Definitely not a democratic unit I guess (Tin Machine was), but sounds like a "back to raw basics" kind of project, as if P wanted to go back to a wilderness many have accused him of having lost (I didn't! )

What do you think?

no.

but I think he realizes it's time to shake up the presentation because the rotating NPG thing is/was getting kind of stale, from the lineups to the setlists, etc.

I'm glad to see him getting a little bit outside of his comfort zone. Just hope he sticks with it... or takes it somewhere else and doesn't let the negative reviews of last night's shows get to him and cause him to go running back to his safety net.

The problem with the NPG is that it's lineup is rotated TOO much and there are no original members left.

I loved the fine-tuned version of the original lineup: Sonny T, Michael Bland and Tommy Barbarella.

I didn't quite care for the Emancipation/NPS era, but I loved the Musicology lineup.

Nowadays, I couldn't name one person in the lineup.

"The NPG" hasn't been nothing but a way of saying "Prince's band" ever since he disbanded the original line-up in 1996, just as GCS is Larry Graham's band no matter who's in it (and there are many other examples of bands who just became a backing band with rotating member for the only surviving member, Simply Red comes to mind but I'm sure I could quickly name a dozen others if I cared to think about it). Does it make sense? Yes. NOW what it lacks is indeed a sense of originality for each band, that would allow fans to have a clear perception of who's who. Prince will obviously keep rotating members all the time and I think it's kinda fresh doing so, but since he came up with a name for his rock band, he could maybe find one for the jazz band and yet another one for the funk band (even if the share and rotate members). This at least would allow people to have a clear idea of what to expect during tours or when buying live releases.

[Edited 4/16/13 10:04am]

errant said:

databank said:

"The NPG" hasn't been nothing but a way of saying "Prince's band" ever since he disbanded the original line-up in 1996, just as GCS is Larry Graham's band no matter who's in it (and there are many other examples of bands who just became a backing band with rotating member for the only surviving member, Simply Red comes to mind but I'm sure I could quickly name a dozen others if I cared to think about it). Does it make sense? Yes. NOW what it lacks is indeed a sense of originality for each band, that would allow fans to have a clear perception of who's who. Prince will obviously keep rotating members all the time and I think it's kinda fresh doing so, but since he came up with a name for his rock band, he could maybe find one for the jazz band and yet another one for the funk band (even if the share and rotate members). This at least would allow people to have a clear idea of what to expect during tours or when buying live releases.

[Edited 4/16/13 10:04am]

true

Well 3rd Eye Girl isn't a fully original group either since Ida was his NPG bassists for the the previous 2+ years

errant said:

no.

but I think he realizes it's time to shake up the presentation because the rotating NPG thing is/was getting kind of stale, from the lineups to the setlists, etc.

I'm glad to see him getting a little bit outside of his comfort zone. Just hope he sticks with it... or takes it somewhere else and doesn't let the negative reviews of last night's shows get to him and cause him to go running back to his safety net.

Outside of his comfort zone would be palying with other people of the same musical and personality strength he has. Also that are in his age range and won't put up with his shit. that would actually CHALLENGE him. Working with young girls he can maniplate is sort of his thing.

saw Tin Machine twice .. they kicked ass but im a Bowie nut so anything he does is great.

It's his Spinal Tap.

2freaky4church1 said:

It's his Spinal Tap.

..... :clutches your hand and mimes like I am screaming, live out loud caption floats above:

I could care less. Prince always knows who to pick for his bands. It's still The Prince Show and I don't really have an interest in any of their records, so I have no complaints.

I keep thinking about this thread.

And all I can wonder is why the question seems like an insult to BOTH Tin Machine AND 3rd Eye Girl?

bober said:

That can only be down to the girls not knowing enough songs or being dynamic enough to swap and change it up on the fly. Musically for me the current band is at an all time low.

I think there is something to this to a degree. I absolutely don't doubt the talent all of these girls have. Hannah get's a lot of heat for some reason I can't comprehend, but I firmly believe she has the chops to bring whatever Prince wants from her. I also think she could easily satisfy even the snobbiest fans on this board, but I think she's playing her kit with how THIS project should sound.

But I digress...

Back to the original point, I think the ladies all have the chops to perform whatever. We know for certain Ida can do that and change it up on the fly.

I think the only person really is Donna that I think about. But I don't doubt her abilities in the least. SHE HAS CHOPS. I just don't think she has that expansive of a Prince/Funk vocabulary yet. If you find jazz funk specialist, they could probably have a bit easier of a time doing that, but Donna seems to be more from a rock background. So I think she'd just need to become more familiar with the catalogue (but even then, it wouldn't necessarily help out because on this tour, he's not playing his back catalogue similiar to his previous arrangements).

the 1st Tin Machine album was really great.