Hiya,

I started this thread because I wanted to chat about Dez Dickerson. I've been a fascinated by him since I got the chance to hear him speak at a music conference in Nashville, TN. I never really thought about it, but he's about the only musician who was really with Prince from his first major label band to the Purple Rain era. I bought his book and nervously had him sign it. I couldn't muster anything cool to say...I'm such a goob!

His musical advice was very sage, and I felt like I got a rare glimpse at what happens on the inside. I'm wondering if Dez is the only ex-bandmate that is allowed to speak freely...maybe he pre-dates the legal agreements that bandmates have to sign (??).

He runs a label and manages his son's band. Has anyone run into him...or have a good story? Has anyone read his book?

Brian

bhartzog said:

His book was VERY GOOD!!!!! He told it "like it was" from the beginning, without bashing Prince. A MUST-READ!!!!!

I spent more time waiting for the book to be delivered than he spent writing it.

woogiebear said:

Co-sign! I think it was the best Prince-related book I ever read. I REALLY enjoyed it. My sister met him a couple of years ago in MPLS and he was very cool and gracious. I wish Dez well. I loved the honesty and lack of bitterness or sensationalism in his book. Definitely pick it up if you can.

bellanoche said:

bellanoche,

I'm glad to hear your sister had a similar experience meeting Dez. He seems like the real deal to me. I'd love to hear more about the meeting, if you wanna share.

I know early in Prince's career he was marketed as a prodigy...but it occurred to me during Dez's speech that all those guys were really prodigies...with maybe Prince being the head of the pack. Dez was getting notes from his mom to get out of class to play gigs out of state...and he told about his audition with Prince...that he waited for quite a while in the MPLS cold before Prince showed up. After the brief audition, Dez headed off to his gig for the night. I love all the inside stories like that...

Brian
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Brian Hartzog
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bellanoche said:

I totally agree. Dez COULD have went to town in the book but he didn't. Which fits Dez to a tee. I felt the book was going to be good and it was. I too have had the pleasure in meeting Dez and as I stated on here before, Dez was so COOL with me. He was like how you would want your rock star idols to be when you met them. He couldn't have been cooler actually. Considering where we were and who we were surronded by, other's would have been much less gracious and not nearly as talkative. But not Dez. For my experience, he was a class act.

i dont know

i just thought he was HOT!

Mong said:

I was in the same boat. But overall Dez is cool and still a good guy, like a lot of the people that are apart of the Minneapolis sound.