Having been a prince fan since 1979 or so, I know his history...the wearing thongs onstage...the appearance on American Bandstand...The opening for the Rolling Stones...
Prince gained alot of fans after the release of Purple Rain, became an international superstar. I'm glad he didn't sing on We are the World...where's Huey Lewis now?
Perhaps he's gained new fans from his recent releases, I don't know. Perhaps people have seen him on this past years stints on the Tonite Show with jay Leno..
Do the newer fans know about Prince's history, the way that Beatles fans know about the Beatles early days in Hamburg?
What do you think?

Well I'm a new fan, and I know of his history (more or less). I'm sure most people aren't that interested in an artist's history though, but I am.

I'm a fairly new fan having been away many years. I know some history but not much and I don't think that's too important. I'm more interested in who and what Prince is today, how he thinks what makes him tick, how he sees the world etc etc. That he was at a certain recording studio in such and such a year, wearing whatever and recording with who, doesn't really bother me. Though I understand though who want all the facts and details. Just different kinds of personalities.

In the end it's all about the music and that's an organic growing thing which doesn't stop until Prince decides to stop. May that day never come.

I'm an 'old' fan, from Controversy onwards. I'm mostly interested in his music and live shows. I also very much enjoyed the entrepreneurial way he explored the internet during the late 90s and beginning of this century.

BlackAdder7 said:

I think this thread is a little stupid.

BlackAdder7 said:

That's funny you should mention Huey Lewis, just the other day I was wondering what had become of him. Back in the 80s he was all over the place in the music world! So many others who participated in "We Are The World" have disappeared from the limelight as well. Or maybe it's just that I'm not aware of what they are doing today...

But let's get back on track. I was one of many pulled into the Purple world thanks to Purple Rain. Actually thanks to When Doves Cry, the first time I heard it on the radio (back in the day when there wasn't too much shit on the radio and they were playing Prince very often) my reaction was:
"WHO's THAT!!!!!"

I was vacationing in the States during summer '84. But actually, I was in transition between Africa and Europe, which is why I never really knew much about his life and I didn't really care as long as the music kept coming.
I've learnt more about his life in the past two months reading the ORG than in the last 25 (off and on) years of fanhood. Sometimes there's just too much info in here!

I have read some really interesting threads on how and why his music has evolved in this or that direction. Is it really important to know anything about his private life? I don't think it's relevant unless it has some kind of influence on his music.

Are younger fans interested in his history? I would say no for 90% of them. And anyway, how many young fans has he got compared to us older people? Probably not that many.

BlackAdder7 said:

Broadway, and doing well overall. Singing on "We Are The World" didn't solidify anyone's fate as a non-artist 25 years later. Most of those folks are going strong, still today.

Well I guess I'm a new fan since I'm only 17 haha, but I still know A LOT about Prince, but haven't gotten the chance to experience all the things I've read about. And also I've been a fan for about 5 years now, so I guess that makes me a bit of a old fan lol

Hey BlackAdder7! Imho, I'd guess it's about 50/50. One of the best things about the org. are the interesting stories from people who were "in the business", worked for Prince, or knew someone that did and then shared them with us. If any new fans are interested in Prince's musical history this place is a treasure trove! I feel Prince wouldn't be where he is today if he hadn't made the choices he did in the past, good/bad/or in between. The mystery he chose to cloak himself with only made him more fascinating to me, even today.
So to the newer fan who has an interest; ask questions, use the Google Search, and with effort and a little luck you may happen upon a special orger willing to relate a story about Prince's "early Hamburg days". GREAT THREAD, btw!

I'm so glad I was there in the beginning of Prince's career. I seriously do not understand these new fans, I mean they missed ALL the good stuff, and I do mean ALL.
.
[Edited 12/13/09 19:34pm]

there aren't new fans.....

I fall right in the middle of the fan range. I was born in 1979. My parents had Purple Rain on Laserdisk, so I saw it when I was young, but didn't take stock of it. I essentially became a fan in 1992. That has given me over 17 years to be a fan. In that time, I have become very well acquainted with the history of Prince. In fact, I prefer most of the music that was put out before I became a fan, although I love the symbol album, which was the first album I had. Regardless, I do like the new stuff as well.

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

Oh, I have that too! but I would bet most here do.

ernestsewell said:

Shoot, I still have Billboards on laserdisc.

Efan said:

ME TOO!

ernestsewell said:

WOW!

ernestsewell said:

When I first got digital cable, the tech came out to install and said, "Uh, you don't expect me to keep the laserdisc player hooked up, do you?" It was high time then to convert Billboards (and Latina Familia) to DVD. But I've still got the laserdisc player in my closet, just in case.

Dayclear said:

Wat do u mean by u don't understand us 'new' fans?


Anyway...I'm a relatively 'new' fan and still learnin about the 'old' Prince...
but that's where the 'old skool' fans can come in as well...
share the knowledge u have, instead of runnin us 'new' fans down to the ground just cause we weren't born way back then

i've been a fan since 1991 (d & p) and have been a fan ever since. thaks to the internet, i started wanting to know more about the history of his music and i have to admit: i wish i was born early...

shit! he wore a thong????!!!!!

ernestsewell said:

I had it but got rid of the player and discs.

PurpleJane said:

Only in concert. Otherwise he wore a raincoat over the underwear.

SUPRMAN said:

that's so funny, he must have been crazy fucker back then!

TwiliteKid said:

and just a little condescending.

ernestsewell said:

Specially The Pointer Sisters, Kim Karnes, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, David Paich, Jeffrey Osborne, Kenny Rogers, Steve Perry and La toya Jackson, they all going "strong", right.


I'm glad that Prince never joined any overrated "charity" music organization,
because USA for Africa was a big fluke, all the initial money went to the military, after 1990 no $ reports or Africa Aid press releases were made by the continuos promotion of the success of the song (a "best selling song" campaign in regular Michael Jackson promo clips and an anthem in Television retrospectives, festivals, ad campaigns etc.), U2's Bono state that corruption, not disease or famine, was the greatest threat to Africa, agreeing with the belief that foreign relief organizations should decide how the money is spent, Bob Dylan agree years later accusing USA for Africa of been corrupt.

But even worse, after the instant success of the song, The USA for Africa team went after the artists who din't agree to participate on the song, with horrible press releases and a trash campaing against them (Madonna, Prince, John Cougar etc.). USA for Africa political activist director Ken Kragen did a infamous live press conference were he humiliate this artists, with no mercy and smooth talking, like if the music world was owned by QJ and company, "You gotta do what I say" type of thing.

Of the forty-seven predominantly U.S. artists that participated in USA for Africa not one of them received a single penny of the royalties, some of them went bankruptcy years later, some of them don't have a musical career no more, but someone is getting richier and richier of the post 80's cycle royalties. May be this time Ken Kragen will do a outspoken press conference?

I don't think so.

I'm a young Prince fan, who's been a fan literally before I was born.

When my mom was pregnant with me, my brother put his Walkman headphones on my mother's stomach. And apparently I'd begin to react in the womb.

I'm 26 and pretty much grew up being a Prince fan when it wasn't cool to be one.

I remember doing Let's Go Crazy for my school talent show in 1st Grade, and a group of older girls did a dance routine to Batdance.

That was pretty much my only experience of being in school with other people that liked Prince until my last year of High School.

I would've loved to be able to go to those early shows.

BlackAdder7 said:

Well I'm among the "old" fans Thanks for the info that Prince opened before a Rolling Stones concert WOW Can U tell me which date ?? I've luckily seen Prince 3 times concerts in Paris 1979 and after AND The Rolling Stones 3 times as well Very SAD to have missed the Grand Palais one, he moves to fast these days can't catch up with him I hope to before my retirement !!(no gigs on at London ?? be there next week for XMAS He may turn up a santa hahaha santa Prince kinky no ??? kiss

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

Hey..You almost copied what was on my mind..me born in '78 in far away India..never even heard about Prince Rogers Nelson...First heard the symbol album and been a fan ever since..And yes I am interested in knowing abit of history related to Prince, and the Org has mostly satisfied my curiosity as well..

roseberet said:

He was booed off stage by the Rolling Stones fans in October 1981 http://prince.org/msg/7/266058

aarontj said:

Actually you might have no idea of your homework that's needed. Kenny Loggins is still touring and making music. St. Paul tours with him all the time as guitarist and keyboardist. Paul was doing lots of videos from the tour this past summer and the summer before, and the summer before. Kenny never stopped working, and he certainly didn't stall in his career in 1985 once "We Are The World" was released. It's insane to think that.

David Paich is a musician, and still working. After a bit of homework, we find that David Paich traveled to China where he worked composing theme music for the 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2009, he sang the hit song "Africa" at the Millennium Development Goals awards in New York and co-produced a new tune for George Benson. Paich was involved with the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards as a music producer and keyboardist for the on-stage band. In October 2009, David Paich was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame along with the other members of Toto. Yeah, he's not doing ANYTHING.

Kenny Rogers still tours, and works and draws crowds to sell out a venue. My roommate's friend just went to his show the other day with her company. Kenny actually invited the whole group (looked to be around 30 folks) back stage for pictures and to hang out a bit.

When did LaToya have a big career anyway? It's hit and miss. So not a good example.

One of the Pointer Sisters died, so that's poor taste as an excuse.

Steve Perry, we ALL know, continued to work and release music. He did a lot of soundtrack songs. He had hip replacement surgery in 1998, so was definitely out of commission for a while.

It's weird how you cherry picked people to prove a point that doesn't exist. It's also a bit egocentric to think that because WE, as the music buying public, haven't heard what someone's doing that we assume they're doing nothing. How many people do you think knows Prince has a CD out? You know, just 3 years ago I was talking to a guy, roughly my age, and when I mentioned Prince, he said "You must miss him." I said, "What?" He thought Prince hadn't really released anything in years. We know better, but that was HIS perspective, and he hadn't been paying attention.

We also need to take down our egos and remember that any artist or musician, even Prince, doesn't OWE us an album, or a single, or a box set, or a compilation album or ANYTHING. It's their JOB, but they are also their own boss. Lionel Richie took off a few years to deal with the death of his father, and a divorce. That's his choice to take time off, and then he came back and is working consistently since. Even Jay Kay from Jamiroquai took time off to be with his newborn. Does that mean he's not "going strong"? These people aren't just sitting around thinking about the glory days, soaked in an alcoholic coma. How quickly we forget that these are just PEOPLE, human beings.

I noticed you didn't mention people like The Jacksons, Sheila E., Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Hall & Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Lindsey Buckingham. Let's not cherry pick the truth.