muirdo said:

Eyasha said:

Let’s Go Crazy for The Real Royal Tour

Nui Te Koha

Melbourne Sunday Herald Sun, 6 May, Play Magazine (by email)

(I have skipped the preamble which I don’t have time to type - should be available on the internet later)

1. How do you compose a set list for a show? Good question, the set list selection is initially chosen by the length of time that has passed since we’ve last played a particular market. Then many other factors take hold: the size and average age of an audience; bigger, younger crowds like the party songs played immediately, so we generally comply. Hosting parties offstage in a private setting 4 larger crowds has trained us well in dancefloor management, if u will.
2. How many songs do you have on call (rehearsed and ready if you want to slot them into the show)? Roughly 200-300 songs with variations 4 each of them. 4 example: based upon crowd response any song can b lengthened or shortened with a simple cue: Raspberry Beret's second verse and bridge can b added if the audience sings louder than r lead singer. Also depending upon the diversity of the crowd we can quickly seque in 2 Cool, The Time's theme song. An urban audience knows all the words to that song whereas folks from Helsinki... well, u get the picture.
3. How do you view your catalogue of B-sides, which to some fans are as important as your hits? The concerts r tending 2 skew younger these days so once folks know they r on familiar ground, we can play some rarities. U don't put kids in the deep water until u make sure they can swim.
4. How do you approach those classic super-high notes these days? By hitting higher ones.
5. What are the three most important things on your tour rider, and why? Riders r the least important thing on tour.
6. As a band leader, what do you expect from the musicians you work with? 1. Foot washing 2. Locks of hair 3. Per diem.
7. You have said in interviews that you impose a basketball team type discipline on your band. What does that mean? That they play 2 win. Otherwise they'll b back-up dancing 4 Robin Thicke.
8. Live, what does the NPG give to your pre-NPG catalogue, especially the Revolution material? Every band is different. Most Revolution concerts stuck 2 setlists. In contrast, all past and present lineups of the NPG r based upon a collective conscience. In other words, they play like eye would if in their position.
9. Britney Spears has done two world tours lip-syncing her show. Your thoughts? Different strokes 4 different folks.
10. What do you think of 360 deals? They r great... 4 me 2 poop on. :/
11. What do you think about the album in this iTunes culture (and the ability to buy single songs)? It's cool cuz we usually buy books by the chapter. When we rented Avatar, we watched 5 scenes every weekend til it was finished.
12. How has iTunes ruined or saved music? Personally not a fan of digital music. Happy 2 say we grew up with the record player. Altho this current generation experiences the world differently - neither better nor worse, just different. It's not up 2 the past 2 dictate. That said, the decision 2 turn analog music in2 numerical data was not made by a musician. It was made by a music consumer. We all got dragged unwittingly 2 this well and r now paying the cost. When hipping a young artist 2 Joni Mitchell's canon of work, we don't direct them 2 iTunes. We sit them down and play the music chronologically. Finally, we would like 2 say how excited we all r 2 come back 2 Australia 2 show everybody what they've been missing all this time. Get ready 2 dance!

[Edited 5/5/12 16:08pm]

I don't believe this is Prince.

And if it is, that last answer is complete bullshit. Are we to believe he'll no longer be relying on Pro Tools to record and produce his music after he was so heavily touting it in interviews just a few short years ago?

Several of the other answers are bullshit too, especially regarding setlist selection.

errant said:

BobGeorge909 said:

errant said:

I don't believe this is Prince.

And if it is, that last answer is complete bullshit. Are we to believe he'll no longer be relying on Pro Tools to record and produce his music after he was so heavily touting it in interviews just a few short years ago?

Several of the other answers are bullshit too, especially regarding setlist selection.

He wasn't out touting it. He said a friend hipped him to use it. There is also the possibility of a perception difference on what is digital music. It seems he's speaking to a means of consumption rather than a creative process.

If he believed it, the waveforms for his last 10 albums wouldn't look like bricks.

flyorra said:

langebleu said:

It is a term for a type of deal with an artist. If you google it, you will find lots of information. For example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/360_deal

it's sold out too late in the day now.

I'm sure you'll be able to find someone who has a copy - if you live/work anywhere in the CBD, I can drop one off to you

In the meantime, you've at least got the scan, that reads pretty well (not to mention the OP typing it all out, which is much appreciated, btw!)

setlist question and answer translation .."i'm too lazy 2 really give the fans coming 2 the shows new material or classic versions so i'll stick with what i've been doing since the musicology tour"

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

What do you think about the album in this iTunes culture (and the ability to buy single songs)? It's cool cuz we usually buy books by the chapter. When we rented Avatar, we watched 5 scenes every weekend til it was finished.

[img:$uid]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e70/SexyBeautifulOne/grandpa_simpson_yelling_at_cloud_001.jpg[/img:$uid]

Remember the good ol' days when we bought books with 19 chapters of literary crap just to get to the only good one at the end? Me neither. But I can recall having to buy entire albums of musical crap just to get to the one descent song that I actually wanted, before iTunes came along.

Honestly, how often did your really have to do that?

Usually the one good song would be a single so you could just buy that. Also, pretty much all music shops had listening stations or they'd put an album on for you to hear if you asked them, so you could try before you buy.


You must've had really shitty luck if you ended up with tons of albums of crap.

Off the top of my head I can think of only album in my collection (and there are many) that I bought on the strength of one song and which turned out to be complete shit apart from that one song.

Gr8 interview!! Prince is very articulate......Can't wait to read the rest....

1. How do you compose a set list for a show? Good question, the set list selection is initially chosen by the length of time that has passed since we’ve last played a particular market. Then many other factors take hold: the size and average age of an audience; bigger, younger crowds like the party songs played immediately, so we generally comply. Hosting parties offstage in a private setting 4 larger crowds has trained us well in dancefloor management, if u will.
2. How many songs do you have on call (rehearsed and ready if you want to slot them into the show)? Roughly 200-300 songs with variations 4 each of them. 4 example: based upon crowd response any song can b lengthened or shortened with a simple cue: Raspberry Beret's second verse and bridge can b added if the audience sings louder than r lead singer. Also depending upon the diversity of the crowd we can quickly seque in 2 Cool, The Time's theme song. An urban audience knows all the words to that song whereas folks from Helsinki... well, u get the picture.
3. How do you view your catalogue of B-sides, which to some fans are as important as your hits? The concerts r tending 2 skew younger these days so once folks know they r on familiar ground, we can play some rarities. U don't put kids in the deep water until u make sure they can swim.
4. How do you approach those classic super-high notes these days? By hitting higher ones.
5. What are the three most important things on your tour rider, and why? Riders r the least important thing on tour.
6. As a band leader, what do you expect from the musicians you work with? 1. Foot washing 2. Locks of hair 3. Per diem.
7. You have said in interviews that you impose a basketball team type discipline on your band. What does that mean? That they play 2 win. Otherwise they'll b back-up dancing 4 Robin Thicke.
8. Live, what does the NPG give to your pre-NPG catalogue, especially the Revolution material? Every band is different. Most Revolution concerts stuck 2 setlists. In contrast, all past and present lineups of the NPG r based upon a collective conscience. In other words, they play like eye would if in their position.
9. Britney Spears has done two world tours lip-syncing her show. Your thoughts? Different strokes 4 different folks.
10. What do you think of 360 deals? They r great... 4 me 2 poop on. :/
11. What do you think about the album in this iTunes culture (and the ability to buy single songs)? It's cool cuz we usually buy books by the chapter. When we rented Avatar, we watched 5 scenes every weekend til it was finished.
12. How has iTunes ruined or saved music? Personally not a fan of digital music. Happy 2 say we grew up with the record player. Altho this current generation experiences the world differently - neither better nor worse, just different. It's not up 2 the past 2 dictate. That said, the decision 2 turn analog music in2 numerical data was not made by a musician. It was made by a music consumer. We all got dragged unwittingly 2 this well and r now paying the cost. When hipping a young artist 2 Joni Mitchell's canon of work, we don't direct them 2 iTunes. We sit them down and play the music chronologically. Finally, we would like 2 say how excited we all r 2 come back 2 Australia 2 show everybody what they've been missing all this time. Get ready 2 dance!

Hell with the young bucks, if they cannot handle the obscure stuff go to Lady KaKa.

I'd love to see Triumph interview P..lol

When I go to a show, I like to focus on only the setlists. Because that's what matters in a concert.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

[img:$uid]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e70/SexyBeautifulOne/grandpa_simpson_yelling_at_cloud_001.jpg[/img:$uid]

I dig me some Hatrina.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

What do you think about the album in this iTunes culture (and the ability to buy single songs)? It's cool cuz we usually buy books by the chapter. When we rented Avatar, we watched 5 scenes every weekend til it was finished.

[img:$uid]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e70/SexyBeautifulOne/grandpa_simpson_yelling_at_cloud_001.jpg[/img:$uid]

Remember the good ol' days when we bought books with 19 chapters of literary crap just to get to the only good one at the end? Me neither. But I can recall having to buy entire albums of musical crap just to get to the one descent song that I actually wanted, before iTunes came along.

You had the option of buying a 45 and if you had loads of albums that were full of crap it would say something about your taste. I have albums, tapes and CDs and digital downloads that I can listen to completely without skipping because I have good taste and I did my research.

The sound quality of digital music is awful but we have to live with it We do not have to pretend all is good with digital.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Gr8 interview!! Prince is very articulate......Can't wait to read the rest....

1. How do you compose a set list for a show? Good question, the set list selection is initially chosen by the length of time that has passed since we’ve last played a particular market. Then many other factors take hold: the size and average age of an audience; bigger, younger crowds like the party songs played immediately, so we generally comply. Hosting parties offstage in a private setting 4 larger crowds has trained us well in dancefloor management, if u will.
2. How many songs do you have on call (rehearsed and ready if you want to slot them into the show)? Roughly 200-300 songs with variations 4 each of them. 4 example: based upon crowd response any song can b lengthened or shortened with a simple cue: Raspberry Beret's second verse and bridge can b added if the audience sings louder than r lead singer. Also depending upon the diversity of the crowd we can quickly seque in 2 Cool, The Time's theme song. An urban audience knows all the words to that song whereas folks from Helsinki... well, u get the picture.
3. How do you view your catalogue of B-sides, which to some fans are as important as your hits? The concerts r tending 2 skew younger these days so once folks know they r on familiar ground, we can play some rarities. U don't put kids in the deep water until u make sure they can swim.
4. How do you approach those classic super-high notes these days? By hitting higher ones.
5. What are the three most important things on your tour rider, and why? Riders r the least important thing on tour.
6. As a band leader, what do you expect from the musicians you work with? 1. Foot washing 2. Locks of hair 3. Per diem.
7. You have said in interviews that you impose a basketball team type discipline on your band. What does that mean? That they play 2 win. Otherwise they'll b back-up dancing 4 Robin Thicke.
8. Live, what does the NPG give to your pre-NPG catalogue, especially the Revolution material? Every band is different. Most Revolution concerts stuck 2 setlists. In contrast, all past and present lineups of the NPG r based upon a collective conscience. In other words, they play like eye would if in their position.
9. Britney Spears has done two world tours lip-syncing her show. Your thoughts? Different strokes 4 different folks.
10. What do you think of 360 deals? They r great... 4 me 2 poop on. :/
11. What do you think about the album in this iTunes culture (and the ability to buy single songs)? It's cool cuz we usually buy books by the chapter. When we rented Avatar, we watched 5 scenes every weekend til it was finished.
12. How has iTunes ruined or saved music? Personally not a fan of digital music. Happy 2 say we grew up with the record player. Altho this current generation experiences the world differently - neither better nor worse, just different. It's not up 2 the past 2 dictate. That said, the decision 2 turn analog music in2 numerical data was not made by a musician. It was made by a music consumer. We all got dragged unwittingly 2 this well and r now paying the cost. When hipping a young artist 2 Joni Mitchell's canon of work, we don't direct them 2 iTunes. We sit them down and play the music chronologically. Finally, we would like 2 say how excited we all r 2 come back 2 Australia 2 show everybody what they've been missing all this time. Get ready 2 dance!

It is a good interview and funny. A lot of people on this board take shit to seriously and should really get off the Purple train and check out the quality music of Justin Bieber.

L4OATheOriginal said:

setlist question and answer translation .."i'm too lazy 2 really give the fans coming 2 the shows new material or classic versions so i'll stick with what i've been doing since the musicology tour"

But not every person who goes to see Prince goes to every single show and listens to every single live bootleg.

Yeah, let's pack an arena full of people and play a bunch of songs that nobody's heard!

Paris9748430 said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

setlist question and answer translation .."i'm too lazy 2 really give the fans coming 2 the shows new material or classic versions so i'll stick with what i've been doing since the musicology tour"

But not every person who goes to see Prince goes to every single show and listens to every single live bootleg.

Yeah, let's pack an arena full of people and play a bunch of songs that nobody's heard!

wait u forgot .. lets play PR every dam setlist too ugh that 20 yr some old song is getting quite OLD

toots said:

Paris9748430 said:

But not every person who goes to see Prince goes to every single show and listens to every single live bootleg.

Yeah, let's pack an arena full of people and play a bunch of songs that nobody's heard!

wait u forgot .. lets play PR every dam setlist too ugh that 20 yr some old song is getting quite OLD

You're right, during an arena tour, an artist should NEVER play his most popular and enduring song because of how old it is!

I guess the Rolling Stones should've stopped playing Satisfaction in the 80's.

Springsteen should drop Born to Run from his setlist.

Stevie Wonder should never play Superstition again!

Like I said, not everybody goes to every single show and listens to every single bootleg. If you're tired of hearing those songs, it's your own fault.

Paris9748430 said:

I have now added the preamble above.

The usual moans, from the usual suspects: Prince playing the hits - only on the org...!

What is so difficult to comprehend?

- Prince is playing large arenas i.e. 20k crowds

- He has promised 'the hits' - because that's what the mainstream wanna hear

The 'Welcome 2 ......' gt run has been very successful - very few artists switch up their setlists like Prince does; no 2 concerts are the same

Some of y'all just look for negative - jeez he aint even played in ustralia yet and you're knocking him already. No wonder he's on a nostalgia trip - gets plenty of love outside of his hardcore fanbase.

80spfantwp said:

NeonCraxx said:

That Britney Spears question was random as fuck.

I thought that too. :/

Waste of a question. New album details would've been ∞% better.

best shit prince has said in a long time.

'4 me 2 poop on' !! i love it!

Paris9748430 said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

setlist question and answer translation .."i'm too lazy 2 really give the fans coming 2 the shows new material or classic versions so i'll stick with what i've been doing since the musicology tour"

But not every person who goes to see Prince goes to every single show and listens to every single live bootleg.

Yeah, let's pack an arena full of people and play a bunch of songs that nobody's heard!

so u've never heard anything past purple rain i take it then?

it's called BALANCE. belive it or not there are prince fans that do like his material outside of the 80's. hard 2 imagine right?

but it's also called MARKETING. if something is played that someone may enjoy, they might be inclined 2 track down the song and or album it was from.

and it's also called GOOD BUSINESS. last i checked bruce springsteen's new tour mentions in it's advertisement that there will be classic and new tracks from his new album on his tour. same can be said about madonna's show. why can't prince do the same? no let's bill him like gladys knight and just have a show full of hits and nothing more. but if that is what is going 2 be the basis then advertise that it's just gonna be a greatest hits tour and nothing else. don't dare expect b side cuts cause the YOUNGER generation knows nothing of his legacy outside of 1999 and purple rain. if that is how the setlist is going 2 be then ADVERTISE it as such and let consumer be advised. then the problem is solved right there.

I was lucky enough to submit some of these questions.. typical answers though lol

toots said:

Paris9748430 said:

But not every person who goes to see Prince goes to every single show and listens to every single live bootleg.

Yeah, let's pack an arena full of people and play a bunch of songs that nobody's heard!

wait u forgot .. lets play PR every dam setlist too ugh that 20 yr some old song is getting quite OLD

u mean he's never done that song live before ..EVER?

Paris9748430 said:

toots said:

wait u forgot .. lets play PR every dam setlist too ugh that 20 yr some old song is getting quite OLD

You're right, during an arena tour, an artist should NEVER play his most popular and enduring song because of how old it is!

I guess the Rolling Stones should've stopped playing Satisfaction in the 80's.

Springsteen should drop Born to Run from his setlist.

Stevie Wonder should never play Superstition again!

Like I said, not everybody goes to every single show and listens to every single bootleg. If you're tired of hearing those songs, it's your own fault.

Good points. I could never see an artist not playing his most popular or classics at an arena show, especially when it's the fans that made those songs popular, so it is not surprising that a musician would play their most familiar and popular songs, during their shows. Agree with you about Stevie, Bruce and the Rolling Stones' popular songs. I think some fans forget at times, that Prince is not playing his songs, for 'one' particular fan at his shows, especially when he has to play for an entire 'audience' combined of fans of his music from the late 70s/the 80s/90s/2000s, and various age groups.

Paris9748430 said:

toots said:

wait u forgot .. lets play PR every dam setlist too ugh that 20 yr some old song is getting quite OLD

You're right, during an arena tour, an artist should NEVER play his most popular and enduring song because of how old it is!

I guess the Rolling Stones should've stopped playing Satisfaction in the 80's.

Springsteen should drop Born to Run from his setlist.

Stevie Wonder should never play Superstition again!

Like I said, not everybody goes to every single show and listens to every single bootleg. If you're tired of hearing those songs, it's your own fault.

now that's one of the most stupidiest things on here i have ever heard. how is it the listerners fault for being tired of hearing a song? if anyone turns on the radio, tv and hears a song it's their fault? really? some people think that purple rain is the only album he's ever done in over a 30+ year career. better yet go google up joe perry and read what he thinks about walk this way playing it over and over again or many other musicians that have that same feeling about some of their biggest hits. u might be suprised how they really feel about it.

L4OATheOriginal said:

Paris9748430 said:

You're right, during an arena tour, an artist should NEVER play his most popular and enduring song because of how old it is!

I guess the Rolling Stones should've stopped playing Satisfaction in the 80's.

Springsteen should drop Born to Run from his setlist.

Stevie Wonder should never play Superstition again!

Like I said, not everybody goes to every single show and listens to every single bootleg. If you're tired of hearing those songs, it's your own fault.

now that's one of the most stupidiest things on here i have ever heard. how is it the listerners fault for being tired of hearing a song? if anyone turns on the radio, tv and hears a song it's their fault? really? some people think that purple rain is the only album he's ever done in over a 30+ year career. better yet go google up joe perry and read what he thinks about walk this way playing it over and over again or many other musicians that have that same feeling about some of their biggest hits. u might be suprised how they really feel about it.