SPOOKYGAS said:

Tempest said:

No, I haven't seen him live. However, I have seen him perform live on TV. I've never liked him. I think his music is boring and I can only take his voice in very small doses. Every time I hear him it sounds like someone who's straining to go to the bathroom or needs to clear his throat. It's annoying to the ears. Seriously. I'm not saying he's not talented because a lot of people feel that he is. However, I wouldn't pay a nickel to go see him. In fact, I wouldn't attend if I had a free ticket. Just my 2 cents.

^^

This.

Had to turn the TV down when he butchered the Super Bowl show, sure the "performance" had energy but he sounded shite, in fact I reckon Bob Dylan can sing better and that is fucking saying something that dude is tone deaf!

Prince is the best live performer BAR NONE.

If you're relying on a 12-minute performance to base your entire case, then you have no case.

TwiliteKid said:

RodeoSchro said:

HOWEVER, there are some things on this list;

1. Springsteen - Yep
2. Prince - Yep
3. Rolling Stones - I can see that
4. Arcade Fire - The blurb says they haven't performed but once since 2011, and that was a secret show! How can they be one of the best live bands RIGHT NOW when they haven't played live in two years?!?
5. Neil Young - OK

Interesting that 4 of the top 5 are acts in their 50's - 70's. In fact, most of the top 20 have an average age of 40+.

4. Arcade Fire
The Montreal band has proven that emotionally apocalyptic indie rock can be as grand as U2 without losing any of its chaotic intensity. They've barely played live since owning the 2011 Grammy Awards, and they have a new album nearly in the can (due late October), which may include music produced with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. This, plus word on a secret Montreal hometown show last winter, suggests their shows may be even more of a communal dance party than usual.

You might be taking the right now part a bit too literally. I haven't seen Arcade Fire live since 2010, but the first time I saw them, in a club here in Toronto just after Funeral was released in 2004, will always be one of the greatest shows I've seen. Absolutely mindblowing, and up there with Prince, Bruce and Tom Waits.

Yeah, I kind of take "Right Now" to mean, like, right now. Not two years ago.

If we're going into the past, then dang - put Scritti Politti, the Beatles, or any act that was great live but hasn't toured in awhile on this list.

RodeoSchro said:

TwiliteKid said:

You might be taking the right now part a bit too literally. I haven't seen Arcade Fire live since 2010, but the first time I saw them, in a club here in Toronto just after Funeral was released in 2004, will always be one of the greatest shows I've seen. Absolutely mindblowing, and up there with Prince, Bruce and Tom Waits.

Yeah, I kind of take "Right Now" to mean, like, right now. Not two years ago.

If we're going into the past, then dang - put Scritti Politti, the Beatles, or any act that was great live but hasn't toured in awhile on this list.

It would appear they meant still active rather than "right this very second". Arcade Fire have a new record coming this fall, so they'll be back at it soon enough.

RodeoSchro said:

SPOOKYGAS said:

^^

This.

Had to turn the TV down when he butchered the Super Bowl show, sure the "performance" had energy but he sounded shite, in fact I reckon Bob Dylan can sing better and that is fucking saying something that dude is tone deaf!

Prince is the best live performer BAR NONE.

If you're relying on a 12-minute performance to base your entire case, then you have no case.

If those 12 minutes were torture, why would I want to subject myself to 24? 36? 48? Just sayin. Why prolong the agony? First impressions are very important. In the "real world" when one goes to an interview for a job, the first 12 minutes are very important. Why wouldn't the same apply to a 12 minute performance for an entertainer? In fact, since the Super Bowl is a big hoopla with millions watching, shouldn't that 12 minute slot be a killer performance? IMO, 12 minutes is plenty long to make an assessment.

[Edited 8/1/13 11:59am]

hw3004 said:

I'd flip them round but, for me, Springsteen is the only act I can take seriously as an alternative when people argue that Prince isn't the greatest live act.

I agree. I can respect the choice because i) he's a great artist, ii) fans across the spectrum rave about his live shows, and iii) I haven't seen Bruce live so I can't reject the choice out of hand.

From the books/articles I read in the 80s, Prince had much respect for the Boss as a live performer.

Hooray, more props for the man!

pure fucking ignorance .. hannah is by far prince worst drummer ever .. painfully clunky and prince does not even play guitar on PURPLE RAIN anymore .. jesus .. prince keeps getting mentioned and praised in RS which is odd because this is the worst music he's ever made .. screwdriver makes purple and gold sound like a band of heavenly angels .. someone is definitely paying RS to blow smoke on prince

TwiliteKid said:

RodeoSchro said:

Yeah, I kind of take "Right Now" to mean, like, right now. Not two years ago.

If we're going into the past, then dang - put Scritti Politti, the Beatles, or any act that was great live but hasn't toured in awhile on this list.

It would appear they meant still active rather than "right this very second". Arcade Fire have a new record coming this fall, so they'll be back at it soon enough.

Which means they aren't a great live act "right now"!

Efan said:

purple1968 said:

Yes, and P say around with his thumb up his ass all these years. (LOL) No work was involved at all. I have never gone to a Prince show and seen not on stage the majority of the time or even heard that he was spenting a lot of time off stage. Maybe you went to a show were he did it but do not imply that this is a routine for him. Nothing like the Org to take one to few incidents and blow it out of portion.

Nothing like the Org to make one wish everybody had reading-comprehension skills....

" This is true. You could squeeze two Prince concerts into one Springsteen show--maybe three if you took out all the time Prince spends being off the stage before taking his multiple encores"

You wrote this!!! and you implied that only Bruce works hard. Nothing like the Org to bring on the people who bitch so much that cannot not even remember what they were bitching about.

TwiliteKid said:

purple1968 said:

Yes, and P say around with his thumb up his ass all these years. (LOL) No work was involved at all. I have never gone to a Prince show and seen not on stage the majority of the time or even heard that he was spenting a lot of time off stage. Maybe you went to a show were he did it but do not imply that this is a routine for him. Nothing like the Org to take one to few incidents and blow it out of portion.

Spend some time looking at the setlists on Princevault, particularlily the Welcome 2 shows, and you'lll see that's its not so rare. The show I saw, Prince was offstage for nearly 10 minutes while the girls did a dreadful version of Angel, followed by an instrumental. And even if he is on stage, when the focus is Shelby and not him, it amounts to the same thing.

"10 minutes while the girls did a dreadful version of Angel, followed by an instrumental"

Oh no a whole 10 minutes !!!! The sky is going to fall!!!. So What maybe he went to get a drink or use the bathroom and lots of people like these girls and this is supposed to be a rock band that he is showcasing so I would expect some instrumentals or extended playing time from this band. It is not like people did not know he was showcasing this group. Well maybe you did not know (LOL).

purple1968 said:

Efan said:

Nothing like the Org to make one wish everybody had reading-comprehension skills....

" This is true. You could squeeze two Prince concerts into one Springsteen show--maybe three if you took out all the time Prince spends being off the stage before taking his multiple encores"

You wrote this!!! and you implied that only Bruce works hard. Nothing like the Org to bring on the people who bitch so much that cannot not even remember what they were bitching about.

No, he didn't. Saying one person works hard does not imply anything about anyone except the person being talked about. You inferred it. (You may want to look up the words "infer" and "imply" to learn the difference.) Again - reading comprehension.

When does school start again?

TrevorAyer said:

screwdriver makes purple and gold sound like a band of heavenly angels

Brain... broken! Must... leave... Org...

purple1968 said:

TwiliteKid said:

Spend some time looking at the setlists on Princevault, particularlily the Welcome 2 shows, and you'lll see that's its not so rare. The show I saw, Prince was offstage for nearly 10 minutes while the girls did a dreadful version of Angel, followed by an instrumental. And even if he is on stage, when the focus is Shelby and not him, it amounts to the same thing.

"10 minutes while the girls did a dreadful version of Angel, followed by an instrumental"

Oh no a whole 10 minutes !!!! The sky is going to fall!!!. So What maybe he went to get a drink or use the bathroom and lots of people like these girls and this is supposed to be a rock band that he is showcasing so I would expect some instrumentals or extended playing time from this band. It is not like people did not know he was showcasing this group. Well maybe you did not know (LOL).

Jesus Christ, you really can't fucking read, can you? You've managed to misinterpret every single reply in this thread.

I wasn't talking about 3rd Eye Girl, I was quite clearly referring to the Welcome 2 tours, where (contrary to your claim) Prince regularly spent big chunks of time offstage or ceding the spotlight to others. Compare that to Bruce, who is on is on stage for every single second of his 3-4 hour shows.

RodeoSchro said:

TwiliteKid said:

It would appear they meant still active rather than "right this very second". Arcade Fire have a new record coming this fall, so they'll be back at it soon enough.

Which means they aren't a great live act "right now"!

You sure do like splitting hairs.

Prince hasn't played a show in 2 weeks, so he should probably be taken off the list too.

But Zina E's Prince Party in SF is??? OK.

TwiliteKid said:

HombreX said:

Let's c, the name of this site is "Prince.org", but this article is NOT on the "front page"??? ¿Por qué?

It's hardly a big deal.

Saw many of the acts on that list, but my number one is still Prince.

Bruce Springsteen puts on a fantastic show...he plays very long, is unbelievable kind to his audience and the level of musicianship is high. And as Pricne said himself he is a great bandleader.

But i think a good Prince show reaches something nobody can top. Even nowadays where his shows are more about the music than the show. His guitar solos are just the best you can hear...the 3rd montreux show was just unbelievable...the piano playing, jazz, funk, blues, rock, soul...so many styles he can do...it`s just unique

( i have to admit i saw some prince shows which i did not like that much...cologne, rotterdam 2011 first show)

Bruno Mars, janelle monae and actually Beyonce surprised me a lot...they are great performers...

Tempest said:

You asked me if I'd ever seen a live Springsteen show. My answer was no I haven't but I've seen him perform live on TV. He does absolutely nothing for me (performance wise, music wise or voice wise). If he floats your boat, that's fantastic. I wouldn't attend a show of his even if you paid me to. I couldn't sit through it because I don't like his music or his voice. He could be the greatest "performer" in the world (in the eyes of some) and I could care less. Listening to his strained voice and mediocre music is not my cup of tea REGARDLESS of what kind of a show he puts on. I simply don't care. I want to go see someone who's music I like & who's voice is pleasant to the ear.

Genesia said:

None of this has anything to do with what kind of show he puts on.

[Edited 8/1/13 8:45am]

So if somebody pay you you wouldnt go to see this

http://www.youtube.com/wa...MPNGCrn5A

be honest

thebanishedone said:

Tempest said:

You asked me if I'd ever seen a live Springsteen show. My answer was no I haven't but I've seen him perform live on TV. He does absolutely nothing for me (performance wise, music wise or voice wise). If he floats your boat, that's fantastic. I wouldn't attend a show of his even if you paid me to. I couldn't sit through it because I don't like his music or his voice. He could be the greatest "performer" in the world (in the eyes of some) and I could care less. Listening to his strained voice and mediocre music is not my cup of tea REGARDLESS of what kind of a show he puts on. I simply don't care. I want to go see someone who's music I like & who's voice is pleasant to the ear.

[Edited 8/1/13 8:45am]

So if somebody pay you you wouldnt go to see this

http://www.youtube.com/wa...MPNGCrn5A

be honest

God, I love that performance.

RodeoSchro said:

SPOOKYGAS said:

^^

This.

Had to turn the TV down when he butchered the Super Bowl show, sure the "performance" had energy but he sounded shite, in fact I reckon Bob Dylan can sing better and that is fucking saying something that dude is tone deaf!

Prince is the best live performer BAR NONE.

If you're relying on a 12-minute performance to base your entire case, then you have no case.

Bruce might not be the best singer technically. but he has a lot of emotion and passion in his voice, it's raw. i like his way of singing. but that's not really what it's all about in a Bruce show. but still i love his voice.

Exactly. super bowl performances are good mostly. but never been the best performances ever by artists. didn't think that Prince his performance was the best performance Prince ever did, even though it was great.

SuperSoulFighter said:

Prince once said that he doesn't like to go to concerts because people will be looking at him instead of the band on stage! With one exception... Bruce Springsteen. And the weak side of a Prince gig is his habit of teasing the audience by playing only fragments of his songs. Famous intro, everybody goes yeeeaaahh!! and then he stops. Another famous intro, everybody goes yeeeaaahh!! again. Just play the whole song, don't be so addicted to applause! Personally I'm not really into Bruce (He's too much of a Working Man's Hero for me, I like my musicians to be a little crazy) but I'm sure everybody will agree on his talents. Which of course doesn't mean everybody HAS to like him! Talking about crazy musicians, I really think Bootsy Collins deserves a place in the top ten! He funks harder than anyone. Plus he has such a stage presence that he can just stand there and do nothing at all and you'd still be looking at him.

I am about 100% sure that Bruce has never played a medley or other snippet-based conglomeration of any of his songs.

Not that I mind Prince's medleys, but Bruce has never done medleys consisting of incomplete Springsteen songs. The closest he's ever come is the "Detroit Medley" which, of course, is not a medley of his songs and was a hit "song" in its own right when released by Mitch Ryder.

I am very surprised and even shocked that Rolling Stone voted Prince No.2, amazing really when you think about that the same magazine did not recognise Prince in their top 100 guitarists 10 yrs ago...

naturally they have rearranged that since the R&RHOF appearance...

To the point though, I have seen The Stones, Springsteen and U2 play at the same venue in Vienna and U2 stole the show completely, the Stones were great as well and Springsteen, I thought was great but just could not get into it.

Personally and it is naturally a very subjective view...Prince is in a different league, HopFarm in 2011 of all places proved that to me...

Corporate magazine people. Prince could have the most killer band ever think the early 90s NPG. The people at Kobalt are doing a good job. Corporations!

Genesia said:

thebanishedone said:

TwiliteKid said:

I don't like Prince live at all, - when it includes THE new HORN section....

- like Montreux 2013, night 1 & 2.

Prince should be number 1 on that list because i remember seeing part of a springsteen telecast on tv a long time ago back in the 90s and he was sweating all over and sounded drunk so i flipped the channel....rolling stones magazine never have prince or any black artist number 1 for anything especially the greatest guitarist list that they do every year unless its hendrix and that magazine is RACIST....

i mean before Prince got inducted into the rock hall of fame in 2004, they didnt even put him on the list for their greatest guitar players of all time.