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How many people are normally at Prince soundchecks? And what are they like? So I'm about to be joining Prince's fanclub and I am TOTALLY going to his next tour.  What are the sound checks like? What generally happens? Does Prince mingo with fans? Please ya'll give me the 4-1-1. I'm really excited! Sorry if it is a lame-o thread.
Your friend, Jason  | |
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jasonstar said: So I'm about to be joining Prince's fanclub and I am TOTALLY going to his next tour.
What are the sound checks like? What generally happens? Does Prince mingo with fans? Please ya'll give me the 4-1-1. I'm really excited! Sorry if it is a lame-o thread.
Your friend, Jason SexualSuicide said: When I went to the Seattle show he played "Billie Jean" during the rehearsal. Half way through the chords Prince said..it's a great song. I may be wrong but I think thats the only time he's played a MJ song live. Needless to saw most of us that were there were in complete shock that he played that!!
http://www.prince.org/msg/7/127741 That should make you happy  | |
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Sorry to tell you but Prince didn't let people into the soundchecks on the most recent tour last year. However NPGMC members got to attend them on the One Night Alone tour a year or two prior. Who knows? Maybe he'll do them again someday? Let's hope! | |
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Hi -
The last time he opened soundchecks to the club was on the One Nite Alone tour (2001-2002). They're great - they let you in early to the venue, usually 90-120 minutes before the show. Typically they let you bring in 1 guest. You get to sit and watch the band run through songs - usually no more than a handful. The band and Prince are usually in their pre-show outfits - casual. Prince sometimes acknowledges the crowd frequently, other times he's more focused on the soundcheck and running the band through. Depends on his mood. But it's cool to be there with so few people. Hopefully he'll open them up again! I went to the first one in Oakland on the Jam of the Year tour. Prince did a soundcheck and then a Q&A - I was in the front row, loving every minute of it. Rudedog posted about the soundcheck that night and I happened to have it in my archives. Enjoy! 6pm: He put on three 3 concerts last nite! The first was only for the few 200-300 ppl that were premium members of the NPGMC. We got in through the back way(back of the stage) where i guess Prince enters from, saw his limos and were patted down and allowed to enter in small groups at around 6pm. Once we got in, Prince was already rehearsing some songs. I really didn't know what to expect to see, maybe Prince directing the band, maybe walking around stage. I actually thought he would ignore the crowd just so he could work. But he was prepared for us and as soon as we walked in, he was already interacting with the crowd, which was a first. He asked a fan walking in, "May I see your ticket please" and walked over and took the ticket and mumbled something like "pretty good seats". He also joked a little about us picking up a margarita on the way in, that there were plenty of them backstage and "don't mind what he's wearing, they're some rags I put on". He was in a very playful mood, very good mood. We were all just in awe and watched Prince interact with a few fans, somethign I guess no one expected. We we allowed to go up and sit on the left side of the stage and of course there were the greedy fans that didn't want to skoot over for us who wanted to sit just so they can see Prince just a little closer(thanks b*tches!!). Anyways, pretty much as everyone took their seats, Rosie Gaines walked in and of course ppl were screaming and hollering. Much love for Rosie She
came in and shook many hands and walked up to the stage. Once everyone was seated, Prince felt a little awkward looking at us to the left all the time and asked the Usher if they just cuold take their seats(the Usher said no, but eventually said yes). So we all sat RIGHT in front. I was about ten rows in front of where I should of, but no one minded, i guess we all sat where we weren't suppose to. Here so far is the set list: When U Were Mine Santana Medley Oye Como Va Natural WOman (Rosie Gaines on vocals) Car Wash with Rosie Gaines Another Aretha cover( I forget the name!) Ain't No Way with Rosie Gaines Instrumental jam by Kip Blackshire Daisy Chain Joy in Repitition Purple Rain----a VERY alternate version, very rock/bluesy redition. I didn't even know it was Purple Rain till my friend said it was. After the set, he did something no one ever expected, went down and sat on the lower deck, in FRONT of the stage and just started talking to fans!!! He asked us if we liked the NPG Music Club. Anyone could say anything and Prince would/could hear, thats how close we were to him. He then did a very unique Q/A session with us. Of course, we all asked questions. Ppl were raising hands and after awhile, Prince just asked us to YELL OUT THE QUESTION, WE AREN'T IN SCHOOL. I guess because he didn't want to feel like he was picking one of us to speak and not the rest, dunno. Ok, sorry, I may not remember all the questions, but here are the few I remember(in NO particular order): Q: Will you release any albums? Prince: No, not for AWHILE, I wanna just release songs this way(The NPGMC). Record companies and us don't work well. They want to restrict me or change my art somehow and I really don't like that. Q: How come we don't get CDs? Prince: Well, it is very costly to press CDs(something else), beside can't you do that(make your own CDs?
Q: Can you get rid of the QT, I can't get it to work? Prince: Sorry, I don't get into the techincal part of it, if you email the club they will get back to you as soon as they can. They are very busy,but they do get try to get to everyone as quickly as they can. I know the player had its few bugs, we're sorry. The Player did not work well in the beginning, but we aren't blaming Tekadence. This is a very new thing and we all your support and emails, we'll try to make it better. And it will get better every month, because we are listening to what yall have to say. (this was completely paraphrased, sorry if I did make say something he did, but this is the gist of what he said) Q: Why don't we hear you on radio? Prince: Because your radio is controlled.....we hear nothing but the same songs over and over again. Q: What music do YOU like to listen to? Prince: I'm actually digging the groups we have right now, the Fonky Baldheads and Millenia who is working on an album right now. They(Millenia) are writing and producing it, I'm just.....watching them. (Prince Bodyguard interrupts and and whispers something into Prince's ear) Prince: Keanu Reeves wants free tickets, should we give it to him?? Everyone: NOOOOO!!!!! Question(from Rudedog): Will you release anymore of your Vault tracks?? Prince: WHAT, MY WHAT? Rudedog: MUSIC FROM YOUR VAULTS!!!!! Prince: Yes(nodding head with complete certainty) Question: Can we get a live concert on tape?? Prince: This one?? Everyone: YEAHHHHH!!!!! Prince: It's gonna cost ya!(smiling) (Hoochie girl with no bra walks around fans over to the right side of stage over to Prince, Prince walked over there to get something, she has the Crystal Ball circular lyric book that came with the store bought version and asks for an autograph, Prince instead shakes her hand....the bodyguard looked pissed because he didn't see her walking up to the stage) Question: Will you put more songs on Napster? Prince: Does everyone use Napster? Some ppl: YEAH!!!! Prince: (with a playfully shocked face) You mean you download ppl's music without paying for it? (smiling) Question: Where is Mayte or what happened to Mayte? Prince:.....(either didn't hear it or chose to ignore it) Question: Will you play more new songs on the tour? Prince: I've been noticing more of the younger generation coming to see my play, so I really wanted to play some of the older material for them so they know it rocks too. Question: Do you read the emails sent to you? Prince: I read the posts at NPGOnline..... Someone: You mean the tour reports? (From time to time, some ppl walked up and gave Prince various gifts) One person walked up and gave him a little book.... Everyone: WHAT IS IT??? Prince: (smiling) Its an artbook. Everyone: AWWWWW!!!! Prince: Grown ppl aren't suppose to say "awwwww".(smiling) (Another person gave Prince some kind of figurine or something angel-looking) Prince: Yeah, those! I like reading them, they really cheer me up. (Bodyguard whispers in Prince's ear) Prince: Sorry, we gotta go...(waving) Everyone: THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! BYE!!!!! Overall this really cool experience lasted for 15, maybe 20 minutes. There were a lot of other questions, but some ppl don't know how to speak up so not a lot of ppl heard. Rudedog | |
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sbacon1999 said: Hi -
The last time he opened soundchecks to the club was on the One Nite Alone tour (2001-2002). They're great - they let you in early to the venue, usually 90-120 minutes before the show. Typically they let you bring in 1 guest. You get to sit and watch the band run through songs - usually no more than a handful. The band and Prince are usually in their pre-show outfits - casual. Prince sometimes acknowledges the crowd frequently, other times he's more focused on the soundcheck and running the band through. Depends on his mood. But it's cool to be there with so few people. Hopefully he'll open them up again! I went to the first one in Oakland on the Jam of the Year tour. Prince did a soundcheck and then a Q&A - I was in the front row, loving every minute of it. Rudedog posted about the soundcheck that night and I happened to have it in my archives. Enjoy! 6pm: He put on three 3 concerts last nite! The first was only for the few 200-300 ppl that were premium members of the NPGMC. We got in through the back way(back of the stage) where i guess Prince enters from, saw his limos and were patted down and allowed to enter in small groups at around 6pm. Once we got in, Prince was already rehearsing some songs. I really didn't know what to expect to see, maybe Prince directing the band, maybe walking around stage. I actually thought he would ignore the crowd just so he could work. But he was prepared for us and as soon as we walked in, he was already interacting with the crowd, which was a first. He asked a fan walking in, "May I see your ticket please" and walked over and took the ticket and mumbled something like "pretty good seats". He also joked a little about us picking up a margarita on the way in, that there were plenty of them backstage and "don't mind what he's wearing, they're some rags I put on". He was in a very playful mood, very good mood. We were all just in awe and watched Prince interact with a few fans, somethign I guess no one expected. We we allowed to go up and sit on the left side of the stage and of course there were the greedy fans that didn't want to skoot over for us who wanted to sit just so they can see Prince just a little closer(thanks b*tches!!). Anyways, pretty much as everyone took their seats, Rosie Gaines walked in and of course ppl were screaming and hollering. Much love for Rosie She
came in and shook many hands and walked up to the stage. Once everyone was seated, Prince felt a little awkward looking at us to the left all the time and asked the Usher if they just cuold take their seats(the Usher said no, but eventually said yes). So we all sat RIGHT in front. I was about ten rows in front of where I should of, but no one minded, i guess we all sat where we weren't suppose to. Here so far is the set list: When U Were Mine Santana Medley Oye Como Va Natural WOman (Rosie Gaines on vocals) Car Wash with Rosie Gaines Another Aretha cover( I forget the name!) Ain't No Way with Rosie Gaines Instrumental jam by Kip Blackshire Daisy Chain Joy in Repitition Purple Rain----a VERY alternate version, very rock/bluesy redition. I didn't even know it was Purple Rain till my friend said it was. After the set, he did something no one ever expected, went down and sat on the lower deck, in FRONT of the stage and just started talking to fans!!! He asked us if we liked the NPG Music Club. Anyone could say anything and Prince would/could hear, thats how close we were to him. He then did a very unique Q/A session with us. Of course, we all asked questions. Ppl were raising hands and after awhile, Prince just asked us to YELL OUT THE QUESTION, WE AREN'T IN SCHOOL. I guess because he didn't want to feel like he was picking one of us to speak and not the rest, dunno. Ok, sorry, I may not remember all the questions, but here are the few I remember(in NO particular order): Q: Will you release any albums? Prince: No, not for AWHILE, I wanna just release songs this way(The NPGMC). Record companies and us don't work well. They want to restrict me or change my art somehow and I really don't like that. Q: How come we don't get CDs? Prince: Well, it is very costly to press CDs(something else), beside can't you do that(make your own CDs?
Q: Can you get rid of the QT, I can't get it to work? Prince: Sorry, I don't get into the techincal part of it, if you email the club they will get back to you as soon as they can. They are very busy,but they do get try to get to everyone as quickly as they can. I know the player had its few bugs, we're sorry. The Player did not work well in the beginning, but we aren't blaming Tekadence. This is a very new thing and we all your support and emails, we'll try to make it better. And it will get better every month, because we are listening to what yall have to say. (this was completely paraphrased, sorry if I did make say something he did, but this is the gist of what he said) Q: Why don't we hear you on radio? Prince: Because your radio is controlled.....we hear nothing but the same songs over and over again. Q: What music do YOU like to listen to? Prince: I'm actually digging the groups we have right now, the Fonky Baldheads and Millenia who is working on an album right now. They(Millenia) are writing and producing it, I'm just.....watching them. (Prince Bodyguard interrupts and and whispers something into Prince's ear) Prince: Keanu Reeves wants free tickets, should we give it to him?? Everyone: NOOOOO!!!!! Question(from Rudedog): Will you release anymore of your Vault tracks?? Prince: WHAT, MY WHAT? Rudedog: MUSIC FROM YOUR VAULTS!!!!! Prince: Yes(nodding head with complete certainty) Question: Can we get a live concert on tape?? Prince: This one?? Everyone: YEAHHHHH!!!!! Prince: It's gonna cost ya!(smiling) (Hoochie girl with no bra walks around fans over to the right side of stage over to Prince, Prince walked over there to get something, she has the Crystal Ball circular lyric book that came with the store bought version and asks for an autograph, Prince instead shakes her hand....the bodyguard looked pissed because he didn't see her walking up to the stage) Question: Will you put more songs on Napster? Prince: Does everyone use Napster? Some ppl: YEAH!!!! Prince: (with a playfully shocked face) You mean you download ppl's music without paying for it? (smiling) Question: Where is Mayte or what happened to Mayte? Prince:.....(either didn't hear it or chose to ignore it) Question: Will you play more new songs on the tour? Prince: I've been noticing more of the younger generation coming to see my play, so I really wanted to play some of the older material for them so they know it rocks too. Question: Do you read the emails sent to you? Prince: I read the posts at NPGOnline..... Someone: You mean the tour reports? (From time to time, some ppl walked up and gave Prince various gifts) One person walked up and gave him a little book.... Everyone: WHAT IS IT??? Prince: (smiling) Its an artbook. Everyone: AWWWWW!!!! Prince: Grown ppl aren't suppose to say "awwwww".(smiling) (Another person gave Prince some kind of figurine or something angel-looking) Prince: Yeah, those! I like reading them, they really cheer me up. (Bodyguard whispers in Prince's ear) Prince: Sorry, we gotta go...(waving) Everyone: THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! BYE!!!!! Overall this really cool experience lasted for 15, maybe 20 minutes. There were a lot of other questions, but some ppl don't know how to speak up so not a lot of ppl heard. Rudedog Thank you very much for posting this. I enjoyed reading it! | |
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sbacon1999 said: Hi -
The last time he opened soundchecks to the club was on the One Nite Alone tour (2001-2002). They're great - they let you in early to the venue, usually 90-120 minutes before the show. Typically they let you bring in 1 guest. You get to sit and watch the band run through songs - usually no more than a handful. The band and Prince are usually in their pre-show outfits - casual. Prince sometimes acknowledges the crowd frequently, other times he's more focused on the soundcheck and running the band through. Depends on his mood. But it's cool to be there with so few people. Hopefully he'll open them up again! I went to the first one in Oakland on the Jam of the Year tour. Prince did a soundcheck and then a Q&A - I was in the front row, loving every minute of it. Rudedog posted about the soundcheck that night and I happened to have it in my archives. Enjoy! 6pm: He put on three 3 concerts last nite! The first was only for the few 200-300 ppl that were premium members of the NPGMC. We got in through the back way(back of the stage) where i guess Prince enters from, saw his limos and were patted down and allowed to enter in small groups at around 6pm. Once we got in, Prince was already rehearsing some songs. I really didn't know what to expect to see, maybe Prince directing the band, maybe walking around stage. I actually thought he would ignore the crowd just so he could work. But he was prepared for us and as soon as we walked in, he was already interacting with the crowd, which was a first. He asked a fan walking in, "May I see your ticket please" and walked over and took the ticket and mumbled something like "pretty good seats". He also joked a little about us picking up a margarita on the way in, that there were plenty of them backstage and "don't mind what he's wearing, they're some rags I put on". He was in a very playful mood, very good mood. We were all just in awe and watched Prince interact with a few fans, somethign I guess no one expected. We we allowed to go up and sit on the left side of the stage and of course there were the greedy fans that didn't want to skoot over for us who wanted to sit just so they can see Prince just a little closer(thanks b*tches!!). Anyways, pretty much as everyone took their seats, Rosie Gaines walked in and of course ppl were screaming and hollering. Much love for Rosie She
came in and shook many hands and walked up to the stage. Once everyone was seated, Prince felt a little awkward looking at us to the left all the time and asked the Usher if they just cuold take their seats(the Usher said no, but eventually said yes). So we all sat RIGHT in front. I was about ten rows in front of where I should of, but no one minded, i guess we all sat where we weren't suppose to. Here so far is the set list: When U Were Mine Santana Medley Oye Como Va Natural WOman (Rosie Gaines on vocals) Car Wash with Rosie Gaines Another Aretha cover( I forget the name!) Ain't No Way with Rosie Gaines Instrumental jam by Kip Blackshire Daisy Chain Joy in Repitition Purple Rain----a VERY alternate version, very rock/bluesy redition. I didn't even know it was Purple Rain till my friend said it was. After the set, he did something no one ever expected, went down and sat on the lower deck, in FRONT of the stage and just started talking to fans!!! He asked us if we liked the NPG Music Club. Anyone could say anything and Prince would/could hear, thats how close we were to him. He then did a very unique Q/A session with us. Of course, we all asked questions. Ppl were raising hands and after awhile, Prince just asked us to YELL OUT THE QUESTION, WE AREN'T IN SCHOOL. I guess because he didn't want to feel like he was picking one of us to speak and not the rest, dunno. Ok, sorry, I may not remember all the questions, but here are the few I remember(in NO particular order): Q: Will you release any albums? Prince: No, not for AWHILE, I wanna just release songs this way(The NPGMC). Record companies and us don't work well. They want to restrict me or change my art somehow and I really don't like that. Q: How come we don't get CDs? Prince: Well, it is very costly to press CDs(something else), beside can't you do that(make your own CDs?
Q: Can you get rid of the QT, I can't get it to work? Prince: Sorry, I don't get into the techincal part of it, if you email the club they will get back to you as soon as they can. They are very busy,but they do get try to get to everyone as quickly as they can. I know the player had its few bugs, we're sorry. The Player did not work well in the beginning, but we aren't blaming Tekadence. This is a very new thing and we all your support and emails, we'll try to make it better. And it will get better every month, because we are listening to what yall have to say. (this was completely paraphrased, sorry if I did make say something he did, but this is the gist of what he said) Q: Why don't we hear you on radio? Prince: Because your radio is controlled.....we hear nothing but the same songs over and over again. Q: What music do YOU like to listen to? Prince: I'm actually digging the groups we have right now, the Fonky Baldheads and Millenia who is working on an album right now. They(Millenia) are writing and producing it, I'm just.....watching them. (Prince Bodyguard interrupts and and whispers something into Prince's ear) Prince: Keanu Reeves wants free tickets, should we give it to him?? Everyone: NOOOOO!!!!! Question(from Rudedog): Will you release anymore of your Vault tracks?? Prince: WHAT, MY WHAT? Rudedog: MUSIC FROM YOUR VAULTS!!!!! Prince: Yes(nodding head with complete certainty) Question: Can we get a live concert on tape?? Prince: This one?? Everyone: YEAHHHHH!!!!! Prince: It's gonna cost ya!(smiling) (Hoochie girl with no bra walks around fans over to the right side of stage over to Prince, Prince walked over there to get something, she has the Crystal Ball circular lyric book that came with the store bought version and asks for an autograph, Prince instead shakes her hand....the bodyguard looked pissed because he didn't see her walking up to the stage) Question: Will you put more songs on Napster? Prince: Does everyone use Napster? Some ppl: YEAH!!!! Prince: (with a playfully shocked face) You mean you download ppl's music without paying for it? (smiling) Question: Where is Mayte or what happened to Mayte? Prince:.....(either didn't hear it or chose to ignore it) Question: Will you play more new songs on the tour? Prince: I've been noticing more of the younger generation coming to see my play, so I really wanted to play some of the older material for them so they know it rocks too. Question: Do you read the emails sent to you? Prince: I read the posts at NPGOnline..... Someone: You mean the tour reports? (From time to time, some ppl walked up and gave Prince various gifts) One person walked up and gave him a little book.... Everyone: WHAT IS IT??? Prince: (smiling) Its an artbook. Everyone: AWWWWW!!!! Prince: Grown ppl aren't suppose to say "awwwww".(smiling) (Another person gave Prince some kind of figurine or something angel-looking) Prince: Yeah, those! I like reading them, they really cheer me up. (Bodyguard whispers in Prince's ear) Prince: Sorry, we gotta go...(waving) Everyone: THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! BYE!!!!! Overall this really cool experience lasted for 15, maybe 20 minutes. There were a lot of other questions, but some ppl don't know how to speak up so not a lot of ppl heard. Rudedog This made for an awesome night time reading last night. Thank you for posting this! It was awesome to read! I felt like I was there with you!
Thanks again! [Edited 7/20/05 6:45am] | |
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 i wanna meet p someday too. | |
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sbacon1999 said: ...
Q: Will you release any albums? Prince: No, not for AWHILE, I wanna just release songs this way(The NPGMC). Record companies and us don't work well. They want to restrict me or change my art somehow and I really don't like that.  Since then, he's quit releasing stuff on NPGMC, and allowed his last album to be released by a major label!
....Question(from Rudedog): Will you release anymore of your Vault tracks??
Prince: WHAT, MY WHAT? Rudedog: MUSIC FROM YOUR VAULTS!!!!! Prince: Yes(nodding head with complete certainty) Rudedog should have also asked WHEN Prince plans to do this! "I would say that Prince's top thirty percent is great. Of that thirty percent, I'll bet the public has heard twenty percent of it." - Susan Rogers, "Hunting for Prince's Vault", BBC, 2015 |
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That wasn't a Jam of the Year soundcheck -- it was for Hit N Run 2001. And the first song he played as we walked in was a rocked-out version of "Paisley Park." Rudedog remembered a lot of the questions, but really, it's only about a third of them. Thanks for sharing... brought back memories. | |
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