"State of the N.P.G. Address"



777 Update

"the newz, not the bull...."



Welcome 2 a special edition of the 777 Update, a Prince newz update not
afflicated with Paisley Park, NPG Records, Warner Brothers Records or
NPGonline in any way. In this Update, we will be reviewing the past year and
looking forward to what may be in hand for the year to come. This is an
article/commentary. The article has been ready for the past week, but we were
waiting for some newz to drop right after the update was to sent out. So
instead of waiting til Feb. to report on it, we thought we would wait a few
days so we could break it. The article was already written and I felt no need
to change it although things were affected. So first, the quick newz, then
the year in review.....



777 Newz Flash



Item#1-Prince to do a full scale tour in U.S. instead of Europe.



Prince has decided to stay in the U.S. and tour Europe later on in the
year. The original idea was to have Prince go to Europe to start the tour but
has since been changed. So far two dates have been announced, 1 is confirmed,
the other is not.....the dates are.....



2/02/2001 Tampa Florida @ the Ice Palace (not confirmed)

Tix to go on sale monday morning



2/04/2001 New Orleans, La New Orleans Arena (confirmed)

Tix go on sale monday morning @ 10 a.m.


Now if the Tampa show proves to be true, Isn't the Super bowl the sunday
before? And doesn't Steven Tyler record at a studio in Florida? What is going
on? Maybe they will compare notes n wear assless pants while makin love in an
elevator. Or maybe Aerosmith will just take Kid Rock on the stage and
disapoint us all.




Item#2-"Rave" special Edition signed a tenitive release date


The Rave special edition cd looks like it will finally see the light of
day on March 30th, 2001. For those needing a tracklisting, please email me or
you can wait for the Feb. update which will carry it.




Item#3-Prince discussing a Distribution/ Contract deal with Magic

Prince has been in L.A. 3 times since December 5th and is in discussions
with Magic Johnson for at least a two cd distribution deal with Magic Johnson
records, which has very new talent on the label and is distributed thru MCA
records. Suprisingly, It was Magic that approached Prince about the deal
after promoting the hit n run tour. Prince would like someone who would only
promote him but Prince also respects Magic for what he has done in South
Central Los Angeles and his very successful theatre venture. Nothing has
been signed, although we all know Prince does aggrements, not contracts. And
it does strike us as odd that a week after the meeting, Prince finally has a
release date for the Rave special edition.




Item#4-Is something super in store for January 28th?
?????record?????NO?????
?????possible performance ?????Tyler?????
?????says?????hopefully?????




the NPG Address




More Ranting then Raving-



"Yes, Artist, I was wondering if you go to the movies?" It seemed like a
rather easy question, but 0(+>, rarely one to give a direct answer rambled on
about what was real and what was fake in movies. After 0(+> stopped talking,
the caller was like "yea, but do you see any movies?" 0(+> was supposed to
perform on this day in December, 1999, but because of an illness, he decided
to just do an interview. In a surrounding and with a host he just did not
really feel comfortable with, Carson Daly, it was a lost cause. A media
blitz of the "today show", "TRL", "the early show", "the view", and "live
with Larry King", all with exception to "the early show", which was the
lowest rated show of all, he chose not to perform or was sick. All these
shows were used to promote the "Rave" cd. 0(+> was very disapointed with the
promotion by Arista but with these interviews, it did not help sales.
Cancelled were many appearances slated like Oprah and the tonight show
because 0(+> was already losing interest.


During most of the interviews, he would bring up his pay per view concert
and talk more about it then the new cd. The most frustrating thing was how he
seemed to talk about everything else but himself or his music. Mostly talking
of Entropy and if he did talk about music, he would mention Larry Graham
about two times. He seemed more rehearsed in what he would say then he did
in 1996. All in all, it made the year he was talking about for almost twenty
yearz seem more then a let down then anything. It was a cd that had potential
but never got off the ground.




"My name is Prince, and I am funky"


On May 16th, 2000, 0(+>, finally reclaimed his legal name, Prince Roger
Nelson in a press conference in New York. Stating that his publishing
contract ended with Warner-Chapel on December 31st, 1999. Some wondered why
he did not announce it then, others were just more then happy to be able to
call him Prince again. Announced on that date was the planned release of the
"RAVE" remix cd which has yet to see the light of day. Two weeks before the
announcement of the name change was a planned 1 week celebration of the music
of Prince, at Paisley Park.


For 7 long years, he has had to play the name game as we had to play
along with him. Even in interviews in 1999, it seemed like that was all the
interviewer could talk about, never being able to get over it. One minute he
is saying his spirit advised him to change the name. Next minute, it is over
contract disputes. Who, except for the media cared? The fans were happy to
call there man the Prince that they see him to be. But the real question is,
was he just coasting along the past 7 years releasing product he could make
in his sleep or releasing a great cd after he lost interest in it (the gold
experience). the fact of the matter is, the name Prince alone on a cd will
sell more copies any day then anything with the symbol.




"Everybody's going Uptown"


On June 7th, 2000, Prince invited 1,500 of his closest (or the ones who
could afford it) friends to Paisley Park to party with him. No matter what
Prince says, it was thrown on June 7th because of his birthday. The
purpleheadz got to see everything except for a true paisley park concert by
Prince. The lines may have been long to get into Paisley and the
love4oneanother room, but it was definitly worth it. Do you really need more
of a reason to party inside Prince's home? The concert to end it all on June
13th had very memorable moments. With a semi-Revolution reunion, it was
something that kept people very entertained. Still seeming to get used to his
name, in the concert, he said " so many songs Prince wrote, so little time".
There was togetherness everywhere in Chanhassen that week. Prince played some
very good new songs which have yet to be released during the week in Paisley.
It seemed like Prince was enjoying the party atmostphere of the fans, being
very friendly towards the ones who would not stare at him for too long.
Prince hints at making this a yearly thing and the purpleheadz were on
cloud 9, 10 n 11.




"Baby, I'm a Star"


A long talked about tour finally raised it's head on election night 2000.
Titled the hit n run tour, Prince did mainly a greatest hits package with all
but 1 of the tracks being from 1991 and before. It opened to poor reviews
from critics and fans alike. But by the time it ended December 9th, the
reaction was more then positive. Some Purpleheadz are getting turned off by
the medleys of songs he plays, some say that more new stuff, others saying
they want the old. What is a Prince to do? Basicaly stating by the last few
dates of the tour that someone old should bring somebody new. He is getting
many younger fans turned on to him as of late and they have not to seen this
kind of "greatest hits" tour. Doing songs mostly from the "Purple Rain" and
"Sign "o" the Times" cd's, It was a major treat for purpleheadz like myself
to hear songs that they have never heard before live. Even major purpleheadz
that were heavy doubters of this tours content were blown away by Prince's
aura, which had arrogance not seen since 1993.




"I've seen the future and it will be"


The year 2000 for Prince started off with more of a whimper then a big
bang, but ended with a new found popularity without even releasing a new cd .
He has chilled about "fans" websites and even gives them NPG banners to use
for a link to NPGOnline. Letting purpleheadz into Paisley Park for a
week-long celebration was another huge step into the right direction. You do
not normally hear artists bringing thier fans into thier recording
studio/home away from home. With the addition of the baddest drummer since
Michael B., Prince's tour was off the hook. We have much love for any former
or current members of the N.P.G., so no disrespect is ever intended.


Prince is Planning to tour Europe and other contries starting in
February, but Magic Johnson and I, myself, feel strongly that Prince should
continue to tour the U.S. in Febuary with larger venues. The is no real
neccesaity to release a new cd just yet. Rumor is though that Prince is
sitting on a masterpiece and tinkering with it left and right. Prince should
also release the "Rave" special edition with not much fanfare, just let the
hardcore have it for thier own private Purple Underground. With Magic Johnson
apparantly handiling more then just tour promotions, the sky's the limit.
Magic was also trying to work up some "Super Sunday" magic on January 28th
which has yet to be confirmed or denied by NPGonline. (Note; Prince wanted
to play the Super Bowl if the Vikings made it, which they did not. At Press
time, there were several people saying that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith was
still trying to get Prince to play. Again, this has yet to be confirmed or
denied. Just remember who broke the story first December 13, 2000.)


Not to sound philosophical, but the stars are aligning in a weird way.
It looks like it will be 1991 all over again with the dominence of Madonna,
Michael & Janet Jackson, U2, and the artist forever known as Prince. If you
think I am going to be wrong, look me up December 27th, 2001. it also looks
like this will be a year where people who sorta like Prince will have more
fun then the ones who consider themselves the hardcore. Prince is just
stopping the purple boat to pick up more peeps, but if you can accept change,
in the end, you will be satisfied, if not, you can bitch and bitch or just
get on the dancefloor and have some fun. And for those who have trouble
seeing Prince's point of view, remember the reason you started liking him in
the first place....the music. Prince , if he does decided to do another
media blitz, should perform more then talk, especially if he does decide to
do shows like TRL again. Show the world again why you are the most talented
musician alive. But most of all, Prince should be true to himself. No one in
this world can be seen as perfect. Be wild and have fun in 2001.....J7




Any questions, or comments or if you wish to be added or deleted from this
list, please email the J7 at ROLTHADICE@AOL.COM. Anything positive or
criticism of the update is welcome. Hopefully there will be more positives
then negatives.




You may fowrad this update to other friends if you wish, jsut PLEASE DO NOT
COPY THE PEOPLE ON THE MAIL LIST! thank you. J7




This Update is in honor of Matt@Prince.org who will be leaving Prince.org
shortly. Thank you Matt, for letting the Update post on Prince.org and
letting us give you exclusive info in the past two yearz. Much love 2 all no
matter where you are at. J7





Coming in the Feb. 777 update....a very special one for fans and collectors.