In a line!"

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who left the Time to become superstar R&B producers in the '80s and early '90s, lend a focus and seriousness to the conversation. They take care of business.

It was Lewis who pushed for a surprise get-together at the last Grammy Awards, where the band dusted off old dance moves surprisingly well. Keyboardist Jimmy Jam is now chairman of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which runs the Grammys. That leaves him with precious little time for practising.

"I'm a little rusty. But we going to knock the rust off," Jimmy Jam said. "Because you know, sitting in a recording studio is simple. Playing with these guys, I've got to bring my game up. ... I had it easy for 18 years."

Prince, who brought the group together, recently turned 50, and time is catching up too with the Time. Day, who still tours, is 51 now.

"I don't dance quite as hard, but a little smoother, a little sexier. It's efficient," Day said. "What do they call it, green something? You know, I'm trying to work environmentally."

Jimmy Jam chimes in: "Trying to conserve. Conservation! Yes."

A new album - the band's fifth - is in the works. It'd be the first since 1990's "Pandemonium." But it'll certainly have the same subject matter.

"We always write about the things that make us laugh, the stuff that we talk about, the stuff that comes out of our just everyday life on the more light side," Day said.

"Girls," Jimmy Jam intones.

"Sex," Morris smiles.

There had been numerous one-off efforts to reunite the splintered band in the past, including a pop-in by several members at the last Coachella festival, before Prince's set. But this reunion stuck after the joy of rehearsing for the Grammys, Johnson said.

"When you're in a studio ... you can sometimes forget why you got into this," Johnson said. "We didn't even know what we were playing. We were just jamming. It hits you almost - not to sound so corny - but like an epiphany. I'm like oh my God, this is why I started this. I've got my axe in my hand, turning my amp on, and it's loud."

Day, wincing a bit at showing his age, interjected: "It is loud!"

"It reminded you this is why you got into it," Johnson said as his bandmates laughed. "It wasn't about money. It might've been about women, but it definitely wasn't about money. Because Lord knows, there wasn't no money."

There's money now. Tickets to the Vegas shows run from $65 to $150.


©The Canadian Press, 2008