Prince basically won't acknowledge some of his greatest works because of the sexuality and explicit lyrics.

Has any other artist disregarded the music which put them on the map?

Didn't David Bowie retire a whole catalogue of work a couple of times? The Ziggy Stardust character and then... after the tour that Cat worked on, whatever that was called, he said, much like Prince does, that it would be that last time he would play his hits.... not sure how truthful he was being, however.

BoySimon said:

He may have retired "characters" but never the songs. Look at his 2004 DVD A Reality Tour (quite good) it has songs from almost all his phases.
And yes he did say he was going to play certain songs for the "last time" a couple different times.
When artists say this I equate that with bands that "break up". Most take time off.It just seems to me most bands never truly breakup because eventually they always seem to reunite. How ever long the absence.

Bfunkthe1 said:

I'm pretty sure there was an article during the Musicology Tour where Prince said that he really just wants to make room for new music, but did not really intend on never playing certain songs again. Wish I had a link. I believe he just doesn't want folks to expect that this is all he would play.

Rockability said:

Oh, he will acknowledge them alright (he told an interviewer on the Musicology tour that if people wished to listen to "Erotic City", etc., those records still exist).

As long as there is money to be made from those records, Prince will never disown them.

Ace said:

I totally agree. His point is that religious, respectful people wouldn't even want to listen to that music.. hence, he says that it says more about us than it says about him.... but of course he acknowledges... he just doesn't necessarily want to be associated anymore.. he's different person.. it's a "whatever floats your boat" thing....

Ya ever think he as an ARTIST is SICK of Playing the SAME SONGS Over and OVER again and also Living the same way? Maybe he just got really Bored with the SAMENESS. Maybe he Really Isn't Into it or Doesn't Feel it anymore. But the DJ at Paisley still played his older songs and if Prince was so DISGUSTED he woulda Gotten Rid of that DJ or told him play something else.

Zelaira said:

cuz seriously....do U really wanna see a 47 y/o man singin' "sexuality" in a bikini breif. That's not to classy. I'm POSITIVE there are phases in peoples lives that they have outgrown and would cringe at the thought of revisiting them, not to say that period was regretable tho. I know I never wanna go thru the phase of hitting up raves and partying till 8 am on lawd knows what drug. I don't regret that it happened. AND I don't knock those who still do it.
[Edited 12/19/05 11:47am]
[Edited 12/19/05 11:48am]