The cold blooded part about Jesse getting dogged out over the "Prince-ish" look was that Jesse was the one who brought the "Pretty Boy" image to P's camp. In 80 when P first met Jesse through Morris, P's image was all about being the black version of Iggy Pop. That's where P was at during THAT stage. From some of the things Morris and Andre both told me was that when P first saw Jesse with the sky high jheri curl, the eyeliner, the pleated pants and pleated shirts, the custom pink cabinets and pink guitars, (all this shit Jesse ALREADY had) then all of sudden P started to switch gears visually. When P hit with Controversy, you can't see the transformation on the first 2 promo videos of Controversy and Sexuality because P was still on the Iggy Pop phase which was a carry over from Dirty Mind. But you can see it on the Controversy tour with The Time opening.

By then, P's image was more "softer" in his face and hair along with a more conservetive look in his dress. I'm not saying this was to do with Jesse or The Time as far as him wearing pants instead of his drawers. BUT, P started wearing much more makeup, heavy eyeliner, he had more ringlet curls put in his hair to hang on one side, that combined with the pleated pants and vest (which I always credited to Bowie's "Diamond Dogs" tour) Morris and Andre both said that AFTER seeing Jesse and his color pink, that's when P also started to put MORE emphasize on the color purple. In other words, it was untill Jesse hit the circle, then P was thinking MORE about being "pretty". Before that, P was waaay to raw and hard edged for that, even though he was wearing drawers. But after seeing Jesse, who ALREADY had his image down when he first joined The Time, P got on the "pretty boy" vibe then. Jesse wasn't alllowed to even wear pink untill on the second tour. Also I was told that P had Jesse pin some of his hair back on the sides in the photo that appeared on the back of the album. Although the promo and tour poster of The Time for the "What Time Is It" album, which has the band in the same clothes, everyone except for Jesse, who here is wearing his pink suit and his hair is blowed out more and not pinned back on the sides like it is on the back of the album. So of course it's natural for people to assume Jesse got his visual thing from Prince but the irony was it was really the other way around.
[Edited 10/26/09 1:14am]

ThreadBare said:

I agree, Thread. I'm certainly not down for trying to change anybody's opinion either. But for me, Jesse's earliest track, which should have been not only on his debut but should have been the first single. "Free World" was bangin'. Another one of my favorites is another b-side "Fool's Paradise" which really showcases his ode to Hendrix. THAT'S how I wanted him to hit on his debut, showcasing his lead solos more. I also love the track he did fot T and the Seen "Blueberry Gossip",...his backwards guitar on that as well as "Fool's Paradise" , along with his tone, is KILLIN'. The track "I'm Just Wanting You" is great as well. Again, it's all about the guitar. I too dug "Black In America". My favorite album by Jesse hands down though obviously is 'Bare My Naked Soul". Jesse shows on this album what he has always shown in a live setting, that he is a killer when it comes to his axe playing. And I like the songwriting on Bare My Naked Soul as well. To me, this is when Jesse really shines.
[Edited 10/26/09 1:17am]