I was there earlier at Tower Records and just wanted to share my experience with you all. I received a call from my brother, who is a major Prince fan, that he was rumored to be at Tower Sunset at midnight. I couldn't believe that Prince would do an in-store appearance at such a relatively small venue, and I know he doesn't do autograph sessions, so I was skeptical at best...but decided to venture out for the hell of it, if for nothing else to pick up the CD and jam it in the ride on the way home. I get up to the store around 11:20pm or so, and it's obvious that something major besides a midnight sale is going on. The line is snaked from the front door, all the way round the back of the parking lot, all the way back around to Sunset...I park and get to the lot where a guy confirms that yes, Prince is inside and is going to perform (I could hear the cheer when his limo arrived down the block as I was parking). At that moment, store personnel/security are out barking at people that no one else is getting in, to go home and clear the lot or else the sheriffs will be called, blah blah blah. People are not moving! A few more people at the front of the line are let in, then people who weren't even in line get to enter from the Sunset side; I think they had wristbands or special passes. People are pissed, a woman up front is crying inconsolably. Someone associated with Prince's band comes out and scours the line as if we're behind a velvet rope, choosing people at random to go inside. It's not organized at all. Much of the line finally begins to break up.

Something tells me to hang out and wait, even though we're constantly threatened to vacate the premises because no one else is getting in...yet it seems like every few minutes someone gets to go inside. Ananda Lewis from MTV rolls up and is escorted in through the back. Perry Ferrell of Jane's Addiction/Porno For Pyros rolls up in a Benz and after much arguing, is let inside the lot. I'm chatting with some guys from Victorville, which is two hours away from LA, who came just to get the CD but because the store is blocked off, they can't even buy it. The music has started and we hear "Partyman," then later "Play That Funky Music," whenever they open the doors. It sounds so sharp, so clear I can't believe I'm missing it. We're like damn, they could at least crack the doors so we can hear it outside...security is still tripping trying to get the lot cleared of everyone.

Then a cat from the store comes out as another lady leaves. Side note: several people were leaving here and there, probably because the music was too loud, or because they were expecting something else and Prince was just ripping it up on his guitar. So I ask the dude "Hey, that lady just left; can I take her spot? A lot of people have left, we've been waiting out here a long time..." Which wasn't exactly true for me, as I arrived so late. Dude says he can't do anything but he was leaving in a few minutes and would give me his pass when he did. I cannot believe this. He goes back into the store to check on getting CDs for some of the guys outside waiting...then, HE TAKES OFF HIS PASS AND GIVES IT TO ME!!! Now, security has been tripping all night so I'm not guaranteed of anything...but I bolt for the door, flash the pass and say, "Am I cool?" Big dude just moves aside enough for me to go inside. I am in!!!

This is at the first break, just before "Beautiful Strange." I'm tripping like, is it over already and I just got in? But no. Now, I play guitar...scratch that, I thought I could play before I heard Prince tonight. Dude is absolutely shredding the most intense, beautiful, incendiary electric guitar I've ever heard in my life and I've seen most of the top guitar stars of the past 20 years. Jaw-dropping. Then, "Red Head Stepchild." Insane. Another break, and my night would have been made then if that was it. I'm at the counter buying the CD before the rush, when "Te Amo Corazon" begins wafting throughout the room. Beautiful, gorgeous music. I actually can see Prince in his white fedora through cracks in the crowd. He's so tiny that since he's on the floor and not elevated, you literally could not see him if you were in back. From there he decimates the gentle Spanish rhythms and descends into "Fury," which is just killer; reminds me of "Peach" from some years back. Then everyone loses it as he starts "Purple Rain" ("I've got ta do it, y'all" he says), then closes with "Let's Go Crazy." And trip; after tearing off the faces of everyone within contact of his sound, he hands the damned guitar...THE guitar, the Tele he's played for decades...to some cat in the front row. And then turns and walks off through the doors to the limo waiting out back.

Of course, one of Prince's people gets the guitar...probably for the dude's best interest because that guitar would NOT have survived out the door. It would have wound up like one of Jimi's guitars, in pieces...

This man is the greatest musician on the planet at the moment, playing at the height of his powers. The greatest rock star of his generation. It was an honor and blessing to be within his space tonight and I cannot wait for the tour to begin.

Is this the start of the Watch Tower Records Tour? Anybody get saved? Don't worry 'bout me--just bitter.

God sounds like a shitty time -- bad sound, poor song selection, buncha Princefagsz in line --- take me home!!!!

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hi.

O RLY now.

...this reminds me, i need to find a good pic of prince with a surprised look on his face so i can make a "no wai!" banner.

I was looking for your O RLY banner with the pic from that press conference!!