Just heard a 2 and a half minute clip of Prince soloing on drums that I never heard and it is just ridiculously funky. It made me contemplate just how amazing he is on several instruments. We all know is is one of the great guitar hero - unheralded or not. There is plenty of examples of the excellent keyboardist he is. I have an interview with Jimmy Jam where he talks about the early days when Prince would play every band member's part better than they could. Of course, this si a well known fact for the Prince faithful.

But in these days of declining respect and acknowledgement of true musical instrument skills and real singing, I think true talent is not appreciated as it once was. I can remember a time when who played the synth solo or how a certain bass part was done meant something in funk music. You had real bands with members who were know for the instrument they played. Ernie Isley and Eddie Hazel were gunslingers on guitar; people would get a Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins record to hear what they were doing on bass. To a lesser extent, the top drummers like Clyde Stubblefield and Tiki Fulwood were known by name. Then of course there were the legendary players of Motown.

I suppose it that fact that there are no more real bands or record albums (with liner notes and credits) has made this kind of appreciation and attention to details of music have sadly fallen by the wayside.

[Edited 2/19/15 7:11am]

Prince could have been a fine substitute for most of the musicians in Parliament / Funkadelic. He could have been the lead guitarist, the rhythm guitarist, the bassist, the keyboardist and maybe even the drummer. You know, whatever

Real musicians are not appreciated as much as they used to be, Analog is a lost art

Makes me sad when I think that future generations will miss out on some of the bands and musicians our generation have seen. (James Brown, Prince, The Rolling Stones etc...)

I honestly cant see the landscape of Record Labels changing enough for "Legends" to be made, bands/artists come and go these days soon as sales drop the kind of fade away witht he next one already lined up.

fnksoul said:

Real musicians are not appreciated as much as they used to be, Analog is a lost art

Makes me sad when I think that future generations will miss out on some of the bands and musicians our generation have seen. (James Brown, Prince, The Rolling Stones etc...)

I honestly cant see the landscape of Record Labels changing enough for "Legends" to be made, bands/artists come and go these days soon as sales drop the kind of fade away witht he next one already lined up.

Correct - it is the dumbing down of music culture. No one has to study or practice anymore. It is too easy to make a record that gets out there these days because most of it has little or nothing to do with real music. You dont have to know how to read or play to get rich and famous - and actually called a musician and win Grammys.

JoshuaWho said:

fnksoul said:

Correct - it is the dumbing down of music culture. No one has to study or practice anymore. It is too easy to make a record that gets out there these days because most of it has little or nothing to do with real music. You dont have to know how to read or play to get rich and famous - and actually called a musician and win Grammys.

Exactly, look at the charts, this "EDM" crap half of them Producers cannot play anything and are just names put to someone else's productions. (Ghost Producers)


David Guetta's career was built on someone making his music for him and him just putting his name to it, the industry is a mess.


Dave Grohl sums the industry up here....

[Edited 2/19/15 13:01pm]

There was another thread on this awhile ago..The R&B record labels (if there are any still around) will not promote bands anymore..Why pay to promote a 7 or 8 piece band? ..They can take the lead singer, re-groom him or her and just focus on one artist and everyone is happy..Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Osbourne, Chaka Khan,Toni Braxton etc...Most musicians I know started playing because the bands back then were exciting..They made you want to pick up a instrument and go ballistic...Most kids today are into social media..Why learn how to play when all you have to do is push a button?...I love social media too but I'm glad I grew up in the era that I did.

JoshuaWho said:

Just heard a 2 and a half minute clip of Prince soloing on drums that I never heard and it is just ridiculously funky. It made me contemplate just how amazing he is on several instruments. We all know is is one of the great guitar hero - unheralded or not. There is plenty of examples of the excellent keyboardist he is. I have an interview with Jimmy Jam where he talks about the early days when Prince would play every band member's part better than they could. Of course, this si a well known fact for the Prince faithful.

But in these days of declining respect and acknowledgement of true musical instrument skills and real singing, I think true talent is not appreciated as it once was. I can remember a time when who played the synth solo or how a certain bass part was done meant something in funk music. You had real bands with members who were know for the instrument they played. Ernie Isley and Eddie Hazel were gunslingers on guitar; people would get a Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins record to hear what they were doing on bass. To a lesser extent, the top drummers like Clyde Stubblefield and Tiki Fulwood were known by name. Then of course there were the legendary players of Motown.

I suppose it that fact that there are no more real bands or record albums (with liner notes and credits) has made this kind of appreciation and attention to details of music have sadly fallen by the wayside.

[Edited 2/19/15 7:11am]

Can you tell us specifically which clip? Prince is an amazing guitarist/bassist/keyboardist/pianist, but pretty average on drums. Technically, he's better than other non-drummers who play drums on their records e.g. Stevie, Lenny, etc. But put him on a drum match with, say, Karen Carpenter (let's not go with guys like Billy Cobham, Stubblefield, or Questlove), she would beat the shit out of him on drums.

I remember reading an old magazine, in which one of his associates mentioned that Prince couldn't keep a tight groove on drums for more than 16 bars, or something to that effect.

That said, I love his drumming. He's one of those lyrical drummers who could come up with interesting drum patterns while staying in the pocket.

[Edited 2/19/15 17:53pm]

People should listen to the Madhouse 8 albums to hear his proficiency on the drums. In particular track 2 and 7. It's pretty amazing and far as off tracks listen to "GlassCutter" or "Life Can Be So Nice"

nuttynutmeg said:

JoshuaWho said:

Just heard a 2 and a half minute clip of Prince soloing on drums that I never heard and it is just ridiculously funky. It made me contemplate just how amazing he is on several instruments. We all know is is one of the great guitar hero - unheralded or not. There is plenty of examples of the excellent keyboardist he is. I have an interview with Jimmy Jam where he talks about the early days when Prince would play every band member's part better than they could. Of course, this si a well known fact for the Prince faithful.

But in these days of declining respect and acknowledgement of true musical instrument skills and real singing, I think true talent is not appreciated as it once was. I can remember a time when who played the synth solo or how a certain bass part was done meant something in funk music. You had real bands with members who were know for the instrument they played. Ernie Isley and Eddie Hazel were gunslingers on guitar; people would get a Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins record to hear what they were doing on bass. To a lesser extent, the top drummers like Clyde Stubblefield and Tiki Fulwood were known by name. Then of course there were the legendary players of Motown.

I suppose it that fact that there are no more real bands or record albums (with liner notes and credits) has made this kind of appreciation and attention to details of music have sadly fallen by the wayside.

[Edited 2/19/15 7:11am]

Can you tell us specifically which clip? Prince is an amazing guitarist/bassist/keyboardist/pianist, but pretty average on drums. Technically, he's better than other non-drummers who play drums on their records e.g. Stevie, Lenny, etc. But put him on a drum match with, say, Karen Carpenter (let's not go with guys like Billy Cobham, Stubblefield, or Questlove), she would beat the shit out of him on drums.

I remember reading an old magazine, in which one of his associates mentioned that Prince couldn't keep a tight groove on drums for more than 16 bars, or something to that effect.

That said, I love his drumming. He's one of those lyrical drummers who could come up with interesting drum patterns while staying in the pocket.

[Edited 2/19/15 17:53pm]

Listen to the Maad

nuttynutmeg said:

JoshuaWho said:

Just heard a 2 and a half minute clip of Prince soloing on drums that I never heard and it is just ridiculously funky. It made me contemplate just how amazing he is on several instruments. We all know is is one of the great guitar hero - unheralded or not. There is plenty of examples of the excellent keyboardist he is. I have an interview with Jimmy Jam where he talks about the early days when Prince would play every band member's part better than they could. Of course, this si a well known fact for the Prince faithful.

But in these days of declining respect and acknowledgement of true musical instrument skills and real singing, I think true talent is not appreciated as it once was. I can remember a time when who played the synth solo or how a certain bass part was done meant something in funk music. You had real bands with members who were know for the instrument they played. Ernie Isley and Eddie Hazel were gunslingers on guitar; people would get a Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins record to hear what they were doing on bass. To a lesser extent, the top drummers like Clyde Stubblefield and Tiki Fulwood were known by name. Then of course there were the legendary players of Motown.

I suppose it that fact that there are no more real bands or record albums (with liner notes and credits) has made this kind of appreciation and attention to details of music have sadly fallen by the wayside.

[Edited 2/19/15 7:11am]

Can you tell us specifically which clip? Prince is an amazing guitarist/bassist/keyboardist/pianist, but pretty average on drums. Technically, he's better than other non-drummers who play drums on their records e.g. Stevie, Lenny, etc. But put him on a drum match with, say, Karen Carpenter (let's not go with guys like Billy Cobham, Stubblefield, or Questlove), she would beat the shit out of him on drums.

I remember reading an old magazine, in which one of his associates mentioned that Prince couldn't keep a tight groove on drums for more than 16 bars, or something to that effect.

That said, I love his drumming. He's one of those lyrical drummers who could come up with interesting drum patterns while staying in the pocket.

[Edited 2/19/15 17:53pm]

I havent heard him solo, but watch Miles From the Park and Beautiful Night. He seems to hold it together pretty well as far as I can tell. You see him do the same thing in the SOTT movie concert but that doesnt count as it isnt entirely live.