{{{Write-up from an interview in Honolulu. Too bad they didn't ask about the Family Jamm!
http://starbulletin.com/2...tory2.html

Elusive Prince talks music before show
By Gary C.W. Chun - gchun@starbulletin.com

A light blue laminated sign reading "lakshmi," leads back stage at the Blaisdell Arena, to Prince. It refers to the Hindu goddess of power, beauty and prosperity, in both the material and spiritual sense.

The guarded but still congenial musician has taken a moment before yesterday's late afternoon rehearsal to talk briefly about his music -- and nothing more. His rules: No notebooks, no pens, no tape recorders.

While it's evident that he's taken "lakshmi" to heart -- as a musician, bandleader and fiercely independent businessman who keeps in touch with fans through his NPG Music Club Web site -- he deflects comment about his Jehovah's Witnesses studies, saying simply, "It's a personal matter."}}}

Other than that, he's willing to talk about the music that will be presented on Oahu tonight and Maui Friday. Judging by the elaborate stage setup that will take up nearly half the arena's floor space, and the sporadic bursts of music being rehearsed backstage, it should be one heck of a show.

Prince has just finished touring Australia and Hong Kong, has a DVD out that documents his show at the Aladdin in Las Vegas, and his latest album on his own label, "N.E.W.S.," is among the Best Pop Instrumental Album Grammy nominees.

He's shopping for a new label to help distribute his music to a wider audience, although he will retain all publishing rights. Once, as he says, "the record industry is put to death," he'll probably release more exploratory material that hasn't seen the "legal" light of day, including, hopefully, sessions with the late Miles Davis.

In the meantime, he's surrounded again by a crack New Generation band that includes two formidable alto sax players in longtime James Brown sideman Maceo Parker and Dutch-born guest Candy Dulfer.

When Prince is not performing, he and the band are jamming. "It's like what we did in Australia and Hong Kong -- after a show, we'd set up again at a nearby club and keep jamming." He also likes to vary the concert set list nightly, allowing the rest of his "leaders" room to stretch and solo.

But don't expect to hear the earlier, more sexually explicit songs he's made famous. He says he's grown, not only as a musician, but as a person, and that material doesn't reflect who he is now.

When I say that I thought he was channeling Ray Charles during his "Strange Relationship" performance on the DVD, he laughs and says "somebody else mentioned that to me.

"It's not like I'm doing it on purpose. And while I think I may have met him briefly earlier in my career, drawing inspiration from him and others like him, I don't want to feel that my music has to be compared to theirs. When I work with guys like John and the rest of the band away from the stage, I want us to feel this is our music, and no one else's, that we're working on."

sbacon1999 said:

Crack? I hope that term means something positive, not negative.

Wait a minute, deja vu...when did I hear this before? Answer: Crystal Ball 2, Roadhouse Garden, The Guitar Album...

It sounds like he's not performing a GH set.

sbacon1999 said:

The last 3 labels he's signed too folded not long after, Emancipation, Rave, Rainbow...LMAO...perhaps thats his plan to put the recording industry to death...LOL

now look at that cheese grin...LOL


[This message was edited Tue Dec 16 14:55:28 PST 2003 by Tom]

psychodelicide said:

They meant to say a cracknbush (see above)...

"Judging by the elaborate stage setup that will take up nearly half the arena's floor space"

What happened to the stripped down approach?
Or is it just a tiny arena.

But don't expect to hear the earlier, more sexually explicit songs he's made famous. He says he's grown, not only as a musician, but as a person, and that material doesn't reflect who he is now.


This is the best explanation so far of why he doesn't do his raunchy stuff anymore-that is doesn't reflect who he is now. No riddles about God's will or any of that. It reads that he would feel like a faker if he did "darling Nikki" because he doesn't really feel it in his heart anymore .

I give em' two years tops to change his minds on this perspective he has. A man who is able to play different instruments, come on, the guy is going through a phase. He's got his public reputation to worry about, as well as, his personal feelings. Come on, how long is this gonna last? Let's wait and see.

Look at his past... he has always been a butterfly changing in association with a certain woman in his life at the time. Will there ever come a time when the guy can live with himself and accept life perspectives without any particular female influce in his life at the time? Hmmm... Well, he's human like anyone else. So... let's just wait and see.

Religion is fixed... perspectives change. Let's wait and see.

Everyone meet Lakshmi Hey guys...

chaz said:

Yes of course the record industry being "put to death" (which will never happen in our lifetimes) does not have anything to do with him releasing as much material he wants now that he is "free".

And I thought that was a strange comment about the stage taking up half the arena as well. That had to be a major exaggeration unless he is taking a 180 and doing big elaborate stage shows, which I doubt is true.

Anybody know where the afterparty is going to be at? Momma got a kitchen pass and bygolly I'm gonna use it!!!

Well I'm sure the purple party people in Hawaii will have a funky good time~

See... Prince is full of it. First he had to get "free" from his contractual obligations, now the record industry has to be "put to death" (WT...?? ) before he will release his past stuff. Yeah, yeah, yeah and the next excuse will be???

AND... wait a minute... "don't expect to hear the earlier, more sexually explicit songs he's made famous. He says he's grown, not only as a musician, but as a person, and that material doesn't reflect who he is now. "

Which means that he will NOT release much of his past stuff, BECAUSE that "doesn't reflect who he is now".

Grown or not, he certainly hasn't grown in staying honest and true to yourself.

way to go "'P" ...you always keep us off balance with the differing reasons & stories of why you are doing things...you are the only real enigma left in popular music...which is why we all love you.

B from Australia...

Not much of an interview. The writer really just wrote down his observations, while putting very little of Prince's comments in there. Makes me wonder how much of this was Prince's token "cryptic speach" and how much was just taken out of context.

ONE MORE THING: The interviewer didn't ask him anything about his Hall Of Fame induction?

oOoOJulyOoOo said:

Wow, that's pretty cool.

JediMaster said:

YOU READ MY MIND JEDI

Why does he always have to have a bullshit interview where he is in control? No taperecorders or pin and paper...purely stupid.

Thumparello said:

Well, since you can now go purchase one of his old tape recorded interviews at your local wrecka stow, I can understand why he put a stop to that. As far as no written notes, heck if I know.

oOoOJulyOoOo said:

Glad someone is finally making this observation. Prince would do well to simply remain true to himself. Extreme conversions to a religion undermine one's individuality and promotes too much unhealthy conformity (it always seemed ironic to me that Prince's aversoin for contracts, be it with respect to the institution of marriage or in business dealings with record companies, indeed his disdain for the emphasized syllable, "CON" doesn't apply to the word CONversion). Spirituality is cool but needs to be kept private. To me it seems obvious P has discomfort in openly identifying himself as a JW and I think this is actually a good sign. He's not open about this "affiliation" in part I think because of his image and more due to the fact that it simply isn't an identity he can completely embrace. I always found the sacred and profane aspects of his lyrics and personality a great appeal and a balanced reflection of life. I think it's important for all of us to grow spiritually and intellectually and our pasts should be very much appreciated and remain an important inclusion with our self-identity --Peace on Earth.

My previous comment --"Glad someone is finally making this observation" -- was in response to this statement:

"I give em' two years tops to change his minds on this perspective he has. A man who is able to play different instruments, come on, the guy is going through a phase. He's got his public reputation to worry about, as well as, his personal feelings. Come on, how long is this gonna last? Let's wait and see."