NDRU said:

I posted on it!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

an exclusive club!

NDRU said:

where's it at yo

I don't think the man really gives a shit as long as the musician is good and can rock

stanleylieber said:

kind of a yes or no question, but...

http://prince.org/msg/7/304410

badmofo said:

This question makes no sense and the fact that anyone is answering you seriously is just as ridiculous....Prince has been working with white/ green purple/ red/ brown/ big/ little/ fat/ skinny/ male /female/ or whatever musicians for 30+ years....If he found a white bassist that was funky enough, I'm sure he would use him.

WHY DIDN'T METALLICA HIRE A BLACK BASSIST???? WHY DON'T THESE ROCK BANDS HAVE BLACKS IN THEIR GROUP?...THEY MUST PRACTICING RACISM UNCONSCIOUSLY....Yeah sounds silly doesn't it? Just freaking enjoy the music




[Edited 4/9/09 18:02pm]

steelyd said:

Suicidal Tendencies had a black bass player.

candy2277 said:

Susan Moonsie?

I guess it's already been mentioned, but I only read upto this comment. Stupid subject BTW.

NouveauDance said:

Oh my god, do we still live in a world where any of this matters? How old are we?

Its funny how those who make an issue will always make an issue, while those who dont will always just get on with their lives and do what they do.

And besides, its kinda stupid to talk about what kind of people Prince has in his bands, when many many black artists dont work with white people, and vice versa.

And if Prince doesnt date white women, rest assured that this is his business, and no amount of moaning will change that, it will just be a waste of energy for those who are bothered by it. Its nothing to do with anyone else. Moaning about it will only result in stress, while Prince will always do what he does.

And all because of naughty white people years who did bad things to nice black people who were sold by naughty black people.

See how silly it is?

PEJ said:

I was being fecicious (read the end of that sentence, I said it was silly). Many rock bands have worked with black musicians. Basically trying to point out that no one has thread calling rock bands racist because they may not have a black bassist. I don't care who has what in their band, just as long as the music is good. Why worry about doing a color count in the first place.
[Edited 4/9/09 18:30pm]

NouveauDance said:

the real scandal is that prince has never hired a japanese guitarist

i mean, what's wrong with the japanese.

GOTCHA, PRINCE.

candy2277 said:

Hell, I'm light skinned as Prince and some people say I'm racist based on my skin tone. I don't have a racist bone in my body and have fought it for years. If he were racist; there wouldn't be any other race or gender in his bands over the span of his career. He was a trendsetter in the area of equality. Some folks threw that word then & now around when Prince came on the scene and ran the show HIS WAY. He took a lot of heat from the blacks in charge because he choose not to have an all black band when all big named artists including MJ wanted it that way.

Why arent japanese, russian, indian or aboriginal people upset that Prince doesnt have one of their kind in his bands, or date them?

What connects black and white people? Is there any historical connection?

leafar said:

sitcoms, mostly

PEJ said:

There's a lot of black rock musicians, they just don't get as much push or promotion in that music category.
[Edited 4/9/09 18:56pm]

Darryl Jones has been playing bass for the Stones for 15 years now.
[Edited 4/9/09 19:05pm]

mzsadii said:

In my opinion, I can't say he took a lot of heat because of the members of his band at that time, as he had black members in his band. There were r&b groups in the 70s with mixed bands, so Prince having an interracial band was not a big deal at that time and not unusual. He just was smart enough not to play the same music most of the r&b groups and disco groups that existed in the mid-70s. Also he gained attention because of his appearance, people questioned his sexuality as they were not sure, especially with his "boldness" about it. Then in the mid 70s you had Nu-wave sound coming out as well, that was crossing over to audiences of different races. There really wasn't any other black rock musicians or black rock groups that stood out at the time Prince introduced himself to the world, and it was good timing for him.

That was at a time when disco was on its way out, and there were many r&b groups/artists that sort of sounded alike. Prince and Rick James, and even Cameo (funk group) came on the scene and changed the sound of music in the industry at the time, and they stood out. Blacks have always supported Prince's music regardless of the rumors heard from the past. even today, he still does pretty good on the r&b charts even if it's just singles from his last 2 albums. Prince appeals to black fans who are into into rock, alternative music, blues, r&b and jazz.
[Edited 4/9/09 19:37pm]

leafar said:

Actually I am pretty upset he does not have an Indian dancer in his band... !!! She'd probably teach him a thing or two about the Kama Sutra an make him forget Jehovah .

2elijah said:

I did not say Prince is white, I am fully aware he is black.

Oh I forgot the 1 drop rule... to me that concept is ridiculous and I know I'll get a lot of flak for this but this concept is alive only in America.

I still think if he wants to date a monkey and have a monkey in his band he is free to do so (freedom of choice). It is after all his band.
[Edited 4/9/09 19:16pm]

pplrain said:

I never said you did.

Also, don't blame me for the one drop rule, I didn't write it. When America gets rid of racist attitudes, which I doubt that happens anytime soon, then race won't ever be questioned, and just to note, racist attitudes goes beyond the U.S. as well. Secondly, you, me or anyone else on this site or outside of it, don't have the power to tell Prince who he can or cannot date, as none of us know him personally. Only he can define himself and decide who he wants to date, which is none of our business anyway.
[Edited 4/9/09 19:35pm]

nurseV said:

well didnt he intentionally make his bands interracial because he was copying sly stone so to say it doesnt matter is entirely true

DecaturStone said:

Don't just go on a blind statement (this is why it's good to know Prince history)

What your talking about did happen in a little sense: up until Parade the band was basically Prince and 5 other musicians:keyboard/organ synth/piano drums/percussion guitar & bass

There is no way it can be said Brown Mark was pushed to the back because he is black or darker skinned, since the people put in front of him were black:the 3 dancers during the Parade tour[Jerome Benton, Gregory Brooks & Wally Safford. BrownMark was stationed behind them near the drums. And even then on certain songs he was brought out front...America for example

But from the time he joined during Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999, Purple Rain/ATWIAD, BrownMark was right next to Prince

Dr Fink(keys) Bobby Z(drums) Lisa Coleman(keys)
Atlanta Bliss(trumpet) Eric Leeds(flute/sax)
Brown Mark(bass) Mico Weaver(guitar)
3 Dancers: Wendy Melvoin(guitar)(Susannah Melvoin when on stage)
Prince












BrownMark + Wendy & Mico Weaver
[Edited 4/9/09 21:07pm]

2elijah said:

Just because hundreds of 'people who are black identified or you identify as black' look like Prince doesn't mean they are not mixed. Mixed heritage means just that, that his ancestral line consists of different ethnic groups.

The person isn't sayin Prince is biracial(of 2 different ethnic/racial lines)
Prince's mother almost looks white herself, so you can't cross that out as just black or just like other black americans.
I don't think if prince & wesley snipes were standing together that we can just say 'they are the same'
there are 'black identified' people who could pass for white, native american or asian (ever seen Kimora Lee Simons?)
What this is about is the One Drop Rule (1 drop of negro/black/slave blood makes you black) it's a very racist idea made 2 keep white in line as well as swell the number of slavery chatel. Many places in the Slave states had it that a person that was 1/50% (negro/white) was still negro

Mixed people are mixed people and all black-americans aren't mixed (visually or ancestrially)
Both of my grandfathers (paternal & maternal) are biracial and not only where they lived were they marked mulatto but their children(my parents).

NouveauDance said:

But Susan Moonsie is obviously (mixed) so that would be a little different)

pplrain said:

I'm with U, the 1drop rule is still very much alive

pplrain said:

steelyd said:

It's like that famous photo of Bigfoot... but IN FACT Prince has had a white bass player. Truth be told, Eric Leeds is really white.



So there.