{{{CJ: Pepe Willie delves into Prince's past
C.J. / Star Tribune / Published Jul 16, 2002

Pepe Willie has photos and music from before Prince started wearing makeup, and Pepe knows how to use them. "I don't have [that] many pictures, but I have the information. You can believe that," Willie said, laughing. Willie is coming out with more never-released music from his group 94 East featuring Prince when he was 17. Symbolina plays a blistering guitar on the cuts "Fortune Teller' and "10:15." Willie expects this new untitled CD, co-produced by Ben Obi, to do as well as his 1995 CD collection featuring Prince, which sold about 250,000 copies, mostly in the UK.}}} Throwing out more 1970s music featuring Prince begs the question of why Prince's former mentor is continuing to exploit their relationship. "This is a CD we wanted to do," he said. "This gave us an opportunity to do a CD the way we wanted to do it and at the same time we are giving the history of our relationship with Prince." The remaining members of 94 East, Kristie Lazenberry and Marcy Ingvoldstad, who work with Willie's music outfit Pepe Music Inc., also handled vocals. Some background vocals sung by Prince in this late 1970s recording session are not part of the package. "Just didn't fit the song today because we remixed," Willie said. "We're not trying to exploit him; at that point we'd put everything he did in there." Willie wants credit for the role he played in Prince's development, and naturally he's not going to get that from Symbolina. "I'm the one who gave him his start. I can't let anybody take that away from me," Willie said. "I've got a family to raise. My daughter [Danielle Willie, 14] is proud of her father. She wants to know the history." More history is probably coming; a Billboard Publications researcher working on a book about Prince interviewed Willie recently.

He's history

While cleaning out his garage, Pepe Willie found 30 book covers of Prince's youthful visage. Instead of selling them on eBay, Willie has given most of them to charities for auction. A lot of people say he looks like Michael Jackson in the photos, but Willie doesn't see that resemblance. Jackson was browner (before he became a white guy -- sorry M.J., but I'm not buying the Vitiligo story) and never had even had a peach-fuzz mustache. "Now he's trying to get back," said Willie of Jackson's recent discovery of racism in the music industry. "Did you hear what he said?" asked Pepe. Yes, and I'm not listening because Jackson's only ethnic when it suits him. But we disgress. Pepe got the Prince book covers from Warner Bros. back when Prince spoke kindly of WB. Can you imagine what one of covers would go for autographed? "I don't want his autograph," Willie said. "I tried to get in touch with him a few years ago through Londell McMillan [Symbolina's NYC attorney] and they wouldn't even answer us, which I thought was not cool at all. I'm not out here trying to destroy him. What did I do? What happened to our friendship? Things happen in business, but friendship should be there." In many cases, Prince seems to regard friendship as sooo yesterday.

CJ is"Billy Jack Bitch."

There was a story I read a long time ago about Prince's real appearance.
When Prince was a teen and his band had just started playing professional gigs, he and Andre Cymone used to trick the fans. Even back then Prince wore a little make-up on stage. After the performance he would remove it. Without the make-up he looked like a blue eyed white guy. The fans would rush right past him, cause they were looking for a black guy. Apparently, this caused Prince and Andre much glee.
I'm only stating what I read. Don't know the veracity of it and I'm not sure where I read it, because back in the day, I think I read every mag, book or newspaper article concerning Prince. My bedroom walls were covered with Prince pics.

lol, the story indeed is probably false, shygirl. Prince looked like a blue eyed white guy? A friend of mines who saw Prince concerts in the dirty mind days stating that Prince looked like a midget, fairy black guy..with no makeup.

Well, I've heard that the image with the purple tear drop falling down the face is really Prince. Most people have assumed it was a woman.
It's at the end of When Doves Cry video and it's also in the movie Purple Rain.

Vagina said:

Do you think so?

july said:

somebody's asked me if this is jacko in my avatar...ketchuphead. anyway, i dig the way ol' boy looked way back when, fat cheeks & that big ass 'fro...

You know, C.J. really needs to get over this "Symbolina" name-calling thing. I can't believe the MPLS Star-Trib doesn't do something about her childish attitude. If you're reading this, C.J., grow up already!

during the celebration, i bought the local tribune newspaper everyday just to see if anything Prince was in it. There was and it was mostly negative...much to my surprise...W/ Billy Jack Bitch leading the way. as an out of towner, it struck me extremely odd that the newspaper she works for ALLOWED her biased attacks towards Prince. They have the truest musician of modern times in their back yard YET they write about him in the newspaper like he's a long lost step child. It is sad that she and that newspaper that backs her have the power to sway public opinion. Definately a Sign 'O' The Times...proof that we are living in a worst case senerio.

how redundant...
a peepee named willie...

If CJ doesn't like him why does she review his shows? Get someone UN-Biased. Someone New! Also Pepe is really OLD Hat already. He doesn't stop talking about Prince and it's like"DAMN I was cleaning OuTS my Garage and I just Happened to find this Em Notebook Coverings... But I don't want no money for em I'll just give-em to Charity." I'm so sick of you WILLIE WONKA! Leave Prince alone already! Dumbass!

CJ leave my man Prince alone.

Pepe is a leech

Boob said:

Whenever evil wants 2 groove
Come let me fly U 2 the moon
Then U can see how love will bloom
Joy - it's in the dictionary
See "J" Billy Jack Bitch


SEE J

CJ

GET IT

CJ is Billy Jack Bitch . She shouldn't review Prince anymore if she isn't going to be fair and just try to incite him.

Nice news. I personally am not mad because Pepe is releasing it. It´s how it works. He could have included these songs on the previous album, but...maybe it´s his way of making some kind of ´justice´.

"Pepe Willie is a jive motherfucker!"
Troy Wells
Princefest 97
Toledo Ohio