Prince is a control freak no doubt about it. The war with WB was all about control and definitely furthered his resolve to be in control of the use of his likeness and art. So, on that level, I do understand that it is his right to control the use of his image,music, art, etc.

However, removing his presence from the internet without replacing that content with something else is just going to erode his legacy.

Think about it. In this digital age, how do most people find out about and become fans of musicians, artists, and filmmakers? They go onto the internet and they search youtube, google, amazon.com, itunes, etc. Gone are the days of the masses walking down to the wreckastow to browse the new release pile. If Prince is going to wipe out his image, videos, songs, from the internet--he should at least replace them with an accurate account of his current and past work.

For example: It is a crime that footage of the Lovesexy Tour is nowhere to be found in the world save for rips and copies of a 20 year old VHS/laserdisc.I understand that Prince doesn't want people downloading poor quality versions of this for free on youtube, but he then should make that stuff available for purchase. It would do 3 things: Eliminate the effectiveness of bootlegs, get him some $$$, and create new fans.

The bottom line for me is this: We hardcore fans are going to bitch and moan because Prince is taking our toys from us (Images, videos, symbols, etc.) and I guess it is his right to do so. However, in the end, he is only hurting himself. Not because a bunch of fans are banding together to make a protest sight, (face we are all still gonna buy the next album, tickets, etc. we wouldn't take the time if we were not passionate) Prince is hurting himself because he is choking off the growth of new fans. He is, in effect, erasing his own legacy. How is the next generation of fan going to experience Prince circa 1986? Prince circa 2001? They won't be able to.

Prince and his crew can eliminate all illegal use of his art/image that he wants to. He should get paid for that stuff no doubt. However, he needs to give us the opportunity to do so. He needs to realize that we wouldn't need to seek out a half assed version of The Nude Tour on youtube if he would offer us a fairly priced DVD of the show. In fact, I would gladly shell out $50 for a quality DVD set of that show. As a hardcore fan, I am crazy enough about Prince to way overspend on his art/product/material.

Prince is not losing me as a fan, but he is losing an opportunity to make new fans and get more of my money. With all the things he has been through and all the marekting innovativness he is credited with, I thought he would be more business savvy than that.
[Edited 11/13/07 9:32am]

Totally agree with you 100% skywalker.

skywalker said:

This may be your nature but do you think that you may be being a little premature?

I get what you're saying, but things have been this way for a while now. Even with the NPGMC, there was content, but not a lot of it and most of it very new.

I struggle with these same questions that wonder why Prince doesn't release this or that and he'd make a killing by _____. Then I ask myself, Don't you think Prince knows this? That after 30 odd years of doing his thing he hasn't thought about these things or more so, that people haven't suggested things that seem quite obvious to do considering he is who he is. i.e. why is there no best of compilation of music from the last decade? We can go round and round speculating the whys but since Prince never talks about his music or does interviews where these questions could get answered adequately (which is always an issue) we may never know.

IMO, nothing he's doing is really hurting his legacy. I do think that if the 3 sites get shut down, many of the hardcore fans will probably turn away from him for a while.

Erosion is a long process--so I don't think I am being premature. Are you suggesting that Prince IS going to put up some kind of archival picture galleries, videos,etc. that, in effect, replace what he is wiping out? Because, if he is not, he is eroding his legacy.

Again, if a potential fan is interested in Prince how will they get to experience his career with the lack official releases and the lack of material online?

Here let me give you an example of what I am talking about:

Just two days ago a friend of mine, who lives out of state, was asking me all about Prince's guitar playing skills. He saw Prince at the superbowl and was impressed.

I asked my friend if had ever seen Prince's 2004 RRHOF performance when he played on "While my Guitar Gently Weeps". He hadn't, but he was salivating with curiosity of seeing Prince cover The Beatles.

Months ago, I would have been able to send him to housequake, youtube,etc. to view a clip of that amazing performance. However, now it would be a huge hassle for my friend to find it--so he probably won't. That was a defining moment in Prince's career---most musicians/performers would put that on DVD asap. Prince didn't, and now that he is removing that type of stuff from the web, it is lost. It is eroding his legacy.
[Edited 11/13/07 11:17am]

...."""
[Edited 11/13/07 12:11pm]

skywalker said:

I find the majority of that stuff to be if you missed it, you missed it. That part of being a Fan of Prince's. I know it shouldn't be that way, but it's part of the specialness that fandom brings. I was "out of the loop" for a few years round the time of the beginning of the NPGMC and I know I missed a lot from that time.

You could always recommend a few great CDs of Prince's stuff to your friend. Or do what us fans have always done...share what we got.

skywalker said:

I find the majority of that stuff to be if you missed it, you missed it. That part of being a Fan of Prince's. I know it shouldn't be that way, but it's part of the specialness that fandom brings. I was "out of the loop" for a few years round the time of the beginning of the NPGMC and I know I missed a lot from that time.

You could always recommend a few great CDs of Prince's stuff to your friend. Or do what us fans have always done...share what we got.

I agree with you Skywalker. When it comes to his business skillz, it's hit or miss with Prince in my opinion. There have been many times when I have said to myself wow that's a brilliant move, I never would have thought of that. But this one (internet/threat of sue) is definitely a miss, a severe backlash might be coming. It will test even the most hardcore of fans.

skywalker said:

Unless Prince is planning to release that stuff himself - and soon - all he's doing is driving people to bootleggers or others that have copies of it.

Some of his "fans" are cult members, best to steer clear.

skywalker said:

That video's still on youtube (which of course I can't post here). Several times in fact. Watching it right now. I'm just sayin...

ElCapitan said:

I had to go and look - I know I shouldn't but.....
Only one word for it: Immense
[Edited 11/13/07 14:04pm]

Neophyte said:

Exactly. Haven't watched that performance in a while.


My experience is basically "Sure is fucked up all the silliness that's going on now with PFU....oh, there's that solo...little flashy, but.... ....."

Somehow the people on these sites have deluded themselves into believing that the sites were for Prince when they were for them and their social clicks all along. P has been making music and money since 1978. I know, I was around and I didnt see most of these people walking upright let alone enjoying the music which is all they should have been doing anyway. In fact, most of the haters were children or unborn when he established himself, and his original,true fanbase (for the deluded who wanna quibble). Almost none of it had anything to do w/ any of these people. These so called "fan sites" have existed perhaps 10-12 years tops, to be generous.Yet they have the temerity to post obnoxious insults, slurs, racists rants, nonsense, and sheer stupidity based on rumors around a legal matter concerning an artist they sought out and obsessed on. The real question is why would these sites align, and do interviews and propaganda w/out balance re: a site content issue that aint nobody's business anyway. Should the trekkies sue William Shatner if he tells em to get a life cuz it has crossed his mind I can assure you. Your big idea that you made a singer who he is cheapens everybody. Theres a little more to it than that. Calm down or shut it down. Either way we gonna jam.

Why do you care about what Prince is doing to his career, I mean it is HIS career. It's not taking any food out of your mouth so WTF!

perhaps prince is threatened by the internet because it's bigger than him?
(scuse the pun)
he might b having trouble coping with the complexity of it all? it scares the life out of him 4 some reason

What IS your definition of crazy?, People who disagree with you? i'd say that i am right!

wlcm2thdwn said:

I'm not sure if you are addressing me or not. If you are, dig this:

It's not that I care what Prince does with his career for any personal reason. I just want to enjoy his art/music as much as possible and I think it'd be cool if, hundreds of years down the road, others could too. Meaning, Prince's tours/music/etc need to be preserved. In 20 years I want my kids to be able to enjoy Prince the way I appreciate James Brown, Elvis, Jimi, and The Beatles. Someone took care of the history of their tours/music/etc--Prince should take care and release his.

If he is going to hunt down and remove these things from the internet, it'd be cool if he'd release them properly like they should be. The rest of the world is only now understanding just how good he is at what he does, and the stifling ways people can view/hear his art is unfortunate. I think he should get paid for his image/creations, and he should give us the opportunity.

Great art should be preserved and Prince's is no exception. His art may be only of interest to him "in the moment" that he made it, but for some of us, his art is for all time...
[Edited 11/13/07 20:23pm]

skywalker said:

I can see that you feel it would be cool for you but the point you keep missing is that it's not cool for Prince. It's just not what he appears to want to do. Otherwise, he'd be doing it. So, the story really ends there... except that you are frustrated with the outcome.

skywalker said:

No, I am not suggesting Prince is going to replace what you suggest he is wiping out. But I do think you are quick to jump to the conclusion that his legacy is being eroded. I think it's worthwhile realising that Prince is clearly not affected by what you class as 'the erosion of his legacy' in the same way that you appear to be.

skywalker said:

[/b]


You see today people expect to have access to everything they want. You think that because you want Lovesexy '88, you should have it. That's how it is today as a result of the internet. Great though it is to access all the stuff you want, it does somehow trivialize everything.

I think what P is trying to put across is that as he is giving us stuff (all the stuff on www.3121 over the last few months), we shouldn't access his stuff illegally. That way we get anticipation, desire, and sometimes satisfaction.

As to your last point, this Prince we're talking about - He doesn't give a damn about that shit - he's been doing it for years

NO WAY !

vivid said:

That, to me, pretty much sums up Skywalker's post. Except to add that Skywalker also appears to feel that Prince should oblige her wants.

Anji said:

1st of all, I am a guy. 2ndly--You both misunderstand me. I am not talking about what is good for me (my wants and needs) or what is good for Prince (his wants and needs). I am speaking about preservation of his art in the historical sense of things.

Lovesexy '88, the Nude Tour, etc. I have all that stuff already. Hardcore fans will find a way to get that stuff. So I don't care about it for my own sake. All I am trying to say is that, compared to other artists of his caliber, Prince's back catalog is being criminally ignored. His mission to rid the internet of anything he doesn't like is admirable (I always liked that Prince did things the way he wanted). However, the neglect of his back catalog (anything before the current year we are in) coupled with his systematic dePrinceing of the internet makes it really hard for new fans to see how great he really is/was. Zeppelin doesn have that problem, Bowie doesn't have that problem, neither does Jimi, Elvis, James, etc.

Again, it's not a problem for me--and definitely not one for Prince. I just think that it's abit of a shame that, eventually, the Parade tour will be just a vague memory for senior citizens instead of a legendary tour/concert preserved for the future fans of all that is funky.