Just wondering if anyone can provide comments Prince has made concerning the grunge era or any of the bigger acts of that time like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, STP etc. I was in my early 20's during that time and don't recall a single peep coming out of his mouth about any of them. Some of those bands came and went pretty quick but others like Pearl Jam have matured into classic bands with staying power and strong fan bases. It seems odd that Prince hasn't even acknowledged any of these bands.

I don't remember him making any comments but I know he used that flannel grunge influence by wearing one of those cheap flannel shirt hoodies for The Morning Papers cd single cover and in the video. Oh...and then there was the stage diving ala Vedder

I consider Dave Grohl as a major Grunge name. As I recall he had a jam session / rehearsal with him in LA.

Read that story on this board here somewhere ..

i dunno abount grunge, but i think clunge is more up his street

bobbyperu said:

I don't think Prince likes artists who dress as if they've been lying in the gutter for three weeks. That was of course the whole point of the grunge look, but totally unlike P's perfume & high heels. But the guitar rock of Chaos & Disorder must have been influenced by the grunge bands.

This.

Here's his statement. Flannel.

Seems to me that the intended "The Undertaker" album with the Guitar Player magazine article was his response to grunge musically.

[Edited 9/9/11 8:12am]

Prince was surely paying attention to grunge, new-jack, adult-contemporary, techno and modern hip-hop during the first half off the 90s, Gett Off, Cream, D&P, My Name is Prince, Wanna Melt With U, The Flow, Sweet Baby, Morning Papers, Sacrifice of Victer, Pink Cashmere, Peach, Pope, Space, Loose, Letitgo, Days of Wild, 2Morrow, etc. and finally his obsession with modern-R&B/balladry (the Emancipation album)...

In other words, he was following the trends, not creating them...

alphastreet said:

bobbyperu said:

I don't think Prince likes artists who dress as if they've been lying in the gutter for three weeks. That was of course the whole point of the grunge look, but totally unlike P's perfume & high heels. But the guitar rock of Chaos & Disorder must have been influenced by the grunge bands.

This.

Probably why Chaos and Disorder sucked...

I figured he'd at least appreciate some of the song writing of acts like PJ . Also, I always thought the lyrics of the song Gold were poited at the grunge people

' ... there unhappy each and every day but hell is not fashion so what you tryin' to say'

Figured this was the point since the grungers were all about being unhappy with their fame and mainstream success.

I personally think Prince looked down on grunge, because it was more about the raw delivery, then about technical and instrumental skills

His remark about U2 winning a grammy with the Joshua three, instead of his album Sign of the Times ("I could easily play what they play, they can't play what I play") makes me think Prince tends to looks down on more 'basic' guitar driven rock.

[Edited 9/9/11 12:44pm]

I personally hear more of a groovy rock / blues rock-influence (Hendrix, Kravitz) and a bit of new-wave style playing (I like it there) on Chaos and Disorder, then a clear grunge influence.

I vaguely remember a quote where he said hearing grunge or Nirvana that he knew that they couldn't keep producing that vibe or energy, it can't be sustained.

Also that in contrast to grunges stripped down ness he went for horns and a bigger sound.

rdhull said:

I don't remember him making any comments but I know he used that flannel grunge influence by wearing one of those cheap flannel shirt hoodies for The Morning Papers cd single cover and in the video. Oh...and then there was the stage diving ala Vedder

His Lovesexy plaid was far superior.

Genesia said:

rdhull said:

I don't remember him making any comments but I know he used that flannel grunge influence by wearing one of those cheap flannel shirt hoodies for The Morning Papers cd single cover and in the video. Oh...and then there was the stage diving ala Vedder

His Lovesexy plaid was far superior.

Agreed.

That 'Morning Papers' grunge plaid shirt was some cheap assed Mervyns crap.

rdhull said:

Genesia said:

His Lovesexy plaid was far superior.

Agreed.

That 'Morning Papers' grunge plaid shirt was some cheap assed Mervyns crap.

Mervyns...

I sincerely hope he hates grunge as much as I do.

Grunge killed rock n' roll.

He did the Guitar Magazine interview and the Undertaker album as a response to and his take on grunge. Three person band, all recorded in one tape roll.