^ He repeats the 'pyrrhic victory' line but he uses it for the release of Gold (p.296).

It's interesting, a few new things, as mentioned above, however he really doesn't use any original sources, he credits Per with about 50% of the quotes!

It seems to be a view from a distance, you don't really get the feeling of being 'Inside the music or the masks'. However, to his credit it is very readable and pretty well written but those silly errors do really bring it down....

I'm on the 1996 era now so will let you know more when I finish...

P.S. I'm in the UK too, but the release date here isn't until Feb so I ordered it used from the US for about £17 inc postage.

[Edited 11/21/11 0:55am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

Very readable so far...

although he spells 'Champagne'...'Shampagne' - i don't think I've seen this spelling before in a biog.

[Edited 11/19/11 10:37am]

Shampagne was used in a 1978 article in the Star Tribune:

http://www.startribune.co...18&c=y

But that is the only reference I remember too.

[Edited 11/21/11 3:26am]

Finished it last night. It's a pretty interesting read. The most revealing thing I guess for me was how truly prolific this gus was in his hey day. In that regard I'm trying to think of another musician who could come close to that type of output, with all of the side groups, movies, etc...Fascinating stuff.

Ronin treated the later years post Musicology as an after thought. A one line mention of the Las Vegas 21 nights residency. Definitely felt as if he had lost his wind towards the end of the book and just kind of threw the last chapter together.

I would love to read a Morris Day tell all...it seems brother man was done wrong if you believe Ronin.

Another error: P. 304 he talks about April 29,2000 more and more fans subscribing to his online music club with new songs, video and a radio show...however in 2000 it was called NPGOnlineLTD.com and was not a subscriber site.

He means the NPGMC but this didn't start until Feb 2001.

Finished it now too -

An easy, interesting read but a few irritating inaccuracies (listed above). I didn't feel I really learnt anything new from it. The part I was most interested in (1999-2010) wasn't covered in much depth, it seemed almost as if he rushed this part to meet a deadline and there isn't really any analysis or insight as to what happened between him and Mayte or him and Mani.

The main fault is that it used all third party sources, I don't think the author even interviewed any of the protagonists himself, this is a major flaw for a biography.

I think Per Nilsen should get some of the royalties as he is quoted almost 50% of the time!!

You don't really get a sense of who Prince is 'Inside the music or the masks', but what surprises me is the amount of people he fired and burnt his bridges with!

It does however, give quite a good insight into his innovative business practises post 2004 with concerts etc, as well as the poor business he did prior to that.

Although nicely written and accessible, in all, I would suggest you buy Alex Hahn's Possessed instead, this was better researched and hs much more analysis (although this only covers until 2003).

DMSR by Per Nilsen is great and the most detailed biog probably on this planet, (a bit too detailed I felt at times), the big flaw for me is that it only covers 1978-1988.

[Edited 11/23/11 2:48am]