Didn't know they were together. Milking that money tree, eh? smile.

How about this: Make Tamar the lead singer.

I realized something: Prince is dead. I'll never get over it.

They got an instagram page too!

justAmeda said:

rogifan said:

Is there really an NPG without Prince? I'm sure Shelby, John, Liv, Elisa, Ida and Cassie consider themselves part of NPG. Maceo too. If this is just the first incarnation where is Michael Bland?

This is kind of a mix between the 2nd and 3rd incarnations, minus Michael B.

2freaky4church1 said:

Didn't know they were together. Milking that money tree, eh? smile.

Oh c'mon, show some respect. Those guys played and virtually lived together for 5 years (give or take depending on members), they r friends, they have a right to play together.

rogifan said:

Is there really an NPG without Prince? I'm sure Shelby, John, Liv, Elisa, Ida and Cassie consider themselves part of NPG. Maceo too. If this is just the first incarnation where is Michael Bland?

Yes, it was called "Prince & the NPG" They are a separate functioning entity.

The first NPG deserves their shine. Too bad Rosie isn't healthy enough to do so. But they could do some benefit gigs to help her. THAT band can tour as "NPG 3.0" or whatever they want to tour under.

Michael B probably has session work and other committments. Just because Prince created a group, doesn't mean he has any say or any restrictions on the group.

They are probably doing this to show the world they weren't just "2nd fiddle" to anyone. There were slighted comments at them. I love the Revolution & I love Prince's other bands just as much.

But I do think people need to see the NPG if they want to see it in that incarnation.

Need I remind people, Levi Seacer is a baaaaaaaaaad mf who wasn't just Prince's bassist, he also held down the Blue Angel.

Bringing the NPG back is a good idea. Who sings the Prince songs will be interesting.

If Prince were alive, they'd never get away with it.

Genesia said:

If Prince were alive, they'd never get away with it.

Not using that name, no.

Trickology said:

I wish we'd get lenghty interviews of those guys: we have like a ZILLION interviews of everyone from the early band and The Revolution, Susan R, Alan, Susannah, Paul, Sheila, Eric, etc., but very few from later bandmembers. I'd be particularly interested in Levi: he was there for 8 years, was the musical director for the NPG and more importantly he worked a lot with Prince in the studio. Same way Prince would trust W&L and hand them tapes and say "finish this", he would do it a lot with Levi. He seemed very comfy working with him in the studio, too, which is quite untypical for Prince: they collaborated on many tracks particularly in 1989. I'm sure Levi has plenty to tell about those recording sessions, the tours and Prince's creative process in general!

rogifan said:

Trickology said:

Yes, it was called "Prince & the NPG" They are a separate functioning entity.

The first NPG deserves their shine. Too bad Rosie isn't healthy enough to do so. But they could do some benefit gigs to help her. THAT band can tour as "NPG 3.0" or whatever they want to tour under.

Michael B probably has session work and other committments. Just because Prince created a group, doesn't mean he has any say or any restrictions on the group.

They are probably doing this to show the world they weren't just "2nd fiddle" to anyone. There were slighted comments at them. I love the Revolution & I love Prince's other bands just as much.

But I do think people need to see the NPG if they want to see it in that incarnation.

Need I remind people, Levi Seacer is a baaaaaaaaaad mf who wasn't just Prince's bassist, he also held down the Blue Angel.

Bringing the NPG back is a good idea. Who sings the Prince songs will be interesting.

No way they'd get away with this if Prince was still alive. I don't doubt the talents of any of these guys and I don't doubt that Prince learned things from them. But the band wasn't called New Power Generation it was called Prince and the New Power Generation. There is a difference. Especially considering Prince continued to use the NPG terminology throughout the rest of his career. During the Montreux 2013 shows he refers to the band as the New Power Generation. Obviously these guys were the first incarnation but putting up social media accounts as sort of the official NPG just doesn't seem right to me and no way would it be happening if Prince were still around. Of course one could say the same thing about The Revolution but Prince didn't continue to use that name once the band was no more. NPG is totally different. I'm fine wit the guys coming together and playing shows or whatever but don't use the NPG trademark. [Edited 1/8/17 4:16am]

Well if you go that way, in 1999 Prince issued a single by "Prince And The Revolution" and the Revolution there was Larry Graham, Rosie Gaines, Doug E. Fresh and Rosario Dawson.

And there wasn't just "Prince and the NPG", there were no less than 5 albums released as "The NPG", though only 2 featured the 91-96 line-up. But of course those were Prince records in every possible way.

Technically, in the end, all those bands were just "Prince's band" regardless of the label on it, even The Revolution. I guess the problem is you could tomorrow have a band with Rhonda, Kat Dyson, John, Renato and Greg, and yet another with members from, say the 21 Nights gigs, and so on, and then what would they call themselves if there's already a NPG 'round there?

I think anyway NPG is a trademark of the estate now. So if the estate is fine with that, I am too.

I don't think Prince would have approved but he didn't approve of the use of the names The Time and The Family either and then everyone here was like "that bastard!", so why the fuss now? Moreover I'm rpetty sure he tolarated the Revolution reunions because they were just that: occasional gigs. But imagine them trying and release an album under that name! I bet they'd have gotten a cease and desist the next day after the announcement.

databank said:

rogifan said:

databank said:

Well if you go that way, in 1999 Prince issued a single by "Prince And The Revolution" and the Revolution there was Larry Graham, Rosie Gaines, Doug E. Fresh and Rosario Dawson.

And there wasn't just "Prince and the NPG", there were no less than 5 albums released as "The NPG", though only 2 featured the 91-96 line-up. But of course those were Prince records in every possible way.

Technically, in the end, all those bands were just "Prince's band" regardless of the label on it, even The Revolution. I guess the problem is you could tomorrow have a band with Rhonda, Kat Dyson, John, Renato and Greg, and yet another with members from, say the 21 Nights gigs, and so on, and then what would they call themselves if there's already a NPG 'round there?

I think anyway NPG is a trademark of the estate now. So if the estate is fine with that, I am too.

I don't think Prince would have approved but he didn't approve of the use of the names The Time and The Family either and then everyone here was like "that bastard!", so why the fuss now? Moreover I'm rpetty sure he tolarated the Revolution reunions because they were just that: occasional gigs. But imagine them trying and release an album under that name! I bet they'd have gotten a cease and desist the next day after the announcement.

I don't have a problem with these guys getting together and performing I just don't think they should be using NPG as that is a trademark owned by Prince.

It's a trademark owned by the estate. If the estate don't send them a C&D I believe there is no reason to complain.

I would mind at all if those musicians play under the name of NPG just as I don't mind The Revolution to tour as The Revolution. It is a good way of keeping the Prince brand alive on the road, I think.