Minneapolis Star Tribune
Published March 14, 2003 http://www.startribune.co...51829.html

Jon Bream: Purple people
Comedian and TV pitchman Fancy Ray McCloney made it to all three nights of last weekend's Greazy Meal reunion at the Cabooze. On Friday, he bumped into Prince leaving the "VIP section" with gregarious bassist Larry Graham, who seemed to recognize Fancy Ray, although they'd never met. McCloney does an impression of the Purple One in a current TV commercial for a Twin Cities video store, a fact that seemed lost on Prince, "who was oblivious to everything going on," McCloney said. An even bigger surprise: The Cabooze has a VIP room? (J.B.)

Jon Bream: SHORT PEOPLE
Prince, who becomes eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, received a little attention at Monday's induction ceremony in New York. Paul Simon gave a very short speech to induct another short Hall of Famer, former Warner Bros. chief Mo Ostin. "Anybody who was at Warner Bros. during the Mo years knew it to be a wonderful time," Simon said, "except for Prince, who was enslaved." (J.B.)

Chris Riemenschneider: RANDOM MIX http://www.startribune.co...48525.html

Prince has not made any announcements regarding the 2003 version of his Celebration concerts, but fans apparently have been told to set aside June 19-22 as the best dates to be in the Twin Cities this summer. The two hotels closest to Paisley Park -- the Chanhassen Inn and the AmericInn -- are already sold out. . . .

Unfortunately this distorts what went down... I recall Prince saying that everything went south at Warner after Mo Ostin had left. He has never had anything but praise for Ostin's handling of artists at Warner... and hails Mo as one of the last few artist friendly execs.

july said:

So Prince was at the basketball game, watching some concert in St. Paul, and at the Cabooz on Friday night?

Also, the Paul Simon quote is GREAT, just great.

Paisley Park cancelled all 30 of its hotel rooms at those local hotels.Thats the word.