I was just wondering, is the NPG that we will see in Euope next week the same as on the last tour in Europe in 1998. I haven´t really followed if there have been any changes in the line-up. Could anybody please tell me the line up for the european tour?

That would be:

Prince (duh)
John Blackwell
Rhonda Smith
Renato Neto

Sometimes Larry Graham

Guest apperences by (seems to rotate):
Maceo Parker
Candy Duffler
Greg Boyer
Eric Leeds

Prince: whatever
Rhonda Smith: bass
Renato Neto: keyboards (replaces Morris Hayes)
John Blackwell: drums (replaces Kirk Johnson)
Greg Boyer: trombone (was present at all but one US ONA gigs and I asume he will join the Euro tour)
Candy Dulfer: saxophone
Maceo Parker: saxophone (all gigs from Oct 3 to Oct 16, after that date he plays his own tour)
Eric Leeds: saxophone (will presumably replace Maceo after Oct 16)

And ehhrmmm whashername... Marva King is exit.

Does that help?

oh, is Mr. Hayes gone? Oh no, no original NPG member left? What does Renato Neto play? Is Greg Boyer related to Bonnie Boyer? Oh, I have been away too long from the Prince.circus...

Yeah thanx. Is the new NPG any good?

It's been quiet for a while, so you never know who might show up in a couple of days.

We'll see, right?

Nightcrawler said:

Go to the concert section:
http://www.prince.org/msg...tml?fid=12

And read some old reviews by people that attended. (you might have to go back a few pages)

Nightcrawler said:

Mr. Hayes wasn't an original member--he wasn't on Diamonds and Pearls, and I don't think he was on the 1992 album either. Didn't he join the band for the Act I tour?

For several years, Kirk Johnson was the only original NPG member in the band, which was ironic because: 1) he had previously been out of the band for a few years; and 2) when he returned, it was in a more prominent position (drummer).

With all that said, I think Mr. Hayes spent more time as an NPG member than anyone else, and he's definintely missed.

From what I've read (haven't seen him myself in a few years) the new line up is the best yet. Very tight.

there used to be a time you could name all the personnel in Prince's band easily.
i tried to work out exactly how many people Prince has had in his various bands over the years but it just hurt my head trying.

matt said:

The first time I saw him was on the inside sleeve of the Beautiful Experience.

I was at the Act I tour and it was Tommy Barbarella only. I think it was after that, They were introduced in the clubs as Tommy on piano and Mr. Hayes on organ.

I saw Mr. Hayes in 94 or 95 together with Tommy before the Gold album in the Miami club.

matt said:

Mr. Hayes was in Graffiti Bridge so he has been in the Prince camp since at least 1990 if not always in the official NPG.

For me, the lineup around 1994 was the best yet. Morris Hayes, Michael B. (oh, what a drummer!), Tommy Barbarella, Sonny T., that was my favourite NPG!!!

lovemachine said:

Really?

I don't remember seeing him. I thought I saw a younger short-haired Tommy Barbarella but not Mr. Hayes.


Never re-watched the movie.

Nightcrawler said:

That is the popular opinion around here. I deffinately agree that they were the best band I saw live. Havent' heard the new line up live yet to make a distinction though.

Neto is an excellent player.

yamomma said:

Mr. Hayes is not in Prince's band in the movie he is in George Clinton's Funkestra (Or whatever they were called)and that is not Tommy in Prince's band his name is Phillip C

Click this link and check out some of the people from the movie. Did you know Atlanta Bliss was in Bridge?

http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0099691



For a laugh check this link and you will find out that Atlanta played "herself" in Sign O' the times

http://us.imdb.com/Name?B...%20Atlanta



.
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 11:05:35 PDT 2002 by lovemachine]

so is Atlanta Bliss a guy or a girl? i was 4 when lovesexy came out so i'm don't really know too much trivia from that time...not that someone's gender is trivia or anything, but i just never seen a picture of atlanta, nor know anyone by that name.

lovemachine said:

Well I'll be...

The whole Tommy/Graffiti Bridge thing was debated on here a while back. That's where I got that mis lead info from. I just took someone's word for it.

Now we know.

Maybe Prince took 'ol Hayes from George a little later?
[This message was edited Tue Oct 1 13:12:07 PDT 2002 by yamomma]

Ripopgodasandwich said:

i'm pretty sure he's a guy.Wasn't he the trumpet player in the Lovesexy band?

Yep, Atlanta Bliss is a boy

This is the best line-up he's had since The Revolution. I think Mr. Hayes and Tommy Barbarella brought an unnecessary cheese element to the band. Right the band is much funkier, without all those crappy keyboard "horns" and the overblown cartoon "funk" the NPG had long pissed me off with.

Wherever you place them in the Prince pantheon, the current line-up are AMAZING.

Get ready to be blown away!!!

Nightcrawler said:

Yeahyeahyeah! The best NPG!