https://www.facebook.com/...6038240828

Received a letter from Prince's lawyer Howard King this morning ... what lovely start to the day (Neil).

No info on what's in it, but the mode of communication speaks volumes...

Hmmm, this might be related to this: http://prince.org/msg/5/358719 .

.

[Edited 5/18/11 22:40pm]

Why why why does he have to be such a prick???!!!

What a knob.

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

purplenuts said:

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

Legal rights to what--if they aren't using the name "the Family" and using their own brand new music?!

purplenuts said:

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

I thought anyone could cover a song live, no?

And I wonder if Jill's comments on FB was in response to this goings ons. Whatever the case, Prince is a big ole douch and I am glad I no longer purchase his crappy new music nor support him via his concerts.

There! I said it...

I was on the Fdeluxe Facebook page. According to their manager it isn't about the name issue. They had changed the name and doesn't want to relive the past they want to move forward. The name controversy seems is no longer an issue to them.

It is Prince giving them a hard time when they tried to mention their history when they was The Family. After all St. Paul and them were in The Family that is a fact. Look like their manager MIGHT fight back/to find some way to challenge Prince per comments on the Facebook page and I hope he do because I got his back and so will other fans too.

Other former associates are dealing the same thing with Prince as he threatened them with a lawsuit if they mention his name to the media. Why cant Prince go after the mainstream media for mentioned his name with the lawsuits and foreclosure he was facing because they will straight up tell him to fuckoff.

Someone has to take a stand of this soon or later. Prince cant prevent people from telling his history when its their history too. Who he think he is?

purplenuts said:

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

Keep swinging off those purple nuts, purplenuts.

NouveauDance said:

purplenuts said:

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

Keep swinging off those purple nuts, purplenuts.

Vulgarity is not a substitute for intelligent recourse. But then so much should be expected I suppose.

[Edited 5/19/11 11:09am]

purplenuts said:

NouveauDance said:

Keep swinging off those purple nuts, purplenuts.

Vulgarity is not a substitute for intelligent recourse. But then so much should be expected I suppose.

[Edited 5/19/11 11:09am]

Love the new character. Makes me miss the days of Pook and Brian Fellows.

purplenuts said:

I back his position all the way. He has legal rights and he is protecting them.

What legal rights? He doesn't own the trademark. He has NO legal rights.

Not sure whether or not he has legal rights. Didn't Lisa and Wendy say on some awards show that they got in trouble for talking about him in interviews? Although as I recall, they received a courtesy call from Prince suggesting that they keep their mouths shut. He didn't approach the issue with them by sending them papers.

I agree that Prince is being a bit of a prick, but if all those folks signed confidentiality agreements back in the day, he may have a case. However, we don't know how those agreements are worded, so he probably is over-interpreting what constitutes confidentiality.

So yes, he is being a prick. But he was really sore with St. Paul for leaving the way he did. I am just thinking about that concert where he and Jerome B. were dissing Paul during Mutiny. I forget the chant, but Prince kept saying, "somebody's getting them car keys." It was terrible!

I'm surprised there are lawyers who are still willing to work for Prince after he has failed to pay other lawyers for their services in the past. Maybe he is paying them up front now.

PurpleChi said:

Oh I remember the chant, "Paul, the punk of the month."

Well, IF Prince is still holding any kind of grudge against Paul for stuff that went on so long ago, and that is playing any part in what's currently happening**, then that's very sad.

My mind boggles at what kind of 'confidentiality agreement' or legally binding ANYthing Prince could convince a person to sign which would indefinitely prohibit said person from ever discussing THEIR OWN LIFE AND HISTORY merely because it would reference him in any way, shape, or form. I love Prince's music and I appreciate his talent and him for many reasons, but sometimes he truly makes it appear that he's an angry, bitter and miserable soul filled with self-hatred.

**pure speculation and I hope it isn't true

This was all over them wanting to name the album The Family. Wow!

https://www.facebook.com/...6897305828

With that being said, Gaslight kinda sucks as a title.

RubyButterfly said:

RubyButterfly said:

Serious said:

I read a couple of posts by you today that I like and this is one of them.

Thanks, Serious. I appreciate that, especially coming from you as I've read many posts by you that I've liked and agreed with. thanks again.

sosgemini said:

PurpleChi said:

sosgemini said:

This was all over them wanting to name the album The Family. Wow!

https://www.facebook.com/...6897305828

With that being said, Gaslight kinda sucks as a title.

Oh, I didn't read this before my last post. Ok, well Prince may have a point there. Technically, the album being called, The Family is directly connected with the group Prince created. The term resonates with Prince fans and helps FDeluxe to market themselves to that population. We may not like it, but it is what it is...just saying. Now is Prince still a prick for caring that they capitalize off of that piece of Prince history? That's debatable.

I gotta say, they shouldn't have even went there. Once they knew the name wasn't possible they should have embraced a whole new chapter with a new name and new album name. I am still not feeling F-Deluxe but that's a much better album name then a band name. IMHO.

PurpleChi said:

Yeah, Prince is probably over-interpreting the agreement. But, I doubt he would have to twist an aspiring artist's arm too much to sign a such a document. You would be shocked what people will sign when they think a person can make their dreams a reality. You have to remember that everyone was very young back then. No telling if they had the right lawyers, advisors, etc.

Oh, I definitely understand how the lure of fame can affect a person's thinking, especially a naive young person. And I agree about everyone being so young at the time and the likely lack of good lawyers and advisement...but the scenario that ONLY Prince was savvy enough back then to orchestrate everything to his advantage, while everyone else had stars clouding their eyes (or, in the cases of a few I won't mention by name, were just not too bright) or caved in to the pressure and 'signed their life' away against their own best judgment, is perplexing to me.

I agree with your remark that Prince is probably over-interpreting the agreement, or at least is trying to intimidate and posture in hopes he can maintain the most possible control over what is revealed or discussed about him. It must be horrible to live in such fear like that.

My ramblings are irrelevent now in light of the post about Fdeluxe wanting to title their album The Family!

sosgemini said:

This was all over them wanting to name the album The Family. Wow!

https://www.facebook.com/...6897305828

With that being said, Gaslight kinda sucks as a title.

It must really be grit in his paw that these guys are getting along and going forward without him after all this time. It'd be funny if it wasn't so pitiful.

PurpleChi said:

sosgemini said:

This was all over them wanting to name the album The Family. Wow!

https://www.facebook.com/...6897305828

With that being said, Gaslight kinda sucks as a title.

Oh, I didn't read this before my last post. Ok, well Prince may have a point there. Technically, the album being called, The Family is directly connected with the group Prince created. The term resonates with Prince fans and helps FDeluxe to market themselves to that population. We may not like it, but it is what it is...just saying. Now is Prince still a prick for caring that they capitalize off of that piece of Prince history? That's debatable.

Oh, come on - there's already an album called "The Family." By the same group. Released in 1986.

I honestly don't know how they thought they'd get away with it. I mean...I'm sure they're all lovely people - but even trying doesn't speak well of their intellectual capacity.

Genesia said:

PurpleChi said:

sosgemini said: Oh, I didn't read this before my last post. Ok, well Prince may have a point there. Technically, the album being called, The Family is directly connected with the group Prince created. The term resonates with Prince fans and helps FDeluxe to market themselves to that population. We may not like it, but it is what it is...just saying. Now is Prince still a prick for caring that they capitalize off of that piece of Prince history? That's debatable.

Oh, come on - there's already an album called "The Family." By the same group. Released in 1986.

I honestly don't know how they thought they'd get away with it. I mean...I'm sure they're all lovely people - but even trying doesn't speak well of their intellectual capacity.

and plenty of bands with the name the family on it (Sly and the Family Stone anyone??). Just like movie titles, and book titles. NO ONE has a RIGHT to these things unless trademarked. Prince didn't do it so he is legally entitled to zilch. He needs to move on more than anyone involved.

Zannaloaf said:

Genesia said:

Oh, come on - there's already an album called "The Family." By the same group. Released in 1986.

I honestly don't know how they thought they'd get away with it. I mean...I'm sure they're all lovely people - but even trying doesn't speak well of their intellectual capacity.

and plenty of bands with the name the family on it (Sly and the Family Stone anyone??). Just like movie titles, and book titles. NO ONE has a RIGHT to these things unless trademarked. Prince didn't do it so he is legally entitled to zilch. He needs to move on more than anyone involved.

I think both of you are right. It's a dumb idea to give your second album the same title as your first album (unless you're Peter Gabriel). On the other hand, it's a dumb idea for Prince to try to stop it, since he has nothing to gain other than additional negative publicity.

Damn. Being in a Prince band was like signing a deal with the devil. Why is he always trying to intimidate and hold cats back from doing anything? It's really a blessing that so many of his former proteges are still in the game and representing on such a high level. Prince should forgive and support more of them before it's too late.