There was an undercurrent of bitterness, I found, to his recent remarks. And frankly, they were off base.

It's not that big a deal, I just thought the post was patronizing and a little tacky.

I felt like he wanted to get some attention for himself. He seems to jump at every chance to discuss Prince.

Everytime I type a response to this topic, I end up just deleting it instead.

It took all my strength and energy just to type this in response to OP.

Mr Leeds, welcome... to the wrath of Prince fans.

Well, this is all my personal opinion, but I don't think Alan is wrong at all. His comments were spot on, but also completely unnecessary. Prince and 3EG are what they are, and Prince is never going to give any of us the type of music or experiences we've been imagining he might one day be open to. I realized that with NPGMusicClub. I said it again when they announced the Purple Rain outtakes. And throughout all the points when it appeared Prince might be produce new music with his protoges. It's never going to happen. Prince can't do it and still be "THE CRRREATEST LIVN' SOUL!/ THATULLEVERKNOWWWWWW!!!".

His current situation is the BEST he's going to deliver going forward. Eventually the young talents around Prince will mature some and the music will tighten up perhaps to a really high level. But Prince hates all of his old bandmembers and associates to such a degree, that if he never plays with them again, it will be too soon. Though he isn't going to actually tell them that. He pretends the door is open, but in general, he thinks he's smarter than them, richer than them, better than them, more right with God than them, etc. But frustration boils over from time to time.

They are beginning to catch on, and the best way I can describe it is that some are experiencing various parts of the 7 stages of grief over the situation, imo.

Prince blames them for negative fan reaction to his various projects and albums. He blames them for interviewing. He blames them for any and everything really. But... I think he's got it wrong. We want what we want. Prince keeps delivering a pizza with toppings nobody ordered. And then wondering why everybody is pissed. Sometimes he charges you for the pizza and NOTHING ever shows up. Sure sometimes we warm to the usual odd toppings, but 9 times out of 10, we are like, "Shit, dude, How hard is it?"

NouveauDance said:

Mr Leeds, welcome... to the wrath of Prince fans.

Same legendary ascerbic treatment Prince always received.

Good interview here, enjoy http://prince.org/msg/7/171968

funksterr said:

Well, this is all my personal opinion, but I don't think Alan is wrong at all. His comments were spot on, but also completely unnecessary. Prince and 3EG are what they are, and Prince is never going to give any of us the type of music or experiences we've been imagining he might one day be open to. I realized that with NPGMusicClub. I said it again when they announced the Purple Rain outtakes. And throughout all the points when it appeared Prince might be produce new music with his protoges. It's never going to happen. Prince can't do it and still be "THE CRRREATEST LIVN' SOUL!/ THATULLEVERKNOWWWWWW!!!".

His current situation is the BEST he's going to deliver going forward. Eventually the young talents around Prince will mature some and the music will tighten up perhaps to a really high level. But Prince hates all of his old bandmembers and associates to such a degree, that if he never plays with them again, it will be too soon. Though he isn't going to actually tell them that. He pretends the door is open, but in general, he thinks he's smarter than them, richer than them, better than them, more right with God than them, etc. But frustration boils over from time to time.

They are beginning to catch on, and the best way I can describe it is that some are experiencing various parts of the 7 stages of grief over the situation, imo.

Prince blames them for negative fan reaction to his various projects and albums. He blames them for interviewing. He blames them for any and everything really. But... I think he's got it wrong. We want what we want. Prince keeps delivering a pizza with toppings nobody ordered. And then wondering why everybody is pissed. Sometimes he charges you for the pizza and NOTHING ever shows up. Sure sometimes we warm to the usual odd toppings, but 9 times out of 10, we are like, "Shit, dude, How hard is it?"

Why do you think that? I haven't heard him blame them for anything. In fact he doesn't really talk about them at all. There are however plenty of examples of them blaming him.

I don't think what Alan said is so terrible He was just giving his honest opinion of the SNL performance and what he thinks Prince could do to make people take him more seriously as a musician.Let's face it,Prince is brilliant but alot of times,there are games,gimmicks and distractions that get in the way.I think that's what Alan was referring to.Since he is someone who has actually worked with Prince for many years,I like hearing his insight and opinions.To me,he doesn't come across as a bitter ex-associate with an axe to grind.He seems genuine.

...

[Edited 11/10/14 22:29pm]

SoulAlive said:

I don't think what Alan said is so terrible He was just giving his honest opinion of the SNL performance and what he thinks Prince could do to make people take him more seriously as a musician.Let's face it,Prince is brilliant but alot of times,there are games,gimmicks and distractions that get in the way.I think that's what Alan was referring to.Since he is someone who has actually worked with Prince for many years,I like hearing his insight and opinions.To me,he doesn't come across as a bitter ex-associate with an axe to grind.He seems genuine.

...

[Edited 11/10/14 22:29pm]

Anyone who doesn't take Prince seriously as musician isn't worth a musical discussion.

Graycap23 said:

SoulAlive said:

I don't think what Alan said is so terrible He was just giving his honest opinion of the SNL performance and what he thinks Prince could do to make people take him more seriously as a musician.Let's face it,Prince is brilliant but alot of times,there are games,gimmicks and distractions that get in the way.I think that's what Alan was referring to.Since he is someone who has actually worked with Prince for many years,I like hearing his insight and opinions.To me,he doesn't come across as a bitter ex-associate with an axe to grind.He seems genuine.

...

[Edited 11/10/14 22:29pm]

Anyone who doesn't take Prince seriously as musician isn't worth a musical discussion.

Agreed. Prince has proven himself an accomplished musician time and time again. He's a creative force who has made his mark. I can't take anyone seriously who would discredit him just because they are not digging his current output. He's following his creative spirit - which, clue phone, is something he's always done. Alan's post had bitterness sprinkled all over it, there's no denying that.

Graycap23 said:

SoulAlive said:

I don't think what Alan said is so terrible He was just giving his honest opinion of the SNL performance and what he thinks Prince could do to make people take him more seriously as a musician.Let's face it,Prince is brilliant but alot of times,there are games,gimmicks and distractions that get in the way.I think that's what Alan was referring to.Since he is someone who has actually worked with Prince for many years,I like hearing his insight and opinions.To me,he doesn't come across as a bitter ex-associate with an axe to grind.He seems genuine.

...

[Edited 11/10/14 22:29pm]

Anyone who doesn't take Prince seriously as musician isn't worth a musical discussion.

Like they said on the other thread, the main reason people unthinkingly give more weight to his opinion than it deserves is because he's one of the few former insiders willing to talk in detail. He hasn't been anywhere near Prince in over twenty years and has about as much insight into Prince today as his high school music teacher does.

He can only speak with authority about the eighties....other than that his opinion is no more informed than yours or mine.

"He can only speak with authority about the eighties....other than that his opinion is no more informed than yours or mine."
no. Thats a ridiculous statement.
As much as many us fans would like we know Prince we dont, he did.

Zannaloaf said:

"He can only speak with authority about the eighties....other than that his opinion is no more informed than yours or mine."
no. Thats a ridiculous statement.
As much as many us fans would like we know Prince we dont, he did.

Key words....he did....past tense.

Go and ask my ex husband what my life is about today...he can't tell you, he can only speculate based on the limited information he has from the past.

The man is neither a musician, artist, nor entertainer...what's ridiculous is all the bowing and scraping around here, pretending that his opinion is holy writ.

One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back.

As I said before, Alan Leeds would attend the opening of a Prince-related envelope if he were afforded opportunity to provide a sound bite.

Alan is bitter and living off his (limited) tenure as Prince's manager over two decades ago. Clearly it has defined him, but it doesn't make him any more informed about Prince's music and performances than anyone else.

Art is best viewed objectively and Alan is anything but. He'd be better off trying to tease some work from D'Angelo, an artist who he is still managing. Quite what he's managing these days is anybody's guess though.

Zannaloaf said:

"He can only speak with authority about the eighties....other than that his opinion is no more informed than yours or mine."
no. Thats a ridiculous statement.
As much as many us fans would like we know Prince we dont, he did.

My manager from over 20 years ago knows very little about the person I am today. Just because they 'managed' me in a professional aspect wouldn't make them any more informed about my work.

SoulAlive said:

I don't think what Alan said is so terrible He was just giving his honest opinion of the SNL performance and what he thinks Prince could do to make people take him more seriously as a musician.Let's face it,Prince is brilliant but alot of times,there are games,gimmicks and distractions that get in the way.I think that's what Alan was referring to.Since he is someone who has actually worked with Prince for many years,I like hearing his insight and opinions.To me,he doesn't come across as a bitter ex-associate with an axe to grind.He seems genuine.

...

[Edited 11/10/14 22:29pm]

Yeah

And I don't think Alan is 'hating' on the new music

He was mostly commenting on the 'rendition' the 'live expression'

not the actual music

babynoz said:

Key words....he did....past tense.

Go and ask my ex husband what my life is about today...he can't tell you, he can only speculate based on the limited information he has from the past.

The man is neither a musician, artist, nor entertainer...what's ridiculous is all the bowing and scraping around here, pretending that his opinion is holy writ.

One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back.

HALLELUJAH! You said a mouthful but they don't hear you tho.

funksterr said:

They are beginning to catch on, and the best way I can describe it is that some are experiencing various parts of the 7 stages of grief over the situation, imo.

Prince blames them for negative fan reaction to his various projects and albums. He blames them for interviewing. He blames them for any and everything really. But... I think he's got it wrong. We want what we want. Prince keeps delivering a pizza with toppings nobody ordered. And then wondering why everybody is pissed. Sometimes he charges you for the pizza and NOTHING ever shows up. Sure sometimes we warm to the usual odd toppings, but 9 times out of 10, we are like, "Shit, dude, How hard is it?"

Best analysisand analogy I´ve read here in a long time.

MJ007 said:

babynoz said:

Key words....he did....past tense.

Go and ask my ex husband what my life is about today...he can't tell you, he can only speculate based on the limited information he has from the past.

The man is neither a musician, artist, nor entertainer...what's ridiculous is all the bowing and scraping around here, pretending that his opinion is holy writ.

One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back.

HALLELUJAH! You said a mouthful but they don't hear you tho.

I really don't see what that has to do with the interview

OldFriends4Sale said:

MJ007 said:

HALLELUJAH! You said a mouthful but they don't hear you tho.

I really don't see what that has to do with the interview

What interview?

babynoz said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I really don't see what that has to do with the interview

What interview?

sorry, not interview, but the recent comments about the SNL performance by Alan

OldFriends4Sale said:

MJ007 said:

HALLELUJAH! You said a mouthful but they don't hear you tho.

I really don't see what that has to do with the interview

babynoz's comment "One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back" in and of itself rings true for many fans on this site and beyond who want Prince to be what he no longer is or isn't ever going to be - whether it be his choice of clothes (Alan), his performances (Alan), hair or musical direction. So in my opinion, it does relate.

MJ007 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I really don't see what that has to do with the interview

babynoz's comment "One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back" in and of itself rings true for many fans on this site and beyond who want Prince to be what he no longer is or isn't ever going to be - whether it be his choice of clothes (Alan), his performances (Alan), hair or musical direction. So in my opinion, it does relate.

Not really the line you highlighted is clearly about a past tense mindset

ie It's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back is past tense

and Alans comment was about Prince being over the top and I don't know of a time when we wasn't... to go back to

OldFriends4Sale said:

MJ007 said:

babynoz's comment "One of these days you guys are gonna have to accept that it's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back" in and of itself rings true for many fans on this site and beyond who want Prince to be what he no longer is or isn't ever going to be - whether it be his choice of clothes (Alan), his performances (Alan), hair or musical direction. So in my opinion, it does relate.

Not really the line you highlighted is clearly about a past tense mindset

ie It's 2014 and your version of Prince ain't coming back is past tense

and Alans comment was about Prince being over the top and I don't know of a time when we wasn't... to go back to

Nope....Alan is still bemoaning past Prince IMO. He referenced a time in the past where Prince made a remark about his suggestions on style of dress. Obviously the barb where Prince allegedly said "and look like you?" didnt sit too well with him if he's still talking about it a hundred years later.

But I was responding to Zannaloaf who I think that along with Alan and many others still mourns the 80s Prince, which is why I said "you guys", plural.

funksterr said:

Well, this is all my personal opinion, but I don't think Alan is wrong at all. His comments were spot on, but also completely unnecessary. Prince and 3EG are what they are, and Prince is never going to give any of us the type of music or experiences we've been imagining he might one day be open to. I realized that with NPGMusicClub. I said it again when they announced the Purple Rain outtakes. And throughout all the points when it appeared Prince might be produce new music with his protoges. It's never going to happen. Prince can't do it and still be "THE CRRREATEST LIVN' SOUL!/ THATULLEVERKNOWWWWWW!!!".

His current situation is the BEST he's going to deliver going forward. Eventually the young talents around Prince will mature some and the music will tighten up perhaps to a really high level. But Prince hates all of his old bandmembers and associates to such a degree, that if he never plays with them again, it will be too soon. Though he isn't going to actually tell them that. He pretends the door is open, but in general, he thinks he's smarter than them, richer than them, better than them, more right with God than them, etc. But frustration boils over from time to time.

They are beginning to catch on, and the best way I can describe it is that some are experiencing various parts of the 7 stages of grief over the situation, imo.

Prince blames them for negative fan reaction to his various projects and albums. He blames them for interviewing. He blames them for any and everything really. But... I think he's got it wrong. We want what we want. Prince keeps delivering a pizza with toppings nobody ordered. And then wondering why everybody is pissed. Sometimes he charges you for the pizza and NOTHING ever shows up. Sure sometimes we warm to the usual odd toppings, but 9 times out of 10, we are like, "Shit, dude, How hard is it?"

paulludvig said:

funksterr said:

Well, this is all my personal opinion, but I don't think Alan is wrong at all. His comments were spot on, but also completely unnecessary. Prince and 3EG are what they are, and Prince is never going to give any of us the type of music or experiences we've been imagining he might one day be open to. I realized that with NPGMusicClub. I said it again when they announced the Purple Rain outtakes. And throughout all the points when it appeared Prince might be produce new music with his protoges. It's never going to happen. Prince can't do it and still be "THE CRRREATEST LIVN' SOUL!/ THATULLEVERKNOWWWWWW!!!".

His current situation is the BEST he's going to deliver going forward. Eventually the young talents around Prince will mature some and the music will tighten up perhaps to a really high level. But Prince hates all of his old bandmembers and associates to such a degree, that if he never plays with them again, it will be too soon. Though he isn't going to actually tell them that. He pretends the door is open, but in general, he thinks he's smarter than them, richer than them, better than them, more right with God than them, etc. But frustration boils over from time to time.

They are beginning to catch on, and the best way I can describe it is that some are experiencing various parts of the 7 stages of grief over the situation, imo.

Prince blames them for negative fan reaction to his various projects and albums. He blames them for interviewing. He blames them for any and everything really. But... I think he's got it wrong. We want what we want. Prince keeps delivering a pizza with toppings nobody ordered. And then wondering why everybody is pissed. Sometimes he charges you for the pizza and NOTHING ever shows up. Sure sometimes we warm to the usual odd toppings, but 9 times out of 10, we are like, "Shit, dude, How hard is it?"

Why do you think that? I haven't heard him blame them for anything. In fact he doesn't really talk about them at all. There are however plenty of examples of them blaming him.

Prince has spoken to some of them and that's what he said in a nutshell.