I saw this topic on another board and I thought I should post on here since it was an interesting topic to me.

I read that Prince doesn't pay his bandmembers decent wages but on the other hand I read Brownmark said Prince paid each of the Revolution a million each for their help with the Purple Rain long after the band broke up. Even he said that when the Revolution was together, he didn't pay them a lot despite Purple Rain grossed over 80 million. Also Prince is know not to pay enough despite he ordered his bandmembers to be on call in case he needs them. Prince should be shame for not properly paying the people who also had contribute to his sucess.
any thoughts?
[Edited 3/5/07 16:58pm]

I doubt this. If he doesn't pay that well, then why do his band members stay with him so long? And they don't really leave his band; he usually lets them go (the Revolution, Eric Leeds, etc.). Maybe some band members felt they should have been more highly paid for their contributions considering how much money Prince was making. But that's not the same as not paying well for their work.

^Exactly.

Just about all of his former band members are still very much full of praise for him. And I bet each and every one of them would jump at the chance to work with him again if the opportunity arose.

Do you think he wants musicians who are more interested in gettin paid than playin?

I think Miko said the difference between him and Prince was, "I ask my band members, regularly, their opinion. And I pay less."

I heard in the earlier days he didn't pay much but that was well over 20 years ago, i haven't heard those complaints since then. I'm sure he takes care of his musicians financially and most of them would not have better options in a world minus prince.

Efan said:

Uh. . . because it's Prince. And even if they don't make a lot of up front money while with him the experience of being in his band and instant credibility is priceless. Being in Prince's band probably opens up so many doors for them professionally after they leave his band. For example, just look on Ebay, every former band member with music for sale has Prince in the title or played in Prince's band in the description. That experience carries mad weight in the industry.

He may not have paid well, but didn't he used to pay regularly? Even if the band wasn't on tour or recording, certainly back in the 80s with The Revolution, he still paid them a monthly wage... admittedly, there wasn't much time when they weren't recording or touring, but I do recall reading one of the band members commenting on this fact and suggesting it certainly wasn't the case with other recording artists.

Well ive heard that Chick, the body guard was on the payroll a long time after Prince parted ways with him so the Brown Mark comment is probably close to the truth.

Im sure i read that John Blackwell was on a retainer with Prince - ie hes constantly paid but that it meant that he couldnt play elsewhere as hes kinda on call - so they are paid for being exclusive so to speak.

Playing with P is reward in itself - and will pay dividends long after being out of the band, not many have made it huge but theyre always in backing bands for top artists when out on tour.

Being in Prince's band sounds like a priceless xperience! I'd do that 4 no pay at all!