{{{[The Edmonton Press is really covering his show! -Ben]
Prince revels in his freedom
Artist formerly known by a symbol markets himself these days
Sandra Sperounes, Journal Music Writer
Edmonton Journal
Friday, May 31, 2002

Prince will be sure to play some -- but not all -- of his classic tunes when he appears in Edmonton tonight.

Concert Preview
Prince and The New Power Generation
Date and time: Today, 8 p.m.
Location: Jubilee Auditorium
Tickets: $89.50 and $125 (plus service charges) at TicketMaster

We scoffed when he changed his name to a wacky, unpronounceable symbol. Little did we know, back in 1992, that Prince Rogers Nelson was laying down the foundations for his artistic freedom and pioneering a new reality for musicians.}}}}}

While dozens of artists, from Don Henley to Jennifer Warnes, continue to berate their record labels for unfair contracts and measly royalty payments, Prince arrives in Edmonton today the king of his own pop/funk career.

After getting out of his self-described "slave" contract with Warner in 1996 -- which is why he temporarily became known as the symbol -- he launched his own company, NPG Records, and Web site, http://www.npgmusicclub.com, through which he sold his latest jazz-funk album, The Rainbow Children, weeks before it hit stores.

"This new mode of exchange and distribution effectively eliminates the need 4 any intermediates between the Artist and U," Prince's site exults. "With no middlemen, let the freedom reign. All that is required of U is a computer with Internet access, a mailing address and a direct subscription with us."

Alas, the subscription isn't free. But like American Express -- which Prince doesn't accept -- membership has its privileges. For $100 US (about $160 Cdn at current exchange rates), fans will receive four new albums, including One Nite Alone, featuring Prince going solo with his piano. Other benefits include free downloads, choice concert seats and tickets to his Paisley Park studio in Minneapolis, where he'll be holding workshops, tours and seven nights of performances at the end of June.

A hundred Yankee greenbacks may sound exorbitant in this day and age of free, pirated tunes, but it's not. It's actually a welcome sign of restraint in a business built on excess, which Prince knows all too well. The 43-year-old has twice run into financial troubles for spending too much on his ambitious musical projects -- such as his three-disc release, Emancipation (1996). He's learned his lesson and adopted a more modest approach, thanks to his NPG Music Club. Instead of having to recreate 1984's Purple Rain in order to move millions of albums, Prince only needs 50,000 club members to keep him living comfortably without over-extending himself on the road, worrying very much about airplay, compromising his artistic vision or having to talk to journalists about the pitfalls of creative freedom.

Is too much creative freedom ruining Prince? Some might argue so after listening to the jazz and religious themes of The Rainbow Children. But remember, he was making musical left-turns back in his Warner days, too. Check out his 1986 psychedelic trip, Around The World In A Day.

Even during his Purple Reign, Prince was never one for interviews. Naturally shy and mumbly off-stage, he's always preferred to let his music do the talking. With his Web site, he can now reach out in a new way -- through online commentaries which cite Marshall McLuhan and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It's not clear whether Prince himself pens them, but the topics are dear to this heart, such as the evils of corporate slavery and the need for freedom.

"The power of music is what drives true creators, but the industry that those creators are part of is driven by anything but," reads one editorial. "The music industry behaves as if it owned the artists' creations, when the creators themselves know that even they don't own them!"

Slavery and freedom are also the themes of a video montage playing on Prince's current tour. That and lots of weird religious tunes from The Rainbow Children are the only guarantees at tonight's concert. (As well as appearances by saxophonists Maceo Parker and Candy Dulfer.) Several Prince classics will probably pop up too -- but don't try to guess which ones. In Vancouver, he performed Raspberry Beret, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Diamonds and Pearls and Nothing Compares 2 U.

"Prince and his hardcore troubadours put on a show that defied comparison to anything on the current pop music landscape," read one Vancouver review. "It was joyous, it was provocative, it was so sexy and it was a genuine thrill to be there."

Fans shouldn't expect any of his uber-raunchy sex tunes like Darling Nikki. As a new Jehovah's Witness, Prince reportedly feels he's not free to perform those tunes anymore.

© Copyright 2002 Edmonton Journal

nice 2 c a journalist who actually does research and knows what they'r talkin' bout... eye can respect dat.

Great that they are actually explaining the name change. Prince should have done that since the beginning. But it's all good now.

peterv said:

Not quite. The article says Prince was never one to do interviews. He has done plenty of interviews.

The article also describes him as being "shy and mumbly" offstage. That is way, way off. Prince is not shy or mumbly. He's a jabbering Gemini.

Well looking 4ward 2 when Prince play's at the NAC,in Ottawa.
As 4 the NPGMC Members...2 Me what makes it better.Wondering how many R in Ottawa?
Theo less would think 2 Me a better souncheck,but I'm always looking 2 find others!

Question?
What R the things that R 4 sale at the shows?
Last Year at the Montreal Jazz Festival...they're where:
The Rainbow Children Shirt (Celeberation)
And The Work Pt.1 pic. Shirt (Celebration)
Aswell the "Rave In2 The Joy Fanyastic" CD & Rhonda Smoth Album.
Let Me know what availible at the shows;
symbolsm@hotmail.com

Another thing is in My mind...theo I'm sure We may have asked Prince 4 this,but I read in a Tour Report that Prince is thinking about releasing a LIVE CD.Well I have sent in the request and have the E-Mail about it.
I really must say that the Montreal Jazzz Festival would b the Best 1.It has the Jazz part...1Hr + and then what the Hits 4 the rest of the show 1Hr 1/2 +.That's how long it was give or take,but what made it great was that it was fun...Dawm!I sure wish that I can get it on CD.I say it is the Best one that I'v seen Him in Montreal...miss that place aswell,but that's a hole other story.
Hint!Looking 4 that show...E-Mail Sym.

"WhereverUR!"
Symbolsm 2K2!ItemsSoldTourMontreal/NACO(+>/PRINCE:)

>Check out his 1986 psychedelic trip, Around The World In A Day.

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Well, the writer at least visited Prince's web site for good information, but it still bugs the heck out of me when writers can't get dates correct. Around the World in a Day = 198*5*. Am I too nit-picky??

Some of the items that were sold at the KCMO ONA show were:

ONA Program
The Rainbow Children poster
ONA T-shirt
Zenophobia T-shirt
TRC CD
Maceo Parker CD
Rhonda Smith CD
Ear Wrap Ear ring
Ball caps


I'm sure there were other items; they just don't come to mind right now.

I bought the TRC poster, had it matted and framed. The poster is 25"X 25", Everyone who has seen it really likes it.

Enjoy the show!