As per the last two Paisley shows, the new lineup is MonoNeon on bass, Donna on guitar, Kirky J on drums.

This sounds like a pretty killer lineup to me - Kirk and Mono as a rhythm section sounds like they'll keep a damn tight groove. This feels like a lineup that can do what Prince does best in blending funk and rock. I've seen some great shows with 3EG but that lineup was unmistakeably a rock lineup that didn't handle funk too well.

If MonoNeon is going to be in his band then he will be the first Prince bandmember I'm excited about for years. I'm less happy about the return of Kirky J.

.

I suppose we will have to wait and see if this line up definitely is his new band or not, if so then good riddance to 3EG.

It's hard to say for sure until I actually hear them together myself, but I'm really going to miss Ida if she's out (and she's a funk player first and foremost, btw). She's still tweeting about Prince, though, so I'm assuming she's not completely out the door yet. I don't mind Hannah as a drummer, but I won't miss the Weltons if they leave.

[Edited 10/16/15 11:57am]

Kara said:

It's hard to say for sure until I actually hear them together myself, but I'm really going to miss Ida if she's out. She's still tweeting about Prince, though, so I'm assuming she's not completely out the door yet. I don't mind Hannah as a drummer, but I won't miss the Weltons if they leave.

i doubt they are gone...it could be 3eg is a whole other unit

Kirky J?
Prince doesn't go backwards

Kara said:

It's hard to say for sure until I actually hear them together myself, but I'm really going to miss Ida if she's out (and she's a funk player first and foremost, btw). She's still tweeting about Prince, though, so I'm assuming she's not completely out the door yet. I don't mind Hannah as a drummer, but I won't miss the Weltons if they leave.

[Edited 10/16/15 11:57am]

it appears that the folks who heard them think this is the superior lineup..surprised he doesnt have xavier playing keys...superior in a jazz funk r and b type way

Kirk is also the drummer on two of my fav live tracks,, The War and Motherless Child, soooo he ok with me

steakfinger said:

Kirky J. is a completely badass drummer now. Michael B. reportedly said that Kirk is the best dude in Minneapolis right now, (other than Michael B., I assume). Check out Kirk on the Judith Hill EPK. He is not what he used to be and I mean that in the best possible way. Besides, it was his programming and production that sucked, not his drumming, right? Actually, maybe it was Michael B. I can't say that confidently, but I can tell you that Kirk has been practicing. [Edited 10/16/15 13:28pm]

Have you seen Mike Bland lately? I'm sorry to say that I don't think he could keep up physically in any moderately paced show. He was a bigger dude before, he's grown quite a bit since D&P days.

mikeyaddict said:

Tony M needs to be brought back in.

didn't he sue them?

Hannah got kicked off drums?

i hope he actually does something with this lineup and ditches 3EG. i'm curious tho. i never seen Kirk live only heard boots. what was so bad about his drumming?

Prince and The Retreds

tab32792 said:

i hope he actually does something with this lineup and ditches 3EG. i'm curious tho. i never seen Kirk live only heard boots. what was so bad about his drumming?

Absolutely nothing. People here talk shit about his drumming when mostly what they're dismissing is his style of drumming. Technically he's always decent for a while now.

KingSausage said:

Kirby J was terrible back in the day. And I saw him live many times. If he's gotten better, more power to him.

KingSausage said:

Kirby J was terrible back in the day. And I saw him live many times. If he's gotten better, more power to him.

Actually he was quite good last nite, I think he's a great addition to the new band and Mononeon is amazing!!! That kid can play the bass!!!!

inspireof said:

Holy shit, Mononeon!!

That kid is WAAAAY more intersting than Prince these days. Wow!

Why did he match him up with Donna and Kirky J? Sheesh!

On the one hand, the pretty drummer who couldn't keep a beat to save her life is out.


On the other hand, she's been replaced by Kirky J.

tab32792 said:

The band is not done. 3EG are still together. Its just a short break. Ida and Hannah will be back soon

the Bad thing about Prince changing bands again now (if that is even what is happening) is that he is in the middle changing and figuring out new direction that works. Too much change can really keep him on a weird path for a while...

trax said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I used to think Kirky J was a bad drummer until I watched the rehersals for D and P(one of the 2 where Prince and Miko started to fight) and Michael B. wasn't there yet. Kirk was beasting on the skins. The dude can play quite well and he had a nice Rock feel to his playing. Obviously if Prince gives you chance, you got to be good.

joyinrepetition said:

I used to think Kirky J was a bad drummer until I watched the rehersals for D and P(one of the 2 where Prince and Miko started to fight) and Michael B. wasn't there yet. Kirk was beasting on the skins. The dude can play quite well and he had a nice Rock feel to his playing. Obviously if Prince gives you chance, you got to be good.

That sounds like the Nude Tour and Michael B was already behind the kit.
But maybe Kirk got on while Michael was in the bathroom.