In no particular order

- Seeing Prince 18 times this year Coast to Coast
- Getting all Members of the NPG to sign my Musicology CD(except Prince)
- Getting a set of Blackwell's drumsticks (one perfect - one almost shattered)
- Getting guitar picks from Takumi (he's just so sweet) and Gino (Rhonda's Tech) he's a sweetie to.
- Meeting fellow orgers at get togethers and concerts
- HOF "My Guitar Gently Weeps" Solo
- Club Black - first time ever "IN LIFE" that close to the stage & Prince
- The very last PP aftershow (standing out all night waiting to get in and coming out in the morning to daylight) Amazing!!!!!
- CT concert
- Last DC concert

This year has been too much for words.

Downloads, Videos, Magazines, interviews, etc. Spectacular

And yes, I'll admit it, I cried like a BIATCH a the SJ show. Couldn't stand to hear him finish PR for the last time of the tour.

And thanks to all of you for your concert reports.

Peace

#1- Although it comprises multiple events, I'm wrapping them all into my number 1- 3 days and Nights of Prince in MPLS. From the opening moments at the kick-off party at First Ave- this was a stretch of perfection. The first show I had the best seats, the 2nd was my favorite performance. I got to hear Girls and Boys PLUS the most fantastic rednition of Joy In Repition at Paisley Park. I re-connected with Princey friends from the past. I met some new Princey's along the way. I was quoted in the local newspaper. PURE PERFECTION!

special mention in this item goes to Sassy. We've been in touch for a while now, tried to coordinate a trip in 2003, stayed in touch when we were off the Org, but never met till this weekend. I was in line in the merch tent when I saw him FINALLY get his ass into the lot. We waved like old friends. When I got outta the merch tent we talked like crazy for a few minutes before he was like "ahh, we should do some real world introductions." It was like I always knew him, I forgot all about the introductions- such a fun guy. AND, when I called his celphone and said "Kitty!!!" as my greeting he immediately knew who I was

#2- The MPLS Org Invasion. I won't add details except for: I LOVE THESE PEOPLE!

#3 Musicology Simulcast. Holy crap. I NEVER imagined that watching a concert in a movie theater could be soooo exciting. This simulcast convinced me to go to all the MPLS shows and gave me the ammo I needed to talk 30+ people into getting tix for this tour. It was a legendary performance and a great kickoff to the season of Musicology.

#4 RRHOF performance. I was satisfied with the P portion of the event and actually moved to tears at points. Little did I know. When he ripped up the stage later during "While My Guitar..." I was again reminded why he ain't just good- he is THE one.

#5 Seeing the Musicology video on ALL the stations every day. Having kids at the school I was attending ask me if I heard that "awesome new Prince song." All this producing a year when I never ONCE had to say "No Prince didn't retire, he's still making music and touring."

#6 Prince on Ellen. He gave a solid performance and an even better interview. The boxers were classic.

#7 Prince on Tavis Smiley. An interview which made me giggle and a performance with Wendy that made me cry.

#8 The DVD reissues tied into the Purple Rain party at First Ave. Seeing PR at First Ave was so cool. The people who spoke at this party shared some great stories about the making of PR which I'd never heard before. The crowd was hot.

#9 Cinammon Girl. FINALLY a Prince video to actually be proud of. Innovative, creative and has a point. It got the press buzzing once again. Good job, P.

#10- Two "Princey-trips" to Chicago. I only put this last because it's barely Princey (I traveled for shows other than Prince). These were 2 AWESOME road trips though! I FINALLY got to meet Anxiety (and his cute BF) and TOFKA. After too long of a seperation, got some mad bonding time with Tron and Moonbeam. Was able to get to know Sassy (and his BF) better. And I was able to flaunt my seXXXy BF in front of all the Orgers who don't get to "see" him on here.


All of this makes-up one FANTASTIC year to have been a Prince fan. I honestly feel like this year was the pay-off for all of us who stuck with him through his "underground" years. While we may have not been given the best album ever, Prince gave us so many good moments and stellar performances. The press played along and it was hard to go more than a week without a new mention of him somewhere. He was everywhere, he deserved this and SO DID WE!

PRINCE IN 2004

Now, how the H is he gonna top this?

I'm not gonna number anything, and many of what's been mentioned are fave things but for me personally a few are:

Musicology Tour Mpls 6/18/04 - I'd been to 2 nights in a row already (the first night being on my Bday!) but this was the night it all came together. After 2 nights of somewhat obstructed view in the NPGMC seats, violett and I scored a pair of front row seats, right in front of Rhonda, with a view clear across everything in the arena, it seemed. I was moved to tears during the acoustic On The Couch (though it wasn't yet even one of my faves) and the energy, everything just made it the best damned show I've ever seen in my life. And I got to share that with one of my most favorite people in the world. violett

Seeing Purple Rain at First Ave for the dvd release - Endo's right. The stories told by some of those who worked on the set were hilarious and interesting and the crowd was indeed, hot. What with everyone jumping outta their seats and dancing like mad on the dancefloor in front of the screen to Baby I'm A Star in the same place it was filmed, and really, in the place that whole era was born was quite the experience.

Having my co-workers bring me everything they find Prince-y. - One of my direct reports drops of every single clipping of Prince stuff she finds anywhere. This year, there was a time when nearly every week I got something new dropped off at my desk for me. It's so sweet. I even started getting emailed Prince questions from random people. It was silly. But made my work weeks go by nicely when I've had a hard time at my company this year.

The Minneapolis org invasion - Strangely enough, this really had little to do with Prince. Just the people who love him. And so much has been said about this that there's not much more to say except I loved meeting and hanging out with everyone I've met this year. New friends are always a good thing. (And, strangely, I didn't always think so... endorphin74 taught me that. Thanks, endo. )

Oh wow, um all of them?!

This has been one of the best years ever for me as a Prince fan.. I loved all the TV specials, I saw him 3 times and once in the front row, and I got to meet all the orgers..

The icing on the cake was 3 months later when the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years!

Me, no one or I can't remember now.

1. Attending the R&RHOF after concert at Club Black. It was a precursor for the musicology tour... He sang the Beautiful Ones and fell to his knees, ah Purple Rain era all over again. I didn't realize that at future concerts he would not fall to his knees or would not even include the song at all.

2. Getting a bootleg cd of the San Jose concert from(she knows who she is) so I can relive the concert whenever I like.

3. Sitting front row concert, after concert, after concert.....

enjoyniki said:

The San Jose concert that you mentioned was it the beginning of the year or the second time around this year. (just curious)

Miguel

1. The grammy's performance with Beyonce
2. R&R HOF performance... I loved that song for years, this made it perfect
3. The rant about the cinamon girl video (That reminds me of how much I hate Albert Verlinde)
4. The TV gig with Wendy
5. The Musicology Album
6-10 The dissapointment that the musicology tour didn't bring him to Europe

1. The Staples screening

2. Being first row for the first time ever in Champaign, IL

3-5. The three Chicago shows I went to.

6. The pizza incident w/Anxiety

7. Our pic in Rolling Stone

8. Prince walking past me at one of the Chicago afterparties

9. Prince and Wendy on Tavis

10. Flying to Paisley last minute and catching an aftershow with Prince doing my favorite song

11. The aftershow in Chicago

12. All the Prince nights at Berlin

13. Finally getting hold of Testament after all these years.

14. The RRHOF solo

15. The Tonight Show: Prince dancing across to his seat

16. The new moustache

awwwww, TOFKA!


see, i had no doubts...you all are a bunch of nostalgic so-and-so's.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

I WANNA SEE THE ROLLING STONE PICTURE!!!!! PLEASE!!

Miguel

Me being only 13, I can't say I've had that many Prince memories, but the 7/28 concert in Toronto=Awesome...sittin' next to a pimp, some guy offering me beer, nearly falling ontop of this lady infront of me with big hair while dancing, I mean, that's a lot for me, it was probably the greatest experience in my life.

And proving to all the stereotyping morons at school that Prince can hang with their big boys, while going out feeling dignified knowing that my kind of music will always be better!

The Prince concert I attended on 6/18/04. I managed to get get EXCELLENT seats (thanks to staying up the entire night) and had the time of my life. Finding out that, if you type "Prince 6/18/04" into Google's search engine, my article about the concert is the first thing to come up, doesn't hurt. The concert was life-affirming to me. I don't know how to put this without being cheesy. My general policy is to spend less than $10.00 on a concert. Prince cost me something like $90.00. I actually thought it was worth it. I'd do anything to be able to see the concert again. I'm hoping it's released on video. If it isn't, all I have are memories. Being that I've been diagnosed with brain atrophy, that isn't much, but it will have to do.

The worst Prince moment of 2004? Prince having his nasty ass lawyers strong-arming Housequake. I don't visit the site, but that was NOT the way to treat fans.

You want TEN Prince moments? Hmm. I've given you two. Here are a few more:

Prince with Beyonce at the Grammy awards. A great performance.

Prince on Leno, with Mel Gibson. It was a funny interview. Mel looked scared.

The Prince Album Survivor thingie what's his name did (on this forum). Very classy and fun.

Musicology. Sure, it isn't his best album, but it's a good listen and beats the crap outta that instrumental junk he was releasing.

The Cinnamon Girl song and video. While I think the end of the video (with the explosion) goes against the message of the song, most of the video was great and the song is incredible.

Prince's multiple nomination for this year's grammy awards.

Little Red Corvette on acoustic guitar. 'Nuff said.

Meeting all of you guys at prince.org. Maybe I don't show it enough, but I really appreciate your friendship.

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

It's in the Rolling Stone with Prince on the cover. I believe it's on pg. 58? Anxiety and I are in the pic with the lady giving P some flowers.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

i'll never forget going to the shows with you this summer and when P did his schtick with sitting on the chair reading the rolling stone, us yelling "PAGE 58!! PAGE 58!!!"

Anxiety said:

That was so awesome.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

I can so see you guys doing that...very cute.

Going to a party dressed up in drag. "How does this have anything to do with Prince?" I hear you ask. Well I bloody hell would have never dared to have done it unless I would have been watching the little guy's videos and live shows for the past 13 years! Pervert.

So much happened this year with Prince that it still boggles my mind thinking about it. Prince was the highlight of 2004 for me. For me, my memorable moments are:

Prince and Beyonce performing on the Grammy's. An outstanding performance that made everyone else's performance pale in comparison.

Prince performing Musicology on The Tonight Show. It was HOT and with Mel Gibson looking confused, it made it all the more fun.

Prince on The Tavis Smiley Show and performing Reflection with Wendy (how cool was that!!!!)

Any Prince interview in the media

Musicology the album - I still love it

Seeing Prince on the cover of Entertainment Weekly (I wondered if I'd EVER see that on that magazine) and Rolling Stone (Eureka! He's finally on the cover, it's about damn time)

Prince getting inducted into the RRHOF. That was truly an exciting moment in Prince history.

Buying my friends copies of Musicology and all of them telling me that they liked it.

Meeting other Prince fans and making some life-long friendships in the process

The biggest highlight for me was: The Tour
Seeing him Twice at the Staples Center in L.A., one aftershow at the HOB on June 5th/6th and once again at MSG in NYC on July 13th. The shows were so incredible and I wish he'd do another concert cause I felt like I was in heaven. It was some of the most fun I've ever had plus for 2 of the shows, I took my friends and they both liked it a lot.

I surely hope that 2005 continues what was started in 2004. I have a feeling that it will.

PurpleKnight said:

In chronological order?

1) Going to Club Black for the after-party of the Hall of Fame awards. His face was jubilant as the entire crowd congratulated him on getting into the HOF. Very few of us had seen the performance later televised on VH1, but the man just WAILED on his Fender Stratocaster that night. Awesome playing! The club was packed. Great aftershow!

2) Joining the org. I never knew there were so many people like me!

3) Joining NPGMusic Club... A lot of great downloads, video clips, merchandise and information. Which lead to number 4).

4) Getting the invite to the Webster Hall taping of the MTV/VH1/BET Prince special. Hanging out in the VIP room with the band. Meeting Prince. (I don't know who was quieter, me or him!), listening to him play in a really small venue on acoustic(!) guitar, and dancing, oh my god, dancing all night long...

5) Listening to all sorts of people, college professors, artists, singers, actors, musicians, sing popular and obscure Prince tunes during the wait before the filming began on the special. It was so cool that almost everyone knew the words to so much stuff... It was like we were all one family...


6) the Hall of Fame awards televised performance where I saw Prince for the first time playing rhythm guitar behind *other* musicians, and then saw him tear UP the joint with his solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Breath-taking. It was sooooo cool. I used the video to show my classic rock friends that Prince really DID know how to play guitar.


7) Prince and Wendy(!) on Tavis Smiley playing acoustic guitar together. I still love you, Wendy! Come back! Come back!


8) the Purple Rain party in Minneapolis, at First Avenue. I was the third guy at the door, first one on the dance floor, and was the last one to leave. It was SO much fun; Prince tunes all night long and the hottest people dancing for hours. Inexpensive and a dream come true to be on the dance floor while Purple Rain the movie played silently in the background.

9) Going to St. Paul to the Excel center, and seeing the hundreds and hundreds and thousands of fans all wearing something purple, while restaurants all over the area played Prince music on their loudspeakers into the streets. Newspapers all hailed their favorite son!

10) the musicians at Groth's Music Store near Chanhassen, Minnesota. Bought a guitar there and carry it everywhere I go.

11) taking the tour at Paisley Park! Seeing his Oscars, and gold records behind display cases. Touching the piano, speaking to his engineers, and seeing parents bring their five and six year old kids to see the studio.

12) the after-party at Paisley Park. After playing over two hours at the Excel Center in St. Paul, Prince's crew goes to Paisley Park at 3am in the morning and plays again! At one point, seeing that the audience was clearly dying from sleep deprivation, he joked-- C'mon y'all, it's afternoon in China, now clap yo' hands or I'll throw you out! -- or words to that effect.

13) Buying a Hohner Prinz guitar off of ebay. Sweet instrument! Even my mom thought it was beautiful.

14) Getting a grandpiano and playing (badly) the Purple Rain catalog on it.

It was a great year folks. Let's see what 2005 brings. By the way, does anyone have a Rasberry Beret outfit laying around they want to get rid of?

I don't really have a top 10 list of things, but my most memorable moment has more to do with self-realization than with him.

This is hard for me to say out loud----

I am.....a Prince snob.

It came to me during one of my many Musicology shows. I decided to chance it and go down to the Staples Center and try to buy a ticket, after promising myself I was not going to spend myself into the poor house behind this tour. So I came across someone selling tickets, 1 in the balcony for face value, and 1 on the floor for a *considerable* markup. Well, I don't like anybody scalping, and I knew I had floor shows for many other up coming nights and cities, so I bought the balcony seat. And what a seat it was---there was only 1 other row behind me.

Still that didn't bother me, 'cause the video screens made it worthwhile, once my nose stopped bleeding...

But what bothered me were the *fans* I was surrounded by.

Them: Oh I just love Prince! I have for years and years! Since Purple Rain!

Me: Did you see the ONA tour?

Them: No, I've never seen him live.

Me: Are you a member of the music club?

Them: He has a music club??? And what music is this playing?

Me: Um,,,Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance -- from the new album!

Them: Really?

Me: WTF???!!!

And I remember the EXACT moment when it went through my head, "What the hell am I doing up here with *these people*??? And as it floated across my subconscious, my jaw dropped open. And I told myself, "You, my dear, are a Prince snob. Too good to be up here with the "regular" people, the plebleians, you should be down on the floor with the *real* fans, with the royal family!"

> There. I've said it. I admit it. And I'm sure I'm not alone.


Ro

**LoveLife, LoveGod, LoveSexy**

1. Seeing him live @ the MCI Center in Washington DC

2. The Grammy Performance

3. The concert special on MTV/BET

4. The Musicology CD

5. Reading the positive USA today review on Musicology (4 stars)

6. Viewing the Musicology video for the first time.

That's it 4 me!

rosanda said:

ME TOO!!!!!

I remember going to the Act 1 concert in San Francisco back in the day and I was soooo happy. My boyfriend and I had bought 3rd row seats for both nights. We spent about $1,000 for them. Well, in front of us are these obnoxious girls. They didn't know the words to any of the songs, jumped around in a drunken stupor and when I took this awesome picture one jumped up so half of Prince is her silhouette. I was pissed. (I have to remind myself to post the picture in the gallery soon.) I am a fan since the second album so I too get defensive in a very immature way when people say "I've been a fan since Purple Rain", and they're 40 years old.

Then there were the San Jose State University shows that Prince did. Those concerts were great. I was on the floor with real fans. It was funny because a group of us sang this riff that Prince always does when he sings How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore live. We all did it at the same time, we kind of just looked at each other and I think Prince responded with a "wooooo". I knew I was home.

Oh yeah, the drunk girl incident happened again at the Musicology concert at the San Jose Shark Tank. They weren't even paying attention to the music. ughhhhh. Frustrating.

I attended a Gold Party in San Francisco I forgot the year. We thought Prince was going to attend. Michelle N'Dege Ocello (?) performed. She was awesome by the way. Well I was in line to get in and this one guy tried to start a conversation. We talked about boots. The only one he knew at the time was Power Fantastic. He kept singing it over and over and over. I knew I was a snob then because I actually asked him if that was the only unrelease recording he knew. He didn't answer, just kind of stared.

Miguel


I think we should start a 12 step group for us.

In all honesty, most Prince fans became fans during the Purple Rain movement. However,I have taken the opportunity to reserach his earlier work and have become a die hard fans over the years.

Those folks U guys R rerring to just go see Prince life to hear the Purple Rain album, or any of his major 80 pop hits. I to, get disgusted with those folks. They probably don't know anything from the Crystal Ball CD or anything after 95 for that matter.

In comparisson, there are MJ fans who only identify with his Thriller album and totally ignored his other solo works but will pay $2,000 to hear his Thriller album and a couple of J5 tunes.

goat2004 said:

I totally agree with what you're saying. The thing is, I think I'm soooo wrong for being a snob so I'm not proud of how defensive I get about Prince, it just happens.


Miguel

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

The first step to healing ...is admitting your snobbery and how it effects others....good for you Miguel...I am not the same caliber snob...but it would not be hard for me to succumb to Prince-snobbery...I must resist, I must resist!

piscesglenn said:

I am not alone. Yey! I guess that's going to be our first step in my 12 step Prince snobbery program #1 I must resist, I must resist

Miguel


p.s. My copy of Electric Intercourse is better than yours.....