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Thread started 02/04/10 1:25pm

galapogosian

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Recommend Prince Biographies?

Are the Per Nielsen books legit? I know all Prince bios are "grain of salt" material but what can you suggest that is in depth and factual? I've read nothing so far. Thanks!
I wish Prince love, long life, and freedom from the shackles of Jehovah.
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Reply #1 posted 02/04/10 1:30pm

StevenAnthony

The only one I've read so far is Per Nilsen's "Dance Music Sex Romance," and I thought it was FANTASTIC.
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Reply #2 posted 02/04/10 1:38pm

Militant

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StevenAnthony said:

The only one I've read so far is Per Nilsen's "Dance Music Sex Romance," and I thought it was FANTASTIC.


Yep. That's the only one worth bothering with. Thorough, incredibly well written and researched. The downside is that it only covers the first decade (78-88, or For You through to Lovesexy)

All the other biographies suck ass.
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Reply #3 posted 02/04/10 2:05pm

NouveauDance

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DMSR is as a factual as you're going to get. Per Nilsen is/was part of the Uptown team, that magazine is/was known for it's professionalism and accurate info.

Since DMSR only goes upto 1987, I'd also suggest 'Possessed' by Alex Hahn, some fans act like it's the Satanic Bible or something, in reality it's just a little more salacious than DMSR. Hahn was the lawyer for Uptown when Prince tried to sue them, and he had access to their research/interviews for the book apparently. I recommend them both.

Prince Life & Times by Jason Draper is also a nice read, nice pics etc.
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Reply #4 posted 02/04/10 2:37pm

Militant

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'Possessed' has a lot of inaccuracies and conjecture, and in some parts reads like a cheap tabloid. IMO.
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Reply #5 posted 02/04/10 2:39pm

ernestsewell

Militant said:

'Possessed' has a lot of inaccuracies and conjecture, and in some parts reads like a cheap tabloid. IMO.

Possessed, while some truths in it, was a gossip mag. Matt Fink told me that he told Alex Hahn some things, and asked him to not print them, but Hahn did anyway.
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Reply #6 posted 02/04/10 2:41pm

ernestsewell

StevenAnthony said:

The only one I've read so far is Per Nilsen's "Dance Music Sex Romance," and I thought it was FANTASTIC.

DMSR is like a bible of Prince knowledge. I reference the dates in the back. Tour dates, release dates, recording dates, things like that. The stories are great too. I reference it a LOT when posting on here, depending on the subject of course.

I had that it ends in 1987/1988. I'd love to read beyond that. I hear The Vault does that, but god knows when I'll ever get a copy of that.
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Reply #7 posted 02/04/10 8:33pm

luv4u

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I have the soft cover book of Purple Reign: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince by Liz Jones
canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #8 posted 02/04/10 8:41pm

ernestsewell

luv4u said:

I have the soft cover book of Purple Reign: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince by Liz Jones

I have the hard cover. What a piece of tripe. The whole fucking thing is conjecture, and 80% of it is taken from Oprah's interview with him, FULLY UNCREDITED. It's the worst bio I've read on him. I think they rereleased that w/ a different name too.
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Reply #9 posted 02/04/10 8:42pm

JudasLChrist

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NouveauDance said:

DMSR is as a factual as you're going to get. Per Nilsen is/was part of the Uptown team, that magazine is/was known for it's professionalism and accurate info.

Since DMSR only goes upto 1987, I'd also suggest 'Possessed' by Alex Hahn, some fans act like it's the Satanic Bible or something, in reality it's just a little more salacious than DMSR. Hahn was the lawyer for Uptown when Prince tried to sue them, and he had access to their research/interviews for the book apparently. I recommend them both.


I co-sign this. The Alex Hahn book is my favorite. It gets a recommendation from Alan Leeds, too.
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Reply #10 posted 02/04/10 10:29pm

luv4u

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ernestsewell said:

luv4u said:

I have the soft cover book of Purple Reign: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince by Liz Jones

I have the hard cover. What a piece of tripe. The whole fucking thing is conjecture, and 80% of it is taken from Oprah's interview with him, FULLY UNCREDITED. It's the worst bio I've read on him. I think they rereleased that w/ a different name too.


Dayum that's brutal eek
canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #11 posted 02/04/10 10:31pm

squirrelgrease

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NouveauDance said:

DMSR is as a factual as you're going to get. Per Nilsen is/was part of the Uptown team, that magazine is/was known for it's professionalism and accurate info.

Since DMSR only goes upto 1987, I'd also suggest 'Possessed' by Alex Hahn, some fans act like it's the Satanic Bible or something, in reality it's just a little more salacious than DMSR. Hahn was the lawyer for Uptown when Prince tried to sue them, and he had access to their research/interviews for the book apparently. I recommend them both.

Prince Life & Times by Jason Draper is also a nice read, nice pics etc.


yeahthat
If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
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Reply #12 posted 02/04/10 10:37pm

ernestsewell

luv4u said:

ernestsewell said:


I have the hard cover. What a piece of tripe. The whole fucking thing is conjecture, and 80% of it is taken from Oprah's interview with him, FULLY UNCREDITED. It's the worst bio I've read on him. I think they rereleased that w/ a different name too.


Dayum that's brutal eek

It's truth. Have you read it? I just thought throughout, "Should I even finish this?" I did. I never got that time back. lol
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Reply #13 posted 02/04/10 10:48pm

xenophobia2002

The Life and Times of Prince by Jason Draper is a very well written book as well. It includes some nice photos and is updated !
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Reply #14 posted 02/04/10 11:30pm

DieselsDen

galapogosian said:

Are the Per Nielsen books legit? I know all Prince bios are "grain of salt" material but what can you suggest that is in depth and factual? I've read nothing so far. Thanks!



Another vote for POSSESSED. Don't let anyone dissuade you from picking it up. The investigation is thorough, and the analysis is remarkably insightful and fair. While some may not like what the writer has to say, the discussions are thought-provoking and may make you appreciate Prince's talents even more, even if you agree with the criticisms. Nothing in it displays distateful sensationalism, and delicate topics like Prince's baby dying are treated with respect. Hahn obviously knows a lot about Prince's music, and is able to analyze it in an objective manner.
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Reply #15 posted 02/05/10 12:00am

vivid

I think the worse one is Prince - A thief in the temple.

However, I enjoyed reading them all. smile
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Reply #16 posted 02/05/10 1:39am

boscho

vivid said:

I think the worse one is Prince - A thief in the temple.

However, I enjoyed reading them all. smile



Yep - it's utterly disgraceful.

Another book worth checking out is Dez Dickerson's. It's relly enjoyable and he comes across as a relly down-to-earth bloke.
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Reply #17 posted 02/05/10 1:44am

DiscoMafia

I bought Thief In The Temple just a few days ago... ( for £3 )

Dreadful book... DO NOT BUY !
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Reply #18 posted 02/05/10 2:48am

vivid

DiscoMafia said:

I bought Thief In The Temple just a few days ago... ( for £3 )

Dreadful book... DO NOT BUY !


Is that the one where they talk about U2 guitarist Bono's guitar playing?
lol
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Reply #19 posted 02/05/10 4:32am

ecstasy

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Yeah, definitely DMSR, then Possessed, then Life & Times (good picture & date kepp-up)
Yes, at 19, I finally saw the Revolution, a legendary band. And I talked to Wendy!!! biggrin In addition to seeing Prince, I have now lived life. Thank you Purple People!!
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Reply #20 posted 02/05/10 7:41am

LondonStyle

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There is a new book due end 2010 - early 2011 by a british writer who just happens to be a fan of Prince music .... he's a novalist and jurno ...can't seem to find his name ....should be good he's been working on it for 3 years.. biggrin
Da, Da, Da....Emancipation....Free..don't think I ain't..! London 21 Nights...Clap your hands...you know the rest..
James Brown & Michael Jackson RIP, your music still lives with us!
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Reply #21 posted 02/05/10 7:44am

Militant

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One of my favorite authors, Ronin Ro, is also writing a Prince book.

Hip-hop fans might be familiar with his excellent book about Death Row Records - "Have Gun, Will Travel".
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Reply #22 posted 02/05/10 8:56am

jfrost

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An oldie but goody is Pop Life by Dave Hill.

Easily the best written bio, but it only deals up to Lovexsexy.

hunt it down.
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Reply #23 posted 02/05/10 8:57am

vivid

jfrost said:

An oldie but goody is Pop Life by Dave Hill.

Easily the best written bio, but it only deals up to Lovexsexy.

hunt it down.


Yep. that's a good 'un. I lost my copy though.
sad
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Reply #24 posted 02/05/10 11:04am

luv4u

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ernestsewell said:

luv4u said:



Dayum that's brutal eek

It's truth. Have you read it? I just thought throughout, "Should I even finish this?" I did. I never got that time back. lol


Yes I have from front to back
canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #25 posted 02/05/10 11:50am

ernestsewell

luv4u said:

ernestsewell said:


It's truth. Have you read it? I just thought throughout, "Should I even finish this?" I did. I never got that time back. lol


Yes I have from front to back

Did you think it was a lot of conjecture and "Oh he probably did this because" sort of thing? And the plethora of Oprah interview stuff? Or what did you think?
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