dodger said:

Very amateurishly put together and some basic dates and facts wrong. And very classless to speak of his mother and to go into detail on the death his son. Not her place.

It's like she wrote a disjointed, longer book and the co-author attempted to make sense of it -- partly by splitting it into three.

There was one lovely story in that book, about how he called his doves "my angels" after she complained about the noise they made.
Certainly, she had more moments like that....moments that would fulfill the promise she earlier talked about.

We do not need gossip about his wives and lovers. Let them talk if they want.

Please, someone. Sort out the mess of volumes 2 and 3 and make some sense of it all -- and put in a timeline for volume 1.

rdhull said:

However, why everyone who stood in a room with him needs to write a book is beyond me.

Next up: "Green n Purple Grass: Life In The Yard Of Prince"- by Neal, the gardener.

Griff started out that way and was moved inside to do "all kinds of stuff".

BUT remember what happened to him when he attempted to tell his stories.
He got shut down and sued. Why HIM?

(Glad I got his book; it's one of the better ones, actually.)

rogifan said:

What business is it of Kim Berry, Prince’s hairdresser, to talk about the woman he was with? What does that have to do with her and her relationship with him. After all the time she supposedly spent with Prince she thinks what people want to hear is gossip about the women he was with? That’s the side of Prince she thinks is most interesting and worthy of a book? I’m sorry but that says more about her than him. This thread should probably be merged with the other one.

Sure, but it just goes with the territory doesn't it? It's a trashy, gossipy, tell-all book written for a broad audience seeking insight, anecdotes and details on a famous person. Details of his personal life are usually fair game in a book like that, even moreso if they are noteworthy, salacious, or likely to sell copies of the book. Were you expecting more hair styling tips?

In fairness to Kim, she was there for 29 years. She's a woman, she has her own views on how Prince treated woman, and she's absolutely entitled to share those views. So, fair enough I guess. The views are of some interest because it is rare to get anything other than the usual highly filtered narrative about his support of women. We all love Prince, so it can be hard to hear stories that present him in a negative light, but certainly that level of stardom brings with it problematic behaviour of all kinds. Let's face it, that kind of power is what led to him surrounding himself with staff who'd turn a blind eye to his Fentanyl habit for years.

ian said:

rogifan said:

What business is it of Kim Berry, Prince’s hairdresser, to talk about the woman he was with? What does that have to do with her and her relationship with him. After all the time she supposedly spent with Prince she thinks what people want to hear is gossip about the women he was with? That’s the side of Prince she thinks is most interesting and worthy of a book? I’m sorry but that says more about her than him. This thread should probably be merged with the other one.

Sure, but it just goes with the territory doesn't it? It's a trashy, gossipy, tell-all book written for a broad audience seeking insight, anecdotes and details on a famous person. Details of his personal life are usually fair game in a book like that, even moreso if they are noteworthy, salacious, or likely to sell copies of the book. Were you expecting more hair styling tips?

In fairness to Kim, she was there for 29 years.

.

NO, she wasn't! Even she contradicts herself in the book by saying that she was hired around Christmas 1988. So if that would be true (it isn't!), that would be 27 years and a couple of months, not 29 years. But of course even that 27 years is a lie, in reality she started working for Prince in 1992. So that means it was 24 years the most (still a very long time, of course), but it's highly unlikely it was continuous employment, there must've been long gaps too.
.
I'm just emphasising this because it's very telling that she starts blatantly lying already on the cover, in the title of her book, so that's a clear indication of how credible anything else inside the book could be...

ian said:

poppys said:

onlyforaminute said:

rdhull said:

However, why everyone who stood in a room with him needs to write a book is beyond me.

Next up: "Green n Purple Grass: Life In The Yard Of Prince"- by Neal, the gardener.

I ain't gonna try to lie. If that gardener survived that man for a couple of decades, maybe, Granted he wouldn't have travelled anywhere with him, still he'd know a thing or two that happened on the grounds that's at least worth a good interview. I think I see why I'm picking up a ticked off vibe from the book. Folks in her face one minute then dismissed her when there got to be money involved. She's just the hairdresser afterall. Wait. I meant she's just the help.

Exactly the point. Which is why she needs to STFU permanently. (No pun intended.)

onlyforaminute said:

poppys said:

Good points. Just had to laugh with rdhull for some comic relief.

One of the things that bothers me about this thread (I rarely go to associates, too harsh) - is bashing her for being financially strapped. It's a crime now in the US to be poor, for whatever reason.

I don't know her financial situation, I have no clue what it takes to publish a book. But from what I've read I'm seeing hurt feelings and gauging what seems to be going on in this little pocket i can just imagine the attitude she's bumped up against. Seems like most folks have never held a long term position more than 10 years, you may not get to know the deepest inner parts of the people you work around but you learn quite a bit about them regardless of your job title. This isn't Downton Abbey where job titles are relegated to upstairs, downstairs mentality. People do talk to other people they are comfortable around. Y'all be funny.

Yes and no on your comments above. True, it wasn't Downton Abbey, but it was "Princetown", where by most accounts it was "walking on egg shells" when around him, and staying to your business when not. There was a constant undertone threat of being fired for saying or doing the wrong thing. It was a "stay in your lane" type of atmosphere from what I've read and heard.

*

Nothing wrong with her writing a book about her time at PP, however, I think she would have been found much more credible had she focused on HER role in Prince's world and not others around her. For the women, such as Mayte, who have written a book - even that story is still ONLY her perspective on that relationship and how/why things happened. We don't get Prince's perspective, but at least she wasn't trying to tell someone else's story.

Let me just fansplain a bit. I'm not clowning anyones job or skills. Threre is honor in all work (duh!). And I think KB wasn't just holed up in a city salon with Prince coming in every three days etc. KB was part of his entourage. She was there with her peoples when I got to go to that LF thing..not as some 'gosh, I got to come' but she was part of his inner circle vibe. Now that I think upon it, she was probably HIS eyes, watchin us and reporting how we were acting on some "Kim, are they crazy people and will we have a probem or are they cool?" lol. Having said that, it seems..SEEMS...folks come out the woodwork telling their stories and I guess there isnt anything wrong with that. Most have just been articles, not tell-tale books. But if not part of the creative process or the art, determined by what ones role was while in his employ, it seems all that could be disucssed is the gossipy stuff. Which does a disservice to the man and the author's character.

BTW Griff was crazy af with his militant self. Those uniforms really went to his head lol.

[Edited 4/23/19 14:42pm]

violetcrush said:

onlyforaminute said:

rdhull said:

However, why everyone who stood in a room with him needs to write a book is beyond me.

Next up: "Green n Purple Grass: Life In The Yard Of Prince"- by Neal, the gardener.

I ain't gonna try to lie. If that gardener survived that man for a couple of decades, maybe, Granted he wouldn't have travelled anywhere with him, still he'd know a thing or two that happened on the grounds that's at least worth a good interview.

Yes. An interview, not a book lol.

rdhull said:

rogifan said:

Does Kim even currently have a license? This website says it’s on probation? https://search.dca.ca.gov...f3ff496e5f

That's interesting. Come to think of it,I think it's been a few months since she's posted pics of clients or video at her salon. She was Katt William's stylist for a movie back in 2017 but it seems lately she's just been giving talks and interviews promoting the book. It looks like some of the actions filed against her was whe she was supposedly working for Prince.

RJOrion said:

yeah...what a terrible thing that a black woman who actually interacted physically with Prince on a regular basis, would write a book about Prince... of course any book about Prince should be written by middle aged white members of the media and like Duane Tudahl and Alex Hahn...smh...

I think people are still disgusted because she tried to auction something that was more privacy invasion such as Prince's hair and that comb. I agree that there are some racist orgers but this issue I feel shouldn't be that battle due to an opportunist.

Because Kim Berry was viewed favorably on here prior to that. I even remembered she did an online radio interview shortly after P's death and many people liked her and the interview. Had she never did that auction and constantly lied about how many years she worked with Prince, I believed people would embrace the book better. Because associates of color like Sheila E, Dez wrote a book about Prince and plus Morris Day is going to write a book, Vanity, and people on here had favorable views about the books.

Please don't use the race card on black people who fucks up and have no shame of doing it. Plus she contradicted herself quite a bit.

BTW I am a black queer chick so I won't be accused of being white just because I don't give 'my people' a pass because they are black.

Trying to auction his used socks is what started her downfall. It's been a steady drop since then up to her book, but for some of us the lying and deception is the icing on the cake.

I'm pretty sure Berry will soon face a lawsuit or two. She's a liar and as many of you have already mentioned, she has absolutely no right to talk about such private matters as Mayte's pregnancies, for example. And what's even more disgusting is that she's made up stories of being in the hospital with Mayte and Prince several times (I don't think she was there) and she made up conversations that supposedly happened between her and Prince when Amiir was already dying, and she claims he said "Quit making me laugh when I'm trying to be serious!". This is absolutely disgusting to make up such things, it makes my stomach turn.
.
Shane T Keller (former PP engineer) has just tweeted that during his time at Paisley (1991-96) he never saw or heard of Kim Berry. (Thanks jdcxc for the link!) Many other former Prince employees have also distanced themselves from her already.

RJOrion said:

yeah...what a terrible thing that a black woman who actually interacted physically with Prince on a regular basis, would write a book about Prince... of course any book about Prince should be written by middle aged white members of the media and like Duane Tudahl and Alex Hahn...smh...

You're kidding, right?? Now this is a "black vs white" thing?? Duane's book was completely based on actual studio records of Prince's recordings, as well as, interviews with those who were working with him during that time. It's an impressive piece of work that he wrote HIMSELF, and it took him many years to complete.

*

Based upon the reviews on this thread so far - it seems Kim Berry's book is much less about HER actual interactions with Prince and more of a gossip driven tale about his relationships with others.

oceanblue said:

Why does it irk me that some are using him as a way to profit, now that he's dead?

.

Most of them worked for him and now he's gone they compensate.

Kares said:

^^ Lol, lots of hair spray huffers in here. Hell, just lick the residue off the counter, it counts. And the combs been sitting in the rubbing alcohol too long.

Kares said:

I'm pretty sure Berry will soon face a lawsuit or two. She's a liar and as many of you have already mentioned, she has absolutely no right to talk about such private matters as Mayte's pregnancies, for example. And what's even more disgusting is that she's made up stories of being in the hospital with Mayte and Prince several times (I don't think she was there) and she made up conversations that supposedly happened between her and Prince when Amiir was already dying, and she claims he said "Quit making me laugh when I'm trying to be serious!". This is absolutely disgusting to make up such things, it makes my stomach turn.
.
Shane T Keller (former PP engineer) has just tweeted that during his time at Paisley (1991-96) he never saw or heard of Kim Berry. (Thanks jdcxc for the link!) Many other former Prince employees have also distanced themselves from her already.

Well even though I do doubt Kim's story at times, Prince was know to compartmentized just like I stated in another thread Larry Graham said before he knew little about Prince and they knew each other for nearly 20 years, and Prince known to hide things and people from people he known to move silence and some of the associates included Kim admitted to that so just because the engineer didn't see Kim that doesn't mean she wasn't around during that time. And also Kim lives in LA mainly and so maybe Prince went to visit her out of town or maybe Kim met with Prince in places where Shane was unaware of. Prince also know to put girlfriends in different apartments and housing and some of the girlfriends didn't know about each other until years later.

But I am going to read the book though with open minded.

ladygirl99 said:

Kares said:

I'm pretty sure Berry will soon face a lawsuit or two. She's a liar and as many of you have already mentioned, she has absolutely no right to talk about such private matters as Mayte's pregnancies, for example. And what's even more disgusting is that she's made up stories of being in the hospital with Mayte and Prince several times (I don't think she was there) and she made up conversations that supposedly happened between her and Prince when Amiir was already dying, and she claims he said "Quit making me laugh when I'm trying to be serious!". This is absolutely disgusting to make up such things, it makes my stomach turn.
.
Shane T Keller (former PP engineer) has just tweeted that during his time at Paisley (1991-96) he never saw or heard of Kim Berry. (Thanks jdcxc for the link!) Many other former Prince employees have also distanced themselves from her already.

I am going to read the book though with open minded.

.
That's your choice. I can't be as open minded to trust someone who starts her string of lies already on the front cover of her book (a lie she's stupid enough to contradict inside the book with yet another lie).

.
"Scratch a lie, find a thief."

.

[Edited 4/24/19 8:52am]

Its confusing to have two threads going about this book.

ISaidLifeIsJustAGame said:

Its confusing to have two threads going about this book.

Yes maybe it can be merged?

ian said:

Just finished reading the book. It's pretty thin really, just a handful of dubious anecdotes wrapped up in a whole bunch of gossipy / happy-clappy nothing. I was surprised at how little it mentions Prince's changing image and hairstyles over the years - the one topic Kim is definitely THE authority on doesn't get much of a mention beyond those infamous Rave era braids.

Was surprised that it discussed such private stuff surrounding Prince and Mayte's son. Since Mayte has already given her story about that, that should be the end of it really. The whole thing felt a bit trashy really - talking about events that she wasn't present for witout realling making that clear, or bigging up her role in the Prince camp in ways that don't seem credible. Was somewhat interesting to hear a bit about his spiritual doubts (discussing lack of evidence etc) and the point at which he distanced himself from the JWs etc.

However one thing Kim deserves props for is, she's one of the very few people willing to state flatly that Prince was disrespectful towards women. Of course he was, but everyone is always so careful to dance around that fact. Yes, he worked with lots of awesome talented women and elevated them etc, but he was always a notorious shagger who unapologetically treated women like playthings, the guy had no concept of monogamy or trustful human relationships. Having said all that, like the MJ documentary it kinda makes you think of all the staff members over the years who turned a blind eye and enabled this troubling aspect of his character.

-

Absolutely agrre on that.

-

I can understand why most people here don't like this book.

Obviously it doesn't add anything to the genius of Prince's music.

But I for one would looooove to read it.

Why ?

It's the way life is, for us and as well for rock stars.

They don't differ from us. And the relationships they have are exactly the same.

If we got the same information by more important people of the camp like bandmembers, we take it more seriously. It would probably being put in a way that it sounded more suitable, acceptable. In others words less trashy.

But hey, in the Prince camp, people were just people. They fucked around, tried to use eachother to get their secret agendas done, etc... Paisley Park obviously was a working business (not well always oiled) like any other.

-

The Revolution on the other hand was a different band altogether for the fact that no one in the band could've been sexual in Prince's way. And so far we didn't hear stories of Prince fancying the respectable wifes or girlfriends of the male Revolutionaires.

-

And about the ex staff members; if anything was said by them, they were fired.

-

RJOrion said:

yeah...what a terrible thing that a black woman who actually interacted physically with Prince on a regular basis, would write a book about Prince... of course any book about Prince should be written by middle aged white members of the media and like Duane Tudahl and Alex Hahn...smh...

WTF does her skin colour have to do with this? NOTHING! So, put your race card away for today.