Lovesexy '88-Richmond and then Hampton a week or so later. I've seen many shows before and after but this tour stands right at the top of all of them. Prince was on his "A game" in 1987 and 1988. Musicology was good. A few other tours were decent. I missed the 2002 tour which I have a feeling was pretty good. Last year's show in Raleigh was my least favorite--sound was not so good, performace was phoned in and I felt like he was just there for the paycheck......but I'll always have great memories of '88 and you can't take that away!!

runphilrun said:

Purple Rain Tour-1985-The Forum, Inglewood, CA (opening night)

Elizabeth Taylor was front and center in the audience. I was in the nosebleed seats, stage left. Unfortunately, I was seated in front of two girls who basically screamed like banshees the whole night. Remember at this point of his career, his popularity was near Beatles level, so I understood the hysteria. Experiencing it personally, was something different . The papers the next day mentioned the fact that Prince pulled a diva act when Prince showed up at Liz Taylor's house the next day, pissing her off . Something do with his bodyguards, I don't rememebr all the details, but I'm sure she bitched to Michael Jackson about him

[Edited 10/31/12 10:56am]

was at this show also. Hollywood was in fever pitch over him. U couldn't go anywhere without anyone talking about him. It was like Michael Who?...I was seated in the 10th roll(even though I didn't stay there ) I sat next to Pee Wee Herman, who was a die hard Prince fan. Madonna & Bruce Springsteen was also there & came on stage with him. There was several entertainers in the audience. But I could care less. It was only one was there to see & it wasn't Pee Wee Herman

artist76 said:

Fun looking through all the memories here. rgsince81 - Flippers Skating Rink, really? Wow. Lovesexy seems to have been epic. I'm sure 1999 and PR were phenomenal too.

Me, Act I, Universal Amphitheatre.

Because of this thread, I went and looked up the setlist, and I'm surprised older songs were played! I don't remember any, but apparently "Let's Go Crazy" and "1999" were performed. I don't even remember "Purple Rain"... oh actually, I kind of remember that one vaguely now. My recollection these past two decades was that it was all only the Symbol album, and unknowns, and that it was weird. And there was symbol shaped lavender confetti strewn all about, and purple carpets to the entrances, and curtains and stuff everywhere.

Universal is also where I first became aware of Prince (besides the fuzzy childhood awareness of him in the 80s), I was about 15, it was 1991 MTV music awards and my brother was working concessions, and there was a big to-do about Prince and his crazy butt-less pants!

I think was at this gig. Tom Cruise & his then wife Nicole Kidman showed up & waved to the audience.

Earlier this year, in Melbourne.

1995, Ultimate Live Experience Tour, Den Bosch

great gig!

ThisOne said:

guess what i found.......

today whilst going through some boxes of junky stuff i found my Prince Concert ticket from 1992

Sunday May 3rd 1992

at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Wow that was such a long time ago and I was soooo young

it was the first time i ever saw Prince live

i'm so happy i found it, i actually didnt think i kept it

March 9,1981 Sam's after that nit my life changed!!!Over 112 times many aftershowes front row all over the world!!!Vegas with 50 other people in a room with PRINCE and the band!its been a great RIDE!!!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Feb 12, 1982

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

"Controversy' Tour...It changed my life 4ever....

I was there that night near center stage....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Feb 12, 1982

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

"Controversy' Tour...It changed my life 4ever....

I was there that night near center stage....

Jamzone333 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Feb 12, 1982

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

"Controversy' Tour...It changed my life 4ever....

I was there that night near center stage....

was near the right side by the speaker.. I missed The Time's per4mance. Still bummed about that . But @ least I got my Rude Boy button

Jamzone333 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Feb 12, 1982

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

"Controversy' Tour...It changed my life 4ever....

I was there that night near center stage....

I was there at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium that night as well. It was the 2nd time I had seen him live in concert. My first time seeing Prin...25th, 1980.

I didn't even know about the "Fire It up" Tour I guess I was just too young during that time. I was surprise my Mother let me go to the Santa Monica Civic show 2 c him unsurpervised with a neighbors son(who had won tickets). We both we're too young to witness what we saw . But it changed me 4ever...

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I didn't even know about the "Fire It up" Tour I guess I was just too young during that time. I was surprise my Mother let me go to the Santa Monica Civic show 2 c him unsurpervised with a neighbors son(who had won tickets). We both we're too young to witness what we saw . But it changed me 4ever...

I completely understand what you mean when you say that seeing Prince that night changed you forever. His show that night was a very strange and unique experience. As an audience member that night, you almost felt like you were under some sort of spell, it's almost hard to explain. Prince was in extremely rare form back in those days.

Regarding the "Fire It Up" tour I attended in Charlotte, NC in 1980; my focus on going to that concert was actually to see the King of Punk-Funk - Rick James. We heard the opening act was going to be some band called "Prince For You" (...which instead, turned out to be the title of his first album). I had heard "Soft And Wet" on the radio - in fact, I had the album, but had no idea WHO, or more importantly... WHAT Prince was. Nor was I prepared for what I was presented with that night when PRINCE, DEZ, and ANDRE came out there that night with the rest of the band, and decided to blow my mind, lol.

What a small world it is that so many of us here today on the org were at that same Santa Monica show, so many years ago.

March 9,1981 Sam's after that nit my life changed!!!Over 112 times many aftershowes front row all over the world!!!Vegas with 50 other people in a room with PRINCE and the band!its been a great RIDE!!!

PDogz said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I didn't even know about the "Fire It up" Tour I guess I was just too young during that time. I was surprise my Mother let me go to the Santa Monica Civic show 2 c him unsurpervised with a neighbors son(who had won tickets). We both we're too young to witness what we saw . But it changed me 4ever...

I completely understand what you mean when you say that seeing Prince that night changed you forever. His show that night was a very strange and unique experience. As an audience member that night, you almost felt like you were under some sort of spell, it's almost hard to explain. Prince was in extremely rare form back in those days.

Regarding the "Fire It Up" tour I attended in Charlotte, NC in 1980; my focus on going to that concert was actually to see the King of Punk-Funk - Rick James. We heard the opening act was going to be some band called "Prince For You" (...which instead, turned out to be the title of his first album). I had heard "Soft And Wet" on the radio - in fact, I had the album, but had no idea WHO, or more importantly... WHAT Prince was. Nor was I prepared for what I was presented with that night when PRINCE, DEZ, and ANDRE came out there that night with the rest of the band, and decided to blow my mind, lol.

What a small world it is that so many of us here today on the org were at that same Santa Monica show, so many years ago.

Prince was mesmerizing that night. i never experienced any artist like that in my life at that point & I was hooked even more after that..Rick James had the same affect on me when I saw him on the "Street Songs" tour. U were lucky to experience both of them in one night..Concerts like that just don't happen anymore. It was a special period in music...

Fonkyman said:

ganesh said:

aow, waouh, this is a "time" ago:

I was 14, Paris Bercy 1983, I was wearing a kind of Peach, close to Orange Pullover, black pants..I remember having some Khol make up ..On the ticket, it was written "wear peach and black"

It was a rise into Love with Prince, I was astonished by this man, his style, his sexiness, with those dark curly hair and the sensual lips..

The most extraordinary singer, man, I saw

He has threw some flowers, onto one specially he kisssed and threw it to me.

Immutable Memory

[Edited 10/28/12 16:36pm]

Peach & black, in '83? or '87?

It was '87

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

PDogz said:

I completely understand what you mean when you say that seeing Prince that night changed you forever. His show that night was a very strange and unique experience. As an audience member that night, you almost felt like you were under some sort of spell, it's almost hard to explain. Prince was in extremely rare form back in those days.

Regarding the "Fire It Up" tour I attended in Charlotte, NC in 1980; my focus on going to that concert was actually to see the King of Punk-Funk - Rick James. We heard the opening act was going to be some band called "Prince For You" (...which instead, turned out to be the title of his first album). I had heard "Soft And Wet" on the radio - in fact, I had the album, but had no idea WHO, or more importantly... WHAT Prince was. Nor was I prepared for what I was presented with that night when PRINCE, DEZ, and ANDRE came out there that night with the rest of the band, and decided to blow my mind, lol.

What a small world it is that so many of us here today on the org were at that same Santa Monica show, so many years ago.

Prince was mesmerizing that night. i never experienced any artist like that in my life at that point & I was hooked even more after that..Rick James had the same affect on me when I saw him on the "Street Songs" tour. U were lucky to experience both of them in one night..Concerts like that just don't happen anymore. It was a special period in music...

runphilrun said:

Purple Rain Tour-1985-The Forum, Inglewood, CA (opening night)

Elizabeth Taylor was front and center in the audience. I was in the nosebleed seats, stage left. Unfortunately, I was seated in front of two girls who basically screamed like banshees the whole night. Remember at this point of his career, his popularity was near Beatles level, so I understood the hysteria. Experiencing it personally, was something different . The papers the next day mentioned the fact that Prince pulled a diva act when Prince showed up at Liz Taylor's house the next day, pissing her off . Something do with his bodyguards, I don't rememebr all the details, but I'm sure she bitched to Michael Jackson about him

Elizabeth Taylor invited Prince to her home and he accepted.However,before he walked inside,he had his bodyguards "inspect" her home.This pissed her off.When Prince finally walkked inside,she angrily asked him "Did you think I hired assasins?!"

Very recently unfortunately

May 15 2012 (Like 6 months ago) Melbourne, Australia. The show was amazing, Prince was playing and dancing his ass off and John Blackwell was smoking on the drumkit. Being a kiwi I was pretty limited to his Australian tours.

In 1992 I was only 15 and not allowed to go as it would interfere with school, and my mother thought I was too immature to travel to Australia by myself. Plus I didn't have a passport then.

In 2002/3 I was teaching in South Korea, and apparently the ONA shows were not that good anyway.

Finally 2012, its seemed right, no obstacles and the proximity to my birthday ensured I could see it.

But oldest concert I have a DVD of is Paris June 3 1981, so that at least helps a bit to get that early feeling of excitement fans had back then.

I wasn't old enough to drive and had to go with a chaperone.

http://princevault.com/in...June,_1987

sept 21st 2007.. the last of the 21 nights in london. i LOVED him, i was floored by his confidence & sexuality, bloody legend!!

Adorecream said:

apparently the ONA shows were not that good anyway.

I had a bit of a Prince sabbatical for a few years during the 90s. By 2002 I'd given up buying any of his stuff and didn't have much of a clue what he was up to. I heard he was over here at the Apollo and since my missus had never seen him live I got us a couple of tickets.

I didn't know what we'd be getting but I knew it'd be worth going. I crossed my fingers hoping he wouldn't play TMBGITW and thankfully he didn't. I hadn't heard The Rainbow Children album before the gig and I loved it. Yeah, he was talking religious crap again but the music was red hot. He played Joy In Repetition which is a favourite of mine and it was gorgeous. First time I'd heard it live. He sat on a stool playing acoustic guitar for a bit, sang Don't Play Me and I was chuffed to bits.

He was jigging about dancing most of the night and the band were tight as a drum. The missus loved her first P show. It was nothing like the big stage show I'd seen at Lovesexy, more intimate, a bit like a big club gig and it was mustard. Wish we'd have done the afters. We did see him go by us after the gig though. They nearly ran us over, they weren't hanging about.

I picked up the album at the gig and I played it over and over right through the night when we'd got home. Don't think I went to bed til about midday the following day, still buzzin off the gig.

I just had to say. ONA was a blinding gig for some of us.

My first should have been during Jam O The Year, but he cancelled. My first was November 7 2000, Worcester, MA. The first date of the tour, one of the first performances of When Will We B Paid, and the Santana Medley as the encore.

This was during the Bush/Gore election fiasco and during Purple Rain at the "You say you want a leader, but you can't seem to make up your mind" part, he stopped the band and talked some political bullshit for a few minutes.

Oh, and did I mention SANTANA MEDLEY?

I got a ride from a friend (in exchange for a ticket) who insisted that we stand in front of the stage, which was actually a poor decision for the layout of the venue. To this day, I wish we had stayed at our seats 20 feet above the man's head. It was my first and only Prince show and I could barely see it...

[Edited 11/3/12 18:53pm]

I Always wanted to see prince since Lovesexy tour....but my parents then said "Hell naw" cus I was too young . So it was Jam of the Year tour 97 Hollywood Bowl,had the best time ever! Saw so many celebs that night.