Ok y'all, check this out. Back in the 1970's, into the 80's even, fans of soul music had no problem with Larry Graham. He was, and has always been, a self proclaimed Jehova's Witness, even when he was funkin' in the 70's. When he did WB Party, The Jam, One In A Million You, Hair, all the hits, everyone followed along and jammed. Even with such lyrics in the song "Water" from the album "Ain't No Bout A Doubt It" as..."You had better listen to what we have to say, times are gettin' nearer to Armageddon day, Satan's out to get you, and that's without a doubt, Jesus' tryin to save you, that's why were singin' bout it."

But, no one had a problem with this in the day. Now all of a sudden, people are quick to judge others because of personal spiritual beliefs. Expressing spiritual beliefs in music does not mean that they are trying to "convert" you or "ram it down your throat". It is simply the artists way of being free and being expressive. If you don't think that it is right for artists to do so, then it is simple...DON'T LISTEN. Because you, as an American and a human being, have the right to choose what to do.


Peace,

JD

no, we attack him because he plays the same two songs every chance he gets, takes his shoes off during a show and holds them up like he's cool, goes on ego trips regarding other artists, and because he allows his wife onstage where she behaves in a fashion fans don't at all dig.

has nothing much to do with his faith, just the fact he's not very interesting

ps: no one 'hates' larry, no one thinks he is 'evil'.
speaking for me, i am just sick and tired of seeing him onstage.

when i buy a ticket to a prince event and end up seeing larry up there taking over rhonda's job (and by the way, he not only took over playing the bass, in her place, but he later totally neglected to introduce her after introducing other band members) anyway when i see him up there for a while, i feel like i ordered a coke and instead got a coke that was half sprite, right in the middle.

imo, larry tends to ruin the vibe

end of rant.

XxAxX said:

I know I got love for ya girl, but...learn to use the "edit" feature, ok??? lol

XxAxX said:

I wonder how all that went down? Did Prince just call Rhonda in and tell her that Larry was the new NPG bass player? Then he reverses his decision and removes Larry from the band and puts Rhonda back in? Geez, that must have ruffled a few feathers...

RavedIn2 said:

Well first of all Rhonda quit the band to take a job on a television (I want to say it was The Howie Mandel show)show which is why Larry took over in the first place.

Larry then quit the band because he didn't want to deal with the long hours and travel anymore and by then the show had been cancelled so Rhonda came back in.

Ain't no feathers being ruffled. People always assume that there is some kind of agenda.

thanx LCD. you know i got to check myself

but seriously, i got nothing against larry as a person. just don't like the way the shows change when he gets up onstage and takes over.

Ravedin2 said:

[I wonder how all that went down? Did Prince just call Rhonda in and tell her that Larry was the new NPG bass player? Then he reverses his decision and removes Larry from the band and puts Rhonda back in? Geez, that must have ruffled a few feathers...]


and, the incident i'm referring to was when larry was onstage with the band and introduced everyone else up onstage playing with him, except rhonda. could have been an oversight, but if he's absent-minded like that at introductions, then why is he doing them?

Prince and his big brother side show bob, i dont care what they do

why is checking the NPGMC website for news like waiting for godot?

why are we seven months into the second year and only in receipt of one of the four promised CDs?

why did the first CD contain material we already bought last year?

why have there been no email updates regarding the status of the CD shipments?

why haven't the international fans been given an answer regarding the world tour referenced at the inception of this year's club drive?

why did all NPGMC members receive an email asking us to get deep and answer spiritual questions relating to 'god', which questions could be described as prince 'witnessing' to us?

it worries me to see the music end of the business being taken care of so shabbily at the park, and religion become the center of focus. most fans are into prince because of the music, not the religion.

it's obviously prince's decision to do what he does but damn it's so disappointing to watch the NPGMC become another one of those 'almost had it' endeavors!

the NPGMC could be so COOL but no one there really seems to care. whatever. it's just, ahhh... nevermind.

check this out:

http://www.moby.com/cms/v...pe=Current

this is what moby has to say on his website which is updated EVERY single day:

US Internet Radio - RIP?
7/22/2002 - Atlanta

so at this point i'm sure that most of you know that on June 20th a copyright appeals board passed a law that will essentially make it impossible for most web-based radio stations to stay in business.
as far as i know, this law was sponsored and promoted by the RIAA (recording industry association of america).
i shouldn't write this update, because i'm really pissed off. what does the RIAA hope to accomplish by forcing hundreds of wonderful internet radio stations to shut down?
and why is the RIAA even involved in the world of internet-radio? isn't the public performance and broadcast of music something that's covered by publishing?
i shouldn't post this update, seeing as it's not in any musicians best interests to piss off the RIAA, but for the life of me I can't see any wisdom or justification in passing an arbitrary law that will only serve to shut down a lot of really cool and vital internet radio stations.
if possible, i would like to lend my support to the cause of repealing this unneccessary and ass-backwards piece of legislation. for as commercial radio becomes more and more conservative, internet based radio serves an ever more vital role in exposing people to new and unconventional music.
shutting down internet radio stations just ensures that music in america will become more bland and more homogenous.
i would like to end this update by quoting Mark Cuban, founder of Broadcast.com:
"There is no law against an industry being stupid and killing off their customer base as the music industry is doing. The vast majority of (internet radio) stations will either shut down or move to Canada or overseas."
moby

from: http://www.moby.com/cms/v...wType=Back

XxAxX said:

I like your posts, XxAxX...hi!

hi! BelleBeyond, and thank you

JDODSON said:

First, let's the record straight. Larry was not a self-proclaimed Jehovah Witness thur-out his career, certainly not during the recording of the first two lp's. He may have had a thrist for spiritual truths, but looking on the back of "Release Yourself" album Larry was definitely high on something[sorry bro.Graham I too use to get high]the look the beard and afro was certainly not consistent with the attire and grooming of any Jehovah's Witnesses even back then Larry was studing to become a Witness and that was obvious by the sudden change in the lyrics of the next albums("Ain't no bout a doubt it" and "Mirror") In fact at the time "Release Yourself" came out, most of my Witness friends objected to owning a album with a picture of a church with cross in the background, I myself justified my ownership of the album by saying that Larry was saying by the title of the album to release yourself from the church. Most JW's did not agree with me. I personally received a letter from Larry's mother informing me that Larry was studing and would soon be getting baptised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and that he was having bible studys with some other band members.
Second, Larry w/G.C.S. never ever received the airplay and publicity that Prince had and that's including "One in a Million", he was never as big as Prince.
Third, times have changed. People are by far less spiritual today, and definitely don't want to hear nothing 'bout God. Satan got a strong grip on the music today, a strong grip. Have you listened to the lyrics of today's hits? If you look closely with your spiritual eye you will see who is pulling the puppet strings attached to all the Prince haters.

JDODSON said:

$$$ OR TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES BY ANY MEANS NECCESSARY TO MAINTAIN A DYING CAREER. SO IF SHOCKING PEOPLE IS WHAT IT TAKES THEN... TRUST ME, THIS HAPPENS ALL TIME! THE ARTISTS WAY OF BEING FREE AND BEING EXPRESSIVE, IS USUALLY A SMOKE SCREEN THESE FOLKS HID BEHIND.

XxAxX said:

$$$ Sounds legit to me. But why is it that EVERY TIME Larry is critiqued, someone automaticaly assumes he is undergoing an RELIGIOUS ATTACK, rather than just being critised for something he's done? Every critiqued is not based on RELIGION.