Dez mentions in his book how Wendy was creeping to get his job when he stopped going to soundchecks. She would stand in for him. She just kept hanging around. He didnt seem to have a good feeling about how she went about it.

The part she got in the Purple Rain movie was originally written for him - I never knew that! Wonder how it would have been to have Dez in the film and Vanity playing her intended role as the girlfriend. Man oh man

NPGLOVER said:

I tried to get Dez to expand on this a bit when Housequake held their Q & A with him.

Question 13 from Jestyr
Your book describes your impression of Wendy Melvoin's gradual development within the band as 'climbing', which indicates that there were some hard feelings there, at the time. This was an important transition for all of you; for Prince, for Wendy and for you as well. Having clearly grown so much since then, how do you feel about the end result for both you and Wendy today?

Dez's response
In reality, there were no hard feelings then or now. I just saw it for what it was- she was being opportunistic, and that was not then, and is not now, my style. In the end, it was time for me to move on, and she had positioned herself to move in when I did. It seems to have been a good move for her, but I’ve never actually talked to her about it, so I don't know how she feels about it. For me, it was the most important thing I’ve ever done-in walking away from it, I was able to become a real person, not just a rock star caricature. I feel like the most blessed man alive for having had the opportunity to experience the ride, and still have a normal life afterward.

Jestyr said:

Thanks for posting this. I think its an important issue in Prince history. It is also good to know that there is some ex-Prince collaborator that can stay positive and made a life - artistic and otherwise - after Prince. That is why I am such a big Dez fan.

I'm glad Dez is fine with this. I wasn't back then. Dez was one of Prince's best guitarist. At the time, it seemed like a calculated change for the movie's sake. Which worked out well, but on the Purple Rain tour there was significant drop off in guitar play.

Rev said:

This is what I thought. I saw Prince and Dez on the Controversy tour and twice on the 1999 tour so I could tell the difference once Purple Rain came around. Prince has made calculated decisions to appeal to what was then called the pop (white) audience in order to crossover. It could be said that a white girl guitarist would be the novelty to get him over with the MTV crowd and still satisfy his core black funk audience.

Calculated or not, it worked. Musically, I would have preferred Dez but he was too good to remain a sideman - even for Prince. He did help Prince get there in the early days.

NPGLOVER said:

Thank you for the great posts Mrs. Dickerson, we're all very proud of your son too.

Dez ..Prince's BestGuitarist. He should get him back if he could.Vanity woulda been better and more Sultry in PURPLE RAIN . Maybe more Sex woulda been Included and it woulda been more INTENSE. Apples was too BIG for Prince and she just wasn't DIRTY Enough. I remember Apples saying about Vanity that she wasn't as Classy as She was. But Vanity was the REAL DEAl not APPLES . But APPLES was Good not saying she wasn't.
[This message was edited Wed Mar 10 22:01:29 2004 by Zelaira]

I am Dez' biggest fan!!!!!