Anx said:

You are absolutely correct. I was a witness to this exact letdown at the 2000 Celebration concert at MPLS's Northrop Auditorium. Bobby sucked it up, even while the other ex-Revolution members were busy being funky as all hell...

I figure he's doing a couple of things:

1. Giving his band time to do their own things. John, Rhonda, Maceo and Candy all have solo pursuits.

2. Giving Tamar's band some touring and 'real' live experience.

TonyWilliams said:

Interesting...why is that offensive - they were both shit hot drummers who hit pig skins to make a boom.

I guarantee that Michael B and John Blackwell could play exactly the same thing so why is it offensive...or am I meant to have ditched any respect for Michael B as soon A Blackwell came along?

If you think THATS offensive you need to deal with some of the shit I hear on a daily basis

purpledoveuk said:

Look, the person said "michael b was no different to John Blackwell".
For musicians on a level that is just so much higher than what most people in the music world can achieve or accomplish, it`s quite offensive to say that, because once you reach that level, you are striving not just for perfection, but most of all for uniqueness. It`s what makes you different from anybody else. You play your own shit , and you`re perfect at it, and nobody can touch that. From that point of view, it was a really offensive statement.
Also, it`s like a gift and a blessing we are actually able to speak about things like that, because, just like you said, in the everyday life, you see and meet and hear people who say really offensive things. We were just talking about music. Peace.

purpledoveuk said:

well, now that you mention it, you're right. and while we're at it, a guitarist is a guitarist - prince's playing is no different than when i saw madonna playing guitar on letterman. i mean, it's just fingers on an instrument, right? what's the diff?

thanks for enlightening me!

Octavius said:

Don't be ridiculous..this doesnt matter one bit..what does matter is that a bunch of self important internet Prince freaks want him to play with Prince again!

7salles said:

Well I just hope Prince is reading this thread otherwise how would he take your wonderful advice. Why do fans ALWAYS think they know best?

Your judging this apparent "new" drummer on a couple of performances...do yourself a favour and open yourself up to things changing in life..its always inevitable!

he was the best drummer i've seen in a long time. i thought he was on leave for a minute, didn't his wife have a baby or something when he left the concert or death in the family?

maybe John actually said, "no thanks, i'm gonna sit this one out and be with my family".

we will never ever know.

ontheonevegas said:

This couple of performances is all i have to judge my perception of her, i see nothing wrong with that. And it´s not about me knowing what is best for Prince, it´s what I THINK would be better. I think that as a guy who´s been following Prince a long time, seing tons of shows, including all his former drummers, and being a musican myself i can at least have an opinion? Can I? Excuse me.
you talk as prince always choosed the best musicans to work wih him. Do you remeber kirk j? a mediocre drummer and he was there for the worst period of prince live shows since he started, maybe you dont care if he replaces Blackwell for kirk j part 2, I CARE. Because Prince got one of the tightest bands around and i will miss it if he replaces all this briliant guys with mediocres best friends.