So, I'm relatively young as a Prince fan, I became one in 1992 when he was about to chance his name 2 and I was barely 13.
However, I'd like to know if there are Prince fans from day one who stopped liking his music the moment they listened to the Purple Rain album.

First of all, a couple of things to make myself clear:

1. I don't want to throw shit upon anybody, and that includes Prince and his music pre and post Purple Rain, which I adore.

2. I'm asking this just out of curiosity.

I'm not looking for older fans like Chris (Blackguitaristz) who STILL like Prince today, but for those people who, in their own way, linger in2 the past and nostalgia and are attached to who and what Prince was back in the early 80s until 1999 (the album, not the year, jerks )

If that's possible, I'd like to know about pre-1999 fans also.

So please, if U're there, may U raise your hands?

Thank U,
Peace & B Wild.

1981 here

Highly unlikely.. and yes i'm old.

1978 Here. And still going strong. Luvn Prince always.

They definitely exist, but I don't think you'll find any on this site XD.

The closest you'll find here is someone who thinks it's his best era, but not the 'only' era worth appreciating.

And since everyone here is stating it, I've only been a fan recently, but it all started with Purple Rain , then I got my hands on SOTT and Dirty Mind . That was how I started .

I'm still around...record 2 record over the years although I didn't own "For You," until 1979 after I got the "Prince" album.

"1999," and "Purple Rain," are sentimental records for the time that Prince was really becomming recognized. Those records were a catalyst I believe to world acknowlegement of Prince's ability as a performer.

1983 here, about a year before the movie came out.

1978.....

I've been a fan since 1980.That's the year my mother bought Prince's second album.She had been raving about a song called "Still Waiting".It was exciting being a fan before the 'Purple Rain' days.

1978-20??

Fan since 1978 to the Present and looking for more years of good funk!

I'm sorry .... 1984 for me .....

Sophianestesia said:

Nobody here knows how to read the fine print.

Or are there no such people here at all? Speak up, this is an interesting topic!

it's 84 for me

Good to hear and feel the love, and I expected it and I appreciate it.

But if U read the starting topic better, U'd notice I was looking for somebody who, somehow, doesn't like Prince's music from 'Purple Rain' on. And I mean I'm looking for THOSE Prince's fans, the ex-fans in a way (I know it sounds bad, but I cannot explain it better), stuck in 1978/82, before he evolved the Minneapolis sound in2 something different.

As Iwishuheaven said, that'd be interesting to see if there's somebody who doesn't appreciate Prince's music anymore from a certain point of his career.
That point being not since 'The Gold Experience', not since Sign O' The Times', but since 'Purple Rain', before Prince conquered the 'white audience', so to speak.

Again, just curious.

eyewishuheaven said:

Shows U how much i payed attention

Sophianestesia said:

Well, I'm no different than anybody else who posted on this thread. Except for the fact that I'm the one who probably likes Prince's stuff after Purple Rain the LEAST. Everybody on here who posted STILL likes Prince. But anybody on here who has been on here for awhile could tell u that I'm the one who's always championing his Controversy/1999 period. Always. So I'm not sure at all where u were coming from when u mentioned me because that didn't fit. I'm the one who is very much attached to who and what P was BEFORE his 1999 album. And during his 1999 album. I had seen Prince live 3 times BEFORE Purple Rain was released. It's that period (before Purple Rain) that I identify with Prince the most. No question. I'm always saying on here "That's the REAL Prince to me". Again, I'm the one on here who likes his post Purple Rain material the LEAST. I got into P from his first album, but was a major fan from his second. But his "trinity" albums as I call them, Dirty Mind/Controversy/1999 albums, again, to me, THAT'S the real Prince. And his Purple Rain album and film was the crowning glory of those albums.

blackguitaristz said:

As I said, sophianestesia, you can find someone who likes Prince's earlier works the best (sorry for using you as an example BGZ XD). But think about it... if you stopped being a Prince fan THAT long ago... why would you even come here?

On the ride for the last 30. Not such a huge die-hard anymore but I have a huge appreciation for most of Prince's music. I never thought I'd see his music taking a backseat to the other stuff I listen to but should he drop something awesome, he'd bring me back.

Zeezow said:

Wow, I know ya'll hate that I'm even on this site and sophian obviously didn't want me to post on this thread but I never once stated that I stopped being a fan of Prince. Just because I favor his earlier albums doesn't hardly make me not a fan of his. So really, there's nothing to think about it. I never said I didn't like Signs, or Lovesexy, or The Black Album, (which I adore) or the Batman album Or GB or Diamond & Pearls or Come or The Rainbow Children, etc. I never once stated on here that I didn't dig those albums. But to help ya'll make it through whatever ya'll need to get through, I can be the bad guy.

1982

1982

blackguitaristz said:

Thanks, Chris, U didn't do bad posting here. The other way around. I just wanted to hear this. Curiosity satisfied.
And by the way, I'm digging those albums (Dirty mind, Controversy, 1999) these days... maybe that's why I asked.

Fine with me, add some other if y'all like.

blackguitaristz said:

Damn it, I was misunderstood... what I meant was that you can find someone who likes BOTH older and newer works but prefer the older ones a lot more, I really need to sharpen my English more !

Apparently none of you read my first response when I said that you can find people who are OK with Prince's post-1999 works, but prefer his pre-Purple Rain works... Wasn't the thread about people who HATE his post-1999 works? I hope I'm clear now XD!

Sorry if I sounded mean to you BGZ , I REALLY didn't mean it! My English barely gets me around (>.<)!

Zeezow said:

Originally? Yes. But now I think that there are not people who love pre-Purple Rain Prince and hate post-Purple Rain Prince among us. Maybe casual fans do, but hardcore fans? Hmm, I doubt it. I think Chris is a Prince fan just like us, he is sentimentally linked to the 1980/83 Prince because that era and that music was important to him. Damn, I was only 2 years old then!
[Edited 9/23/08 4:36am]

Sophianestesia said:

LOL I wasn't even born yet !

Here's what I think of his earliest works is as few words as possible:

For You: A demonstration of Prince the talented.

Prince: A demonstration of Prince the focused pop-star. (Tho the first 4 songs and Bambi are classics IMO)

Dirty Mind: The best thing that ever happened!! EVER!! I can't explain how good this album is in just a few words !

Controversy: A continuation of the previous "Bestness" XD! Lacks the focus of Dirty Mind IMO but still awesome !

1999: Close to Dirty Mind in sheer greatness XD!

I know I would appreciate these even more if I lived back then... or if I saw some live footage of that era... only ones I saw were some music videos .

I became a Prince fan in 1980 with the release of DIRTY MIND. I loved CONTOVERSY too. But it was 1999 that made me a "die-hard" Prince fan. I loved PURPLE RAIN. Never thought it was a sell-out or anything like that. I respected ATWIAD and PARADE for Prince's attempt at being different. I think SOTT is his last masterpiece. I've liked very little Prince has released since the BATMAN album. I wish that were not the case but it is. I don't think his 90s and 00s material can touch his '80-'87 work. And my favorite 90s Prince song is actually a song he wrote and recorded in the 80s - "Joy In Repitition".

THe best chance Prince has of getting the muse back would be for him to allow the right person to produce an album for him. Someone like Rick Rubin. Rubin could steer Prince away from the Vegas horn lines and syrupy ballads and get Prince back to being a badass - if he let him.

LinnLM1 said:

Joy In Repetition is also my favorite Prince song of all-time. I agree with everything LinnLM1 says. I don't think Prince can even top his 1978-79 work let alone the 80's. However, I must say 3121 was a return to Prince form I was used to hearing in the 80's. Prince still has a few tricks up his sleeve, thats why I'm still on the Prince train.

The Purple Rain album was the first time I became aware of P. I heard When Doves Cry and was sold. After that I bought his albums as he released them, as well as looking into and buying his past albums (when money allowed - my student days!)

I think that the phenomenon of fans being turned off after an artist they like has huge success is not uncommon. It's like they are less interested once their "secret" has attained mainstream or worldwide success.