Eye attended the press conference at the Sports Club and be4 the conference began a fe things eye noticed. There weere 2 video monitors that had they symbol on it along with full size layouts of npgonlineLtd.com and of the concert at the Northroup Auditourium. The poster 4 that is a a mixture of color/black and white with the artist facing away with a outfit that had the symbol on the back and his hair in the shag style. The other 2 remaining posters were of Rave and eye noticed that it said Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic which eye found interesting. Be4 the Artist came out the orginazers asked 4 5 photographers 2 come up and position themselves 4 the photo oppurtunity. Needless 2 say they can't count cause they swarmed the front. The Artist came out in a white swearter with the NPG pendant dangling, The SOTT stle glasses and his hair in the normal setting .As he prepared 2 begin the conference he was anxious 2 get 2 the A&A session Which eye was able 2 ask him 2 questions
he answered but more on that later. He began saying about that on 12/31/99 the contract of publishing with Warner-Chapell had expired and that he would reclaim the use of his birth name of Prince. he had spoke 2 LA Reid who will now run Arista records 2 in4m him that his agreement with Clive is now null and void. Any future collobarations with Arista will be discussed down the road.



Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic would be available either as a download or other means, he's looking 4ward 2 the celebration 2 enlist other ideas on how this music and future music will be obtainable.



He commented on how radio is loaded with the same songs/ideas over and over with very little difference and hoping that programers would allow local talent 2 be heard such in the days of DC having the Go Go music scene. Artists should control how the music is made and distributed and if it takes means like the recent Norstar or MP3's 2 obtain it, he's neutral in that reguard but it has 2 come 4ward.
or as he put it "let the bakers sell their own bread"



he commented on the situation with mayte saying that mayte does her thing and he does his and sometimes they do things 2gether.



Cybersingle will be available 4 download soon it features the saxaphonist Najee.



He plans 2 take a month or so off 2 concentrate on spirtual matters and hopes 2 begin touring either in July or August. No said geographical location was mentioned.



I got 2 ask him the question of whether he owns the masters now that Warner-Chappell is out of the picture. His response was "Eye have the masters but eye'm not able 2 release them without me rerecording or remixing the tracks. Now that could mean that eye either add a instrument or take away an element."



He then talked about a song on Carlos Santana's Album Supernatural and the last track made with Eric Clapton. He had discussions with Clive about a lot of things and clive has said 2 prince that he couldn't do 4 Larry Graham what he's done 4 Carlos. Prince responded with saying well that last track was written by Larry. but larry is not credited with it on the album. he's had discussions with carlos and larry about this and carlos has yet 2 acknowledge this so "eye'm helping carlos do that" which caused the crowd 2 errupt with laughter.



He spoke of screaming matches with Mo Ostin of then Warner Bros. one argument was about how prince came in with a new album and when asked who was it by. he replied it's by Prince. well u'r known now as the Artist. Well then we have 2 talk about a new deal then. which led 2 the nasty arguments.



Paisley Park Studios will be reopen 4 business in August.
he would like 2 build a food shelter next 2 paisley park in the shape of a egg. Understand that eggs are used 4 different things so that's what the shelter would be 4. different things.



he hoped there would be a new system devised 4 new artists 2 be able 2 present their art without getting their legs cut off from them.



One stupid reporter asked him 2 questions that made everyone sick.."who would win a fistfight between u and michael jackson and why were u such a sissy in Purple rain?"
Prince then said that "eye've never said anything bad about Michael. Perhaps he knows more than what we do and we should let him do what he wants 2 do and just wait 2 see what happens. Besides he's a plant,...and eye was the one who planted him" Much laughter ensued after this one..and he totally ignored that other comment on purple rain.



I got the chance 2 ask another question of Who's in The NPG? "The Band?" "yeah" "mmm Najee is in the band now and I have a new drummer John Blackwell who's played with Patti Labelle, Kirk is gonna be doing computer work. Rosie wants 2 be a part of the band as well"



he talked about possibilites of doing albums of just one genre, including a jazz album, a ballad album. He was upset that he couldn't license his music 2 a ballad album entitled When 2 R In Love.



he talked a lot about Chaka Khan and Chuck D and how they amaze him and how radio playlists won't play their music.
And There are no plans 4 any movies right now.



After a few more questions and his pleasure of hearing a woman say "welcome back Prince" he left and the video monitors turned from the symbol, 2 Prince.



What eye got out of this special opportunty was that Prince really wanted 2 go on and on 4 hours if he could and talk with all of us as a whole. These are just my personal views in saying thus, he was happy but it seemed there was a lot of pain he was enduring spirtually and perhaps emotionally. After this celebration he will take his sabatical and it's understandable when u think about it. Hey we all need a vacation don't we?

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NuPwrSoul@aol.com offered the following corrections:


You've got to note some corrections to that poster who gave
an eyewitness report to the press conference. I was there,
too, and this person made TWO big mistakes!



One, he never said that Michael Jackson was a plant that
he planted. He was referring to the reporter asking stupid
questions!



He said that we should leave Michael alone, 'cuz he may
have something to tell us... and he's gonna have to come
home one day, so we should just make a place for him.



That same reporter asked "Why were you such a sissy in Purple
Rain," and the audience got understandably annoyed, and Prince
turning it all to a joke said about the reporter (NOT
Michael Jackson!), "He's a plant...and I planted him" in
the audience. I don't know where this person's "eyewitness
report" gets him saying that Prince thinks he "planted" Michael
Jackson. That's so inaccurate!!!



Lastly, he said that Rosie Gaines did NOT express interest
in coming back.



I posted these corrections in the discussion section, but
you should note these at the beginning of the post, cuz I
see some people already going off thinking Prince is an A**
for comments about MJ that are falsely attributed to him.