So, here's the thing, my internet service was down for like 5 hours today while I was freaking out about possibly missing the new download. I got to thinking about how I ever lived without the Internet. It's been so important to me, esp. the last couple of months since I started getting ready to go to Vegas- and now with all that's going on this week. Thinking about that time b4 brought up a lot of memories. So, here's my story- my first Prince "friend" was one of my first boyfriends, who in 84-85 was doing Prince "look-alike" shows (he's a great singer ) and we are still friends. I picked him up in the mall . Actually, I think he picked me up- of course, a lot of us fans back then were running around all decked out in lace and shit, and if I remember correctly he approached me to ask about my "cool" white lace gloves, or maybe some really cool purple dangly type earring I had- which he promptly stole just like Prince taking Apollonia's boot chain in Purple Rain. But anyway, a few years pass- it's the week the video for Alphabet Street gets released. I must've had WAY too much time on my hands, and was up at like 3-4 in the morning watching it over and over-pausing/stilling- because I was convinced there was something in all those letters. Of course, I happen upon the hidden message. I freak out . So, the next day, I'm dying to share this awesome news. I start calling radio stations who play Prince- they basically laugh at me. I call MTV, same thing. (They finally covered the story briefly a week or so later). So, I write a letter to a local NJ rag called the East Coast Rocker (formerly the Aquarian) all about it. They print it a week later. Next thing I know, calls start coming on my mom's line (my upstairs # wasn't listed, hers was and my full name/town was printed at the end of the letter). I fielded a bunch of calls from fellow Prince fans asking where to find the message. (of course, I felt very important for a bit!!) So, in a nutshell, my point is I made some cool friends that way, some who I actually kept up with for a long time. (Debbie, Sal, Bill- you out there??) Anybody else with a cool story from back in the day- pre-internet- about meeting up with others like us?? I'd love to hear it!!

I didn't.


I just forced people around me to listen to him.

Imago said:

Now that's the truth

nurse said:

I won a few converts, made a few enemies, and got laid a few times. Prince and me--we go waaaay back.

lol by the time i was born and what not, internet existed. haha

Imago said:

Imago's truth Love it!

Negritaluvyu said:

I'm sorry, I know this thread is aimed at "old-schoolers" I guess. but is was tough back in the day!!!

Imago said:

I hear you! I absolutely did that too!!! People eventually stopped letting me drive since they knew what they were in for!!!

paisley16 said:

lol.. no need for an apology.
Yes I know. I dont think I could survive w/out the internet. Im a loser at my school for even liking Prince so Id probably be a loser if no internet was the case. I'd do what I do now. Eat oreos , ice cream and just listen to prince in my room

By coincidence, back in the 80's, before the Internet, everybody in my cocaine rehab and goat fetish recovery group was into Prince, so I was always among kindred spirits.


I do miss some of the old g-a-a-a-a-a-ng, though.

CJBabyDaddy said:

Why at the wrekka stow in the Prince section...and on the cold ass street while we waited in line for his concert tickets to go on sale...of course!

SexyBeautifulOne said:

I only had ONE store that carried "boots" reasonably nearby, and the pickin's were slim. Never really met anyone during ticket buying- my first show was for Parade in '86 and I bought those through a secondary outlet- paid much more than I should have for top tier at MSG! did the same for the next few tours (but got MUCH better seats ). I think I did the wait on line wristband thing once- same cool store with the boots had a ticketmaster. But I was there so early, and was out b4 anyone else really showed up. Hence my point, there were not a lot of hardcore fans around- and mind you, I'm in north NJ- 15 min out of Manhattan. Obviously, people were out there then, but it wasn't so easy to find them!

SexyBeautifulOne said:

all my friends knew i was a 'p' fan, and i converted a few of them (i think just to shut me up )
'
i used to annoy the crap out of the staff at my local wrecka stow. i'd see a new song/album listed in overseas mags b4 they were released and keep pestering them until it had arrived.

also used to ring up the local radio station 'hit line', where you could request songs and say g'day 2 ur friends. made some new friends this way, and converted a few- had many friendly disagreements with others.

used 2 spin prince songs at my local college common room radio station, this lead to many loud bangings at the door - (it might have been the pseudo echo i was also playing tho )

'prb' is a relic from those days, Prince's Raspberry Beret, when the song was 1st released, just had 2 use it for my first 'net name.

Negritaluvyu said:

I feel the same like you when I was in school over 10 years ago. Hell, I used to get dissed too for liking 70s and 80s funk while my classmates liked the latest music at that time. As I grow up, I realized it is okay to be different and think outside the box. Trust me what is going on at school doesn't reflex the real world. I do applaud of the younger generation like you discovered the greatness of Prince and also your music taste is ahead of your peers indeed.

Before the internet was 1-800-NEWFUNK!!!!

ladygirl99 said:

thankyou. Yes, Im weird, I defiently admit it, I listen to Jimi Hendrix and Diana Ross. so Im weird. lol. Cant stand most of today's music. ... its getting crazier by the minute.

ladygirl99 said:

Well said. I was known as the "Prince girl" at my high school- and yet that was when he was at the TOP. What I learned then from Prince was exactly that- don't worry about what others think, be yourself, be different- who cares, etc. I am definitely a different person than I would have been without him in the world. My HS yearbook quote (1986) was from "Uptown"..."Where I come from, we don't let society tell us how it's supposed to be. Our clothes, our hair, we don't care, it's all about being there..."
And Negrita, you are definitely not weird by not liking "today's" music, esp, that which is aimed at HS age people. You have musical taste!

Negritaluvyu said:

welcome to the club. I'm alphastreet, 23, and I'm an old school music addict.

diana rules btw!

paisley16 said:

that was a great read
I never really had any Prince friends,none of my friends really liked him.
I went to my first Prince concert at Celtic Park ,92 i think,with my brother,his wife and her friend.When i got there and saw the crowd i couldnt believe there were that many Prince fans in Scotland.
It was quite over-whelming.

i didn't thats why i'm always up here

Sheer luck.

That's why I missed so many concerts in the 80s. I would have had to travel to see him -- and I didn't want to do it alone.

alphastreet said:

Well, Im negrita, 15 and So am I.

I know that many of us put ads in the back of music collector magazines. There was a pretty amazing network of collectors and traders back in the day. Also, some of the stores carried boots. I remember paying $300 for a SOTT concert CD... that I've listened to a total of 10 times. I saved up for so long for that... what was I smoking? Damn!

One of my closest "Prince friends" is a high school friend who tried to convert me for years.

(parts were previously posted elsewhere):
1) I met one of my friends when he was a salesperson at the WIZ and I went in shopping with my airbrushed sweatshirt a friend had made. He asked me who made it, we started talking about Prince, he sold me some stuff, and we exchanged phone #s to trade music....

2) My "running buddy"- the one I attend 95% of the shows with- I met camping out in line for tix when U had to wait outside a record store with a Ticketmaster. I was 1st in line, she was 2nd. We started talking & found out we lived near each other, and both worked at the mall. She had taken 2 buses to get to the store, so I offered her a ride. We decided to double our chances for good tix by going in together, exchanged #s, and have been "sistas" ever since! We have had all kinds of "Princely adventures", and it relieved her husband of having to be dragged along!
Now all I do is call and say "Girl...." and she says, "Where?" and we leave!

3) I was having a parent conference in my classroom and the mom noticed my small picture of Prince behind my desk. Next thing you know, we forgot about her kid and we're sharing concert stories! (we eventually got back on topic!)

Negritaluvyu said:

only 15? WOW! that's great to hear. It always makes me happy when teenagers love old school music

...
[Edited 5/12/07 23:34pm]

Man, there was no one that I knew that got the music back in the day so that's when my thick skin to all the negative comments was formed. Wasn't til the parties in Chicago and the internet did I meet people that get it the same as me.
[Edited 2/3/07 11:00am]

Nice topic. Luckily, I had a boyfriend and a couple of best friends who totally got Prince. My friend Maria and I cried for him, dreampt about him,listened to him (and all his offshoots) OVER AND OVER AND OVER. I did the whole 9....paisley park hair, lace gloves, apple's black leather boots, dangly earrings..etc. I was fortunate that although I lived in the midwest, it was just metropolitan enough for there to be a Prince current. But even though I had a few people who understood--we were certainly an isolated few. Or, ahead of our time.

I remember trolling old independent record stores (The ones willing to carry bootlegs) for Prince material on Vynil or on CD.

It was fun and exciting I guess, but boy was I glad when Napster ushered in the new way of finding obscure shit.