http://www.manchesteronli...21280.html

Prince's boots are made for walking

PRINCE’S visit to Manchester may have been low-key, but we can tell by the tassels on his white leather boots that the star is as eccentric as ever.

The singer – who in his time has been known bizarrely as The Artist or Symbol – was snapped leaving Salford’s five-star Lowry hotel, where he kept prying eyes at bay by blacking out the windows of the £1,000 a night presidential suite where he stayed.

And unfortunately for fans this will be the only picture of the star on view, after a squabble with his management over review tickets kept any press away from his gigs at Manchester’s Apollo.

Still, the generous soul credited us scribblers with getting his audience there in the first place.

Pop legend Prince played two sell-out UK gigs at Manchester's Apollo theatre. The purple prince of rock and roll - formerly known as The Artist or Symbol and now known as Prince also visited London's Hammersmith Apollo in October.

The tiny sexstar - named after his Dad's jazz band, the Prince Roger Trio - is best known for songs like 1999, Purple Rain and When Doves Cry. Not forgetting his risque Little Red Corvette on MTV.

The Bangles also owe their Manic Monday fame to the pint-sized star, who wrote the hit under the pseudonym Christopher.

As well as reaching rock and pop icon status in the 80s, Prince directed two movies - Under The Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge - and starred in Purple Rain.

He has just finished a six month US tour of his album The Rainbow Children with his group the New Power Generation and will now tour Europe and Japan.

Aspiring hacks beware! This is an example of "My third EVER review" by Mr Never-To-Amount-To-Anything Journalist. What the hell is "eccentric" about white boots, for Jehova's sake! They matched his white shirt and tie. It's known as colour-contrasting. Duh!

I think the comments added on that site were more interesting than the actual article... happy happy people...


3 hours of pure bliss. And the STAMINA of the man!
Daniela, Manchester
11/10/02 at 10:46

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Monday night was utterley amazing, after telling us there would be no 'oldies' (which the audience accepted most graciously) the last hour or so of the almost 3 hour set was a very informal sing-a-long of his most popular hits including Girls & Boys, Nothing Compares 2 U and Purple Rain. A fantastic show man and very unpretentious despite all the rumours (I think he just likes to tie the press up in knots), best gig of the year, even better than the Strokes!
Neil, Stockport
10/10/02 at 14:49

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What can I say? Pure Genius! And his Hornz section is funky. Candy was hot stuff!!
Chod, Didsbury
10/10/02 at 14:42

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It was an absolute privelage to be at last night's Prince concert-The Apollo has never seemed so intimate. There's a sense of maturity about him now. He no longer needs to impress with the fancy sets, suits, dance moves and twirly guitars. His music speaks louder than any of that. He seemed completely at home with the Manchester crowd and totally at ease with the those that were pulled from the audience to dance on stage with him. A total mix of everything Prince - from the NPG funk to classics from 'Purple Rain', 'Around the World...' and 'Sign of th'Times'. As he said himself 'it sounded good in the 80's and is just as good today! Prince - Nothing compares 2 U.
Max, Stockport
09/10/02 at 23:46

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I wasn't at the manchester concert but I went to the opening night in London and he was fantastic - singing, dancing the man is a genius he is truly the KING OF POP there's no one like him. Prince, The Artist whatever u wanna call yourself Come back soon don't leave it for too long PLEASE. We want more.
David Gibson, Wythenshawe, Manchester
09/10/02 at 23:05

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Your "review" says it all...does it matter what his name is? No! Does it matter what he wears? No! Prince is a musical genius and probably the most talented performer/musician/producer/whatever else of this generation. The show on Monday night was out of this world. Ask anyone who went to the Prince concerts in London, Manchester or wherever and they'll tell you they were the best they've seen - bar none! That says more about Prince than any snide comments from the Press could. Maybe if more musicians followed Prince's example and dumped their record labels the "pop" charts would be a better place. No more artificial music by plastic people. No more TV contests with prime-time programming to guarantee a No.1 hit! Do yourself a favour...listen to some real music. Don't believe everything you read and give music a chance!
Darren, Failsworth, Manchester
09/10/02 at 20:11

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Being a member of the NPG Music Club got me great seats at both gigs and the chance to witness a sound check. Think one word: COOL. The concerts were fantastic; blues, swing, soulful ballards, rock'n roll, off the planet funk, all flowed seamlessly together. We need to hear more artists like him, they must be out there. It's sad that we're bound by what makes the record companys the quickest and highest profit. Another word: THINK.
Allison Challen, Huddersfield
09/10/02 at 18:13

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Oh my god. The best night ever. His purpleness truly rocked my world once again. Three hours of pure genius. Prince truly is 'sex on a stick'.
Sonja Hayes, Bolton
09/10/02 at 17:46

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We saw Prince both nights and I have to agree with everybody else it was FAB!!! He didn't do a soundcheck on Monday but he did one for the fans on Tuesday and it was amazing. To hear him go through Sign O the Times with the band was a privilege. Everything he said about the press on Tuesday was true. He is given bad press and he doesn't deserve it. He looked as though he enjoyed every minute of being on stage. Let's hope it's not too long before he's back in Manchester.
Sue, Warrington
09/10/02 at 12:48

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He was awesome, what more can I say. What a talent, whats more I gotta say I enjoyed what he said and thought it was great how he got people from the audience to dance on stage.
John, Manchester
09/10/02 at 10:17

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". . .sex on a stick. . "

LOVE that!!