It's not an easy task to open for the Rolling Stones - especially when you're a largely unknown guy wearing bikini briefs and singing a song called "Jack U Off." This was two years before "Little Red Corvette" and most rock fans had never heard of Prince, who opened up a pair of shows at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The fans just wanted to hear "Start Me Up" and "Gimme Shelter," and they pelted Prince with vegetables and yelled out homophobic slurs. He left the stage 15 minutes into his set on the first night, but he had the balls to return for night two. (There's no video of the sets, but check out this 1981 complete show from New York that same year.)

damnnn - the entire show!!!! Shh...dont nobody tell P

2020 said:

damnnn - the entire show!!!! Shh...dont nobody tell P

I didn't post it here

Good show! I was a bit surprised Prince was still using his falsetto so much, but it sounded great. I kept waiting for "Uptown" though??

RS must be out of the loop

Prince was not known at the time so I dont see how it was that big. My vote would be for Aerosmiths Honkin on Bobo tour where Kiss opened. To me that would be bigger as there is not a better live show out there than Kiss. I am not a Kiss fan myself and do not own a single cd of theirs but that was the best concert I have ever seen!! AMAZING!!

trax said:

Prince was not known at the time so I dont see how it was that big. My vote would be for Aerosmiths Honkin on Bobo tour where Kiss opened. To me that would be bigger as there is not a better live show out there than Kiss. I am not a Kiss fan myself and do not own a single cd of theirs but that was the best concert I have ever seen!! AMAZING!!

I think they are talking about upstarts in the industry. Not already legends etc.

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[Edited 7/13/12 13:02pm]

He looks like the Jolly Green Dwarf

The best opening act I ever saw was Guns 'n' Roses opening for the Rolling Stones. Granted, they were about the biggest rock band around at that time, but it was maybe the only time where I saw the opening act have just as many fans at a show as the headliner. And considering who the headliner was, that says a lot.

I was not a big fan at the time, though I liked them okay. But their performance was awesome, and it made me a huge fan. They were in the middle of imploding. They had basically broken up on stage the night before because of Axl's stupidity. But damn what a show!

trax said:

Prince was not known at the time so I dont see how it was that big. My vote would be for Aerosmiths Honkin on Bobo tour where Kiss opened. To me that would be bigger as there is not a better live show out there than Kiss. I am not a Kiss fan myself and do not own a single cd of theirs but that was the best concert I have ever seen!! AMAZING!!

Are you serious? I'm a rather big KISS fan myself, and their shows are loads of fun, but on a totally different level compared to artists like Prince, Stones, Springsteen...

Remove the glitter and it inflates, while the others mentioned could perform on a parkinglot with a crate and a guitar with three strings and still rock the house.

metallicjigolo said:

Great Head.

Wow, I'd never seen him perform "Head" before, though I know there are accounts of it out there. Now I got to see it. It's so deliciously cringeworthy, so wrong it's right, so over-the-top entertaining and electrifying. Whatever you think of it, you certainly can't have lukewarm feelings about it!

There's some interesting old org threads about the "legendary" opening gig for the Stones; some good accounts of how it went down at the time (with radio DJs, music press, etc.).

ARock said:

It's not an easy task to open for the Rolling Stones - especially when you're a largely unknown guy wearing bikini briefs and singing a song called "Jack U Off." This was two years before "Little Red Corvette" and most rock fans had never heard of Prince, who opened up a pair of shows at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The fans just wanted to hear "Start Me Up" and "Gimme Shelter," and they pelted Prince with vegetables and yelled out homophobic slurs. He left the stage 15 minutes into his set on the first night, but he had the balls to return for night two. (There's no video of the sets, but check out this 1981 complete show from New York that same year.)

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-ten-best-opening-acts-in-rock-history-20120711/5-the-rolling-stones-prince-1981-0975403#ixzz20Qt90rIv

Will have to definitely check this out! Great link!

This video just made my day.

Awesome show.

Well he was in full Dirty Mind Fabulousness wasn't he?

I've heard audio of the second night I think.

[Edited 7/17/12 18:37pm]

jenst said:

trax said:

Prince was not known at the time so I dont see how it was that big. My vote would be for Aerosmiths Honkin on Bobo tour where Kiss opened. To me that would be bigger as there is not a better live show out there than Kiss. I am not a Kiss fan myself and do not own a single cd of theirs but that was the best concert I have ever seen!! AMAZING!!

Are you serious? I'm a rather big KISS fan myself, and their shows are loads of fun, but on a totally different level compared to artists like Prince, Stones, Springsteen...

Remove the glitter and it inflates, while the others mentioned could perform on a parkinglot with a crate and a guitar with three strings and still rock the house.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. I have seen Prince many times(too many actually) and I really enjoy him but I find myself bored in many segments and I know all of his music. I only knew two songs by Kiss and I was NEVER bored at their show thats why I give them the nod. Actually most shows I go to are exciting all the way through. I dont know why I am like that at P's shows. I guess maybe I have spoiled myself and seen him too many times. Who knows. Prince is great though. No offense to anyone. Prince is in my top 5 of alltime and I go everytime he comes around except for the last tour..couldnt afford the tickets unfortuantely ;(