As someone who's been a fan since the mid 80's, I'd say it's been up and down-- it diminished a lot during the early 90's and peaked again a year ago...it has diminished since and I come here at prince.org not as much as I used to...but I still love Prince and his music, but I wish he'd listen to his fans more instead of only doing what he wants...

I think Prince, and any artist, should do what his inspiration dictates, not necessarily what fans or the industry demands.

I suspect he lost that focus during the height of his $100 million deal and subsequent war with WB. And after having been somewhat EMANCIPATED, he's only now coming out of the creative limbo of trying to get his groove back.

I can't say I'm totally in-tune with where the man has ventured musically in recent years (If I wanted to hear mediocre rapping, uninspired loops and gimicky titles or refrains, I'd turn on BET), but after THE RAINBOW CHILDREN, I'm hopeful he's starting to rely again on his own genius.

I never turned my back, but dude really lost some cool points throughout the 90s. He's slowly regaining them now, but where I was a Prince NUT from, say, 1984-1991, I'm more of a level-headed admirer now.
[This message was edited Thu Dec 12 10:23:33 PST 2002 by Lammastide]

rainbowchild said:

For me it's the same. I always bought all of his albums though, even in the 90's. But I wasn't a die hard fan, so I lost a lot of the "better and important" boots since that period...

I am not. I listen to his music with hopes that he will come out with something amazing, but like a marraige that has gone on too long, Prince (or at least his music and career) and I are friends now, no longer as close as we were.

I can't say I am hardcore... but you should have seen me in the day!

Lammastide said:

WORD!!

I still get chills when a tour is announced, but as you mature your tastes change. I go through periods when I don't listen to Prince music at all, sometimes three to six months. I was so glad when TRC came out because it was new and fresh. I listened to it for two months straight.

I think one of the greatest gifts Prince has given us is an appreciation for all other types of music. Even at times I wasn't really feeling what Prince was doing, I still largely credit him for introducing me to those artists with whom I would be vibing: Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis and other jazz musicians, string composers, etc., for example.

i've been a fan since day one, too.

i'm not as obsessed as i was in my youth. and i don't jump or run to the atm whenever a concert is announced or a cd comes out (i've only been to one so far)

I think I'm just as bad now as I was in the early 80s, however, due age and a few (FEW!!!) more $$$ I can appreciate him more now than then.

This topic gave me a chance to think about that. I never really thought about this much.

But when this question was posed to me, It made me really think about it.

Yes, I listen and follow Prince much more now than I did back then. I think The Rainbow Children revitiiized me. This album is his best since Gold. Don't get me wrong I love most of new Prince, I liked all of the songs off of last year's High Album. But as a whole the album was by far and away his best in years.

$59.99

'nuff said.

Same,still want him just as Much and Love his Music and will Always feel the Same way even when He's Old and Grey. I Love that Sexy Man. Nobody creates Better Music than he does. He moves me like no other.

Nobody does it Better than Prince. He's Amazing and a Stud Muffin!

Goodness I remember the first time I saw him, I thought dang this dude is ugly but he will go far. He is controversial, and the girls will like him.

Really I just appreciate his ability to do exactly what he wants to do...I don't criticize his music, I just enjoy it.

Wow,Sag I can't believe you thought he was Ugly! Wow! I always thought he was so Darn Cute.

chookalana said:

That'll do it for me too.

Much less.

I was a Prince FREAK from Purple Rain to Graffiti Bridge. I would WAIT for a new album was such anticipation its borderline scary. I would buy anything remotely associated with him (even buying everything that came out on Paisley Park Records which now I admit were mostly suck jobs).

Things leveled off a little after Diamonds and Pearls. Then Symbol came out and it was the first time I was REALLY disappointed with one of his records. To this day I think that album sucks the big one. From 92-94 I didn't follow anything the guy did. I had no idea that Come, the Hits, or Black Album had been released. Thought Most Beautiful Girl was OK & the whole name change thing thew me.

Then a friend of mine had a tape of the Gold Experience songs on it before it was released...and that tape got me back on the bandwagon for awhile. I loved the album and because of it I bought Come and liked that one too. The anticipation of the offical release of Gold came close to the mid-80's level. After that, though, things got a little hazy again...I liked the albums that came out in the late 90's but didn't LOVE them (Rave being the exception...that one sucked monkey balls). The magic was gone for me, but I still followed his music. I didn't totally abandon it, like back in 92.

Right now, TRC has me excited again. I waited for that one like I did with Gold, and it didn't disappoint and now ONAL is having me all sweaty too. I am actually taping Leno tomorrow...the first time I did that since '91 when he was on Arsenio Hall.

(((a little off topic)))

. . . . personally I'd love to hear some interpretations of what being a die-hard Prince fan means to orgers. . . . to me, they are the ones at every dang concert, they are the ones downloading every possible song, they are the SERIOUS collectors of bootlegs, rare items, etc. etc., they are the ones that know former NPG members, feel me? They cool folx too

Lammastide said:

I have to co-sign this post, the only difference is that I've followed The Short One since his first record in 1978. For years I was a completist, now although I want to listen to everything that's out there by him (but I won't go to just any lengths to do it), I don't feel the need to own every single piece of music he creates. Then again, I'm not a completist when it comes to any single artist or group that has created as much material as Prince has. Everything isn't gonna be up to par. If I was asked this question during the late '80s it would have been a different story.

15 years ago I brought every cd the day releasd and gushed about the music every chance I could, wathced his movies etc all while surviving the 80's

now Im posting publicly how I deserve to be in the liner notes of his releases

Im not sure I'm more die hard or less..I just think its mutated into something beyond my control

Nat ait got shit on me

I've been at least a casual fan all of my life (or as long as I can remember...). It's has its ups and downs. Living in Mpls has been a mixed blessing. I've been able to attend Paisley parties, etc, but I've also put up with the BS that surrounds those (waiting in line at 1am in the winter for no good reason other than someone decided to stop letting people in after the first 50 people).
I go through phases. But no metter what, I always come back.

This is my take, I think the name change alienated just a few! Really tho, Prince is one of those artists that the people respect, well if they have any idea, any good taste in music, any style at all, they respect him..not saying everyone is kind enough to join NPGMC or even buy all his releases.
Then there are masses who are still waiting for him to record "Purple Rain 2" and yeah those people are out there cause thats really all they picked up on.
As long as he continues to create music like TRC and the ONA live album the future is set!! But I'll live in the now and enjoy and not worry about who likes what!

realm said:

Screw them then...he came out in bikini underwear and gave head to his guitar but they trip on a namechange? It's much better off without the riff-raff...

Natasha said:

When he was first out with the thigh highs he wasn't so cute..his hair was atrocious..but he matured and changed just like we all do...Now his eyes have it...

Sag,I always thought he looked Cute and it was his Look. Look at the 2nd album. He was Cutie,cute,Cute. Muscles ande he looked Wild with his Leg-Warmers. He was Always Wild...Prince is Wild! His music has tamed a bit but he's still Wild. Just that he Chose to get married,but he was Having alot of sex cause he is a Sexual Beast. I find him Wildly Erotic and Stimulating. He can rock a Woman's boat for Sure.

Natasha said:

Do you think so Nat? What if Prince weren't married, and you had the chance to be with him for a night...and he turned out to be a dud? What would happen to your fantasy?

Sag ,I Know he's not a Dud! My fantasy is just to make love with him and he has Such an Imagination and he I Know he would Never Disappoint me. I Know it and he's Gorgeous so I'm already in Heaven to a degree. I wish he felt the same way about me. I seriously think he's the Cutest Man in the World. He's just Gorgeous and I Love Him and that's it. If he wasn't married I would be His and Never leave Him and Always Love him Intensely cause I Know he's a Person who I can Trust.

Rainbow child, what a great question! It really seems to have got some people thinking.

Die hard?

I remember in 86,87 and 88, bunking off school, to be at the local record store and 9am to get the new album on the day of release. I use to queue overnight in London for tickets (anyone remember queueing at Wembley Stadium in 87??)

I still own every bit of vinyl and tape between 79 and and 90.

Where did it stop?

In some ways, it didn't. But as I grew up, my priorities changed. I'm still fanatical, in that, I want every note of music, but I settle for any format, where before, I had to have all formats.

For me, something changed in Prince when Diamonds and Pearls was released.

I loved "Gett Off", and remember spending a tank of fuel just to drive to soho in london, to pick up the early import single from the US.

But with that album, I felt for the first time, Prince was not perfect, and other music was sometimes better.

I still rush to get every new Prince song, but I can be more negative about the sounds I hear.

Does that mean I like him less?

I don't think so. I just happened to grow up in his most productive period, and as much as his music was great, it was helping shape my teeenage years.

I will never forget, on my 15th birthday, doing my maths homework, and my dad walked into my room as I listened to my brand new 1999 album for the first time.

This was a era, and an a household where "damn" would be considered swearing.

Just as my day opened the door, Prince said "I sencerely wanna fuck that taste out of your mouth!".

My dad looked shocked, I looked like a cat caught in headlights. That "shock" value got me hooked forever!

Lammastide said:

This is as true as it can get 4 me. Prince introduced me to so many different forms of music over the last 17 years that I have been an admirer. I would not have any appreciation for the genius of Hendrix, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Beethoven, Mozart, Brodin, Debussy, etc if not for the genius he has come to be.

Prince was, before 1980, pretty ordinary musically, but after that he flew. Prince still reminds me of the Great Gatsby. and my god the first 2 riffs alone on " It Ain't Over" proves that this guy is a musical GOD.

I say, Prince will continue to be making music for another 20-30 years, don't you think?? And we'll be there for the ride with him...no matter what...die hard fan or not-so anymore...