Anyone who attended those Dirty Mind shows in 1980 and 1981, Please describe the raw energy of those shows. I've seen some footage and it looks like Prince was so fearless and free.

What was the atmosphere like at those shows?

jazzcherrymoon said:

First time I saw Prince was on the Controversy tour, and he was STILL wild. In 80, I went down to a club in Los Angeles called Flippers, where P was playing later that night. They had announced on the radio that they were giving out some passes. Of course, by the time I got down there, it was sold out. Anyway, my older cousin saw this show. Teena opened up for him. I heard that brothers were actually getting up and walking out and shit. They couldn't handle P running around in his drawers. I have a boot of one of his shows on this tour. Andre really added a lot of edge to the lineup and Dez especially, brought it hard with the rock. Great, great band lineup.

blackguitaristz said:

That's really cool man.I heard that he really went over the top at these shows, simulating oral on his guitar and playing on top of a piano with black panties and leggings. He was really ahead of his league. He challenged mass america's view of black male sexuality and crushed all the previous perceptions in the past of the ultimate loverman crooner and blasted the door down with the rebellious wildly sexual rocker. I think it was at these shows that he solidified the persona we still remember and cherish to this day

jazzcherrymoon said:

Very true. Well written post!

jazzcherrymoon said:

I saw Prince in the fall of 80 in Cincinnati, funny thing back then there were more white folks in the audience than brothas'. I remember a raw show with more of a rock tone. When they played Bambi, Prince played guitar between Andre's legs!!! Fink wore the entire surgical outfit. Lisa's hair was longer and she seemed a little reserved.Also, there were more solos of the band. I really miss that Prince.

Wow. That's so over the top! That rawness is missing in a lot of artists today or if it's a contrived forced rawness with no grit and no sincerity. I think he was one of the last greats we have that just had IT in every way.

Of course there are still musicians.....great musicians still banging it out and are extremely technically equipped but Prince had something to say with his musicianship and he went to great lengths to make sure his message was heard by giving it to you in an unconventional package.

blackguitaristz said:

Gee, I wish I had seen the Dirty Mind Shows. The album is one of my favorites, but to experience it live, now that's something else.

jazzcherrymoon said:

well said.

i just remember moving backwards to Dirty Mind/ Controversy to discover more about the genius i had discovered in 1999 only to be like wtf!? look at them drawers and leg warmers, look at that harry ass! and boy looks stoned half the time. even spoke with s different voice.

the real raw deal. what a trip.

up for the 25th anniversary.