Maybe this should go in the Associated Artists discussion, but I'm posting it because of the interesting things he says about Prince, so I think it is appropriate here.

http://www.huffingtonpost...94086.html

Thanks for posting!

Hope it stays here it'll get more exposure.

I've isolated the main Prince bit for onlookers. Good stuff.

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MR: A&M was a prince among labels, yeah. Now as I understand it, you guys were sort of early protégé's of Prince as well, is that right?

JJ: Well, Prince is incredible and I had the chance to go to school with him. I'll tell you a story. Back when I was in Junior High, we put together a small band to play for a play or something that the school was doing. I was the drummer and Prince was the guitar player, and I didn't even know he could play the guitar, but he killed it. Anyway, we took a bathroom break one day during practice and I heard someone playing the drums during the break and it was Prince. Even as a kid, he had the ability to pick up any instrument that someone else played and play it 10 times better than them. (laughs) So, the fact that I got a chance to know him like that back then and then work with him years later was pretty cool. The thing I always say is that working with him taught us a lot, but the thing he taught us most about is a work ethic. He is the hardest working guy that I've ever dealt with. He would literally come to our practices for 5 or 6 hours, then he'd go to his own band practice and work with them for 5 or 6 hours, then he'd go to the studio and work all night. The next day he would walk into our rehearsals with a cassette and pop in a song like "1999" and we would say, "When did you have time to do this?" It's incredible. (laughs)

He was a wonderful mentor for us and the reason that we're here today is because of him giving us the break of putting us on the map with him. He's right up there to me with the greats of all time. He's also the type of musician that would be great no matter what era he grew up in. He would have been great in the jazz era with Miles Davis, and in the sixties with Sly and Jimi Hendrix and so on, you know? And not only has he done a lot musically throughout his career, he also challenged the way that records are released. He was one of the first artists to embrace putting his music out on the internet; he stood up to Warner Bros. because he wanted to release more records than Warner Bros. wanted at that time. The fact that he even wanted to try something different and dared to do it was great. When he had a hit with "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and then the next album he comes out in a bikini and leg warmers and a trench coat doing New Wave and rock 'n' roll was crazy, but he was one of the ones that set that tone at the time.

MR: That's right. I think he and Madonna were two of the biggest artists of that era breaking down barriers.

JJ: Well, nothing against Madonna but here's the thing about Prince. He wrote every song and played every instrument and engineered his own recordings. He took it a step further than pretty much anybody you can think of. It was pretty amazing being able to work with him and hopefully, some of that rubbed off on us. I know it did; certainly it did in the way of our work ethic. Terry and I feel that if we can't out-talent someone, we can certainly out-work 'em. (laughs) And that's what we try to do sometimes.

MR: These days, you don't often hear people talking about the Minneapolis sound often, but you really put that sound on the map. What do you think about the current state of the Minneapolis sound?

JJ: You know, I don't know because I haven't lived in Minneapolis for the last 6 or 7 years. It's funny because we did a big Homecoming Concert there on November 5th, which was great. I can say, though, that it was great for us growing up because we kind of did our own thing. We didn't have a lot of the influences that other places in the country had. If you lived in LA or New York, those sounds were what you heard and emulated. As a black kid growing up in Minneapolis, we basically just heard pop music because there was a sunup to sundown black station, but you could maybe get it an hour or two a day. So, we never really heard those records. Our influences were more Chicago, Seals & Crofts, and America. It wasn't until later on when I met Terry Lewis that I was introduced to Stevie Wonder and Kool & The Gang and those groups. So, for us, putting rock guitar over a soul beat or using synth sounds as pads for a song was just stuff that we came up with. It also doesn't hurt to have Prince as the ambassador of this Minneapolis sound. All of a sudden when people found out where he was from, they were suddenly interested in the other music coming from Minneapolis and we just happened to be a part of it. The funniest part is that towards the end of our heyday, people would move from other parts of the country and live in Minneapolis so that they could say that they were from here. (laughs) It really was like you saw in the movie Purple Rain, but after a while it became touristy and wasn't the same anymore. To me, that was sort of the death of the local music scene. I still very much think that it's a very vibrant cultural arts city--there's great theater, great museums, a lot of live music, and I know that that continues. I wouldn't be surprised to see a second generation of great new sound from there at all.

Good stuff. Thanks !

Nice read.

Its nice 2 read the wonderful things JJ had 2 say about Prince and his work ethic. Prince is where he is 2day because of it.

Thank u FunkiestOne and MarquessMarq 4 sharing

Jimmy Jam laid out a lot of knowledge on this interview, great stuff.

FlyteTyme Wynd Chymes The Time

Champagne

[Edited 11/15/11 16:10pm]

Glad to have interviews with The Time Original 7ven again. It's been such a long break hasn't it?

Jimmy Jam laying down SOME SCIENCE about Prince and the MPLS music scene. Is it me, or do Jimmy and Terry seem really cool?

That's a really nice interview. ^^^ It's not just you, they do seem really cool.

JJ is the real deal like his honesty & Prince stories...

B

[Edited 11/16/11 20:27pm]

I absolutely adore Jimmy Jam , what an amazing talent and great good man!

MarquessMarq said:

JJ: Well, nothing against Madonna but here's the thing about Prince. He wrote every song and played every instrument and engineered his own recordings. He took it a step further than pretty much anybody you can think of.

Says it A.L.L.

cool post! ...JJ the man

Jimmy and Terry are dat deal. just watched the Time doc that came with the dvd. Enjoyed it quite a bit. Dems my dudes. I know they'll give their Detroit peeps a lil extra when they tour! I ain't missing them this time!

madhouseman said:

Jimmy Jam laying down SOME SCIENCE about Prince and the MPLS music scene. Is it me, or do Jimmy and Terry seem really cool?

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

Genesia said:

madhouseman said:

Jimmy Jam laying down SOME SCIENCE about Prince and the MPLS music scene. Is it me, or do Jimmy and Terry seem really cool?

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

Also everyone around him that works 4 him(or use to) r extremely nice and approachable(Bodyguards & excluded). That says a lot about Prince.

Genesia said:

madhouseman said:

Jimmy Jam laying down SOME SCIENCE about Prince and the MPLS music scene. Is it me, or do Jimmy and Terry seem really cool?

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

No one here thinks Prince is not a hardworker...

Working hard and creating new fresh music with a message that is relatable are two very different things...

Prince`s departure from his old perspective is troubling for many of us who became attracted to the postulates of the world he appeared to have created through his music:

• racial equality
• sexual equality
• respect for one another
• tolerance of minority perspectives

Those band members probably feel the same way that many of us fans do with who Prince has become as an older adult. The homophobia, the woman are less than males, the idea that there is only one real God, etc. The poor guy got lost somewhere and proceeded to get even further lost.

This isn`t about him working hard or not.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Genesia said:

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

Also everyone around him that works 4 him(or use to) r extremely nice and approachable(Bodyguards & excluded). That says a lot about Prince.

I suppose Michael Koppleman is a slight exception (in saying nice things about Prince, not about being approachable).

Six of one half a dozen of the other I reckon. I'm sure he could be an a*shole, I'm sure he could be wonderful too. Over time people tend to think of the good stuff unless their departure left a really sour taste in the mouth and it never got resolved, e.e. Koppleman or maybe by the looks of things Jill Jones!

This post would be platinum by now oif Jam had dogged the hell out of Prince.

I see how yall do P.org

Graycap23 said:

MarquessMarq said:

JJ: Well, nothing against Madonna but here's the thing about Prince. He wrote every song and played every instrument and engineered his own recordings. He took it a step further than pretty much anybody you can think of.

Translation: Comparing Madonna 2 Prince is just plain dumb.

softandwet said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Also everyone around him that works 4 him(or use to) r extremely nice and approachable(Bodyguards & excluded). That says a lot about Prince.

I suppose Michael Koppleman is a slight exception (in saying nice things about Prince, not about being approachable).

Six of one half a dozen of the other I reckon. I'm sure he could be an a*shole, I'm sure he could be wonderful too. Over time people tend to think of the good stuff unless their departure left a really sour taste in the mouth and it never got resolved, e.e. Koppleman or maybe by the looks of things Jill Jones!

What did he say about Princey?

softandwet said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Also everyone around him that works 4 him(or use to) r extremely nice and approachable(Bodyguards & excluded). That says a lot about Prince.

I suppose Michael Koppleman is a slight exception (in saying nice things about Prince, not about being approachable).

Six of one half a dozen of the other I reckon. I'm sure he could be an a*shole, I'm sure he could be wonderful too. Over time people tend to think of the good stuff unless their departure left a really sour taste in the mouth and it never got resolved, e.e. Koppleman or maybe by the looks of things Jill Jones!

Jill just called Prince "her dear friend" on her fb page yesterday. And regarding nice things to say, itas not really juicy in that case. Nobody ever mentions how Prince basically put his neighborhood boys on the payroll, even sometimes in outlier roles just to get them some paper or a foot in the business. "You call em bodyguards but I call them my friends.." is a line that sort of encapsulates this notion. Much less giving his friends careers.

jayARDAHB said:

Genesia said:

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

No one here thinks Prince is not a hardworker...

Working hard and creating new fresh music with a message that is relatable are two very different things...

Prince`s departure from his old perspective is troubling for many of us who became attracted to the postulates of the world he appeared to have created through his music:

• racial equality
• sexual equality
• respect for one another
• tolerance of minority perspectives

Those band members probably feel the same way that many of us fans do with who Prince has become as an older adult. The homophobia, the woman are less than males, the idea that there is only one real God, etc. The poor guy got lost somewhere and proceeded to get even further lost.

This isn`t about him working hard or not.

Thank you!! I (and I'm sure a lot of us here) didn't and don't expect Prince's former associates to trash Prince. He was a genius back in the day! There's no denying that, and all of their positive/flattering memories are of him from back then!! I expect nothing but flattering stories from them regarding his genius and hard work! I think it's because of all that that most of us were fans in the first place.

But the Prince of TODAY is completely different, and they have indeed talked about the "negative" (if you wanna call it that) stuff he's done with them TODAY! But, if they were in his circle TODAY, with his radical change of views and lack of musical ideas since back in the day, would they be as complimentary? Who knows, but my guess would be that I doubt it!

cool to see Jimmy jam taking the high road in all of his thoughts/interviews concerning Prince.....class act

jayARDAHB said:

Genesia said:

Isn't it sort of hilarious how (a lot of) folks here are so quick to tear Prince down - and the people who've actually worked with him seem rather fond of him? Or at the very least, in awe of his work ethic? I mean, we've had interviews posted recently with Susannah, Brenda and Jimmy. And they all - at the very least - talk about how insanely hard the man works and how they don't blame him for the "name issues."

No one here thinks Prince is not a hardworker...

Working hard and creating new fresh music with a message that is relatable are two very different things...

Prince`s departure from his old perspective is troubling for many of us who became attracted to the postulates of the world he appeared to have created through his music:

• racial equality
• sexual equality
• respect for one another
• tolerance of minority perspectives

Those band members probably feel the same way that many of us fans do with who Prince has become as an older adult. The homophobia, the woman are less than males, the idea that there is only one real God, etc. The poor guy got lost somewhere and proceeded to get even further lost.

This isn`t about him working hard or not.

That is your opinion, but I dont think P is lost at all.

I loved P's 80's mantra of dance music sex romance and sexuality is all youll ever need...and white black puerto rican..everybody jus a freakin...but I was in my teens and early 20's....Im 40 now and quite frankly...those mantras are quite silly. Most of us evolve and grow philosphically and morally ...hopefully...and I think Prince has always been quite conservative deep down...alot of his songs/outfits of the past were for shock value or to generate interest.....As far as the music (which is the most important thing)...he has grown by leaps and bounds..musically...Lotus flower has some incredible musicianship on it...as does TRC......He still inspires and his live performance is still stellar. So he is not lost...he is in a new place...you can either "get on the boat" or stay on the ship that goes "around the world in a day"...either way..it'll be funky.

thepope2the9s said:

jayARDAHB said:

No one here thinks Prince is not a hardworker...

Working hard and creating new fresh music with a message that is relatable are two very different things...

Prince`s departure from his old perspective is troubling for many of us who became attracted to the postulates of the world he appeared to have created through his music:

• racial equality
• sexual equality
• respect for one another
• tolerance of minority perspectives

Those band members probably feel the same way that many of us fans do with who Prince has become as an older adult. The homophobia, the woman are less than males, the idea that there is only one real God, etc. The poor guy got lost somewhere and proceeded to get even further lost.

This isn`t about him working hard or not.

That is your opinion, but I dont think P is lost at all.

I loved P's 80's mantra of dance music sex romance and sexuality is all youll ever need...and white black puerto rican..everybody jus a freakin...but I was in my teens and early 20's....Im 40 now and quite frankly...those mantras are quite silly. Most of us evolve and grow philosphically and morally ...hopefully...and I think Prince has always been quite conservative deep down...alot of his songs/outfits of the past were for shock value or to generate interest.....As far as the music (which is the most important thing)...he has grown by leaps and bounds..musically...Lotus flower has some incredible musicianship on it...as does TRC......He still inspires and his live performance is still stellar. So he is not lost...he is in a new place...you can either "get on the boat" or stay on the ship that goes "around the world in a day"...either way..it'll be funky.

Well said.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

jayARDAHB said:

No one here thinks Prince is not a hardworker...

Working hard and creating new fresh music with a message that is relatable are two very different things...

Prince`s departure from his old perspective is troubling for many of us who became attracted to the postulates of the world he appeared to have created through his music:

• racial equality
• sexual equality
• respect for one another
• tolerance of minority perspectives

Those band members probably feel the same way that many of us fans do with who Prince has become as an older adult. The homophobia, the woman are less than males, the idea that there is only one real God, etc. The poor guy got lost somewhere and proceeded to get even further lost.

This isn`t about him working hard or not.

Thank you!! I (and I'm sure a lot of us here) didn't and don't expect Prince's former associates to trash Prince. He was a genius back in the day! There's no denying that, and all of their positive/flattering memories are of him from back then!! I expect nothing but flattering stories from them regarding his genius and hard work! I think it's because of all that that most of us were fans in the first place.

But the Prince of TODAY is completely different, and they have indeed talked about the "negative" (if you wanna call it that) stuff he's done with them TODAY! But, if they were in his circle TODAY, with his radical change of views and lack of musical ideas since back in the day, would they be as complimentary? Who knows, but my guess would be that I doubt it!

This sounds more like wishful thinking. unless they say anything to the contrary i'm not going to assume either way on what they think of Prince's output and work ethics musically today. as far as negative stuff being said, it seems like they had negative things to say back then and today as well but they were not related to his music, unless they have said something in an article and I missed it.