independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > What's Prince's most revealing interview?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 12/08/17 8:44am

tbokris

What's Prince's most revealing interview?

I'm sat here at work listening to Prince interviews on YouTube while I work, and I noticed how he doesn't really seem to speak that openly ever. Maybe Larry King was the most personally revealing, but I wondered if anyone had any other Prince interviews where he actually talks about his past in the sense of discussing old albums etc?

[Edited 12/8/17 8:44am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 12/08/17 8:55am

pinkcashmere23

tbokris said:

I'm sat here at work listening to Prince interviews on YouTube while I work, and I noticed how he doesn't really seem to speak that openly ever. Maybe Larry King was the most personally revealing, but I wondered if anyone had any other Prince interviews where he actually talks about his past in the sense of discussing old albums etc?

[Edited 12/8/17 8:44am]

I think his 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley was pretty revealing.He talked about his childhood and relationship with his father a bit.He also revealed that he was epileptic as a child.I felt he was very open in that interview.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 12/08/17 9:39am

Strive

There was a big Australian reporter who told the story about Prince letting NPG answer questions for him, getting fed up, asking for a Prince only interview since that's what the TV station wanted, being led into another room and capturing Prince on audiotape speaking candidly about his anxiety (in an attempt to get out of the interview)

But it was all off the record so he won't release the tape or disclose the full conversation they had.

Wish I could find the article again. It was released some time after his death and it was interesting.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 12/08/17 10:16am

paulludvig

The retracted Rolling Stone interview. When was that? 2014?

The wooh is on the one!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 12/08/17 12:19pm

anangellooksdo
wn

Probably the old, grainy interview from when he was in his 20s done by the French reporter on the street or sidewalk caffe.
I'll OrgNote you if you don't have it.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 12/08/17 4:42pm

deanm

The interview was with Richard Wilkins in 2003.

Strive said:

There was a big Australian reporter who told the story about Prince letting NPG answer questions for him, getting fed up, asking for a Prince only interview since that's what the TV station wanted, being led into another room and capturing Prince on audiotape speaking candidly about his anxiety (in an attempt to get out of the interview) But it was all off the record so he won't release the tape or disclose the full conversation they had. Wish I could find the article again. It was released some time after his death and it was interesting.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 12/08/17 4:50pm

CherryMoon57

avatar

The sound isn't great but it is a good open interview of Prince in 1981, by Dutch reporter Mick Boskamp.

https://soundcloud.com/mi...29-05-1981

Life Matters
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 12/08/17 8:05pm

PeteSilas

it's hard to say because Prince was so difficult to pin down, he would say revealing things just as soon as he would lie, he would say profound things just as soon as he would lie or be evasive. The neal karlen interviews for rolling stone are pretty open, but i'd have to say at least in terms of him not having his guard up as much, it would be the mojo interview in 87. Nothing mysterious in his voice or statements, sounds happy, completely unlike the guy who we only really saw speak at award shows and that wacky one off one time mtv "interview' which was so contrived and he was obviously prepped for it. so, i'd say the ones i mentioned.

however, i have to say the arsenio interview from a couple years ago is probably as open as he's ever been when i think about it. in fact, it's almost like he knew his time was limited (like the p/m shows) and wasn't as uptight about being mysterious.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 12/08/17 9:14pm

PeteSilas

CherryMoon57 said:

The sound isn't great but it is a good open interview of Prince in 1981, by Dutch reporter Mick Boskamp.

https://soundcloud.com/mi...29-05-1981

i heard that one a couple times, good interview but he was already off in the italian heritage bullshit which a lot of people believe after all these years. oh yeah, he dismissed some of his influences like smokey, who i do think was an influence, by saying he was before his time. at least he didn't say he never listened to other people's music.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 12/08/17 10:00pm

PennyPurple

avatar

The Rolling Stone interview, & the Larry King interview.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 12/10/17 8:36pm

khill95

i wish there were more interviews about his music. like "this was my first concert." "this is when i decided to learn drums" "this is how i rehearse my band" But i have to agree, the Tavis interviews are amazing, because of that trust between the two

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 12/10/17 8:49pm

PeteSilas

khill95 said:

i wish there were more interviews about his music. like "this was my first concert." "this is when i decided to learn drums" "this is how i rehearse my band" But i have to agree, the Tavis interviews are amazing, because of that trust between the two

ya, i forgot about the tavis interviews, the first ones (circa 98) were best, tavis wasn't kissing ass in that one and prince was about as open as I've ever seen him, meaning he was very relaxed more than any other interview. Honestly, as much as i love the man, I have a dvd of his interviews and he tries to speak so mysteriously in them that it grates on me after awhile. Some interviews he was more open than others but I don't think he was ever really that open.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 12/11/17 4:50am

rogifan

Ebony 2015? Maybe not the most revealing but he did have them take it down.

https://www.facebook.com/...788385046/

This comment always makes me sad considering the interview was published in December 2015. 😢

“And without faith… I was telling a friend of mine who was here was that I wouldn’t have met Josh if it wasn’t for faith. We wouldn’t have had nothing in common. He’d have thought I was crazy, and vice versa.

Religion, when used properly, actually is like a health regimen. And they’re finding now that people who have faith live longer. I mean, it says so in the book. That’s what it’s supposed to be. You ain’t supposed to die. If there’s God, then that’s what God would be.”

[Edited 12/11/17 4:58am]
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 12/11/17 5:04am

anangellooksdo
wn

rogifan said:

Ebony 2015? Maybe not the most revealing but he did have them take it down.

https://www.facebook.com/...788385046/

This comment always makes me sad considering the interview was published in December 2015. 😢

“And without faith… I was telling a friend of mine who was here was that I wouldn’t have met Josh if it wasn’t for faith. We wouldn’t have had nothing in common. He’d have thought I was crazy, and vice versa.

Religion, when used properly, actually is like a health regimen. And they’re finding now that people who have faith live longer. I mean, it says so in the book. That’s what it’s supposed to be. You ain’t supposed to die. If there’s God, then that’s what God would be.”

[Edited 12/11/17 4:58am]


Rogifan, have you come across information that states that Prince had Ebony take this interview down? Thanks.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 12/11/17 5:13am

rogifan

anangellooksdown said:

rogifan said:

Ebony 2015? Maybe not the most revealing but he did have them take it down.

https://www.facebook.com/...788385046/

This comment always makes me sad considering the interview was published in December 2015. 😢


[Edited 12/11/17 4:58am]


Rogifan, have you come across information that states that Prince had Ebony take this interview down? Thanks.

No I guess it isn’t for certain he has them take it down. But it was removed. I can’t imagine Ebony doing that without him asking them to.
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 12/11/17 5:14am

ThatWhiteDude

avatar

PennyPurple said:

The Rolling Stone interview, & the Larry King interview.

That RS interview from 1985?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 12/11/17 5:30am

anangellooksdo
wn

rogifan said:

anangellooksdown said:



Rogifan, have you come across information that states that Prince had Ebony take this interview down? Thanks.

No I guess it isn’t for certain he has them take it down. But it was removed. I can’t imagine Ebony doing that without him asking them to.


Oh, ok. I was just wondering if I had missed something.
I always felt that Ebony took it down themselves because they felt Prince wasn't "relevant" enough at the time to publish it.

It also occurred to me that either they and/or Prince decided to take it down because he was somewhat negative in it. Not judging him; I knew he had struggles.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 12/11/17 5:37am

rogifan

anangellooksdown said:

rogifan said:


No I guess it isn’t for certain he has them take it down. But it was removed. I can’t imagine Ebony doing that without him asking them to.


Oh, ok. I was just wondering if I had missed something.
I always felt that Ebony took it down themselves because they felt Prince wasn't "relevant" enough at the time to publish it.

It also occurred to me that either they and/or Prince decided to take it down because he was somewhat negative in it. Not judging him; I knew he had struggles.

I think your second thought is probably correct. It’s also possible what’s posted on that Facebook page isn’t the entire interview as was posted on Ebony’s site. When I pull up an archive of their website from December 22, 2015 and click on the link to his interview I get page not found.

AJPOZ.jpg
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 12/11/17 7:07am

anangellooksdo
wn

rogifan said:

anangellooksdown said:



Oh, ok. I was just wondering if I had missed something.
I always felt that Ebony took it down themselves because they felt Prince wasn't "relevant" enough at the time to publish it.

It also occurred to me that either they and/or Prince decided to take it down because he was somewhat negative in it. Not judging him; I knew he had struggles.

I think your second thought is probably correct. It’s also possible what’s posted on that Facebook page isn’t the entire interview as was posted on Ebony’s site. When I pull up an archive of their website from December 22, 2015 and click on the link to his interview I get page not found.

AJPOZ.jpg


'Xcuse me. I was over in Assoc Art having fun with the girls

lol

Yes, the article unfortunately is not on their site.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 12/11/17 5:08pm

PeteSilas

anangellooksdown said:

rogifan said:
No I guess it isn’t for certain he has them take it down. But it was removed. I can’t imagine Ebony doing that without him asking them to.
Oh, ok. I was just wondering if I had missed something. I always felt that Ebony took it down themselves because they felt Prince wasn't "relevant" enough at the time to publish it. It also occurred to me that either they and/or Prince decided to take it down because he was somewhat negative in it. Not judging him; I knew he had struggles.

oh yes, how could i forget the ebony article? for a guy who spent 3 of his prime, peak years not saying peep to the media he sure made up for it didn't he? you guys keep reminding me of some great interviews where you could say he was "open" but he was open in different ways and in the ebony interview he was open in a way he never was and that's why he demanded it be taken down because he conducted his public persona with class. He never badmouthed all the people who badmouthed him, he did here and even though it wasn't that bad, he had it taken down.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 12/11/17 8:30pm

206Michelle

pinkcashmere23 said:

tbokris said:

I'm sat here at work listening to Prince interviews on YouTube while I work, and I noticed how he doesn't really seem to speak that openly ever. Maybe Larry King was the most personally revealing, but I wondered if anyone had any other Prince interviews where he actually talks about his past in the sense of discussing old albums etc?

[Edited 12/8/17 8:44am]

I think his 2009 interview with Tavis Smiley was pretty revealing.He talked about his childhood and relationship with his father a bit.He also revealed that he was epileptic as a child.I felt he was very open in that interview.

+1

Live 4 Love ~ Love is God, God is love, Girls and boys love God above
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 12/12/17 2:19am

tbokris

could someone send me the full ebony article if they have it?

it would be interesting to read an article where he lets his guard down. Even the Tavis Smalley interveiw to me seems like he has agenda and not at all relaxed.

Wasn't there a long form article I read ages ago maybe during the Gold album era or Emancipation that was pretty open? I can't trmember much other than the interviewer following Prince for days and finally Prince spoke to him. ring any bells?

thanks!!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 12/12/17 4:29am

PeteSilas

tbokris said:

could someone send me the full ebony article if they have it?

it would be interesting to read an article where he lets his guard down. Even the Tavis Smalley interveiw to me seems like he has agenda and not at all relaxed.

Wasn't there a long form article I read ages ago maybe during the Gold album era or Emancipation that was pretty open? I can't trmember much other than the interviewer following Prince for days and finally Prince spoke to him. ring any bells?

thanks!!

it's online somewhere, short interview and unlike any other of his. someone here said he was hight off his rocker, but i didn't think it was that but who knows.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 12/12/17 3:53pm

cathys

According to a Billboard article published at the time, Prince contacted Ebony and asked them to take the interview down:

https://www.billboard.com...-interview

The full interview still isn’t on the Ebony site but you can read it here:

https://m.facebook.com/no...788385046/


And to answer the original question, I think this early interview (just after the release of 1999) is one of the most revealing and honest Prince has ever done:

https://sites.google.com/...ember-1983
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 12/12/17 4:24pm

PennyPurple

avatar

ThatWhiteDude said:

PennyPurple said:

The Rolling Stone interview, & the Larry King interview.

That RS interview from 1985?

This one. 2014 interview at PP.


www.rollingstone.com/musi...y-20160502

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 12/12/17 6:08pm

PeteSilas

cathys said:

According to a Billboard article published at the time, Prince contacted Ebony and asked them to take the interview down: https://www.billboard.com...-interview The full interview still isn’t on the Ebony site but you can read it here: https://m.facebook.com/no...788385046/ And to answer the original question, I think this early interview (just after the release of 1999) is one of the most revealing and honest Prince has ever done: https://sites.google.com/...ember-1983

jesus, that RS interview I haven't seen in either a long long time or ever. he doesn't seem to be that honest to me but i don't know. I was always skeptical of him and MJ, so much of what they did was to hide themselves. who knows. his statement that he was hanging out with pimps and hos and preachers daughters i would have chalked up to him being misleading but some of the statements, there was some lady on a panel of Prince experts who said that Prince had thanked a relative of hers on his second album and she said something about him being a street hustler so maybe.

[Edited 12/13/17 6:34am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 12/12/17 6:29pm

anangellooksdo
wn

His most revealing interview to me was his whole life, his music and what happened in the last few years of his life. His whole story is in everything I have learned about him and glimpses I have been brought of Truth.
He was the most beautiful, sensual being to ever walk the face of the earth and he had issues that continued to cause him pain.
He waited his whole life for a wonderful woman he could love who could love him back and be trusted.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 12/13/17 5:01am

80tomato

The ebony interview is a bit incoherent to me ..i wonder if this was one reason he wanted it removed....meds?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 12/13/17 5:40am

PeteSilas

80tomato said:

The ebony interview is a bit incoherent to me ..i wonder if this was one reason he wanted it removed....meds?

someone else said that, what makes you say that? I didn't get that, i took it as he was talking publicly about things he never talked publicly about and he regretted it.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 12/13/17 7:12am

rogifan

80tomato said:

The ebony interview is a bit incoherent to me ..i wonder if this was one reason he wanted it removed....meds?


I didn’t get that. But maybe he felt he was a bit too honest in the interview?
Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > What's Prince's most revealing interview?