Prince Thang

Darling Nikki, as performed in the film Purple Rain. This was to be my first foray into a world of seedy sexuality and raw, totally inspired music. Up until then, I only knew KISS (the band). I still hadn't even kissed a girl, yet here was Prince with his fucking hands all over Apollonia's crotch. I wanted some of that. I tried to convince my father that Purple Rain was far superior to Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA. Both albums were on auto-play in our house. After enough banter about Prince, my father finally agreed to sneak me into First Avenue to check out this new sound. People were calling it Minneapolis Funk.

12 years later and I'm having a conversation with Prince, in his studio. And I'm getting paid for it. Here comes the irony: I wasn't really a fan of his anymore. Of course I had total respect and that. But at this moment in my life, I thought Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb, Foetus and Tricky were onto something much more bold and innovative. Who needs 'Diamonds and Pearls', when you have songs like 'Overcome' and 'Head Like a Hole'? I wondered why he just didn't dig deep and make another captivating record like Purple Rain. I soon learned the answers to most of my questions and put to rest the frustration of not getting another Prince album that would forever change my life, again.

October 31, 1996, and I'm lying half naked on my dirty, soiled futon on the floor of my Minneapolis apartment. Having a quiet moment with my girlfriend, watching some French films, and enjoying my time off from Prince and my never-ending work at Paisley Park Studios. Phone rings. Should I answer it? I already knew who it was. 5 minutes later, I'm in my car speeding down highway 55.

At the studio, no one answers the buzzer. The parking lot is empty. About to give up, I start walking back towards my car. Just then, The Man himself runs down the stairs to let me in. He says something about Morris needing me. Oh, right, Morris. Morris, the one who plays the organ and keys for Prince and his 'New Power Generation'. I'm sure the problem is just a broken key, or a sample that doesn't truncate properly. So I'm thrusting my ear into Prince's face, trying to make out the problem. I didn't want to risk missing what he had to say in fear of having to address him for a request to repeat himself. I still remember the first day on the job. 'Whatever you do,' I know, 'don't call him Prince, right?' So, I called him 'Sir' and he respected me for that. From then on, he would always make sly remarks and jokes to me about my work. I soon developed a newfound respect for him on a personal level. After all, he must have hired me because he liked my music. I didn't know it at the time, but he filmed my band's performance at one of his parties at Paisley Park Studios. The next day, I was offered the job.

It wasn't until a few years ago, that I really took the time to listen to the albums he made before and after Purple Rain. I couldn't believe my ears. In these records I found new inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for Prince and his entire musical output from 1979-1989. Just listen to 'The Black Album' or 'Parade', and then come see me after the show.

--

bryan black lives in London. he is currently recording for two projects: xlover and MOTOR.
xlover release their debut single 'trash me' later this spring on City Rockers. A 7" is released in March on City 7's. For the b-side, xlover cover the Prince classic 'controversy'.
MOTOR release their debut 12" in May on novamute. If Prince made noise, this is what it might sound like.
For more information, check out http://www.xlover.net

Is it just me or is that story disjointed and incoherant?


p.s not to mention pointless

Is it just me or is that story disjointed and incoherant?


p.s not to mention pointless

bkw said:

Agreed

The problem is that the story is not written very well. I completely understand why the editors at The Face magazine took a red pen to it. That's what editors do: clean up the raw work of reporters and writers so that the average reader can comprehend what the writer is saying.

I wasn't really a fan of his anymore. Of course I had total respect and that. But at this moment in my life, I thought Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb, Foetus and Tricky were onto something much more bold and innovative. Who needs 'Diamonds and Pearls', when you have songs like 'Overcome' and 'Head Like a Hole'? I wondered why he just didn't dig deep and make another captivating record like Purple Rain. I soon learned the answers to most of my questions and put to rest the frustration of not getting another Prince album that would forever change my life, again.

It wasn't until a few years ago, that I really took the time to listen to the albums he made before and after Purple Rain.