For me, I don't hate him JW or not.

I don't a have problem with anyone's religious beliefs. Just don't try to push them on me. Maybe Prince needed some guidance, & Larry Graham was there for him. Prince chose to become a JW, I'm pretty sure Larry Graham didn't force him to do it.....

I don't hate Larry at all. He was part of the freakin' Family Stone for crying out loud! Monster bass player, really nice guy. I am not a JW, and have no intentions of becoming one. You don't have to be a JW to like Larry.

I have no problem with Prince being a JW. I think that after his child died of Pfeiffer syndrome, and Mayte divorced him, I think he was very spiritually unstable. Larry was there 4 him, and Prince converted to JW. But, here's were Prince got out of line. After becoming a JW, during Rave Un2 The Year 2000, changing the lyrics of "Gett Off" from 23 positions in a one night stand, to 23 scriptures in a one night stand, is a little ridiculous. Thats what everyone does during a one night stand, they read scriptures I get it that he doesn't cuss anymore, but also, he doesn't sing any of his sexually explicit songs, (which are really if you think about it, they are the songs that made him so popular back in the early 80's). Does anyone think it's necessary 4 him 2 not sing ANY of his sexually explicit songs?

Yep, that's pretty much the size of it.

I'm not a huge fan of ANY religion, but the fact that this guy was the catalist to the fact that Prince may never again play Erotic City or Head, does make me dislike him.

After the issues with his divorce and the loss of his child, Prince was in an extremely damaged emotional state, and in typical religious fashion (preying on the weak and wounded) Larry Graham swooped in and filled Prince's head with a bunch of Garbage. Prince was taken advantage of during one of his weakest moments, Larry Grahams actions are disgusting.

Prince is barely even a JW anymore (singing a few lines from Nasty Girls, doing DMSR, playing the Darling Nikki riff, etc) I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

I love Larry Graham and if his influence keeps Prince from having to take anesthesia to go to sleep at night then God bless him.

If you hate someone who stands for right then there is a problem with you.

muleFunk said:

I love Larry Graham and if his influence keeps Prince from having to take anesthesia to go to sleep at night then God bless him.

You don't need "spiritual" bullshit to get over your personal problems. A good psychotherapy will do the same, without all that god-nonsense.

there are many more profound reasons to hate larry than his religion. that fucking white suit and hat for a start off!

I'm one of those that DON'T blame Larry for Prince's decision to go JW. Prince is a grown ass man, I'm sure he made his own decision on the matter.

Timmy84 said:

I'm one of those that DON'T blame Larry for Prince's decision to go JW. Prince is a grown ass man, I'm sure he made his own decision on the matter.

Theres no way he would have gone JW without him, even grown men are influenced by the people around them.

21nights said:

I have no problem with Prince being a JW. I think that after his child died of Pfeiffer syndrome, and Mayte divorced him, I think he was very spiritually unstable. Larry was there 4 him, and Prince converted to JW. But, here's were Prince got out of line. After becoming a JW, during Rave Un2 The Year 2000, changing the lyrics of "Gett Off" from 23 positions in a one night stand, to 23 scriptures in a one night stand, is a little ridiculous. Thats what everyone does during a one night stand, they read scriptures I get it that he doesn't cuss anymore, but also, he doesn't sing any of his sexually explicit songs, (which are really if you think about it, they are the songs that made him so popular back in the early 80's). Does anyone think it's necessary 4 him 2 not sing ANY of his sexually explicit songs?

Those may be the songs that made him popular back then because he was young and carefree, and when you're young, it is not surprisiing that as you get older, wiser and achieve a totally, different mindset along the way, that one may not do the same things they did back then.

He was swearing and using sexually-explicit lyrics back, bold, as well as presented a questionable, sexual image, did not talk much to the press or give interviews, which all of that kept a mystery about him, and those were all the things that kept the interests among many of his fans.

I don't see the point in anyone hating Larry or any other person that Prince personally chose to discuss the JW religion with. It was obviously a choice a grown man made on his own, while at the same time having prior discussions/interests with specific family members, before discussing it with Larry. Makes no sense to blame or hate Larry for a personal choice a grown man made on his own.

[Edited 7/11/11 12:09pm]

Thanks for the laugh. I needed that.

Yes, I was at the LA concerts, and he said, "Where my Nasty Girls at?"

Off to play Feel U Up.

Wildboy said:

I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

Wildboy said:

Yep, that's pretty much the size of it.

I'm not a huge fan of ANY religion, but the fact that this guy was the catalist to the fact that Prince may never again play Erotic City or Head, does make me dislike him.

After the issues with his divorce and the loss of his child, Prince was in an extremely damaged emotional state, and in typical religious fashion (preying on the weak and wounded) Larry Graham swooped in and filled Prince's head with a bunch of Garbage. Prince was taken advantage of during one of his weakest moments, Larry Grahams actions are disgusting.

Prince is barely even a JW anymore (singing a few lines from Nasty Girls, doing DMSR, playing the Darling Nikki riff, etc) I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

(Bolded part) Really? From what I've heard, he had many discussions with his mother before she passed, about the JW religion, so the interest was already there, long before he had discussions with Larry. His mother apparently wanted him to become a JW before she passed. When it came down to the final decision, you really think someone else, somehow forced a grown man to embrace a religion, he obviously had the personal freedom to choose on his own? Larry and no one else held a gun to his head and forced him. This is not targetting you, but I can't understand why some fans seem to think the man is not capable of making those type decisions for himself, but many fans rather blame someone else for it.

[Edited 7/11/11 12:21pm]

bobbyperu said:

I'm getting sick and tired of all this negativity towards Larry Graham. It almost spoiled my fun of watching them play together at the NSJF. It didn't, though, coz he got a warm welcome where I was standing. When the JWs show up at my door, I don't let them in. If you do, it means you are willing to listen. Prince was not brainwashed and manipulated and hypnotized by Larry to convert to the JW. He is a grown man with a strong personality who makes his own decisions. So stop blaming Larry for everything!

I agree with you totally! I am not going to play the blame game; as I did before. Blaming Larry Graham, or the death of his son, the conversion to a Jehovah's witness, and the divorce with Matye Garcia, etc, to be all responsible for his current or previous choices. These things are SURELY influences but by no means directly associated to the way he does things now. I KNOW it's up to Prince to move on and respond accordingly to the way things go on in his life...as it is with the rest of us. Larry is obviously an influence but by no means the reason. Prince is a grown man and I feel made this decision because his life called for it. I can understand the frustration some have towards him but I feel no reason at all for the blame game. Larry is a cool guy..but as someone said so humorously ; the white suit and the hat are enough already. Haha, JK..Larry is cool! I like the way he prounoces God. He says "GAWDDDDDD"...And that makes me cry laugh every time. LOL

802 said:

For me, I don't hate him JW or not.

I think Larry Graham is probably a great guy. It's Prince's fault people don't like him. I went to a Prince concert once where he let Larry Graham take the floor far too often and for far too long and I was hating on him by the time I left. But it wasn't Larry's fault, he was just playing when he was asked to.

Yup.

Forget religion, if Larry Graham was still a crotchety, conspiracist minded, and dogmatic older man playing the elder statesman card, hogging up interviews, and taking over the stage shows....then yeah I'm gonna hate.

Prince's music started sounding too adult contemporary and slowwwww under Larry Graham's direction...not funkier.

Now the Larry Graham who just wants to lay low come out with the Family Stone and funk it up for a few songs, school some Prince fans on the classics, or open it up with a brief set like he did with the Oakland shows?..... No problem.

Yup, me too:

I just can't stop hating Larry -F*cking- Graham with a passion, aaargh that guy is annoying like hell..

What LG did to Prince's head is a crime worth at least 100 years in jail.

Don't laugh I am serious.... Larry Graham

What if Larry wasn't a JW you ask, well that is hypothetic.

he has ruined, destroyed, poisoned my fave artist with that JW sect....

Don't tell Larry isn't to blame for that, cuz he really IS:

[img:$uid]http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4500/not3ared.jpg[/img:$uid]

^ from NOTORIOUS Magazine issue 4, 1999.

[img:$uid]http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/1839/not5ckopi.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 7/11/11 14:37pm]

for the last time, it was not larry that got prince into the jw, it was george benson.

yes

I dont hate Larry, I actually like some of his music, mostly when he was with Sly & The Family Stone. & he's a great musician.

But the reason people dont like him or the main reason besides trying to pen the blame on a major decision a grown-man (Prince) made on his own, is that he entered P's life in a rough time, & they feel since he was someone P had respected since a youngin, it made it easier for his beliefs to rub off on Prince.

Cant say I enjoy them on stage togther, but Larry & P seem to be great friends, & its nice to see P has someone to connect with. Plus I think people need to consider the fact that P just grew up & out of his old ways.

Timmy84 said:

I'm one of those that DON'T blame Larry for Prince's decision to go JW. Prince is a grown ass man, I'm sure he made his own decision on the matter.

Thank You.

2elijah said:

Wildboy said:

Yep, that's pretty much the size of it.

I'm not a huge fan of ANY religion, but the fact that this guy was the catalist to the fact that Prince may never again play Erotic City or Head, does make me dislike him.

After the issues with his divorce and the loss of his child, Prince was in an extremely damaged emotional state, and in typical religious fashion (preying on the weak and wounded) Larry Graham swooped in and filled Prince's head with a bunch of Garbage. Prince was taken advantage of during one of his weakest moments, Larry Grahams actions are disgusting.

Prince is barely even a JW anymore (singing a few lines from Nasty Girls, doing DMSR, playing the Darling Nikki riff, etc) I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

(Bolded part) Really? From what I've heard, he had many discussions with his mother before she passed, about the JW religion, so the interest was already there, long before he had discussions with Larry. His mother apparently wanted him to become a JW before she passed. When it came down to the final decision, you really think someone else, somehow forced a grown man to embrace a religion, he obviously had the personal freedom to choose on his own? Larry and no one else held a gun to his head and forced him. This is not targetting you, but I can't understand why some fans seem to think the man is not capable of making those type decisions for himself, but many fans rather blame someone else for it.

[Edited 7/11/11 12:21pm]

First time hearing this.... continue.

I know that they were 7th Day Adventists which are cousins to JWs but his mother was JW?

jackson35 said:

for the last time, it was not larry that got prince into the jw, it was george benson.

I know that, some here just want to keep on attacking Larry.

thedance said:

Yup, me too:

I just can't stop hating Larry -F*cking- Graham with a passion, aaargh that guy is annoying like hell..

What LG did to Prince's head is a crime worth at least 100 years in jail.

Have you ever met him?

muleFunk said:

I love Larry Graham and if his influence keeps Prince from having to take anesthesia to go to sleep at night then God bless him.

If you hate someone who stands for right then there is a problem with you.

Wildboy said:

Yep, that's pretty much the size of it.

I'm not a huge fan of ANY religion, but the fact that this guy was the catalist to the fact that Prince may never again play Erotic City or Head, does make me dislike him.

After the issues with his divorce and the loss of his child, Prince was in an extremely damaged emotional state, and in typical religious fashion (preying on the weak and wounded) Larry Graham swooped in and filled Prince's head with a bunch of Garbage. Prince was taken advantage of during one of his weakest moments, Larry Grahams actions are disgusting.

Prince is barely even a JW anymore (singing a few lines from Nasty Girls, doing DMSR, playing the Darling Nikki riff, etc) I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

catalyst - if you are going to use a word the worng way, at least spell it correctly.

muleFunk said:

2elijah said:

(Bolded part) Really? From what I've heard, he had many discussions with his mother before she passed, about the JW religion, so the interest was already there, long before he had discussions with Larry. His mother apparently wanted him to become a JW before she passed. When it came down to the final decision, you really think someone else, somehow forced a grown man to embrace a religion, he obviously had the personal freedom to choose on his own? Larry and no one else held a gun to his head and forced him. This is not targetting you, but I can't understand why some fans seem to think the man is not capable of making those type decisions for himself, but many fans rather blame someone else for it.

[Edited 7/11/11 12:21pm]

First time hearing this.... continue.

I know that they were 7th Day Adventists which are cousins to JWs but his mother was JW?

I heard he had many discussions with her about the JW religion, as well as George Benson, like someone else mentioned here, long before any discussions with Larry about it. I also do believe his mother was a JW before she passed. I mean, it's kind of crazy that some fans would blame anyone they think somehow "forced" Prince to become a JW, when it is apparent Prince is an adult capable of making his own life decisions.

[Edited 7/12/11 8:23am]

Wildboy said:

Yep, that's pretty much the size of it.

I'm not a huge fan of ANY religion, but the fact that this guy was the catalist to the fact that Prince may never again play Erotic City or Head, does make me dislike him.

After the issues with his divorce and the loss of his child, Prince was in an extremely damaged emotional state, and in typical religious fashion (preying on the weak and wounded) Larry Graham swooped in and filled Prince's head with a bunch of Garbage. Prince was taken advantage of during one of his weakest moments, Larry Grahams actions are disgusting.

Prince is barely even a JW anymore (singing a few lines from Nasty Girls, doing DMSR, playing the Darling Nikki riff, etc) I just wish he would be done with it and start cussing again. I want a live rendition of Feel U Up

Prince was the catalyst for Prince's choices. You can't BLAME OTHER PEOPLE for Prince's decisions. HE decided and continues to decide his own course. It's the fact that some don't people want to blame Prince for any of his decisions...unless they feel they are good decisions. The disgusting part is that some people can't get that.

If you want to hate someone for Prince not playing what you want or cussing you have TWO choices..Prince or yourself. Prince for not doing exactly what you want, or yourself for being so immature that you refuse to let an artist you proclaim love do what he wants. (PS- the last part was not directed at Wildboy...but some of the other comments)

[Edited 7/12/11 9:33am]

[Edited 7/12/11 9:33am]