Is it true that Prince feared "the braided one" or later called "the blonde one" Terrence Trent Darby. At the 1987 Grammy Awards, both Prince and M.J looked started to see this young upstart come on to the music scene. Was he afraid of TTD?

Maybe,maybe not!

i dont know why ..prince/mj had more charisma

maybe they thought he was more attractive

I do remember a small moment during the 30 minute plus jam on "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" during the NYE 1987 Paisley Park show: Prince and Levi sing a line from "If You Let Me Stay" in a somewhat mocking tone (if I remember correctly, Prince even snorts or says "shit" in a kidding kind of manner. TTD was the shit and a critical darling in 87 and 88 so Prince probably was taking a poke at him...real fear or dislike? Only Prince knows.

Sananda Francesco Maitreya, the artist formerly known as Terrence Trent D'Arby, was at an afterparty at Paisley Park for a concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 1992. After a couple hours of the party Prince and the NPG took to a rehearsal area and jammed and TTD grabbed a guitar and got on stage with them and strung a few chords and Prince just looked at him like WTF. He proceeded to set the guitar down and walked off with his tail between his legs.

motherfunka said:

Sananda Francesco Maitreya, the artist formerly known as Terrence Trent D'Arby, was at an afterparty at Paisley Park for a concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 1992. After a couple hours of the party Prince and the NPG took to a rehearsal area and jammed and TTD grabbed a guitar and got on stage with them and strung a few chords and Prince just looked at him like WTF. He proceeded to set the guitar down and walked off with his tail between his legs.

Francesco? seriously? he gave himself a middle name when he changed over? if the music he's making isn't indication enough, the "Francesco" is complete proof he's disappeared up his own ass.

LOL, I HOPE Prince wasn't fearful of him! I mean, I liked TTD, but I knew he wouldn't last. For me, he was commercial and good enough for a hit or 2. But he didn't have the staying power like Prince or MJ. Not to mention, he didn't have "the look." And he could not have sung "Do Me Baby or Electric Intercourse" like Prince, so yeah, Prince shouldn't fear any artist because he has "it.."

Yeah, although I dug his first album, somewhere close after his second, his music really started to "make sense to no one... but himself", rather than being neither fish nor flesh.

This is a bogus question.

1) why is Prince afraid of anyone? He's his own man, just like John Wayne, or Liberace.

2) if he is afraid of someone, did he act on that, or react to it?

3) it's very doubtful he, or MJ - both who were solid and well established in their careers with plenty to brag about, had any reservations about TTD.

Prince could have learned a bit from TTD. He should have had a better career than Lenny.

I remember reading TTD say some kind words about Prince.

GuardianAngel said:

Yeah, although I dug his first album, somewhere close after his second, his music really started to "make sense to no one... but himself", rather than being neither fish nor flesh.

Symphony or Damn and Vibrator are better than pretty much all Prince 90s albums.

"Fear" seems a bit strong.

But, I can see most male vocalists being intimidated by TTD back then. Dude could sing most folks under a table, in his prime.

ernestsewell said:

This is a bogus question.

1) why is Prince afraid of anyone? He's his own man, just like John Wayne, or Liberace.

2) if he is afraid of someone, did he act on that, or react to it?

3) it's very doubtful he, or MJ - both who were solid and well established in their careers with plenty to brag about, had any reservations about TTD.

Amen.

emesem said:

GuardianAngel said:

Yeah, although I dug his first album, somewhere close after his second, his music really started to "make sense to no one... but himself", rather than being neither fish nor flesh.

Symphony or Damn and Vibrator are better than pretty much all Prince 90s albums.

Absolutely.

They get more playtime then any post 1992 P albums on my iPhone.

The sequence Surrender-TTD's recurring dream-Super Model Sandwich w Cheese on Vibrator is, IMHO, a masterpiece

The title post is a baiting question.

Terrence even from the beginning had always been an outspoken admirer of Prince, and even gave him a guitar as a present when his album debuted.

I am sure Prince respected Terrence and kept his eye on him, never the less.

Terrence was a very raw and new talent, and was HIGHLY gifted.

He could do the splits like Prince. Was a multi instrumentalist who wrote his own songs.

But most important off all,...was his voice.

In terms of sheer, natural and pure vocal tone and feeling, he could stand next to the greatest R&B singers of all time. He was blessed with a Wilson Pickett/Jackie Wilson voice that really a gift from god.

Also someone please back me up on this with the specifics, but I understand that MJ tried to sabatoge him. Is that just a rumor?

In the end, I think Terrence sabatoged his own career, unwittingly, by being too intellectual about his music. Especially lyrically.

As a pure talent, there is no question TTD was in the same leauge as Prince and MJ, but he developed in a completely different direction.

A direction that wasnt interested in pop music and performance.

It's Terence Trent D'arby, not Terrence.

And he was brilliant, first album was great, second album was amazing, yet it did not do well if i seem to remember. He was very good live too.

But Prince being scared of him? I very much doubt it.

rbrpm said:

Maybe,maybe not!

This is a classic response from someone who has no idea who they are talking about.

Rumour mongering. I doubt Prince and Sananda even know each other much. I think the press may have lumped them together in the late 80s because they were both black and had a significant white following, plus coupled with the fact they could both sing and write intelligent songs, not crap like Wild Thing and Ain't nothing going on but the rent.

Introducing the Hardline was very different to Sign and TTD's music was very different to Princes, Prince music was very dance orientated then, TTD had a more rock and pop sound with ballads here and there. Sanandas music from 1995 is nothing like Prince's at all.

They are both geniuses lets just live with that.

I have huge respect for them both - both are true artists...although I think Prince's need to be in the spotlight is where they differ...Terence still makes great music via another name now - quite different though to his earlier stuff...more introverted/personal...not overly commercial at all....but still great

when TTD was at his peak he was great...still is...just he obviously isn't interested in the charts nor being 'no.1 at the bank' LOL...

It'd be interesting to hear P & TTD work together but I think 2 huge egos would be 1 too many in the studio....

I heard that they jammed at paisley too...not the same story as previously mentioned...but I guess only those there will know what went down

Huggiebear said:

Rumour mongering. I doubt Prince and Sananda even know each other much. I think the press may have lumped them together in the late 80s because they were both black and had a significant white following, plus coupled with the fact they could both sing and write intelligent songs, not crap like Wild Thing and Ain't nothing going on but the rent.

Introducing the Hardline was very different to Sign and TTD's music was very different to Princes, Prince music was very dance orientated then, TTD had a more rock and pop sound with ballads here and there. Sanandas music from 1995 is nothing like Prince's at all.

They are both geniuses lets just live with that.

They do know eachother, i saw him at First Avenue in 95 and he basically invited the crowd to Paisley after the show. He was pretty much arm and arm with Prince the whole night, both guys looked comfortable like there was a strong bond there. I'm sure celebs have strong bonds with fellow celebs that we never learn about.

I know they recorded 1 or 2 songs together in L.A. that are locked up in "the vault"

JEDINATION said:

I know they recorded 1 or 2 songs together in L.A. that are locked up in "the vault"

I so would love to hear those.

I am very sure they respect each other as artists a lot and I remember Prince gave him a shout out on his website around the time Wildcard was relaesed on the internet for free.

Serious said:

JEDINATION said:

I know they recorded 1 or 2 songs together in L.A. that are locked up in "the vault"

I so would love to hear those.

I am very sure they respect each other as artists a lot and I remember Prince gave him a shout out on his website around the time Wildcard was relaesed on the internet for free.

right, and Sananda has given Prince props many times....

JEDINATION said:

Serious said:

I so would love to hear those.

I am very sure they respect each other as artists a lot and I remember Prince gave him a shout out on his website around the time Wildcard was relaesed on the internet for free.

right, and Sananda has given Prince props many times....

emesem said:

GuardianAngel said:

Yeah, although I dug his first album, somewhere close after his second, his music really started to "make sense to no one... but himself", rather than being neither fish nor flesh.

Symphony or Damn and Vibrator are better than pretty much all Prince 90s albums.

Here here!

Wasn't TTD a former boxer ? maybe thats why you think P feared him but I doubt it P can fight and win anyone if he wants to but he's more a lover than a fighter these days - he won all his fights at school i remember reading somewhere - although P would always say he won anyway.

There was an interview online with TTD and he said that him and Prince can t be in the same room together because strange, powerful things start to happen. I might try and find the link in a minute.

errant said:

motherfunka said:

Sananda Francesco Maitreya, the artist formerly known as Terrence Trent D'Arby, was at an afterparty at Paisley Park for a concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 1992. After a couple hours of the party Prince and the NPG took to a rehearsal area and jammed and TTD grabbed a guitar and got on stage with them and strung a few chords and Prince just looked at him like WTF. He proceeded to set the guitar down and walked off with his tail between his legs.

Francesco? seriously? he gave himself a middle name when he changed over? if the music he's making isn't indication enough, the "Francesco" is complete proof he's disappeared up his own ass.

Would Aloysious been more appropriate?

From the Symphony & Damn liner notes, 'Special and heartfelt thanks to Bruce Springsteen and Prince for your well-timed words and/or acts of support and encouragement, it was greatly appreciated, particularly as I look up to both of you a great deal, name droppping be damned'.

I'm guessing if Prince feared TTD, he wouldn't have been reaching out to him in this way presumably after the commercial failure of Neither Fish nor flesh.

Interestingly in an interview (can't find the reference now) TTD infered that Michael Jackson had essential given Sony a 'him or me' ultimatum, saying if they continued to put as much money and time into promoting TTD he would leave the label. Seems possible as it seems MJ was pretty ruthless when it came to staying on top (Beatles catalogue etc.) and does suggest MJ felt threatned. Although by this point TTD had started to go more lefield with his music and couldn't have expected to shift MJ units regardless of the amount of promotion.

In terms of overall careers, I would always put Prince and MJ some way above TTD but I definately agree with a previous poster that TTD from 1989-2003 put out stronger material than Prince or MJ in the same period and in truth, it ain't really even close! I would strongly urge those who have been put off exploring TTD's music from this period due to lazy journalism, 'disappeared up his own arse' etc. to check it out, lots of good stuff there.

ernestsewell said:

3) it's very doubtful he, or MJ - both who were solid and well established in their careers with plenty to brag about, had any reservations about TTD.

Prince did not care about TTD.

MJ, however, felt threatened by both of them. He couldn't do anything about Prince as Prince was on a different label, but TTD was on Columbia, owned by Sony, and it's been established that MJ pressured Sony to not push TTD too much.

Also, John Branca took on TTD as a client, and Michael pressured John to stop working with him.