Any1 here cue 4 ages out side the opening of the NPG store in camden on that gorgeous hot summers day back in '95? I was there and got my Act II program signed by Sonny, Tommy, Mr Hayes and Mayte.

I was behind this guy who picked up a CD that was left out for signing who walked nervously up 2 Sonny T and said how much is this please! It was a classic! Wot a donut!

I loved that store. I really miss it now. I used blow my whole paypacket down there. Sitting in the NPG cafe drinking milkshake and watching/listening to new NPG music. Ahhh ... those were the days.

I waited outside to see P and Mayte come out onto the balcony to cut the ribbon. The fans went nuts! Didn't have the patience to queue up but checked it out at a later date. I wonder what happened to the time capsule that you could see was sunk into the floor. Let's go dig it up!

Why those stores closed i have no idea...

The store in Mpls closed after about a year or two. Everytime i went there, there were at least 10 people(in a very small store) buying videos, cd's, posters, etc. I must've spent $30-$40 bucks there every visit.

I wish i had grabbed the "Billboards"/Joffrey Ballet video while they had it. Anybody have a good copy of that one??
I saw the show twice in Mpls, both were just fantastic!

What an experience that was, my git of a best mate got lost and we arrived at the front of the store just as P and Mayte were going back in !!. Anyway got to meet the band and was amazed at how fat Sonnys fingers were!!. I visited the store many times since , were you there when they played the come cd for the first time?. More importantly wasn't there supposed tobe part of his autobiography buried on the lower ground floor, with the other two parts buried at the other stores. Wonder what happened to them.
As to why it shut, well add it to the list of fuck ups, i read a long article on it and basically, if true, went bust. A real shame coz the whole vide of camden is unique and really was a great location for a Prince store.

I was there that day. I was parked directly opposite the store in my white Ford Escort, continually being harrassed by a policeman telling me to move on. Had to put the immobiliser on and keep turning the engine to make it seem like it had broken down. Managed to get it started just after Prince and Mayte had gone back inside from the balcony!
I remember going there and being shown unreleased stuff by the girl behind the counter, like a promo cassette of The Good Life, with a longer version of Free The Music, but I don't think I ever saw ANY otherwise unreleased music there for sale, although I did get the Neo Manifesto book, and 10,000 magazine (for 20 pounds!!!). I do remember they used to have a lot of Japanese import Graham Central Station albums there, as well as candles, perfumes etc, basically the same kind of crap they sell on NPGMC today.
Inidentally, the business that took over the premises has now left, and the shop is currently vacant.

According to Liz Jones' 'Slave To The Rhythm' biog, the entire stock from the Camden shop was bought by Adrian Horton, the owner of 'Madhouse Music', who sell a fantastic range of Prince memorabilia and music. Check the link.

nuthinbuttamuffin said:

"CAMDEN" NEW JERSEY???

Snake said:

No, Camden town in London England.