Hi,
I thought I'd pass along an interview I did with Wendy & Lisa recently on my blog. We discussed the new album pretty extensively with a focus on their distribution model. They were cool, funny and passionate about their work.

They also talk about their ideas for a summer tour, which frankly sounds amazing! I hope they can pull it off!

http://www.playbsides.com/?p=881

Thanks!
Mike Roeder
It's Time To Play B-Sides
http://www.playbsides.com

Great interview. Well done!

I love hearing what they have to say and I find them and this time in their careers really...I don't know, is refreshing the right word? They seem very happy and satisfied in a way that really comes through in what they're doing. Or at least it feels that way to me.

I thought it was interesting that Wendy was talking about Sign 'o' the Times being an incredible record to make. Too bad they had to go at that point, because I wanted to hear them say more about that!

Thanks. W&L are always so open and ready to speak freely. It's nice.

Great read IMHO. Well done

Efan said:

I don't want to give the girls too much credit cause them fams go apeshit, but there has to be a reason why the quality of his work took such a dramatic nose dive not just in quality, but in basic intelligence.
After SOTT the music got progressively dumber and duller.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Yeah, fams will definitely go apeshit. Still, it's interesting to me that Wendy is talking about working on SOTT or having been part of it, considering that's his pivotal work in many people's eyes.

Personally, I don't think his music suffered immediately after that. I like Lovesexy better, and I would argue that Sheila's and Eric's influence on Prince was just as significant and important as Wendy & Lisa's (and I say that with a lot of love and affection and respect for W&L too). I definitely think that SOTT live (with the Lovesexy band) is far superior to SOTT on record, which speaks to that.

I would have loved to have seen what would have come out of a Revolution with Sheila in it. Sheila, Wendy, Lisa, Eric, and Miko all working together with Prince would have been unstoppable.

Efan said:

Yep, all those guys including Matt Fink added a flavor to create a great brew.
[Edited 2/14/09 7:49am]

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

-----
I sorry but do you have any idea how arrogant that comes off. The music got dumber when W&L left. That is your opinion but gee just because W&L left does not mean the music got dumb. I sometimes wonder if some of you don't think the music got to black.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

"and I would argue that Sheila's and Eric's influence on Prince was just as significant and important as Wendy & Lisa's (and I say that with a lot of love and affection and respect for W&L too). I definitely think that SOTT live (with the Lovesexy band) is far superior to SOTT on record, which speaks to that."

Exactly none of the W&L fans can explain why the live version of SOTT kicks the ass of the record or that Lovesexy is a now considered a classic.

laurarichardson said:

Yikes!
You like treading on the crazy water, how you come up with these asumtions says more about you than anything else.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

-----
"how you come up with these asumtions says more about you than anything else."

Yes that I am in touch with reality and that I am not down with PC bullcrap. It pisses me off when fans harp on W&L contributions and ignore a lot of other talented people P worked with after SOTT.

The Lovesexy/SOTT live shows were incredible and guess what W&L were not around. It is ignorant and shows bias to ignore these facts.

laurarichardson said:

Lol Laura, no one said anything but praise about the artists Prince worked with including myself. I am not a W&L fan, i think they are talented musicians and all,but you fams are very defensive about the very mention of W&L, that was my point about you guys going apeshit.
we disagree thats cool but the race baiting on your previous post is off the charts! not good laura.
[Edited 2/15/09 18:56pm]

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

-----
I do not hear any praise from W&L fans about anything P did without W&L involvement. It is ridculous and no one is going apeshit by bring it up.

As far as racebaiting is concerned. I am not doing that I am being real. Race is one issue with the W&L thing for somepeople. Pretending race issues do not exsist or matter will not solve anything.

In addtion, you can go back too " Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince (
by Alex Hahn one of the books written about Prince and read Wendy's comments about too many black people being around during the Parade era. It amazes me that she could get away with making such a crack and still can't figure out why she got her walking papers.

P took an unknown person and put her in a top selling group. Out front no less and she has the nerve to say that shit. So don't give me the race baiting nosense.

laurarichardson said:

I'm a W&L fan and dig other stuff Prince did too. I like his early work before Wendy was in the band. I've only said it is clear he is better when he's got other people with talent and real comments on what he is doing other than a bunch of "yes" folks. I think that is pretty clear. And W&L fit that bill as does Andre Cymone, Sheila E., and a host of other talented folks who have worked WITH him. As opposed to those he straight up directs.
As for Wendy's comment I'd be interested to see the quote and context. Just curious.

laurarichardson said:

I actually OWN the book that you are talking about and that dont even say WHY she(and Lisa) was fired.
From what I read, in the book your talking about, I do believe it said that she was making comments within ear shot of Prince (didnt say what kind nor did it mention race, it also mentions the screaming matches between Wendy, Lisa and Prince saying that P yelled at them "Your going to hell for you lifestyle" type BS). Wendy has stated numourus of times from my knowledge that her and Lisa were fired cause of their sexuality.
IF such comments are in this book kindly direct me to the page # NOT chapter you are talking about.I would like to read this for myself.
[Edited 2/17/09 15:00pm]

i'd like to know too

Personally I prefer Prince's music when Wendy & Lisa were in the group. Purple Rain, ATWIAD, Parade & Sign O' the Times are my favourite era of Prince. W & L contributed so much, even the music videos were better with them in it. Something was missing when they left.

any word from Laura on this? I always like to get the facts straight.

laurarichardson said:

Well Prince did have those stupid bodyguards around, and years later he added the GameBoyz and Tony M to the mix. It's a fair assessment to say the music was "dumbed down" by that time, compared to his work up until Sign O' The Times. For some reason it seems that Prince was more concerned with being "black" or "popular" than the continue on the musical path he, Wendy, and Lisa were on. Just look at the first album made after SOTT... The "Black" Album.
[Edited 2/17/09 19:03pm]

toots said:

Prince fired Wendy & Lisa because they were lesbians? Seriously?

Good interview. I *really* hope they follow through on the European dates!


Ignore the laurarichardson BS guys. Does every mention of W&L have to devolve into a 15 page thread lockdown?

no details from Laura. Assuming it was a fabrication to make a point then?

NouveauDance said:

I really want a US tour myself. But if not there is always videos

This is a W&L thread so it will be talked about being that posters are fams/fans and non fams/fans. And so can be discussed. Along with every associated artist under the moon that belongs in this forum yes even Bria

So if we wanna go apeshit on a topic we like so be it, just like people do in the Prince: Music & More forum.
[Edited 2/18/09 14:13pm]

Great interview.- Thanks for posting it.

Wendy said:

If they tour, I hope they come to Copenhagen.

The last time they played here, 21 November 1990, they promised they'd be back. And I'm still waiting.