I just read that.....

"The Lovesexy World Tour's portion in the United States proved to be commercial disappointment. Prince lost money as dates failed to sell out. Prince recouped his losses with the European and Japanese legs of the tour.



Seems amazing when you watch the footage of this tour, this must have been one of, if not THE best Live show Prince has ever put together.

http://www.londonticketma...ickets.php

Well I think it's incredible, USA....U MISSED OUT HERE

royalbadness said:

Yep. I'd say it's the best. It was the first time I ever saw Prince live. As Prince said during the concert, "I don't care what anybody says; I got the best band in show business."

But Prince was fading as a star at that point in the U.S. and people (I think) couldn't handle his androgyny, sexual ambiguousness, and his penchant for what they probably considered freakishness, especially because it was mixed with religion. Maybe it's too bad that a lot of people missed out on that tour in particular, but I'm a little bit glad that it remains, in the U.S., more of an experience for only the devoted fans.

From where I stood, Lovesexy got almost no airplay whatsoever. I don't know how "Alphabet St." made it to #8 in the States 'cuz I don't think I ever heard the song more than once or twice on the radio. I remembering having an argument on the telephone with a DJ about it. He said, "Prince is through. No one wants to listen to him anymore." I told him, "But he has a Top Ten song! Why don't you play it??" Yeah, the USA wasn't too kind to him at this time. Too bad, so sad -- many people missed out on one of the best live performances ever!!

I think the 'problem' with the Lovesexy Tour was that the overheads were so high and the venues not massive. He probably made a bundle on the inferior Nude tour. I loved the Lovesexy Tour, it was like George Clintion and his spaceship - so OTT.

boom-boomboom, boom-boomboom and so started the lovesexy concert, opening with erotic city as i remember. this was in my opinion P at his peak. the music and the tour was awesome.

Yes, the USA disowned him at his live peak. As a result Europe Got the parade and Sott tour EEYOTCH!!!!!

There was a time when the U.S. just thought Prince was weird, but he received much love from Europe. In a way I don't think much has changed.
[Edited 8/28/07 18:24pm]

This tour was AMAZING...probably the best concert I ever attended

but I remember 1988 was a rough year for Prince.Everybody was saying that he is "over" and he didn't do himself any favors with that nude album cover.Even MTV,which had supported him tremendously in the past,didn't really support the 'Lovesexy' project.They showed the first video "Alphabet St",but the subsequent videos ("Glam Slam" and "Eye Wish U Heaven") were never placed in heavy rotation.

When he brought the tour to the States in the fall of 88,there were many reports of slow ticket sales.This show was INCREDIBLE so if people missed out,that's their loss.

at the time in the US big concerts were for rock...and MJ

too complex and that album cover!

THE best tour-so far ahead of its time

jonylawson said:

The first Prince tour I saw and what truly got me hooked on the purple one. It even made up for the disappointment of cancelling the Wembley Stadium Sign O the Times gig.

The press reported that Prince was in financial trouble at the end of 88. I still have the cuttings. It was also said that this is the reason for him doing the Batman soundtrack.

blacksweat said:

Yeah,I remember those stories about his financial troubles 1988 wasn't a very profitable year for him.I was glad that "Batman" gave him a much-needed hit album.

I guess that, back in the 80's, the USA were not ready to see a man naked in a front cover CD...

The Lovesexy album had no strong US hit singles on it.

It had a retro happy (uncool) synth vibe and chaotic flavor that did not appeal to the US market at that time.

No hit singles or hit videos = less people were gonna see him on the tour.

If Batdance had hit number 1 earlier with it's hit video (concurrent to the start of the Lovesexy tour), the tour would have sold out in the US.

As already said in other forums, the Dortmund date was broadcasted LIVE by TV in many european countries. And in 'prime time'. I would call this a big success in Europe. Anyway, for sure the naked man cover didn't help, in Europe too.

By the way I think the show was his best for years (better than SOTT and Purple Rain tours)

royalbadness said:

I was actually fortunate enough to be in the one place in the States where he actually ADDED a show....OAKLAND. He sold out the first night and added a second show the next night.

And yes I did go to both (but I missed the aftershow in SF the first night).

Sowhat said:

I was at the second Oakland show!! I'll never forget the date: Friday,November 11,1988.He also played the previous night (November 10) but I wasn't able to go to that show.I missed Thursday's aftershow too.




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[Edited 8/31/07 1:58am]