I assume you mean commercially...

- "Under the Cherry Moon"

- The Lovesexy album cover

- The "Get Off" performance on MTV


I'm reluctant to call any of these things "mistakes", simply because the guy's done basically what he's wanted to his whole career, which is now running into its 25th year. He did something right to last that long and the mention of his name still draws whispers of reverance and respect, regardles of his "popularity".

He remains larger than life.

For me, his biggest mistake (the one that puts me off personally) is portaining to have discoverd "the truth" through religion and the arrogance he's displaying lately in this regard.

MUSICALLY, PRINCE'S BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS TO...

Disband The Revolution.

If ever there was a case of premature ejaculation.

Tony M and Doug E Fresh.

Is the number of copies sold an indicator of the quality of the music? It has always been apparent that Prince considers himself an 'artist' more than a 'pop star'. Certainly that is more the case now.

Prince was critically lauded for making such a brave move as releasing ATWIAD following Purple Rain (in fact he had recorded much of that album before the huge success of Purple Rain was apparent).

Prince, as an artist, wanted to grow and experiment. Yes his bahviour is erratic and sometimes it seems he wanted to be the biggest pop star as well (but you don't have both as the general public don't want to be challenged muscially).

Also, he dispanded the Revolution because people were seeing W&L as becoming his equals rather than his employees. He wanted to regain the upper hand.

Personally I would have liked to have had one more Revolution album following Parade, ie Dream Factory. However that would not have been any bigger a hit than Parade was (judging from the trax I have heard it was even more avant garde).

Prince was riding a commercial high again in the mid 90s, so for me the single biggest mistake was not releasing TGE in 1994 following the worldwide success of TMBGITW.

The name change and falling out with Warners was stupid as well. Had he played the game he would have been free by 1998 at the latest but possibly in a far stronger position had he scored a few hits.

its so easy:

Name change

Larry Graham

TRC

mrchristian said:

Actually,he did tour the U.S. in 1993 (Act I).

BATMAN.
I've said it here before, and I'll say it again.
He was on a roll, SOTT, The Black album, Lovesexy...then Tim Burton asked him to do Batman and look what happened...rampant commercialism !! Batman, Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds & Pearls...
Only since NPGMC has he been back on full form. IMO !

DavidEye said:

He may have done a couple of "dates" but he did not tour the United States. What I consider a tour is playing in places beyond New York, L.A. and Minneapolis. For me a tour includes Dallas, Houston, Denver, St. Louis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Nashville, Kansas City, Chicago, Cleveland, Cinncinatti, etc. He did not tour the "meat" of the United States. I have often heard people say the same thing about the Parade Tour. To me, he did not tour the U.S. with that tour.

It seems to me that most people are taking the perspective that something has put his career in "decline".

And that alternate steps would've maintained or rejuvenated his status.

I think he's where he wants to be,
and has a plan.

What he had with The Revolution was POP. Now he is more Jazzy. What about this tour now he's doing different songs then he did for the US and he invites them onstage? What about US? So will we get to Hear Beautiful Strange and all the other songs he hasn't played for us or will he Continue to Kiss the Europeans ASSES Forever? Prince Obviously Likes Europe or Feels more Comfortable in Europe. He Always gives the Europeans Better Tours SIGN O THE TIMES AND NUDE are We AMERICANS Chopped Liver to Him? Doesn't he Care about What we WANT or OUR FEELINGS? We wanna Hear these Songs also.

And I also think he should have Released the Black album and Lovesexy . That was Stupid! The Black album should Never have been Destroyed! What a Great Album. God, only Knows why he Destroyed the ORIGINAL COPIES. Someday,I hope he INDEED tells Us why he Does things. Did he just want it to be Controversial and Underground and Rare? Cause it's a Great Effort. I can't even believe this JEHOVAH stuff. Sometimes,I just think he's Controlling us the {FANS} and the MEDIA and it's not True. It's Image Again. I wish he would Quit it Already it's too much already. It's Exhausting to keep up with it all.

Not sure if its his biggest mistake but, not hiring a new manager when he sacked his old one, this is always a big mistake for artists so time consumed by their creativity.

He simply wouldnt have the time to manage his career effectively as i dont think he did post 1990-1991, in a commercial sense anyway. Prince is not a businnes man, and whilst i dont like the idea of someone leaching 10% of his earnings, its justifiable in the big picture if he wanted to be commercially successful.

Despite his protests otherwise, I think he really did want to maintain the level of success he acheived in the 80's. I guess he just wasnt willing to put up with all the crap that went with it...fair enough I suppose.