Prince and Michael Jackson were friendly rivals? Seriously? According to former band members of the Purple One, it’s true.

A report in the Startribune, Bobby Z., Prince’s drummer for the Revolution, remembers watching the 1984 Grammys with Prince as Michael Jackson swept the Grammys.

“We were watching rough cuts of [the movie] ‘Purple Rain,’ and we knew that’s where Prince wanted to be the next year,” Z said Thursday.

Michael Jackson even showed up to 2 Purple Rain shows backstage. Although Michael Jackson did want to work with Prince a few years later, Prince declined due to lyrical differences.

Michael Bland insisted they got along fine. “They’d shoot hoops at Paisley Park,” Prince’s studio/home in Chanhassen. “We used to get packages from MJJ Productions [with] footage of Sly Stone performing in Europe. Prince would pop it in the VCR, and we’d watch it.”

Prince even defended Michael at a press conference in 2000 where he said something along the lines of “we don’t really know what is going on with him and maybe we need to chill on that.” (I can’t find the original transcript so paraphrasing people.)

Personally speaking, I did see Michael Jackson attend one of Prince’s shows at 3121 Las Vegas in 2006 with Wil I Am of the Black Eyed Peas and Chris Tucker. Michael did not make the after show as planned where he was to be seated with Michael Jordan.

Recently, Prince has been performing Michael Jackson songs in his sets, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and recently “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5

It’s nice to know my favorite artist Prince had an interesting connection with Michael that many of us did not know, beating him in hoops I am sure. -Dr.FB

mods.please do not lock this thread,its real imformation,im just sharing info that people should know.

he also kicked MJs ass at table tennis.

Dude, I would LOVE to hear Prince cover "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Dancing Machine" or anything else.

A Prince MJ Tribute Album would sell a bajillion copies and be guaranteed to sound NOTHING like Jackson's original music.

Just out of curiosity...is it really THAT important whether they were friends or not?

chillichocaholic said:

yeah,because people are always saying they are in competition with each other,or there saying Prince is jealous.

TheKing662 said:

People are not "always saying" these things.

langebleu said:

well i heard it alot

TheKing662 said:

I knew it.

TheKing662 said:

You've probably heard 'alot' said many times too. It doesn't mean to say that many other people don't spell correctly and ignore such an irrelevance.

TheKing662 said:

Oh they say that about alot of famous people...such and such hates whomever. Dont pay attention

langebleu said:

I never once heard the "competition" argument - but what I did hear far too much (and admittedly quite often from this site) is that "Prince and MJ should do a song together".

To me, they are comparable equivalents but not interchangeable. Like Beatles/Rolling Stones, Star Trek/Star Wars, or even Apples/Oranges.

TheKing662 said:

No, more like the other way around

at the press conference may 2000, when asked who would win a fist fight Prince or Michael Jackson, Prince said something like:

Michael is a lover not a fighter...

Well MJ named his first born son PRINCE. so I figured he didn't dislike him too much.

thedance said:

Sounds like Prince was quoting one of MJ's own songs. ive heard MJ sing this but forgot what the song is called.

catpark said:

Exactly, but it is true that Prince then said something like "Let me say something: I never spoke publicly about Michael, but we don't know what he's got for us in the future. Just chill and wait and see, just wait and see".

Hearing that, I always thought Prince and Michael would do something together and maybe they have. We don't know. I do know that Michael admired Prince (he wanted to do Bad together, made a Prince reference in his movie) and don't forget: the whole O2 thing (that speeded up Michael's death IMHO) wasn't just about debt, but also to let Prince see "I can do this too and even better" in a friendly sorta competitive way. At least, that's how I felt the day he did the press conference about the O2 shows.

For sure a lot of respect between them + a healthy rivalry :

And the whole world has to answer right now just to tell you once again...
Who's Bad ?

I don't wanna be King cos I've seen the top & it's just a dream !

King662, you forgot to credit: http://www.drfunkenberry.com/

please write the source next time

Dayclear said:

For the thousanth time,

Mike's sons are named after his grandfather, Prince Albert Scruse. He was Katherine Jackson's father.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ne_Jackson

babynoz said:

MJ named both of his sons that. Prince Michael and Prince Michael II.

Se7en said:

Yep, I read somewhere that Michael's great-grandfather was also named Prince. It's an old family name.


spelling edit
[Edited 6/28/09 5:40am]

babynoz said:

Same here...but would u believe they did not even have the childrens names right in a paper here? They had one boy and the daughter as Paris and the other son named Michael

chillichocaholic said:

Paying attention seems to be going out of style.

chillichocaholic said:

thank u chilli--i swear, these people are OBSESSED with putting prince and mj together in song. I say enough, and i say there are already too many threads on mj....if u dig him so much, go to his website.

Dayclear said:

dayclear: mj called himself "the KING of pop", did he not??? his children/heirs can only be princes.

Prince is an old family name in the Jackson family? I have heard that, but sorry - I just don't believe a word about that,

it just sounds too goofy.

MJ has used hype many many times in his career, and MJ himself has denied he had any surgery, which is obviously untrue,

so... I am not believeing everything that was told by MJ/ the Jackson family

Still it's very sad - his death,

RIP MJ.
[Edited 6/28/09 6:40am]
[Edited 6/28/09 6:40am]

I believe both Prince and Michael had respect for one another as artists and have always been friends. It seems there's always those that will look for any reason to say they were rivals behind the scenes. The public did not see what went on behind closed doors as far as their communication was concerned, so it is impossible to judge them and say they were not friends.

I remember during the Tamar tour, when Prince and Tamar sang some of MJ's songs as well as Janet's songs. Also, there were MJ songs sung during Prince's 3121 gigs in Vegas. It is apparent over the years, both of these artists respected one another, whether it was displayed in public or not. Two mega stars born the same year that were part of a musical revolution.

I so appreciate that I was able to grow up with both their music, through the years, and I have always had such, high regard for both of these musicians/artists, who gave us the gift of their music and performances for over 30 years. You almost feel like both were like your little brothers, always there, but "musically" so-to-speak. It breaks my heart to know we lost MJ, but his spirit and contributions to the music industry, as well as the messages in his music will always live on.
[Edited 6/28/09 7:10am]

TheKing662 said:

In which case, you should give your source credit. You did not get this story. You lifted it from Dr. Funkenberry.

Genesia said:

Absolutely. I agree.
[Edited 6/28/09 6:47am]

Let's give credit where it's due,

SOURCE:
NEWS FROM DR.FUNKENBERRY'S WEBSITE
http://www.drfunkenberry.com/

Prince & Michael Jackson Were Friends?





Feel free to visit and post your comments to this story at http://www.drfunkenberry.com/
[Edited 6/28/09 7:07am]