I know Prince released 2010 in Europe, but not in the USA.

He really isn't playing any songs from 2010

Usually his tours are named after an album.

Isn't this the first time he has toured not in support of an album?

Is W2A album going to drop soon and then a larger USA tour announced?

I am wondering if Prince is playing these end of the year shows for tax reasons.

muskiediver said:

I know Prince released 2010 in Europe, but not in the USA.

He really isn't playing any songs from 2010

Usually his tours are named after an album.

Isn't this the first time he has toured not in support of an album?

Is W2A album going to drop soon and then a larger USA tour announced?

I am wondering if Prince is playing these end of the year shows for tax reasons.

Well i would think there was an album coming if there was that kind of vibe with the shows, but it seems more just like a "revue" go and play some dates, make some cash, many have done this, he has had things like the "Hit and Run" tour things lke that. I think he may be drumming up interest again, i mean despite Lotus doing what it did, he really did no tour for it or really any kind of dates, but his set lists the last few tours havent been reflective of his new work anyway so i dont know if i would name a tour after a record at this point

1990 - Nude Tour

gamera said:

1990 - Nude Tour

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

The 2000 Hit N Run/ 2001 Celebration tours weren't in support of an album.

Spinlight said:

gamera said:

1990 - Nude Tour

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Uh, not so much. Check the set list.

skywalker said:

Spinlight said:

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Uh, not so much. Check the set list.

More of support of Batman than Graffit

Graffitti Bridge was released as that tour ended. It was touted at the time as a stripped down greatest-hits tour. It was absolutely not "in support" of that particular album any more than it was in support of the Batman album.

41 out of the 56 shows on that tour happened before the album was out.

Some very simple to find research here:

Easy-Peasy

[Edited 12/23/10 14:58pm]

skywalker said:

Spinlight said:

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Uh, not so much. Check the set list.

You're telling me that the set list defines what a tour is in support of? Why do you think he went on tour in June when his album was coming out in August? For funsies? No, it was to drum up support for his album.

gamera said:

Graffitti Bridge was released as that tour ended. It was touted at the time as a stripped down greatest-hits tour. It was absolutely not "in support" of that particular album any more than it was in support of the Batman album.

41 out of the 56 shows on that tour happened before the album was out.

Some very simple to find research here:

Easy-Peasy

[Edited 12/23/10 14:58pm]

I'm aware that the Nude Tour ran from June to September and the album was released in August. I'm also aware that the first single was released in July. If you think that the tour was not in support of the album and, rather, in support of an album released the year prior..... Well, okay. We'll agree to disagree.

I don't think it was in support of either of those albums. I think it was a greatest hits tour. I think that because he himself advertised it as such.

gamera said:

I don't think it was in support of either of those albums. I think it was a greatest hits tour. I think that because he himself advertised it as such.

You must be spoiled by Prince's concept of a tour always containing the majority of a new album's content. The Nude tour might've been a greatest hits tour, but it was most certainly in support of the upcoming album. This is why songs from the new album were played during the tour. This is why he toured at that time as opposed to any other.

It is not mere coincidence that a tour, album, single, and movie were all scheduled in a descending order of release. This is simple logic and common sense. There was no tour for Batman like there was no tour for ATWIAD. Not difficult to discern.

Spinlight said:

gamera said:

I don't think it was in support of either of those albums. I think it was a greatest hits tour. I think that because he himself advertised it as such.

You must be spoiled by Prince's concept of a tour always containing the majority of a new album's content. The Nude tour might've been a greatest hits tour, but it was most certainly in support of the upcoming album. This is why songs from the new album were played during the tour. This is why he toured at that time as opposed to any other.

It is not mere coincidence that a tour, album, single, and movie were all scheduled in a descending order of release. This is simple logic and common sense. There was no tour for Batman like there was no tour for ATWIAD. Not difficult to discern.

Your "logic and common sense" is flawed. Most Prince tours took place after the albums and movies were released. Name me a Prince tour, up to that point, that occured before the album was released.

Look at a few pages from the Nude tourbook...the entire tour was geared as a retrospective of Prince's career to up to that point. In fact, most of the tours up to that point, had the same name as the album they were in support of. It is telling that it was not dubbed "The Graffiti Bridge Tour".

[img:$uid]http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/shawnsolo3000/DSC_0936copy.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/shawnsolo3000/DSC_0937copy.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 12/23/10 15:43pm]

skywalker said:

Spinlight said:

You must be spoiled by Prince's concept of a tour always containing the majority of a new album's content. The Nude tour might've been a greatest hits tour, but it was most certainly in support of the upcoming album. This is why songs from the new album were played during the tour. This is why he toured at that time as opposed to any other.

It is not mere coincidence that a tour, album, single, and movie were all scheduled in a descending order of release. This is simple logic and common sense. There was no tour for Batman like there was no tour for ATWIAD. Not difficult to discern.

Your "logic and common sense" is flawed. Most Prince tours took place after the albums and movies were released. Name me a Prince tour, up to that point, that occured before the album was released.

Look at a few pages from the Nude tourbook...the entire tour was geared as a retrospective of Prince's career to up to that point. In fact, most of the tours up to that point, had the same name as the album they were in support of. It is telling that it was not dubbed "The Graffiti Bridge Tour".

[img:$uid]http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/shawnsolo3000/DSC_0936copy.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/shawnsolo3000/DSC_0937copy.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 12/23/10 15:43pm]

Ah, so you're telling me that a tour that began in June, followed by a single release in July, an album release in August, the end of the tour in September, and then a movie in November were not at all tied together? I see. So because it was a greatest hits tour, the fact the tour was ongoing during the release of a new project is inconsequential. I see. So I'm sure, then, that him performing "Thieves in the Temple", "The Question of U", "We Can Funk" etc were totally unrelated, lol. Right?

I see. Well, like I said to the last knucklehead who wanted to split hairs with me and create random alternate realities where the rules only apply to Prince some of the time, we'll agree to disagree.

Oh and by the way, though it might not constitute a complete tour, the SOTT and Purple Rain shows were previewed and rehearsed well before those projects were released.

[Edited 12/24/10 2:54am]

As often turns out, it seems the argument is more about definition - i.e. How do you define when a tour is in support of an album? So I guess you're both right

Prince could atleast play sticky like glue, i am sure the crowd would like it.

I don't think the Hit 'n' Run tour supported an album. Could be wrong though.

Spinlight said:

skywalker said:

Your "logic and common sense" is flawed. Most Prince tours took place after the albums and movies were released. Name me a Prince tour, up to that point, that occured before the album was released.

Look at a few pages from the Nude tourbook...the entire tour was geared as a retrospective of Prince's career to up to that point. In fact, most of the tours up to that point, had the same name as the album they were in support of. It is telling that it was not dubbed "The Graffiti Bridge Tour".

[Edited 12/23/10 15:43pm]

Ah, so you're telling me that a tour that began in June, followed by a single release in July, an album release in August, the end of the tour in September, and then a movie in November were not at all tied together? I see. So because it was a greatest hits tour, the fact the tour was ongoing during the release of a new project is inconsequential. I see. So I'm sure, then, that him performing "Thieves in the Temple", "The Question of U", "We Can Funk" etc were totally unrelated, lol. Right?

I see. Well, like I said to the last knucklehead who wanted to split hairs with me and create random alternate realities where the rules only apply to Prince some of the time, we'll agree to disagree.

Oh and by the way, though it might not constitute a complete tour, the SOTT and Purple Rain shows were previewed and rehearsed well before those projects were released.

[Edited 12/24/10 2:54am]

1. Prince also played songs from Batman on this tour. Using your logic, there is just as much evidence to suggest that this tour was for that album. Furthermore, "Thieves in the Temple" and "We can Funk" were hardly ever in the set list. The only constant Graffiti Bridge song was "Question of U". Compare the tours before 1990 and the tours after. Each one was in support of an album and the shows comprised of more than a few songs from the new album.

2. Previewed and rehearsed is not the same as actively touring. Again, look at Prince's album release/tour pattern up until then. It was the same as most major artists: Record album, release album, tour to support album.

Again, I ask you to address these few questions:

If the tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge project why so few songs in the set list? All previous tours, and subsequent tours, were at least 1/2 comprised of stuff from the new album. It is telling that Prince played, at most, 3 new songs. It wasn't in promotion of the new album.

Why not call it the Graffiti Bridge tour? Because it wasn't. It was a greatest hits tour.

This tour provided the blueprint that the purple one has been following for the last few years. The only evidence you have provided contrary to this is timing...which is a weak argument because Prince never before toured before a projects release...and he wouldn't after until years later.

[Edited 12/24/10 7:59am]

These forums.... Seems like the same one or two trolls under every bridge.

I'm not trying to get in the middle of this disagreement, but wasn't Graffiti Bridge the movie only released in US theaters and straight to video elsewhere? I know the Nude tour did not include the US, except for a couple shows in Minneapolis prior to the actual start of the tour.

skywalker said:

Spinlight said:

Ah, so you're telling me that a tour that began in June, followed by a single release in July, an album release in August, the end of the tour in September, and then a movie in November were not at all tied together? I see. So because it was a greatest hits tour, the fact the tour was ongoing during the release of a new project is inconsequential. I see. So I'm sure, then, that him performing "Thieves in the Temple", "The Question of U", "We Can Funk" etc were totally unrelated, lol. Right?

I see. Well, like I said to the last knucklehead who wanted to split hairs with me and create random alternate realities where the rules only apply to Prince some of the time, we'll agree to disagree.

Oh and by the way, though it might not constitute a complete tour, the SOTT and Purple Rain shows were previewed and rehearsed well before those projects were released.

[Edited 12/24/10 2:54am]

1. Prince also played songs from Batman on this tour. Using your logic, there is just as much evidence to suggest that this tour was for that album. Furthermore, "Thieves in the Temple" and "We can Funk" were hardly ever in the set list. The only constant Graffiti Bridge song was "Question of U". Compare the tours before 1990 and the tours after. Each one was in support of an album and the shows comprised of more than a few songs from the new album.

2. Previewed and rehearsed is not the same as actively touring. Again, look at Prince's album release/tour pattern up until then. It was the same as most major artists: Record album, release album, tour to support album.

Again, I ask you to address these few questions:

If the tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge project why so few songs in the set list? All previous tours, and subsequent tours, were at least 1/2 comprised of stuff from the new album. It is telling that Prince played, at most, 3 new songs. It wasn't in promotion of the new album.

Why not call it the Graffiti Bridge tour? Because it wasn't. It was a greatest hits tour.

This tour provided the blueprint that the purple one has been following for the last few years. The only evidence you have provided contrary to this is timing...which is a weak argument because Prince never before toured before a projects release...and he wouldn't after until years later.

[Edited 12/24/10 7:59am]

Should we start listing tours that were in support of something but not called "The ___ Tour"? Other people are right, it's about definitions. I choose to define it by the timeline, not by conjecture that I can't prove.

"Most major artists" did this stuff? Cuz I took a quick glance of The Girlie Show by Madonna and that tour started in September yet the album came out in October. Michael Jackson's 1992 Dangerous Tour started nigh-8 months after the album's release, but that was typical of Michael. Atypical for Prince, though, as he is most certainly onto the next one by then, as he was with the Nude Tour. The Batman album (not even called Batman by Prince, but Scandalous! as you see in the Act I tour tshirts) had been out for over a year by the time the Nude tour even started and the promo for GB had begun. Someone brought up the distro of the movie and the position of the tour being in Europe and no tour shows hitting the US. Yep. Cuz Prince didn't favor touring in the US at the time and the last time he did was a complete wreck. He was touring in support of the album, regardless of the set content. This trend became more and more common with both Prince and other artists.

Every show Prince does is a GH show ever since he was in the business for over a decade. Doesn't mean the tours aren't supporting the sales of an album, that is just a bad attempt at deflection.

[Edited 12/24/10 13:27pm]

gamera said:

These forums.... Seems like the same one or two trolls under every bridge.

It's odd to me that you see people as obstacles and distractions. What's going on is a discussion. I won't speak for skywalker or anyone else, but I don't think anything bad about anyone I engage in discussions with here. You are really jaded.

Spinlight said:

gamera said:

1990 - Nude Tour

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Actually it wasn't.

It's a popular misconception that the Nude Tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge album (probably due to Prince sporting 'the look' for that album, however it only looks that way in retrospect). I know, I was there at the time. Plus the setlists clearly show that the concerts were basically a hits show bookended by Batman songs (he opened the shows with "The Future" and closed them with "Batdance" and "Partyman". Often playing "Scandalous" during the set as well). So if it were in support of any album, it would've been "Batman". In fact, it could've easliy been called the Batman Tour if there wasn't so much legal red tape attached to the name. Even the tour shirts, which listed all Prince's albums up to date, ommited "Batman" and replaced it with "Scandalous".

The Nude tour was billed as a back to basics greatest hits tour, with emphasis on the recent hit Batman album. Only the hardcore Prince fans even knew there was a new album on the way at the time. Plus WB actually wanted to follow up the commercial success of Batman with a greatest hits album (they thought the time was right for this). Of course Prince had other ideas and wanted to push on with Graffiti Bridge instead, but he agreed to the hits tour.

As is often the case, Prince showcased one new song from his then forthcoming next album; "The Question Of U". This was originally going to be the lead single, which is why it was rehearsed for the tour (as Prince knew it was going to be released while he was on the road). However, as was often the case, he changed his mind and decided to relase the newly recorded "Thieves in the Temple" instead. He played newly shot full 8+ min video for the song over the video screens prior to the concert starting.

[Edited 12/24/10 14:36pm]

Spinlight said:

gamera said:

These forums.... Seems like the same one or two trolls under every bridge.

It's odd to me that you see people as obstacles and distractions. What's going on is a discussion. I won't speak for skywalker or anyone else, but I don't think anything bad about anyone I engage in discussions with here. You are really jaded.

Let's see what other personal things you have had to say about me in this thread...

How about:

"Well, like I said to the last knucklehead who wanted to split hairs with me and create random alternate realities where the rules only apply to Prince some of the time,"

Or how about:

You must be spoiled by Prince's concept of a tour always containing the majority of a new album's content.

So you don't think anything bad about anyone you engage in discussion with except for you know, how I'm a jaded knucklehead who has been spoiled into some sort of misconception. Good.

Anyway, thank you so much BorisFishpaw, for confirming what I said in the first place and for being a generally exceptional source of solid info, which is all I was trying to do in here as well.

lol, Me taking your inventory can be considered lighthearted so long as you don't take the opinions of someone on the internet personally. I don't even know you, so I could say you were a houseplant that learned to type, but that doesn't make it true.

BorisFishpaw said:

Spinlight said:

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Actually it wasn't.

It's a popular misconception that the Nude Tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge album (probably due to Prince sporting 'the look' for that album, however it only looks that way in retrospect). I know, I was there at the time. Plus the setlists clearly show that the concerts were basically a hits show bookended by Batman songs (he opened the shows with "The Future" and closed them with "Batdance" and "Partyman". Often playing "Scandalous" during the set as well). So if it were in support of any album, it would've been "Batman". In fact, it could've easliy been called the Batman Tour if there wasn't so much legal red tape attached to the name. Even the tour shirts, which listed all Prince's albums up to date, ommited "Batman" and replaced it with "Scandalous".

The Nude tour was billed as a back to basics greatest hits tour, with emphasis on the recent hit Batman album. Only the hardcore Prince fans even knew there was a new album on the way at the time. Plus WB actually wanted to follow up the commercial success of Batman with a greatest hits album (they thought the time was right for this). Of course Prince had other ideas and wanted to push on with Graffiti Bridge instead, but he agreed to the hits tour.

As is often the case, Prince showcased one new song from his then forthcoming next album; "The Question Of U". This was originally going to be the lead single, which is why it was rehearsed for the tour (as Prince knew it was going to be released while he was on the road). However, as was often the case, he changed his mind and decided to relase the newly recorded "Thieves in the Temple" instead. He played newly shot full 8+ min video for the song over the video screens prior to the concert starting.

[Edited 12/24/10 14:36pm]

I mentioned the T shirt where Scandalous! replaces Batman earlier. Additionally, that T shirt also has Diamonds and Pearls on it as well. It was posted somewhere on the org recently, too, but forgive me for not pulling it up right away.

To say that a tour that runs concurrently with the promotion of a Prince album isn't intended as drumming up promotion for said album is just poor judgment and not true. Whatever red tape and changed minds were concerned in the process of deciding what of Prince's projects would come to fruition are interesting from an anecdotal perspective, but means little in this context as the general public would have zero knowledge of any of that intent.

I will concede that the tour itself does not put a primary focus on that album and that the references to the album are brief. However, I point you to the last 15 years of touring for Prince where he has never premiered new material exclusively at shows since the Gold tour and prior to that you had to go to the D&P shows to see a dedicated album played almost to completion during a show.

Let's face it: The Nude Tour (as someone vaguely mentioned) set a precedence for Prince where his tours could be GH tours and not focus on the current album. He does this now with every single tour. This simply was the first. There had to be a first somewhere and the Nude Tour is it. That's great. However, when a person goes on tour, no matter the content of the tour, the albums are gonna be sold at the shows happening post-release and there's going to be promo material for the album there as well. Cite me differences, if you wish, but when a megastar blows through a continent and a half right around (and I mean literally, RIGHT AROUND) the time of an album's release, people go out and buy that album. That's logic. That's common sense. You want me to apply logic and common sense to Prince's behavior and that's a fool's game. But I do have an idea of how WB gently manipulated Prince's behavior to be a little more commercial-friendly. And a tour, especially a GH tour, in his stronger market, to support an album that really could've gone either way and a movie that was obviously going to be a wash is not at all surprising.

I flesh this shit out for you because these are the things I've considered when coming to my opinion. Opinion, because there is no fact involved when its being discussed here as no one was a part of those discussions and negotiations. Go ask Prince if the Nude Tour was in support of GB in any way. Until then, it's anyone's guess and there's tons of facts that support the belief that the Nude Tour was in support of Graffiti Bridge. Most obviously, like I said, is the timeline.

gamera said:

These forums.... Seems like the same one or two trolls under every bridge.

Yep, it's like the Star Trek Convention from hell.

"Get a life." - William Shatner

Spinlight said:

gamera said:

These forums.... Seems like the same one or two trolls under every bridge.

It's odd to me that you see people as obstacles and distractions. What's going on is a discussion. I won't speak for skywalker or anyone else, but I don't think anything bad about anyone I engage in discussions with here. You are really jaded.

Speaking for myself, Spinlight is one of the most decent/non asshole people to talk to on here. Anyways, I think this conversation has run it's course. Thanks for the back and forth.

BorisFishpaw said:

Spinlight said:

The Nude Tour was absolutely in support of Graffiti Bridge.

Actually it wasn't.

It's a popular misconception that the Nude Tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge album (probably due to Prince sporting 'the look' for that album, however it only looks that way in retrospect). I know, I was there at the time. Plus the setlists clearly show that the concerts were basically a hits show bookended by Batman songs (he opened the shows with "The Future" and closed them with "Batdance" and "Partyman". Often playing "Scandalous" during the set as well). So if it were in support of any album, it would've been "Batman". In fact, it could've easliy been called the Batman Tour if there wasn't so much legal red tape attached to the name. Even the tour shirts, which listed all Prince's albums up to date, ommited "Batman" and replaced it with "Scandalous".

The Nude tour was billed as a back to basics greatest hits tour, with emphasis on the recent hit Batman album. Only the hardcore Prince fans even knew there was a new album on the way at the time. Plus WB actually wanted to follow up the commercial success of Batman with a greatest hits album (they thought the time was right for this). Of course Prince had other ideas and wanted to push on with Graffiti Bridge instead, but he agreed to the hits tour.

As is often the case, Prince showcased one new song from his then forthcoming next album; "The Question Of U". This was originally going to be the lead single, which is why it was rehearsed for the tour (as Prince knew it was going to be released while he was on the road). However, as was often the case, he changed his mind and decided to relase the newly recorded "Thieves in the Temple" instead. He played newly shot full 8+ min video for the song over the video screens prior to the concert starting.

[Edited 12/24/10 14:36pm]

Yep.

Spinlight said:

BorisFishpaw said:

Actually it wasn't.

It's a popular misconception that the Nude Tour was in support of the Graffiti Bridge album (probably due to Prince sporting 'the look' for that album, however it only looks that way in retrospect). I know, I was there at the time. Plus the setlists clearly show that the concerts were basically a hits show bookended by Batman songs (he opened the shows with "The Future" and closed them with "Batdance" and "Partyman". Often playing "Scandalous" during the set as well). So if it were in support of any album, it would've been "Batman". In fact, it could've easliy been called the Batman Tour if there wasn't so much legal red tape attached to the name. Even the tour shirts, which listed all Prince's albums up to date, ommited "Batman" and replaced it with "Scandalous".

The Nude tour was billed as a back to basics greatest hits tour, with emphasis on the recent hit Batman album. Only the hardcore Prince fans even knew there was a new album on the way at the time. Plus WB actually wanted to follow up the commercial success of Batman with a greatest hits album (they thought the time was right for this). Of course Prince had other ideas and wanted to push on with Graffiti Bridge instead, but he agreed to the hits tour.

As is often the case, Prince showcased one new song from his then forthcoming next album; "The Question Of U". This was originally going to be the lead single, which is why it was rehearsed for the tour (as Prince knew it was going to be released while he was on the road). However, as was often the case, he changed his mind and decided to relase the newly recorded "Thieves in the Temple" instead. He played newly shot full 8+ min video for the song over the video screens prior to the concert starting.

[Edited 12/24/10 14:36pm]

I mentioned the T shirt where Scandalous! replaces Batman earlier. Additionally, that T shirt also has Diamonds and Pearls on it as well. It was posted somewhere on the org recently, too, but forgive me for not pulling it up right away.

To say that a tour that runs concurrently with the promotion of a Prince album isn't intended as drumming up promotion for said album is just poor judgment and not true. Whatever red tape and changed minds were concerned in the process of deciding what of Prince's projects would come to fruition are interesting from an anecdotal perspective, but means little in this context as the general public would have zero knowledge of any of that intent.

I will concede that the tour itself does not put a primary focus on that album and that the references to the album are brief. However, I point you to the last 15 years of touring for Prince where he has never premiered new material exclusively at shows since the Gold tour and prior to that you had to go to the D&P shows to see a dedicated album played almost to completion during a show.

Let's face it: The Nude Tour (as someone vaguely mentioned) set a precedence for Prince where his tours could be GH tours and not focus on the current album. He does this now with every single tour. This simply was the first. There had to be a first somewhere and the Nude Tour is it. That's great. However, when a person goes on tour, no matter the content of the tour, the albums are gonna be sold at the shows happening post-release and there's going to be promo material for the album there as well. Cite me differences, if you wish, but when a megastar blows through a continent and a half right around (and I mean literally, RIGHT AROUND) the time of an album's release, people go out and buy that album. That's logic. That's common sense. You want me to apply logic and common sense to Prince's behavior and that's a fool's game. But I do have an idea of how WB gently manipulated Prince's behavior to be a little more commercial-friendly. And a tour, especially a GH tour, in his stronger market, to support an album that really could've gone either way and a movie that was obviously going to be a wash is not at all surprising.

I flesh this shit out for you because these are the things I've considered when coming to my opinion. Opinion, because there is no fact involved when its being discussed here as no one was a part of those discussions and negotiations. Go ask Prince if the Nude Tour was in support of GB in any way. Until then, it's anyone's guess and there's tons of facts that support the belief that the Nude Tour was in support of Graffiti Bridge. Most obviously, like I said, is the timeline.

You keep skipping the fact that, as has been mentioned before, the Nude tour was billed at the time as being a greatest hits tour. That alone should be enough for you, just as (totally random example here), Prince's decision to credit Newpower Soul to the NPG makes it a NPG album. The fact that an album was released towards the end of the tour has nothing to do with it.