From a recent Rolling Stone magazine I was reading that talks about the greatest moments of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, it says that, "George Harrison's widow, Olivia, wanted the performance of "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" to be limited to people who knew George- unlike Prince, who later claimed he had never even heard the song before it was sent to him to learn for the performance."


Is that really true?!? Prince must not have been a Beatles fan.

I think Prince was familiar with the song, even if he claimed he wasn't.

Something tells me this is akin to when he was asked (in Paris) if he liked French food...and he replied, "No."

As my mom used to say, "Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer."

Militant said:

It's one of those things where even though you don't think you know someone's music, you've probably heard it somewhere, and it's in your head.

ernestsewell said:

Yeah, either that scenario, or just Prince being Prince. Like when he was dismissive of Hendrix in the early days despite clearly taking some of his moves.

Militant said:

I don't know. I am close to 40 years old and have never heard Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin. Believe that or not, but I just never tuned my ears into that music. I was preoccupied with other music. It's not hard to believe the same with Prince.

Consider the fact that at age 17 he was in the studio working on his first album. There is a good chance he was simply not exposed or interested in that song up until he was 17. Then at 17 he stayed busy with his own music, recording and touring. Sure, he has listened to other music through the years, but it is VERY possible he just had not tuned into that song.

Prince was introduced to the Beatles much before
see Around the World in a Day

I saw that story, that he hadn't heard the song before yet he did an incredible solo...and in Monte Carlo he did the Long and Winding Road. Perhaps he's pulling everyone's leg as in it doesn't matter does it, here's my take on the song

mitchturb said:

I'd never heard of the song either. Never heard 'Creep' either until Prince did them. So what? It's not like they play ALL TYPES of music on all stations.
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[Edited 11/25/09 18:12pm]

Sure he knew it - Prince has often denied obvious influences, its really not unlike him to say something like this. You can hear Beatles influence in a fair amount of his music and its highly improbable that he wouldn't know this song.

Prince is full of crap.. he 's definitely heard of that song

Could Prince have played that amazing solo after just learning the song shortly before the performance? Of course. Was Prince full of shit about never hearing that song before? Of course.

squirrelgrease said:

+1 ...

squirrelgrease said:

berniejobs said:

What! that's BS, you've never heard Stairway To Heaven, Whole Lotta Love or Another Brick In The Wall, Comfortably Numb!

squirrelgrease said:

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT

Half of what comes from His mouth is True.

I read that article also.

In the same article it says that Prince said that "Free Fallin'," by Tom Petty is one of his favorite songs.

It has a cute picture of Prince too.

Oh please!


Why would anybody believe anything Prince says?





It's from one of the most famous albums of all time. Prince had heard the song before no matter what he says.


Remember, this is a man who claims that he is not gay. That says a lot people. Wake up!

squirrelgrease said:

bigd74 said:

That is true. I've never heard those songs. I've heard ABOUT them constantly, but my interests in music were elsewhere and I just never got around to listening to them. There are so many choices in music that it is totally possible.

mitchturb said:

Prince is from the hood. A funk and R&B fiend. It's not impossible that he had never heard it.

rusty1 said:

Prince was born in Minnesota, heard everything from Lynrd Skynrd to Stones to Al Green growing up. I'm sure he knew the song, but could bust a face-melting solo even if he'd never heard it. One listen to Starfish and Coffee or anything from Around the World in a Day and you know the boy's spent a lil time with the Fab Four.

If you look at the WNPG 'playlist' printed in the ONA tour program you might be surprised to find a certain song on that list. Its worth noting that this came a few years before the RRHOF performance.

In my best Lionel Hutts voice- "case closed".

berniejobs said:

No disrespect, but I think you and Prince probably do not share the same level of attachment to music. I think it's fair to say, music is Prince's life. He's heard that track, the dude plays guitar.

One of Prince's favorite bands were
Grand Funk Railroad and Boston
only 4 % of the population in Minnesota
were black during the time Prince was kid,so
he have listen to rock stations more then funk
Is there a chance that he never heard it? the famous Beatles song with guitar solo by Eric Clapton
i think he knows the song
since he was a kid.

funksterr said:

Prince grew up in middle class suburbia... he learned a solo from a Chicago songs to impress his friends back then... do you really think he's from the hood? He grew up with a ton of classic rock and mainstream R&B and still listens to all kinds of music. Anything he says to the press is part of the act.

Not to mention he's been recently covering With a Little Help from my Friends, Long and Winding Road, Come Together, and before that he always hit Rolling Stones songs at aftershows, done Fleetwood Mac, and mentioned he really admired Led Zepplin in that big interview he did for Rolling Stone back in 1985....

Militant said:

yes... of course he knew this song: Prince just likes a little lie here and there.