Hi, i've looked all over but i couldn't find a threat about this.
So: y'all know that Renato wasn't at the Paris gigs and the paisley park gig.
i thought that's allright if it's for a few shows..
But i've just read a french article that Renato's not on contract anymore and he's on tour with his band called : Straitjacket touring belgium, germany and austria.

i really find it ashame that he's out of the NPG .. just think about recent performances as Montreux, London gigs,.. where he plays a very leading role in the npg..

brechten said:

He'll be back

Good. I sort of see him as the bad jazz influence on Prince. When you take "Baby I'm A Star" and change it into fucking Yanni music, you deserve to BE GONE. I'm not touching on his talent, because he is talented, but he doesn't need to be in Prince's band.

ernestsewell said:

Kinda co-sign this.

Renato is great for the jazzy, ONA type stuff. But he doesn't throw down the hard funk synth grooves the way that Mr Hayes does.

Bring Back Dr Fink!!!!!

ronnwinter said:

Eh, he's too cranky to be any good to Prince, I think. I like Hayes back in the group. I think he's better than Fink ever was, although that's not to say Finky wasn't talented. But he ran his course w/ Prince.

ernestsewell said:

Lol..yea true. I guess Im just longing for the Revolution

ronnwinter said:

Won't happen. It just won't. If it does, even better. Prince had two great opportunities, once being this year, to reunite, even for a one off performance, with them, and he didn't. The Brit Awards, Tavis, and the 2000 Celebration is the closest you'll get.

ernestsewell said:

Yea...sux. Oh well...
This is the one thing that has always bugged me about Prince. He just doesnt keep a solid band together long.

ronnwinter said:

He keeps extremely solid bands together just long enough, IMO

Mindflux said:

I think that's exactly what he said.

However, the NPG were together a long while. Sonny, and Tommy and Michael B. were in the band since 1991 (Michael B since 1990). After The Hits in 1993, the band was honed down and gained Morris Hayes and that version of the NPG was around until 1996, when he changed it to Kat, Rhonda, Kirk, etc (one of the worst bands he's ever had). Five years of that NPG with Sonny/Michael/Tommy/Morris put out a LOT of awesome material, had some of the best shows ever in his career. Very prolific time, too. I was just never that thrilled w/ his bands since 1996 and onward. I lost interest in knowing who everyone was, and what they were like. Yes, bands like The Revolution (post-Dez), and the SOTT band were short lived, but still had a lot of great material during those short years. The Revolution proper was only 3 years (I count when Wendy made her debut w/ them at First Avenue in 1983, which was almost 3 years to the month when the Hit N Run tour ended in 1986 (Sept 9)).

If anything, I'd love to see that mid 90's NPG back together again. And we sort of got that with "Dreamer" on The Tonight Show, but again.....a one-off appearance.

brechten said:

I wanted to go, but it looks like they are only playing here once and the gig will be this Friday in Carinthia, which is at least 7 hours from where I live... I won't be able to go

mr hayes !!

He's not needed now that Prince is learning to use his software better.

ernestsewell said:

Kinda - we just appreciate it differently I think - I think its a good thing, whereas he was bemoaning the fact....but I'm sure you're know that

Agree with the mid-90's wish.....Sonny, Bland and Hayes could play anytime for me (although, I'd hate to lose Blackwell! Him and Bland are in the pocket, just different ones )

ernestsewell said:

i agree

Hmmm...I alwyas felt once an NPG always a NPG...No?
I alwyas liked how Babyboy kept everyone employeed. I rememebr when Mr hayes left ...there were rumors of him being fired, the same for Rhonda. It seems he does a good job rotating. Renato, I am sure will appear again. I just wish he would bring Rosey back for a concert and special appearance.

Anybody has any info about where the tour dates could be found?
Thanks...

Stella06 said:

Google.com

This is the best news Ive heard all year.

Nothing personal Renato, but YAY!!!

Yay from me too. [snip - CarrieMpls]

Mong said:

[snip - CarrieMpls]

I like Renato

Mong said:

What did that mean? I must have missed something.....

NewPowerSista said:

I'm still waiting on that answer too.

ernestsewell said:

Make that three of us.....

Already tried that. Couldn't find anything. Maybe you have a more specific solution?

ernestsewell said:

Stella06 said:

If you're looking for tour dates for Renato's band, find the band's website or Myspace or something. It'd be the usual methods to begin with.

ernestsewell said:

Fr 11/12 (DE) Köln Altes Pfandhaus www.altes-pfandhaus.de
Sa 12/12 (DE) Stuttgart Bix www.bix-stuttgart.de
So 13/12 (DE) Stuttgart Workshop e-Mail:Haraldstanger@aol.com
Mo 14/12 (B) Verviers Spirit of 66 www.spiritof66.be
Di 15/12 (DE) Kassel Schlachthof www.schlachthof-kassel.de
(?) Mi 16/12 (DE) Mannheim Popakademie www.popakademie.de
DO 17/12 (AT) Velden Bluesiana www.bluesiana.net
Fr 18/12 (DE) Dresden Tante Ju www.tanteju.com
Sa 19/12 (DE) Minden Jazzclub www.jazz-minden.de
So 20/12 (DE) Krefeld Jazzclub www.jazzkeller.info

here u go

It's too bad that he doesn't play with Prince all the time, IMO, they really are on the same tide, they play piano the same way, it feels really harmonious when Renato replies to Prince and Vice Versa..
Renato on keyboards, that feels so light as the air, and through his playing, notes dance all the time..I hope he comes back with Prince for next album and shows..