Have any of you seen Prince perform outside a traditional concert or club setting?

I was lucky enough to see the 3 song performance in Turtles Rhythm & Views (a now defunct Atlanta record store) in 1993

That same weekend (I didn't see this one BTW) Prince was snowed in and couldn't travel to the next town, and suposedly he played solo in the hotel bar

Anyone else have a story?

what about paisley park?

such as rehearsing there?

or playing the piano in the studio?

unique said:

what about paisley park?

such as rehearsing there?

or playing the piano in the studio?

That counts in my book!

his living room

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

Prince played for 47 minutes in my downstairs bathroom once. We chatted for hours afterwards too.

He liked my toilet paper.

motherfunka said:

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

I was there at Mayte's 21st birthday party and lots of other parties at Paisley in the mid-90's (public and invite only). The best performances, in my opinion, were the impromtu ones in the atrium. I have fond memories of the band lugging equipment from studio A out into the atrium because he decided he wanted to jam last minute.

AnXTheGirls said:

motherfunka said:

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

I was there at Mayte's 21st birthday party and lots of other parties at Paisley in the mid-90's (public and invite only). The best performances, in my opinion, were the impromtu ones in the atrium. I have fond memories of the band lugging equipment from studio A out into the atrium because he decided he wanted to jam last minute.

Cool. I probably know you or at least have seen you and vice versa. The invite only ones were the best, probably because of the exclusivity of it!

motherfunka said:

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

the dance studio/basketball hoops room at the time that's now something else?

unique said:

motherfunka said:

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

the dance studio/basketball hoops room at the time that's now something else?

I don't think I ever saw the dance studio/basketball hoops room. The rehearsal area that I'm talking about was on the left side of the atrium and down the hall and to the right. It can be seen briefly in the Beautiful Experience film where Jacob Armen, Eric, St Paul, and Ricky are playing "jazz". Now that I think about it, I think Studios A and B were to the right of the atrium. Been some years since I've been in that part.

motherfunka said:

unique said:

the dance studio/basketball hoops room at the time that's now something else?

I don't think I ever saw the dance studio/basketball hoops room. The rehearsal area that I'm talking about was on the left side of the atrium and down the hall and to the right. It can be seen briefly in the Beautiful Experience film where Jacob Armen, Eric, St Paul, and Ricky are playing "jazz". Now that I think about it, I think Studios A and B were to the right of the atrium. Been some years since I've been in that part.

i know where you mean. i don't remember it from the tv show as i've not watched it in years. the hoops room is on the left side if going down. it's just a bit further down from memory. i think it's next to the little rehearsal room that larry was using. they had the graffiti bridge bike in the room you are talking about during one of the cellys and you could get your photo taken on it

motherfunka said:

unique said:

the dance studio/basketball hoops room at the time that's now something else?

I don't think I ever saw the dance studio/basketball hoops room. The rehearsal area that I'm talking about was on the left side of the atrium and down the hall and to the right. It can be seen briefly in the Beautiful Experience film where Jacob Armen, Eric, St Paul, and Ricky are playing "jazz". Now that I think about it, I think Studios A and B were to the right of the atrium. Been some years since I've been in that part.

Your right. Studios A and B were on the right, Studio C was on the left (before the hoops room) and that's where they used to record and had to drag equipment out of for impromtu atrium performances.

unique said:

motherfunka said:

I don't think I ever saw the dance studio/basketball hoops room. The rehearsal area that I'm talking about was on the left side of the atrium and down the hall and to the right. It can be seen briefly in the Beautiful Experience film where Jacob Armen, Eric, St Paul, and Ricky are playing "jazz". Now that I think about it, I think Studios A and B were to the right of the atrium. Been some years since I've been in that part.

i know where you mean. i don't remember it from the tv show as i've not watched it in years. the hoops room is on the left side if going down. it's just a bit further down from memory. i think it's next to the little rehearsal room that larry was using. they had the graffiti bridge bike in the room you are talking about during one of the cellys and you could get your photo taken on it

Dag! How did I miss the GB bike?! I remember the Purple Rain bike downstairs, next to the vault on the way to the garage. Which I thought was hilarious.

Don't know if video shoots or tv specials count, but here goes:

Nothing Compares 2 U (concert scenes)

Sexy MF (garage scene)

My Name Is Prince

I Wanna Melt With U

Get Wild

Somebody Somebody (club scene)

The Ryde Dyvine

The Beautiful Experience (concert scenes)

Love 4 One Another (2 different nights of filming)

Emancipation Freedom Day Concert

Rave Un2 The Year 2000 (2 days of fimling, wasn't really NYE though)

motherfunka said:

motherfunka said:

Sexy MF (garage scene)

Details

rdhull said:

motherfunka said:

Sexy MF (garage scene)

Details

That part was filmed in March 92 on a Saturday night. It was filmed in the garage at Paisley Park. A lot of waiting around, as with all of his shoots. Definitely cool to watch him work though. There was a party afterwards held in the atrium.

The I Wanna Melt With U video shoot was the most fun. It was done at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, in the Erotic City back room. They had hired a bunch of strippers, some totally nude. Some of the girls came walking through the room with these big dogs on a leash. They were using the House of Pain song Jump Around to get the crowd dancing. Randee St Nicholas was directing the video. Tony M was like, "We're all going to hell for this"!

[img:$uid]http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/dboen/Prince%20Cool%20Stuff/DSC00940-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

AnXTheGirls said:

motherfunka said:

I don't think I ever saw the dance studio/basketball hoops room. The rehearsal area that I'm talking about was on the left side of the atrium and down the hall and to the right. It can be seen briefly in the Beautiful Experience film where Jacob Armen, Eric, St Paul, and Ricky are playing "jazz". Now that I think about it, I think Studios A and B were to the right of the atrium. Been some years since I've been in that part.

Your right. Studios A and B were on the right, Studio C was on the left (before the hoops room) and that's where they used to record and had to drag equipment out of for impromtu atrium performances.

Studio A is on the right side of the Atrium and Studio B is on the left side. The blacklight room (Studo B Pre-Room) is on the left of that small hallway right before the basketball court/dance rehearsal room. Studio B also has an exit door that leads to the hallway with all the time period images that are blown up.

motherfunka said:

rdhull said:

Details

That part was filmed in March 92 on a Saturday night. It was filmed in the garage at Paisley Park. A lot of waiting around, as with all of his shoots. Definitely cool to watch him work though. There was a party afterwards held in the atrium.

The I Wanna Melt With U video shoot was the most fun. It was done at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, in the Erotic City back room. They had hired a bunch of strippers, some totally nude. Some of the girls came walking through the room with these big dogs on a leash. They were using the House of Pain song Jump Around to get the crowd dancing. Randee St Nicholas was directing the video. Tony M was like, "We're all going to hell for this"!

[img:$uid]http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/dboen/Prince%20Cool%20Stuff/DSC00940-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

cool

I always think of Bland referring to Aunt Esther ias Princes' moms in that garage scene video.

motherfunka said:

Don't know if video shoots or tv specials count, but here goes:

Nothing Compares 2 U (concert scenes)

Sexy MF (garage scene)

My Name Is Prince

I Wanna Melt With U

Get Wild

Somebody Somebody (club scene) In MPLS? I love this video

The Ryde Dyvine

The Beautiful Experience (concert scenes)

Love 4 One Another (2 different nights of filming)

Emancipation Freedom Day Concert Was there a lot of people??? Seemed empty and I saw someone yawning.

Rave Un2 The Year 2000 (2 days of fimling, wasn't really NYE though)

motherfunka said:

rdhull said:

motherfunka said:

That part was filmed in March 92 on a Saturday night. It was filmed in the garage at Paisley Park. A lot of waiting around, as with all of his shoots. Definitely cool to watch him work though. There was a party afterwards held in the atrium.

The I Wanna Melt With U video shoot was the most fun. It was done at Glam Slam in Minneapolis, in the Erotic City back room. They had hired a bunch of strippers, some totally nude. Some of the girls came walking through the room with these big dogs on a leash. They were using the House of Pain song Jump Around to get the crowd dancing. Randee St Nicholas was directing the video. Tony M was like, "We're all going to hell for this"!

[img:$uid]http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt249/dboen/Prince%20Cool%20Stuff/DSC00940-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

cool

I always think of Bland referring to Aunt Esther ias Princes' moms in that garage scene video.

I haven't watched it in awhile, but wasn't it actually Levi that made the comment about it being Prince's momma?

I always liked the "yo man! what? she came. where? there. owww!!!"

motherfunka said:

rdhull said:

cool

I always think of Bland referring to Aunt Esther ias Princes' moms in that garage scene video.

I haven't watched it in awhile, but wasn't it actually Levi that made the comment about it being Prince's momma?

I always liked the "yo man! what? she came. where? there. owww!!!"

I guess it's Levi..its been a while for me too.

prime said:

motherfunka said:

Don't know if video shoots or tv specials count, but here goes:

Nothing Compares 2 U (concert scenes)

Sexy MF (garage scene)

My Name Is Prince

I Wanna Melt With U

Get Wild

Somebody Somebody (club scene) In MPLS? I love this video

The Ryde Dyvine

The Beautiful Experience (concert scenes)

Love 4 One Another (2 different nights of filming)

Emancipation Freedom Day Concert Was there a lot of people??? Seemed empty and I saw someone yawning.

Rave Un2 The Year 2000 (2 days of fimling, wasn't really NYE though)

The club scene where Prince is walking through the crowd and straight towards the camera was filmed in the Love 4 One Another room at Paisley Park, on a night that was just a DJ party.

There were a lot of people at the Emancipation Freedom Day Concert, maybe 500+.

Marco81 said:

motherfunka said:

I've seen a ton of shows at Paisley Park and most were like regular shows. There are a few that I can think of where they were invite only (pre 95 parties). One that I can think of that stands out was Mayte's 21st birthday party in Nov 94. They played about an hour in the atrium at Paisley Park. There were only about 40-50 people and Prince sang Happy Birthday to Mayte and a few other songs. They were playing on a riser that was about a foot off the floor. I was front and center and Prince handed me a black tambourine, which I still have to this day. Another was bascially just a jam session after a surprise concert Prince did at Glam Slam in Jan 92. It was in a much smaller rehearsal area than the soundstage, just down the hall from Studios A and B. It was the one where Terence Trent D'Arby grabbed a guitar and made a fool of himself. A couple others were in the fall of 93. One was after a Lenny Kravitz concert and the other after a Mavis Staple's concert. They were both in attendance. Same week, but different nights.

cool story, any chance u remembet what else they played at mayte's birthday apart from happy birthday? Thanks!

With some help from Uptown magazine, the set list was:

Pussy Control

Race

Mad

Happy Birthday

You and I (Rick James)

Flashlight (Parliament Funkadelic)

Levi was playing guitar, which was kind of odd since he hadn't officially been in the band since the Act II tour.

Those late nite parties around '98 - '99 and early 2000's were exceptional fun. Usually an invite would be sent out around 10pm for a show to begin at 1am. We never knew if Prince would show up and play, sometimes there'd be a long wait, but it was always way more than worth it when he came.

Most of these performances were held in the Love4OneAnother Room where Prince showcased his versitle, and tremendous talent all nite long. We never knew what to expect but Grand entertainment and Fun it was Lots of shows lasted til the Dawn and by that time our feet were screaming louder than the band

WOW!

Oh to live in MN.