So now as "Welcome 2 Australia" has come to an end is it time Prince rethinks his approach to shows and concerts.

The present tour has been evolving constantly and there are not to many artists can have such a variation in set-list from night to night but at the same time it has become very familiar to the fans over the past 5 years, since the "21 Nights" run in London.

The present show is itself and evolution from the "Musicology" Tour.

Going back through the tours there seems to have been a constant evolution...but occasionally there were sudden huge changes.

Examples of the evolution can be seen in the Era From "Dirty Mind" through to "Purple Rain" tours, small changes but always new shows...then came "Parade"...to me brand new out of the box.

"SoTT" followed which itself shared nothing from "Parade". But in my mind this moved on to become the "Lovesexy tour" eventually it became the Nude Tour, a greatest hits how but a new blacker band which of course took these elements and "Diamonds & Pearls" tour as well as "Act 1" and "Act 2" continued.

A rethink followed and this was the awesome "Gold" tour. A brand new show with no ties to the past...but heavily relying on samples...this sample reliance became the "Love 4 One Another" and "Jam of the Year" tours.

Then came a very new tour "One Night Alone" which has lead to the present form of a show.

Each time the show has changed dramaticly Parade, SoTT, Gold and ONA are universally acknowledged as the top tours of the Prince's career.

So is time for another dramatically change or an evoultion???

My preference is to see a NPG trio tour...just a drummer, bass and Prince playing basic Rock....samples of this, from previous tours and recordings, are held in high regard by fans, from "The Undertaker" recording, to 1997's birthday show in Toronto where he played "The Ride". The O2 aftershow as well as the "Congo Room " in LA

I for one would love to see this basic Led Zeppelin type show....(ps I know Led Zep had 4 members but Prince is every bit as good as Robert and Jimmy combined)

Your own thoughts or ideas on how to revitalise or reinvent Prince Live.

I think he should expand the sample set and do a sample tour.

I would pay good money just to see him sit and play piano all night!!

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

I would pay good money just to see him sit and play piano all night!!

I agree...But he still has to come to the Midwest.

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

I would pay good money just to see him sit and play piano all night!!

While I agree with you on this I just wonder would the public in general be willing to go along with this.

People still want a show, I saw Tori Amos do a similar show in Dublin last year and some of the audience lost interest very quickly and had their own converstions thus taking from the atmosphere.

So while 2+ hours of Prince on the piano sounds like a magic show, I fear a poor audience would quickly kill that magic.

I agree - as much as I would pay $1000 to see Prince and just a piano and acoustic guitar for 2-3 hours, I doubt the public in general would appreciate it. Sadly concerts have become so theatrical now and a spectacle - from Gaga's monster ball/born this way ball, Britneys "Circus Tour", Kylies "Les Follies" (with all those real waterfalls etc) & now Madonnas new tour - it is all has to be bigger and better and the public are now expecting these full blown massive productions. If they went and saw just Prince on a piano for the night they would like "boo" - which is sad, coz I think it would be awesome as would all other "orgers" but the reality is the general public want to be entertained with theatrics.

maybe the tour concept in main show and aftershow set up needs to be changed - ie a specific ticket covers 2 shows you go to one main show with all the lights etc which he loves doing anyway and does the stuff the "masses" wish to hear BUT instead of the ridiculous palava of the aftershows have them presold and pre booked etc so he can just sit on a piano for 2 hours etc. Bring back the NPGMC or something similar as well to cut out the fucktards that appeared during the recent tour of Australia. No ticket from main show, no membership then no small venue seat for you!!

The Welcome back 2 Form Tour

Funk Section

1) Lady Cab Driver

2) Head

3) Housequake ("bullshit" included!)

4) Cindy C

5) Erotic City

6) Funky band interlude... segues back into... Lady Cab Driver... segues into...

8) Rock Hard in a Funky Place... ends with killer guitar solo... segues into...

Guitar Section

7) Sister/Bambi/Endorphin Machine Medly

8) Cant Stop this Feeling i Got

9) I could never Take the Place of Your Man

10) Computer Blue... segues into...

11) Sexy MF... segues into band interlude... segues into...

Prince on Piano with full band

12) Under the Cherry Moon

13) Lights go Down

14) Love 2 the 9s

15) Mad Sex

Solo Piano

16) How come you dont call me (no band like the b'side)

17) Money Dont matter tonight

18) Starfish and Coffee

19) Adore

20) Condition of the Heart

21) When We're Dancing Close And Slow

Prince on Piano with full band

22) the Ladder... segues into band interlude

Guitar Funk Section

23) Cream

24) Chaos & Disorder

25) Shake!

26) Gett Off

27) Loose... segues into band interlude...

Electro Funk Section

27) Strange but True

28) I Wanna Melt with U

29) Return of the Bump Squad

30) Human Body

31) Dig u better dead

32) Lemon Crush

33) The Max

Thank you, Goodnight!

ENCORE

The Cross (with blazing guitar solo to finish off).

I disagree re a piano set. Neil Hannon does just that these days.

A trio tour is the way to go.

He needs a better name. Even Prince2012 would be better than Welcome2whatever. Most of his audience in America would have been well avquainted with the states and I doubt he can Welcome Australians to Australia.

He should chuck a Clapton (?) and tour with a 100 piece orchestra and a ridiculously huge all star band including Bruce Springsteen as a support act, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm, Larry Graham on bass Elton John on keys, Ringo Starr and Sheila E on drums Lionel Richie and Paul McCartney on backing vocals, Wendy on 3rd guitar, Lisa on 2nd keys, Keith Richards on crack and Santana,Ernie Isley, David Gilmour, Dex Dickerson and Chuck Berry as guest guitarists for one or two songs each.

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

No ticket from main show, no membership then no small venue seat for you!!

I think that's a terrible idea. What about those of us who would prefer to forego an arena-style show (and Purple Rain played for the gazillionth time) to hear the rarities that are usually played in a small venue? Those shows are usually general admission and extremely taxing, physically. Why should we stand in line for hours (enduring heaven knows what privations), only to have a bunch of people sashay to the front of the line when it's time for the show because they paid $25 for a main show ticket?

Jagar said:

He needs a better name. Even Prince2012 would be better than Welcome2whatever. Most of his audience in America would have been well avquainted with the states and I doubt he can Welcome Australians to Australia.

He should chuck a Clapton (?) and tour with a 100 piece orchestra and a ridiculously huge all star band including Bruce Springsteen as a support act, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm, Larry Graham on bass Elton John on keys, Ringo Starr and Sheila E on drums Lionel Richie and Paul McCartney on backing vocals, Wendy on 3rd guitar, Lisa on 2nd keys, Keith Richards on crack and Santana,Ernie Isley, David Gilmour, Dex Dickerson and Chuck Berry as guest guitarists for one or two songs each.

[Edited 6/4/12 9:46am]

omg. that sounds crazy but awesome at the same time.

Jagar said:

He needs a better name. Even Prince2012 would be better than Welcome2whatever. Most of his audience in America would have been well avquainted with the states and I doubt he can Welcome Australians to Australia.

He should chuck a Clapton (?) and tour with a 100 piece orchestra and a ridiculously huge all star band including Bruce Springsteen as a support act, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm, Larry Graham on bass Elton John on keys, Ringo Starr and Sheila E on drums Lionel Richie and Paul McCartney on backing vocals, Wendy on 3rd guitar, Lisa on 2nd keys, Keith Richards on crack and Santana,Ernie Isley, David Gilmour, Dex Dickerson and Chuck Berry as guest guitarists for one or two songs each.

and handjobs for all in attendance!

andlove said:

I missed Vegas the first time around. The small intimate club set-up seemed perfect for the positive vibes coming from everyone who has experienced Prince and his friends in an aferparty style setting.

I was close enough to him at the aftershow I saw to pick his pocket or pinch his ass.

In short:

I REALLY wish he would make a stop in the Midwest...I have been hearing about these awesome Welcome 2 shows for what, at least a year now, and would like a chance to see it myself. I am really hoping he isnt using is stays on the coasts to be his only US shows. Chicago & Detroit have huge Prince followings...Its hard for me to believe he expects us to travel to NYC or LA for a concert.

jfrost said:

Each time the show has changed dramaticly Parade, SoTT, Gold and ONA are universally acknowledged as the top tours of the Prince's career.

Acknowledged by who?

Prince's tours prior to 97 featured most of the material on the current album at the time, and since then it has mainly been greatest hits tours with MAYBE a few songs thrown in the mix. Prince realizes the majority of the people attending his concerts are not interested in his new material, and haven't been for several years. He knows if he did all these Welcome2 shows in various places playing his crappy new material that the next time around the crowds might not show up, so he sticks with the obvious choices for songs..over and over.

As for the aftershows, he should at least play some of the new material at those, but instead plays a long list of crappy covers sung by his backup singers. Selling tickets to aftershows kind of defeats the whole purpose for which they were intended, but since the aftershows have also become predictable, then why not!

Don't get me wrong, when he does the next show in Minneapolis...I'll be there! It would just be nice if he had some excellent new material and had the backbone to play it, but I'm not holding my breath. A reworking of Mountains, Anotherlover, All Day, All Night, etc...I can do without.

Poplife88 said:

I REALLY wish he would make a stop in the Midwest...I have been hearing about these awesome Welcome 2 shows for what, at least a year now, and would like a chance to see it myself. I am really hoping he isnt using is stays on the coasts to be his only US shows. Chicago & Detroit have huge Prince followings...Its hard for me to believe he expects us to travel to NYC or LA for a concert.

They were not that awesome. There was at least 30-45 minutes of awesome each night, but there was a lot of cheese and going through the motions. Still, a better show than the 1997-2001 tours. Anotherloverholenyohead was stuff of legend.

Poplife88 said:

I REALLY wish he would make a stop in the Midwest...I have been hearing about these awesome Welcome 2 shows for what, at least a year now, and would like a chance to see it myself. I am really hoping he isnt using is stays on the coasts to be his only US shows. Chicago & Detroit have huge Prince followings...Its hard for me to believe he expects us to travel to NYC or LA for a concert.

What about Minneapolis, for cripes sake? He could call it the "Welcome to my World" tour.

motherfunka said:

jfrost said:

Each time the show has changed dramaticly Parade, SoTT, Gold and ONA are universally acknowledged as the top tours of the Prince's career.

Acknowledged by who?

Prince's tours prior to 97 featured most of the material on the current album at the time, and since then it has mainly been greatest hits tours with MAYBE a few songs thrown in the mix. Prince realizes the majority of the people attending his concerts are not interested in his new material, and haven't been for several years. He knows if he did all these Welcome2 shows in various places playing his crappy new material that the next time around the crowds might not show up, so he sticks with the obvious choices for songs..over and over.

As for the aftershows, he should at least play some of the new material at those, but instead plays a long list of crappy covers sung by his backup singers. Selling tickets to aftershows kind of defeats the whole purpose for which they were intended, but since the aftershows have also become predictable, then why not!

Don't get me wrong, when he does the next show in Minneapolis...I'll be there! It would just be nice if he had some excellent new material and had the backbone to play it, but I'm not holding my breath. A reworking of Mountains, Anotherlover, All Day, All Night, etc...I can do without.

Acknowledged by whom you ask....Most members of the org would shortlist one of the above as favourite tours....and what did they have in common.....a lot of new music for the time so while dismissing the choices you then argue to while they are so important without even realising it.

A New make up means new energy which means with luck new music without a need to bow to the masses.

The tour should be "I AM PRINCE>>>>IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT THEN DON'T COME", with the same cockstep he had in the past.

Rebeljuice said:

The Welcome back 2 Form Tour

(Removed post as it is visable above)

Some great ideas, and odd song choices, some of them awesome. I saw Prince 6 times in 2011, and each show was less than 2 hours, so he'd never play all of that unless he did a total medley. I will also put an unrealistic setlist in my post for fun...He's got to play enough hits for the casual fans, and should probably play enough stuff for the hardcore fan.

First, he needs to get most of his old band back. A nice mix of Revolution and SOTT bands. He should play about 2.5 hours....and maybe a reformed Time as the opening act, with or without Jesse Johnson.

Time Opening Set:

Get It Up

Cool

777-9311

Strawberry Lake

Sick

Toast To The Party Girl

Jerkout

Skillet

The Walk

Gigolos Get Lonely Too

If I Was Yo Man

The Bird

The Stick

Jungle Love

Prince Set 1:

Let's Go Crazy

Sign O The Times

Play In The Sunshine

Housequake

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker

When Doves Cry

1999

Little Red Corvette

Delirious

Strange Relationship/6

Data Bank

Baby I'm A Star

Set 2:

I Like It There

Rock Hard In A Funky Place

Witness 4 The Prosecution

Computer Blue

Anotherloverholenyohead

Fury

I Wanna Be Your Lover

Soft And Wet

A Million Days

Still Waiting

Kiss

Mountains

Diamonds And Pearls

7

encore 1:

If I Was Your Girlfriend

The Beautiful Ones

encore 2:

Purple Rain

Anna Stesia

Guitar: Dez Dickerson, Wendy, Mico Weaver

Bass: Sonny T

Drums: John Blackwell, Sheila E

Keys: Lisa, Dr Fink, Tommy B

Horns: Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, Greg Boyer

Backing Vocals: Nobody other than the band members who can do this.

Now if the above show was played with complete lyrics, no ridiculous stage antics, it could probalby get right at 2.5 hours, and maybe under, by slightly shortening instrumental breaks in songs like D&P, but not making them corny like on the 1997 tour.

This is a huge Pipe Dream, would never ever happen, but I keep posting posts like this hoping it will.

xLiberiangirl said:

omg. that sounds crazy but awesome at the same time.

Set list for "The Greatest Concert of All Time ™" or Prince and Friends.minus orchestra (probably a one-off concert rather thana tour)

1999: Prince on lead vocals and lead guitar, Dez and Wendy on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Lisa on keyboards and backing vocals, Bobby Z. on drums, Dr. Fink on keyboards and Brownmark on bass. (cue, everyone goes OMG IT’S A GODDAM REUNION. HOLY!$@$)

Little Red Corvette: Prince on lead vocals, Dez on lead guitar and backing vocals, Wendy on rhythm and backing vocals, Lisa on keyboards and backing vocals, Bobby Z. on drums, Dr. Fink on keyboards and Brownmark on bass.

Te Amo Corazan: Prince on lead vocals and lead guitar, Santana on lead guitar, Sheila E. on drums, Lisa on keyboard, Wendy on rhythm, Brownmark on bass.

The Rainbow Children: Prince on lead vocals and bass, Herbie Hancock on keyboard, Renato (saxophone part on keyboard), Santana lead guitar, Sheila E. on drums, Lionel Richie singing the girl part.

Piano Medley:

How Come You Don’t Call Me: duet with Alicia Keys (Prince on piano), Brownmark on bass, Sheila E. on drums.

Starfish and Coffee: Prince and Elton John on piano and lead vocals, Ringo Starr on drums.

Purple Rain (Instrumental): Prince on piano
Condition of the Heart: Prince on piano and lead vocals, Elton John on piano.

Anna Stesia: Prince on Lead Vocals and piano, Larry Graham on bass, David Gilmour on lead guitar and backing vocals, Wendy on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Lisa on keyboard and backing vocals, Dr Fink on synth and backing vocals, Elton John on piano and backing vocals, Lionel Richie on backing vocals, Sheila E. on drums

End of Medley

Johnny B. Goode: Chuck Berry on lead/rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Prince on rhythm/lead guitar and backing vocals, Ringo Starr on drums, Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals, Elton John on piano.

Let’s Go Crazy(no added bullshit (gogogo etc.)): Prince on lead guitar and lead vocals, Wendy on rhythm guitar, Lisa on keyboard, Dr Fink on synth, Chuck Berry on co-lead (first solo 50’s style), Bobby Z on drums, Brownmark on Bass.
When You Were Mine: Prince on lead guitar and lead vocals, Bruce Springsteen on backing vocals and rhythm guitar, Ringo Starr on drums, Dr. Fink on keyboards and Andre Cymone guesting on bass. Segues into

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man: Same Band

Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad: Prince Lead Guitar and Lead vocals, Bruce Springsteen rhythm guitar, Dez Dickerson co-lead guitar, Andre Cymone bass, Ringo Starr on drums, Lisa and Dr. Fink on keyboards.

Bambi: Prince on Lead Guitar and Lead vocals, Dez Dickerson on rhythm guitar, Andre Cymone on bass, Bobby Z. on drums.

I’m Yours: Prince on lead guitar and lead vocals, Louis Johnson on bass, Bobby Z. on drums, Ernie Isley on co-lead/rhythm guitar.

End first half

Half time entertainment,

Tiny Dancer: Elton John on piano and lead vocals

Candle in the Wind: Elton John on piano and Lead Vocals

I’m on Fire: Bruce Springsteen on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Lisa on keyboard, Ringo Starr on drums.

Start Second Half

Thunder: Prince on lead vocals/guitar, Dez and Wendy rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Sheila E. drums, Larry Graham bass.

Guitar: Prince on lead vocals and lead/rhythm guitar, Santana on lead/rhythm guitar, Chuck Berry lead/rhythm guitar, Dez Dickerson lead/rhythm guitar, Ernie Isley lead/rhythm guitar, Bruce Springsteen lead/rhythm guitar,Keith Richard (guest) lead/rhythm Eric Clapton (guest) lead/rhythm guitar, Sheila E on drums, Paul McCartney on bass.

The Work: Prince lead vocals, Louis Johnson on bass, Eric Leeds with horn section, Sheila E. on drums.

Piano Medley 2:

Adore: Prince on piano and lead vocals

Do Me Baby: Prince on piano and lead vocals, Andre Cymone on bass.

Dirty Mind: Prince on piano (probably mostly instrumental)
Condition of the Heart: Prince on piano and lead vocals, Elton John on piano.

I Wanna Be Your Lover (album version): Prince on Lead Vocals and piano, Larry Graham and Louis Johnson on bass, Dez Dickerson on lead guitar and backing vocals, Wendy on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Lisa on keyboard and backing vocals, Dr Fink on synth and backing vocals. Bobby Z. on drums

End of Medley

Raspberry Beret: Prince on rhythm/lead guitar and lead vocals, Ringo Starr on drums, Paul McCartney on bass and backing vocals, Elton John on piano, Wendy on rhythm guitar, Lisa on keyboard.

Kiss (acoustic): Prince on lead vocals, Wendy on rhythm guitar.

Private Joy: Prince on lead vocals, Wendy on rhythm guitar, Lisa on keyboard, Dr Fink on synth, Dez Dickerson lead guitar, Bobby Z on drums, Brownmark on Bass.

When Doves Cry: Prince on lead vocals and lead guitar, Bobby Z, Ringo Starr and Sheila E. on drums, Lisa on keyboards, Dr. Fink on keyboards.
Controversy: Prince on lead guitar and vocals, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, Lionel Richie on backup vocals, Paul McCartney on bass and Bobby Z. on drums.

Sign O the Times: Prince on lead vocals/guitar, Dr. Fink on keyboard, Sheila E. on drums, Louis Johnson on bass.

All Along The Watchtower: Prince on lead guitar and vocals, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, Paul McCartney on bass and Ringo Starr on drums.

I Would Die 4 U: Prince on vocals, Dr. Fink on keyboard, Elton John on piano and backup vocals, Bruce Springsteen on rhythm guitar, Lisa on keyboards, Bobby Z. on drums and Brownmark on Bass

Baby I’m a Star: : Prince on vocals, Dr. Fink on keyboard, Elton John on piano and backup vocals, Bruce Springsteen on rhythm guitar, Lisa on keyboards, Bobby Z. on drums, Brownmark on Bass, Lenny Kravitz on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, Lionel Richie on backup vocals, Paul McCartney on bass, Dez Dickerson lead guitar, Andre Cymone bass, Louis Johnson bass, Larry Graham bass, Herbie Hancock keyboard, Wendy on rhythm guitar, Clapton on lead guitar, Santana on lead guitar, Keith Richards on rhthym guitar, Chuck Berry on lead guitar, Ringo Starr and Sheila E. on drums and Ernie Isley on guitar.

End

Encore: Purple Rain (long version): Prince lead guitar and lead vocals, Wendy guitar intro and rhythm guitar, Bobby Z on drums, Lisa on keyboard, Brownmark on bass. Everyone else on back-up vocals.

I admit this is mainly a revolution reunion as I don't know that much about Prince post 80's

Genesia said:

Poplife88 said:

I REALLY wish he would make a stop in the Midwest...I have been hearing about these awesome Welcome 2 shows for what, at least a year now, and would like a chance to see it myself. I am really hoping he isnt using is stays on the coasts to be his only US shows. Chicago & Detroit have huge Prince followings...Its hard for me to believe he expects us to travel to NYC or LA for a concert.

What about Minneapolis, for cripes sake? He could call it the "Welcome to my World" tour.

MLPS you all are included as well! ! But he hasnt played Chicago at all since 2004! It's time!

Poplife88 said:

Genesia said:

What about Minneapolis, for cripes sake? He could call it the "Welcome to my World" tour.

MLPS you all are included as well! ! But he hasnt played Chicago at all since 2004! It's time!

I live in Madison, so both Chicago and Minneapolis are fine by me. Just a quick spin on I-90 or 94, respectively.

jfrost said:

motherfunka said:

Acknowledged by who?

Prince's tours prior to 97 featured most of the material on the current album at the time, and since then it has mainly been greatest hits tours with MAYBE a few songs thrown in the mix. Prince realizes the majority of the people attending his concerts are not interested in his new material, and haven't been for several years. He knows if he did all these Welcome2 shows in various places playing his crappy new material that the next time around the crowds might not show up, so he sticks with the obvious choices for songs..over and over.

As for the aftershows, he should at least play some of the new material at those, but instead plays a long list of crappy covers sung by his backup singers. Selling tickets to aftershows kind of defeats the whole purpose for which they were intended, but since the aftershows have also become predictable, then why not!

Don't get me wrong, when he does the next show in Minneapolis...I'll be there! It would just be nice if he had some excellent new material and had the backbone to play it, but I'm not holding my breath. A reworking of Mountains, Anotherlover, All Day, All Night, etc...I can do without.

Acknowledged by whom you ask....Most members of the org would shortlist one of the above as favourite tours....and what did they have in common.....a lot of new music for the time so while dismissing the choices you then argue to while they are so important without even realising it.

A New make up means new energy which means with luck new music without a need to bow to the masses.

The tour should be "I AM PRINCE>>>>IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT THEN DON'T COME", with the same cockstep he had in the past.

Purple Rain, Lovesexy, Diamonds and Pearls, and Act I covered virtually all of the new songs at the time as well. I wasn't dismissing the choices by any means, just curious as to where they were universally acknowleged to be the best.

You'd need a lot more than luck to get Prince to do a tour with a ton of new material. Time has shown he isn't going to play much more than the hits here on out, since it's been that way for 15+ years. Sad but true!

motherfunka said:

jfrost said:

Acknowledged by whom you ask....Most members of the org would shortlist one of the above as favourite tours....and what did they have in common.....a lot of new music for the time so while dismissing the choices you then argue to while they are so important without even realising it.

A New make up means new energy which means with luck new music without a need to bow to the masses.

The tour should be "I AM PRINCE>>>>IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT THEN DON'T COME", with the same cockstep he had in the past.

Purple Rain, Lovesexy, Diamonds and Pearls, and Act I covered virtually all of the new songs at the time as well. I wasn't dismissing the choices by any means, just curious as to where they were universally acknowleged to be the best.

You'd need a lot more than luck to get Prince to do a tour with a ton of new material. Time has shown he isn't going to play much more than the hits here on out, since it's been that way for 15+ years. Sad but true!

Those four albums/tours were when P was in either artistic statement or commercial mode, Unfortunately he is stuck in a holding pattern.

I think we have to brainstorm concepts first and then fill in the details later. Prince works best that way I think. He can finetune the set-list when he has the right creative idea in place and he lets it flow from there.

May be the new future tour set up and title like how he kept NPG.

He could be on an endless tour such as Bob Dylan did/does. Band members can change each for years etc etc.

It's time for another jazz phase.