Dear Prince,

This year you opened your house to your fans and fams once again and provided us with a week of great music, fun, and learning. Your hospitality was gracious, inspirational, and, above all, generous. Thank you Prince.

I am not, however, writing this to belabor my gratitude; I am writing this to share an experience and return something to you that should never have come into my possession.

A few months before the celebration there was a buzz around the Prince fan community regarding the 20-CD set of studio outtakes entitled ‘The Work (Volumes I-V).’ It was touted as the most comprehensive collection of its kind and a “must have” for the “serious fan.” Waiting in line for the One Night Alone show in Seattle, I again heard rave reviews for this set – it wasn’t so much that it was anything new (at least to those with bootleg collections) but that it was so complete and of such high quality.

About a week before the 3rd annual Celebration I discovered the first 2 discs of ‘The Work’ on the ‘net as streaming Real Audio. After hearing them I decided to search the set down. Listening to those RA files was a revelation; I realized that there was an entire alternative career available from the man who was already, with the official releases alone, one of the most prolific and compelling artists in history. 20 hour-long CDs of Prince music I had never heard? How could I pass that up? A couple of days before the Celebration I tracked down a source for this collection (with a price tag of $300.00) and left for Minneapolis with the intention of purchasing the set upon my return to Seattle.

I have been an avid fan since I first heard ‘When Doves Cry’ when I was 18. Like many fans, I have every album and several extended singles, but with only one exception I have never purchased a bootleg. I had always respected the fact that had you wanted me to hear this music, you would have released it yourself. As I set off to this year’s Celebration, my long held resolve had been shaken; the temptation to own and experience all of that amazing music had proven too great. But during the course of the week my feelings changed. I am no longer tempted and in fact I feel compelled to, in at least a small way, rectify an injustice as best I can.

The ticket price for the Celebration is truly nominal—the quality and abundance of music is easily worth 5 times the price. Apart from the music, you have always provided entertaining activities and a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Last year you even opened the greater part of Paisley Park for the attending fans simply to hang out in and enjoy. It was this atmosphere of openness, generosity, and family hospitality that brought me back to my senses.

Many fans will say I am a fool and that I don’t know what I am missing – but it is really a simple choice. Would I support someone who came into my house, invited or not, and made copies of my journal or diary and sold it on the Internet? Would I support someone who came into my office and took pictures of paintings or drawings I had done, printed them up as posters, and sold them or even gave them away? Would I support someone that recorded a talk, a poetry reading, or a song I performed and distributed it without my permission for their profit? The answer is simple: no.

Needless to say, I won’t be purchasing ‘The Work (Volumes I-V).’ The one bootleg that I “own” is a “fan compilation” of ‘Madhouse 24’ that I found on E-Bay. Although it contains some very cool music, I apologize for ever making the choice that brought it into my possession; I have enclosed my one and only copy with this letter; I feel that I should return it to its rightful owner. I realize that this is a symbolic gesture at best – but it is important to me. I want you to know that I am listening, that I respect your art, and your privacy.

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with me. You are a constant source of inspiration and you have truly made a difference in my life.


Live 4 Love,

Carl Bystrom
PCNBWLD

06/29/02

[I mailed this letter with the CD enclosed to Paisley Park this morning. I am not posting this here to "preach" or chastise those who have made different choices; but simply to share my thoughts and feelings, and my decision, regarding a difficult subject that concerns most of us here. Thanks.]

If Prince was really threatened or hated companies like Sabotage and Thunderball why does he not go after them?

Why does Sabotage & Thunderball send him a copy of everything they make?

These companies make NO PROFIT !!!

chookalana said:

He isn't really, but as he has said in the past, he really dislikes people making money off these bootlegs.



They don't, who told you this crap?




Bullshit.

Yes,I have heard people explain how some of these songs escape the locked vaults of Paisley Park (he makes copies of songs for friends who then bootleg them)

Prince tried to shut down Uptown Magazine for discussing his unreleased recordings.Yet,he doesn't go after Sabotage Records and Thunderball Records for SELLING his unreleased recordings??

Open Letter to RandomDuck

"Dear RandomDuck,



Sincerely,

2the9s"

Open Letter to RandomDuck

"Dear RandomDuck,



Sincerely,

2the9s"

2the9s said:

bkw said:

Et tu bkw?

I find this post completely pathetic. If you really have decided that bootlegs are immoral, that's fine... don't buy them. However, this letter is just a manipulative attempt at getting some personal recognition from Prince. In reality, your secret hope here is that Prince will acknowledge your letter publicly by making some allusion to it on the NPGMC web-site.

If you had mailed Prince your collection of 300 bootlegs (without making CDRs first, lol)... then I would find your letter sincere. Instead, I find it empty and self-interested. When Prince fails to acknowledge it, you'll be back on the net downloading the music like everyone else.

--
There is no need to agree with EVERYTHING Prince says and does!

DavidEye said:

I wonder about this too.
I heard cause they are based in Europe, that has something to do with it. Could anyone clarify this?