When 3RD EYE GIRL formed I was excited because the band allowed Prince to get out of a vreative rut both onstage and in the studio with the rotating group of backing musicians that is the New Power Generation. Shelby, Liv and Elisa (NPG Divas) perform in the background like Gina and Pam trying to outsing the other during the Biggie audition on "Martin". With 4 members (Prince, Donna Grantis, Ida, Nielsen and Hannah Ford), this band was slowly coalescing into the powerful rock unit that did the Live Out Loud Tour. 3 women backing a living legend and Prince giving some of the most intense rock music performances of his career on guitar.

Since the UK Tour back in February, Joshua has been onstage with the band for most shows and although, his role onstage is to play keyboards when Prince is singing and cowbell and last night's show in Oakland with Liv and NPG Horns joining, I would hate for the band to morph into 3RD EYE GIRL plus NPG guests. Donna and Hannah are not funk players and when onstage Donna looks like "when can we get back to rockin' out". Liv has her own band and as much I dig the horn section, the Mardi Gras dance party thing works brilliantly with NPG. 3RD EYE GIRL got a good thing going and what scares me is Prince inviting Shelby J to sing just ONE SONG at a 3RDEYEGIRL show and going H.A.M.

I don't get the complaint, about if he invited ShelbyJ or any of his backup singers to perform a song with him, while 3EG band members are backing the performance. Maybe if Hanna had a voice like Shelby, Liv or Elisa, then that would make a difference, but neither Donna or Hanna has strong vocal skills like his backup singers, to perform specific songs with him, which is probably why he needs some of his backup singers during some of his shows. I don't see where that takes away from Prince's rock side at all. It's not like it was written in gold that when he hired Donna and Hannah and included Ida, that they were going to be the only band members he was going to perform with. I like the fact that he doesn't pigeon hole himself into one genre of music or one group of band members.

2elijah said:

I don't get the complaint, about if he invited ShelbyJ or any of his backup singers to perform a song with him, while 3EG band members are backing the performance. Maybe if Hanna had a voice like Shelby, Liv or Elisa, then that would make a difference, but neither Donna or Hanna has strong vocal skills like his backup singers, to perform specific songs with him, which is probably why he needs some of his backup singers during some of his shows. I don't see where that takes away from Prince's rock side at all. It's not like it was written in gold that when he hired Donna and Hannah and included Ida, that they were going to be the only band members he was going to perform with. I like the fact that he doesn't pigeon hole himself into one genre of music or one group of band members.

I was thinking the same. The record's not even out yet, but he's already taking it to different directions (well, mainly the same as his done with his previous bands). I thought the whole point was to perform material that they could pull off playing with just four people on stage, without the additions. Yeah, a track like "She's Always In My Hair" doesn't sound the same without the keyboards, but I thought he was interested in stripping down and altering arrangements of some of his oldies.

purplethunder3121 said:

2elijah said:

I don't get the complaint, about if he invited ShelbyJ or any of his backup singers to perform a song with him, while 3EG band members are backing the performance. Maybe if Hanna had a voice like Shelby, Liv or Elisa, then that would make a difference, but neither Donna or Hanna has strong vocal skills like his backup singers, to perform specific songs with him, which is probably why he needs some of his backup singers during some of his shows. I don't see where that takes away from Prince's rock side at all. It's not like it was written in gold that when he hired Donna and Hannah and included Ida, that they were going to be the only band members he was going to perform with. I like the fact that he doesn't pigeon hole himself into one genre of music or one group of band members.

I don't know, maybe some fans designed their own expectations of Prince when he hired the 3EG backing rock band, yet I didn't read any official statement that said he would stop performing or including the NPG members, just because he hired 3EG females.

I hate the horns!! Let them go with Liv. They ruin Prince's show. Its just way too much overload. the horns were good on tours like Act 1 and act 2. This big band crap sucks. I would listen to Glenn Miller if I want to hear big band

It's kind of hard to engage in this debate when Hanna's so so drum skills and her husband playing keys and cowbell is overlooked, just to trash the backup singers and NPG Hornz which by far trump IMO in musical talent and ability. We all have preference but to me with the lineage of exceptional keyboard players my fear is more having Joshua in the band than the horn players. Maybe I need to understand why those two get a pass. We can also agree that 3rd Eye cannot play funk well. Admittingly, I have yet to and very much want to see 3rd Eye live.

i am already sick of 3erd eye chics and ready 4 thenpg 2 trumph again. i havent seen or heard anything from them that makes my liver quiver josh is talented and would make a great member of npg better than his wife hannah is great at rock she suck at r/b funk

Prince has said in a lot of 1990s interviews he has a hard time sticking to and following thru with 1 project. He needs to release the album already and begin promoting it. I think that would give him some much needed focus.

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It's weird because this OP is appreciating the 3rdEye band, but if we all think back, when it first hit, many threads were bashing the 3rdEye band... lol oh well

The concept of the band is 3 female backing musicians and Prince and I love this outfit because it puts the focus on Prince and not on backing singers and horn players who obscure him when onstage with him for NPG performances. First thing first is getting the album out and let the band shine.