terrig said:

Wowugotit said:

WENDY & LISA

Yup, that was some magic rt there

Right - the easy fallback position that has reached mythical proportions

funksterr said:

Who are some of the influential Prince bandmembers? I'm not thinking of his heroes, but the people that worked for him in the studio, on tour, etc, that did important stuff that is sometimes overlooked?

1. Morris Day - As we know one of Prince's many talents is the ability to mimic other people. Prince likes to get in the mindset, as he sees it anyway, of someone else and play out the character while composing. To me, this is a key reason why so many of his projects are exciting and interesting or the opposite. Anyway, no one in Prince's career even comes close to contributing as much as Morris. There aren't many Associated Artists with 2 good Prince albums, let one 4, and a decent unreleased 5th. Add to that his starring role in Purple Rain, where he literaly carries the whole movie, Graffiti Bridge, the Oak Tree/Don't Wait For Me/ Mechanical Emotion/Fishnet years where he continued to serve as a counter-point to Prince, his drumming and programming across several Prince songs ands projects.

2. Jesse Johnson - I think Prince copped his swagger in a key way. Jesse is STILL the most underrated Prince-influence of all time. History says Jesse copied Prince, and maybe he did in terms of arrangement and production-styles, but then again a lot of that is rooted in the way Jesse did his thing before Prince developed the Minnapolis Sound, so it's kind of similar in how Rick James copied Prince, after Prince copied Rick James. Part of what drives this idea for me is when Jesse said, "Prince liked the way I played bass on the and, instead of the one". That quote may be more imprtant than it seems.

3. Clare Fischer - just shows what Prince can do with great talent. The Clare songs are what ultimately seperates Prince from every other funk band around, and the funny thing is that Clare Fischer did the strings for everybody else too. Yet, Prince got a more interesting result out of him than anybody.

Anyway, who do you think also played an imprtant role?

[Edited 11/14/15 2:46am]

Dez Dickerson is the most underrated Prince associate and influence.

carlluv said:

Dez Dickerson

Finally someone who can see through the Wendy and Lisa smokescreen

Hard to say, being that i'm not Prince, lol but i'll throw 5 names in:

1) Andre

2) Sonny T

3) Morris

4) Dez

5) Sheila E.

madhouseman said:

funksterr said:

Positve:
Susannah, Wendy, Lisa, Morris Day, Sheila E, Clare Fisher and Susan Rogers

Negative: Kirk J, Mayte, Larry G, Tony M and Joshua Welton

Beautifulstarr123 said:

madhouseman said:

Wendy & Lisa is the most obvious answer. According to most around him, they altered how he saw music, but I'd also add two other to the list:

ERIC LEEDS: without him, there wouldn't have been Madhouse or The Family or much of the sax based music post 1985. He paved the way to add jazz into Prince's music. Obviously Prince was familiar with jazz because his father's influence, but Leeds pushed that sound and it was never the same after he started working with him.

SHEILA E.: Once Prince started working with Sheila, the importance of live drumming and latin rhythms were obvious. Sheila's drumming on the SOTT tour took the band in a new direction and away from the coldness of The Revolution and ushered in the live feel to Prince's music on Lovesexy. Bobby was great for what he did, but Sheila was arguablly one of the best drummers in music at the time and helped expand his sound drastically. She is also one of the only successful solo artists that has been listed as a protege, probably because she had a solid career/reputation before working with Prince.

There are probably more who influenced him, but those examples stood out above the pack.

Didn't Prince and the Revolution disbanded because of creative differences? When I saw "Purple Rain " I couldn't help nut think that their lives imitated art, but I could be wrong.

No, like BrownMark said 'they got into Prince to help his vision'
He brought it up in the 1990 Interview mag interview, that fears of his emotional connections and being a leader...
I think it is also why by the end of 1990 all the people (except for Levi) he removed(Sheila E Eric Leeds/Atlanta Bliss Dr Fink Miko Weaver) all gone

TweetyV6 said:

Positve:
Susannah, Wendy, Lisa, Morris Day, Sheila E, Clare Fisher and Susan Rogers

Negative: Kirk J, Mayte, Larry G, Tony M and Joshua Welton

Musicallly, maybe. But I think things could´ve been much, much worse for Prince if he hadn´t had friends like Kirk Johnson and Larry Graham, or Mayte.

Add Morris Hayes to the list of helpful friends.

Kirk does so much for Prince and for the fans at Paisley events.

Beautifulstarr123 said:

madhouseman said:

Wendy & Lisa is the most obvious answer. According to most around him, they altered how he saw music, but I'd also add two other to the list:

ERIC LEEDS: without him, there wouldn't have been Madhouse or The Family or much of the sax based music post 1985. He paved the way to add jazz into Prince's music. Obviously Prince was familiar with jazz because his father's influence, but Leeds pushed that sound and it was never the same after he started working with him.

SHEILA E.: Once Prince started working with Sheila, the importance of live drumming and latin rhythms were obvious. Sheila's drumming on the SOTT tour took the band in a new direction and away from the coldness of The Revolution and ushered in the live feel to Prince's music on Lovesexy. Bobby was great for what he did, but Sheila was arguablly one of the best drummers in music at the time and helped expand his sound drastically. She is also one of the only successful solo artists that has been listed as a protege, probably because she had a solid career/reputation before working with Prince.

There are probably more who influenced him, but those examples stood out above the pack.

[Edited 11/15/15 14:16pm]

[Edited 12/11/15 13:49pm]

[Edited 12/11/15 13:50pm]

Didn't Prince and the Revolution disbanded because of creative differences? When I saw "Purple Rain " I couldn't help nut think that their lives imitated art, but I could be wrong.

As far as I know there was only one creative difference, in regards to the live shows: W&L were not happy with P's decision to expand The Revolution and give it a less new wave and more traditionnal R&B sound (and putting the bodyguards on stage, too ), but they had no say in the matter nor did any bandmember have any say in any matter, studio or live: Prince was the boss and they were his employees. They could make suggestions but it was always his call.

.

However the reason why they broke wasn't because of the bodyguards or live sound, it was, as OldFriend4Sale said, personal issues. There was too much turmoil between Prince, W&L and Susannah (in part because of P's relationship with the later). A few months before the split W&L announced they were quitting and Prince sorta convinced them to stay... only to fire them the minute the Parade tour was over.

Mark was outraged at this (and, honestly, also contemplated a solo career) so he said if it's like that I'm out (Prince would have kept him). Prince later gave him track and sang on one of his songs for his second album in 89, but the next thing you know (somewhere between 90-94), Mark was banned from entering Paisley Park for no known reason.

As for Bobby Prince wanted Sheila but I wouldn't call that a creative difference: Prince just wanted the better drummer, and Bobby, always the gentleman, totally understood and accepted the move.

.

As for later changes:

I'm not sure why Boni left or was fired (anyone knows?).

Sheila was supposed to get back focusing on her solo career but then there were serious artistric differences between her and P over her fourth album, and since she was, in fact, officially only signed to WB, she left Paisley Park Records and made her album without Prince and released it on WB without the PP sticker (Jill, unfortunately, had signed her contract after 1985 and wasn't so lucky).

Miko and Prince were definitely getting on each other's nerve so his departure was unavoidable. Supposedly there was some rivalry over girls among other tensions.

I think Eric and Atlanta were thanked only because Prince wanted a return to the Mpls sound with Batman, GB and the Nude Tour (he didn't replace them with other horns, even hiring the Hornheads in late 91 was really a matter of circumstances: Prince originally planned to tour D&P without horns), but Atlanta also wanted to retire from being a professional musician so it may have helped IDK if he told P about this before or made the decision afterwards.

Fink was supposed to stay aboard for D&P but he got a production gig and for that reason told Prince he couldn't attend the South American shows in early 1991. Prince took Tommy as a temporarily replacement but he must have liked what he did, and probably as OldFriend suggests he wanted to distance himself from old friendships once and for all, so finally he decided to keep him and Fink was thanked.

And only Levi was left (I suspect Prince and Levi always kept things on a very professional level, and Levi never tried to make friends or something, and that's why he stayed onboard for so lonbg, but that's my 2 cents).

Of course all of the above is from recollections of third party interviews, I may have distorted or forgotten certain things but I think the picture is quite accurate.

[Edited 12/21/15 9:44am]

databank said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

madhouseman said: Didn't Prince and the Revolution disbanded because of creative differences? When I saw "Purple Rain " I couldn't help nut think that their lives imitated art, but I could be wrong.

As far as I know there was only one creative difference, in regards to the live shows: W&L were not happy with P's decision to expand The Revolution and give it a less new wave and more traditionnal R&B sound (and putting the bodyguards on stage, too ), but they had no say in the matter nor did any bandmember have any say in any matter, studio or live: Prince was the boss and they were his employees. They could make suggestions but it was always his call.

.

However the reason why they broke wasn't because of the bodyguards or live sound, it was, as OldFriend4Sale said, personal issues. There was too much turmoil between Prince, W&L and Susannah (in part because of P's relationship with the later). A few months before the split W&L announced they were quitting and Prince sorta convinced them to stay... only to fire them the minute the Parade tour was over.

Mark was outraged at this (and, honestly, also contemplated a solo career) so he said if it's like that I'm out (Prince would have kept him). Prince later gave him track and sang on one of his songs for his second album in 89, but the next thing you know (somewhere between 90-94), Mark was banned from entering Paisley Park for no known reason.

As for Bobby Prince wanted Sheila but I wouldn't call that a creative difference: Prince just wanted the better drummer, and Bobby, always the gentleman, totally understood and accepted the move.

.

As for later changes:

I'm not sure why Boni left or was fired (anyone knows?).

Sheila was supposed to get back focusing on her solo career but then there were serious artistric differences between her and P over her fourth album, and since she was, in fact, officially only signed to WB, she left Paisley Park Records and made her album without Prince and released it on WB without the PP sticker (Jill, unfortunately, had signed her contract after 1985 and wasn't so lucky).

Miko and Prince were definitely getting on each other's nerve so his departure was unavoidable. Supposedly there was some rivalry over girls among other tensions.

I think Eric and Atlanta were thanked only because Prince wanted a return to the Mpls sound with Batman, GB and the Nude Tour (he didn't replace them with other horns, even hiring the Hornheads in late 91 was really a matter of circumstances: Prince originally planned to tour D&P without horns), but Atlanta also wanted to retire from being a professional musician so it may have helped IDK if he told P about this before or made the decision afterwards.

Fink was supposed to stay aboard for D&P but he got a production gig and for that reason told Prince he couldn't attend the South American shows in early 1991. Prince took Tommy as a temporarily replacement but he must have liked what he did, and probably as OldFriend suggests he wanted to distance himself from old friendships once and for all, so finally he decided to keep him and Fink was thanked.

And only Levi was left (I suspect Prince and Levi always kept things on a very professional level, and Levi never tried to make friends or something, and that's why he stayed onboard for so lonbg, but that's my 2 cents).

Of course all of the above is from recollections of third party interviews, I may have distorted or forgotten certain things but I think the picture is quite accurate.

[Edited 12/21/15 9:44am]

Also for BrownMark, him being put in the back of the dancers, was a bit of a slight...

Boni, according to Prince left to do her own thing. Rosie Gaines said when she first joined the band Prince asked her something to the degree of 'Are you also going to run off and do your own thing...'

Sadly in that 1990 interview Prince also took no ownership over what happened between him Morris Jimmy & Terry...
And he tried to act like he didn't understand why W&L were hurt... but later he acknowledges things in that Emancipation song:In This Bed I Scream

Remember the story of the creation and destruction of the song Wally? that whole thing was totally connected to his emotional connections with those from the 1983-1987
During the 1997-1998 period in interviews he was really open, and talked a lot about the Revolution members, compliments and such, he called and talked about that 80s group and called them a Community.

I think Levi was a lot like the others from the 80s period in that he was in the camp from 1984/85 a part of the Purple Rain(Glamorous Life) Romance 1600 meshed well with the Revolution etc But evn Levi was tossed to the side like the rest and ended up disappearing from the Prince camp after he was relegated to Paisley Park work. (a lot of people still think it was Levi who released a lot of boot music) and he wasn't being paid.

I think the big blow up during rehearsal ended it for Miko & Prince(he told Miko because of the period of time he was in the camp he felt Miko should have been able to take it)

Sheila like you said, had serious disagreements with Prince on her 4th album, she wasn't full ready to end being the drummer(and she had the lung collapse at this time?) ... and on top of it the emotional attachments. As she revealed recently Prince asked her to marry him... And I think there was a lot of jealousy(naturally)

Cat took off because she did feel the direction he was going into, and she said he was asking her to do some things that she wasn't comfortable with businesswise toward other employees.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

@oldfriends I've always suspect there was something going on between Prince and Shiela E., back in the day and that Sister Fate song and video wasn't helping matters none to kill that suspicion, lol.

They were definitely involved at some point circa 84-85, and reportedly she was very much in love, then Susannah became the official GF. IDK if they maintained a romantic relationship past 84-85.

databank said:

databank said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

@oldfriends I've always suspect there was something going on between Prince and Shiela E., back in the day and that Sister Fate song and video wasn't helping matters none to kill that suspicion, lol.

They were definitely involved at some point circa 84-85, and reportedly she was very much in love, then Susannah became the official GF. IDK if they maintained a romantic relationship past 84-85.

In her book, she said it was either the late part of 87-SOTT early 88 -Lovesexy during a performance of either The Cross or Purple Rain that he turn around and asked her to marry him

Beautifulstarr123 said:

@oldfriends I've always suspect there was something going on between Prince and Shiela E., back in the day and that Sister Fate song and video wasn't helping matters none to kill that suspicion, lol.

yeah there was a whole thing connected to that song and the video

I think Prince created a relationship with Sheila E to help boost the protege energy

He fell 4 Susannah @ the 1983 Dance Benefit show, that is when he made the Beautiful Ones 4 her

OldFriends4Sale said:

databank said:

They were definitely involved at some point circa 84-85, and reportedly she was very much in love, then Susannah became the official GF. IDK if they maintained a romantic relationship past 84-85.

In her book, she said it was either the late part of 87-SOTT early 88 -Lovesexy during a performance of either The Cross or Purple Rain that he turn around and asked her to marry him

I need to read that book.

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

yeah there was a whole thing connected to that song and the video

I think Prince created a relationship with Sheila E to help boost the protege energy

He fell 4 Susannah @ the 1983 Dance Benefit show, that is when he made the Beautiful Ones 4 her

He did not write The Beautiful Ones for S. It was written for a scene in the movie.

Yeah he replaced G-Spot/Electric Intercourse with the Beautiful Ones

He wrote the song for her, to woo her from her current lover

after he saw her with him at the 1983 Dance Benefit Show

I believe Susan Rogers (possibly Allan Leeds) and Lisa Coleman all spoke of it

OldFriends4Sale said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said: He did not write The Beautiful Ones for S. It was written for a scene in the movie.

Yeah he replaced G-Spot/Electric Intercourse with the Beautiful Ones

He wrote the song for her, to woo her from her current lover

after he saw her with him at the 1983 Dance Benefit Show

I believe Susan Rogers (possibly Allan Leeds) and Lisa Coleman all spoke of it

Well, Prince - the guy that wrote the song - spoke about it too, saying that it was written for the movie, not for a specific person.

[Edited 12/23/15 13:46pm]

paulludvig said:

paulludvig said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Yeah he replaced G-Spot/Electric Intercourse with the Beautiful Ones

He wrote the song for her, to woo her from her current lover

after he saw her with him at the 1983 Dance Benefit Show

I believe Susan Rogers (possibly Allan Leeds) and Lisa Coleman all spoke of it

Well, Prince - the guy that wrote the song - spoke about it too, saying that it was written for the movie, not for a specific person.

[Edited 12/23/15 13:46pm]

Yep, Prince of course he wrote it for the movie
and as the movie trailer said: "Before He Created The Music He Lived Every Bit Of It"

One of the reasons that time period was so on point was it was all interconnected.
Don't think that the fantasty created for the Glamorous Life/Romance 1600 era music was not a combination of real life/album concept...

AOL LIVE / JULY 22, 1997

Question: What was your inspiration for the song Forever In My Life?
TheArtst: Susannah
TheArtst: she knows