...in 1992, as I recall. I did not see him, but I think Eileen told us he was in the VIP area listening to the album as well. He dispensed his minions to come mingle with the commoners.

Did anyone actually see him there? Anyone still here that attended the Convention? Share your memories/ pictures!

Here's a friend and me during the daytime thing/ meet and greet in front of the photo wall:

I prefer Uptown. They were more honest, critical.

Did Uptown have a convention?

starkitty said:

Here's a friend and me during the daytime thing/ meet and greet in front of the photo wall:

That is a cool WDC sweater!

I went to a Controversy convention, too. I am pretty sure it was in 1991. Prince and his band were in town, but most of us never saw Prince. I heard that the lucky folks who went to a small Mavis Staples concert at Glam Slam one night did see Prince (from a distance) in the VIP area, though.

It was a good convention. We all met with the rest of the NPG and they signed stuff for us. A couple of us even got a ride back to the hotel with Tommy B! He was blasting music in his car (well, more like a jeep, I think)

We also went over to Paisley Park Studios and about five people (who had won some type of a lottery) got a tour of the place, while the rest of us waited outside. They didn't meet Prince, though. Plus, I remember we all went to Glam Slam one night and they played almost all Prince songs - including nearly the entire Diamonds and Pearls record, which had recently been released. That was fun - dancing with a bunch of other Prince fans in Prince's own club.

We also saw Michael Bland perform, with his own band, at a club one night (don't remember the name of the place, but it WASN'T Glam Slam). Michael was awesome. There were rumors Prince was there and would play, but that didn't happen. It was a slamming show regardless.

I thought Eileen did a great job putting on the convention - especially since Prince and his people are obviously hard to pin down. Most of the other fans seemed happy, too. We were never promised that we would meet Prince, and the rest of the band was very accessible.

I can't find any photos, unfortunately, but I met some cool people there. Was anyone else at the 1991 convention?

Astasheiks said:

I was there too, but never saw Prince. Obviously he didn't want to be seen. It was a really fun time.

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/PrinceProducts-4/ShhhhGoGoDancer-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont36-03.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont37-02.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont37-11.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont38-28.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont38-31.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont38-32.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/MagazinesAndArticles-4/1992-Cont35-17.jpg[/img:$uid]

squirrelgrease said:

I was there too, but never saw Prince. Obviously he didn't want to be seen. It was a really fun time.

[img:$uid]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n276/squirrelgrease/PrinceProducts-4/ShhhhGoGoDancer-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

Loving all the pics, thanks for posting, but what's this from?

He let them sell a drink named after Purple Rain?!

The horror....the horror.

treehouse said:

He let them sell a drink named after Purple Rain?!

The horror....the horror.

What I'm more concerned about is the fact that there's no ingredients listed.

If he were to release cocktails nowadays, you know for definite they'd have varying amounts of Get Wild & 3121 perfume instead of alcohol.

erik319 said:

treehouse said:

He let them sell a drink named after Purple Rain?!

The horror....the horror.

What I'm more concerned about is the fact that there's no ingredients listed.

If he were to release cocktails nowadays, you know for definite they'd have varying amounts of Get Wild & 3121 perfume instead of alcohol.

Equally potent and mind-altering.

Meeting the band and ogling Carmen was pretty sweet, but hearing the album for the first time at a club was uber cool. Honestly, I dug the music then, but when I was able sit down and digest the actual album after I purchased it, I really thought (and still do) it was the beginning of the end. After the flaccid Diamonds & Pearls, this "harder" follow-up seemed like a mess. Sure, there are a couple classic tracks that can be culled from it, but it's mostly unlistenable to me.

I used to buy Controversy magazine in HMV every time it came out. I could only read in wonder about the Glam Slam clubs etc.

Travelling to the US back then was out of my reach, I was beginning to explore places like London, but going to Minneapolis for a party was a no no.

starkitty said:

Here's a friend and me during the daytime thing/ meet and greet in front of the photo wall:

Nice Graffiti.

squirrelgrease you are KILLIN' me. Diana Dawkins sounds so familiar... there was a gal in Philly and a bunch of us used to trek to her house for meetups. I have that Carmen promo, autographed. I need to get some scans in.

I DRANK A LITTLE RED CORVETTE, and then played pool.

Me, headed to Glam Slam (lanyard on my hip):

So, we attended the convention, but we didn't follow the convention agenda. My friend Tracy is close friends with Charmin Michelle, who was Jesse Johnson's backup singer. We hung out with her the whole time, except for the actual Glam Slam visits. Charmin got us into some awards ceremony, where we saw members of The Revolution (not the girls, sadly), Jam/ Lewis, Janet (I'm pretty sure), other various musical luminaries and Menudo (who cares but one of them was trying to holler at Charmin). We went to see her perform with her jazz trio and she gave us some gossip on Jesse and Mazerati (I think the lead singer was working at a shoe store).

Since Mayte/Carmen were hanging out, I wonder what the P dynamic was then.

Also, I heard there was drama with some of the gals there but I forget it. Anyone remember?

Here we go:

hey people..i hardly ever post here but regularly read and catch up so thought id have to post about my highlights of the first 1991 convention

Sitting at the fine line cafe having sunday brunch watch "The Steeles" perform...table next to us gets asked if they could move to another one ..a while later i look over and sat next to us is Prince with Diamond and Pearl either side of him..tried to play it cool..managed it..only just but couldnt help peeking looks over..he looked like he had just stepped out of a promo photo shoot/video..but then we all know how immaculate he looks.

Set of all black stretch limos and all white limos pick everyone up in groups to take us all to Glam Slam..queues round the block..we all got to step out and go straight into the venue..made to feel VIP for the night and if my memory serves me well the limos and such were put on at princes request

Im sure theres more to remember..someone help me out here ..good times

Richie

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

Britbeef said:

hey people..i hardly ever post here but regularly read and catch up so thought id have to post about my highlights of the first 1991 convention

Sitting at the fine line cafe having sunday brunch watch "The Steeles" perform...table next to us gets asked if they could move to another one ..a while later i look over and sat next to us is Prince with Diamond and Pearl either side of him..tried to play it cool..managed it..only just but couldnt help peeking looks over..he looked like he had just stepped out of a promo photo shoot/video..but then we all know how immaculate he looks.

Set of all black stretch limos and all white limos pick everyone up in groups to take us all to Glam Slam..queues round the block..we all got to step out and go straight into the venue..made to feel VIP for the night and if my memory serves me well the limos and such were put on at princes request

Im sure theres more to remember..someone help me out here ..good times

Richie

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

Richie -

How cool! So you were at the same convention I was at. Me and my roomies from the convention didn't go to the gospel brunch (I think we went to a local music awards ceremony instead), and we were all kicking ourselves afterwards! I didn't realize Prince had sat so close to you. And limos? We missed that, too - but I do remember we didn't have to wait on line at Glam Slam.

We still had a great time, though. Seeing Michael Bland's band play was a highlight for me. That was a fun convention, wasn't it?