For me it's a no.Prince plays the best licks when he is
the only guitar player in the band.

I like having a 2nd player in the band, like Wendy, or Miko, or Mike Scott.

ernestsewell said:

I agree. I appreciate the variety of sound, and Prince's playing comes off more visceral, as opposed to surgical, when he's playing adjacent someone, I think.

ernestsewell said:

True ...

It's better when Prince plays off another player. It add another element of funk to his music.

It only matters if he's going to tour, and soundboard bootlegs are a thing of the past, so I guess I don't care one way or another at this point. My favorite past shows which I listen to again and again do happen to be with Prince as the lone axe-man.

No.

Call me a fam if you want, but I don't like Prince sharing the guitar-glory with anyone else.

def yes...but not so that Prince can arrogantly assume the mantle of band leader, but so that he can actually enjoy himself and be free on stage in a real way

It's nice to have something new!

I personally enjoy Prince playing rhythm guitar much more than lead guitar. I mean, I love the Purple Rain solo, but it does get kinda repetitive if you hear it for the 20938th time.

So definitely no 2nd guitarist for me!

Xpertlover said:

i think he prefers to play the stand-out lead solos himself as well;
sometimes i feel as if he's a bit patronising in his praise of fellow
band members

I love seeing him on guitar. But I like seeing him dance and behind the piano as well, so I back the second guitar player. I wanna see P do it all.

Damn I was gunna do a thread like this..

I AM COMPLETELY IN FAVOUR OF A 2ND GUITARIST...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MUSICOLOGY TOUR PRINCE HASN'T HAD A 2ND GUITARIST SINNNNNCEE.....RAVE??

And it'd be great if they put to good use having a second guitarist for the opening chords of Purple Rain when I see him at Roskilde

Prince needs someone who can challenge him on guitar.
But I doubt his new recruit will be able to do so.
He sounds like a piano lounge musician.

PurpleLove7 said:

I agree with you both, and I'll add Dez.
He had good chemistry with Dez Wendy & Mico

And having a guitarist frees him to play piano or just sing and work the crowd

Yes, especially if it's me.

But yeah, it's always good to have some rhythm behind you.

Gotta say that I MUCH prefer when he's the only guitarist. He knows how 2 cover a lot of ground, and hold it down.

Kara said:

He does not share the glory, the contrast always reveals how glorious he is with a gee-tar. Think of he and Lenny on Rave in to the Year 2000. Lenny is good, but Prince steps on his neck. And "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from R&R Hall of fame ceremony... with out other notable players behind him paling to him, you don't see how great he really is.

Its like watching a horse on a track... doing time trials with just one pony out there its "meh" BUT, when that horse runs the same time but is way out on front of the field you go "Damn! that horse is fast!"

depends on what hes playing. if hes rocking out like the Gold era i just want him. but on funkier stuff, but on poppier stuff, and the funk maybe too, a 2nd guitarist is cool

Prince's best and most creative guitar playing is the best when he is the only player in the band.
i don't know why he needed another guitar player for Time Gala after show.Prince didn't play a single guitar solo and after show was the worst by Prince ever

thebanishedone said:

----
Could be because it was not an after show

..what carlcranshaw said.

Kara said:

yeah

EML3 said:

I don't think that has anything to do with sharing the glory
I think he needs to feel he has someone with good chemistry.

He LOVED the chemistry of DEZ pushing him, and Dez is a rock guitar god
He LOVED the chemistry and shadowing of Wendy Melvoin
He LOVED the chemistry and vain competition with Mico Weaver

I think he realized if he could have Wendy Melvoin after the 2007 shows in Minni he wouldn't have anyone else beside him

OldFriends4Sale said:

I was just citing examples, not necessarily naming ones I favor over others. There was also Levi, Kat, etc.

ernestsewell said:

I was naming examples lol

EML3 said:

True, good point!

Musically, when it comes to rock at least, I prefer a more stripped-down, three-piece band approach, though. The trio aftershows he did in London 2007 and LA 2009 are among my favorites, for example.

I felt the O2 shows really lacked a second guitar player. Not just the bouncing off each other thing as mentioned above. But it does free Prince up a bit.

At the O2 he was either routed to the spot playing the melodies or the guitar parts were filled with cheesy keyboard. I HATE the intro of Purple Rain with keyboards. I hated the KISS sample guitar as opposed to a real musician.