Like many, I've watched that clip and admired the playing, the syncronicity between Prince and the others performing the song, etc...Over the last many watches, however, I've come to think how lovely it would have been for him to have remained on stage and share in the acclaim/response of the audience and the band. The shared glances between him and Tom Petty are delightful; how sweet it would have been to she them hug/exchange greetings at the end, Harrison's son and Lynne, too.

Anyhoo - obviously, that's not what Prince thought and all power, etc - who am I, and all that - and, I suppose, this thought has occurred because Prince is dead now and the significance - if that's the right word - of this performance has shifted somewhat.

Anyway, I just thought I come on here and share. If you'd like to join in the conversation, that would be lovely. If you'd like to ignore the conversation, that would be lovely.

A second thought to go with this one -

On the stories from the tour bus series, that Morris Day has contributed to, he speaks of the last The Time performance at Paisley Park, and how, after the show, as he walked around a quiet and empty Paisley Prince came out of the shadows and they hugged and he congratulated Morris on the show. That may very well have happened to some degree or other after the While My...performance with the performers. It may not have but, I guess - again just my thoughts - that that sort of behind closed doors acknowledgement and appreciation may have been to Prince's preference.

I am going to try and stop having thoughts, now.

SimonCharles said:

Like many, I've watched that clip and admired the playing, the syncronicity between Prince and the others performing the song, etc...Over the last many watches, however, I've come to think how lovely it would have been for him to have remained on stage and share in the acclaim/response of the audience and the band. The shared glances between him and Tom Petty are delightful; how sweet it would have been to she them hug/exchange greetings at the end, Harrison's son and Lynne, too.

Anyhoo - obviously, that's not what Prince thought and all power, etc - who am I, and all that - and, I suppose, this thought has occurred because Prince is dead now and the significance - if that's the right word - of this performance has shifted somewhat.

Anyway, I just thought I come on here and share. If you'd like to join in the conversation, that would be lovely. If you'd like to ignore the conversation, that would be lovely.

His choice to leave the stage the way he did has been of interest to me as well.

I also wished he would have stayed to shake hands etc as the song was a tribute to George Harrison.

I vacillate among three possible explanations:

-Though he was famous and an amazing musician, perhaps he was a bit shy and not much of a schmoozer.

-He was in process of becoming commercially successful again, ie., Hall of Fame, Musicology etc., and used the solo to shine light on his talent and wanted to 'steal the show'

-I think there was discussion by Tom Petty and George's wife about only having those who knew George play the tribute song...perhaps Prince felt slighted?

really do not know of course...just some thoughts

More dramatic to do what he did and leave.

Leaving the stage the way he did was pure Prince. It never bothered me that he did that.

Don't forget - that was HIS night too. He was not just some "runner up" to George Harrison.

peggyon said:

SimonCharles said:

Like many, I've watched that clip and admired the playing, the syncronicity between Prince and the others performing the song, etc...Over the last many watches, however, I've come to think how lovely it would have been for him to have remained on stage and share in the acclaim/response of the audience and the band. The shared glances between him and Tom Petty are delightful; how sweet it would have been to she them hug/exchange greetings at the end, Harrison's son and Lynne, too.

Anyhoo - obviously, that's not what Prince thought and all power, etc - who am I, and all that - and, I suppose, this thought has occurred because Prince is dead now and the significance - if that's the right word - of this performance has shifted somewhat.

Anyway, I just thought I come on here and share. If you'd like to join in the conversation, that would be lovely. If you'd like to ignore the conversation, that would be lovely.

His choice to leave the stage the way he did has been of interest to me as well.

I also wished he would have stayed to shake hands etc as the song was a tribute to George Harrison.

I vacillate among three possible explanations:

-Though he was famous and an amazing musician, perhaps he was a bit shy and not much of a schmoozer.

-He was in process of becoming commercially successful again, ie., Hall of Fame, Musicology etc., and used the solo to shine light on his talent and wanted to 'steal the show'

-I think there was discussion by Tom Petty and George's wife about only having those who knew George play the tribute song...perhaps Prince felt slighted?

really do not know of course...just some thoughts

Thanks for your thoughts, yes. I'd been unaware of the dispute re Prince playing - not paid that much attention to the backstory of his being involved, to be honest. I find that interesting.

The shyness and the steal the show elements do sound like Prince...a wonderful contrast of a person that he was.

laytonian said:

Yes, George's wife was opposed to Prince playing because he was not a compatriot. Slight #2 was Petty's sideman Marin playing over Prince's parts during rehearsal. I think that's what spurred him on.

The rehearsal story is an interesting one, yes: I can imagine how that would have gee'd him up.

alandail said:

More dramatic to do what he did and leave.

True.

Se7en said:

Leaving the stage the way he did was pure Prince. It never bothered me that he did that.

Don't forget - that was HIS night too. He was not just some "runner up" to George Harrison.

That's why I think him staying on stage and sharing the limelight/getting the reaction and love he would have done from the audience and his fellow players would have been so lovely to see.

Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.

In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.

they did not give him a microphone either; I think his voice would have added so much to the song

Prince was asked to play (While My Guitar...) by one of the producers of the show.

[Edited 3/18/19 12:04pm]

[Edited 3/18/19 12:05pm]

Genesia said:

Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.

In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.

In a way it was also him getting back at that Rolling Stones audience in 1981, and more generally the rock audiences that hated his guts in the 80's and 90's. Now he was a true rock legend among other rock legends, paying homage to a Beatle, and screw the haters. That and the Superbowl performance as well.

Not saying he necessarily thought of it explicitely, or that he did those performances with that in mind, but to me it was kind of a subtext to those 2 performances (which in themselves are both something of an oddity in his career).

If that rehearsal story is true then I'm glad he stole the show and boucned. He made the lot of them look like OAPs. Tom Petty's face when Prince leaned back off the stage was becuase he was imagining the back pain he'd feel if he'd tried to do that.

Genesia said:

Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.

In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.

That's a fair point too...although, I can't imagine how it could not have been well received: there was just fine playing, no histrionics.

dandan said:

If that rehearsal story is true then I'm glad he stole the show and boucned. He made the lot of them look like OAPs. Tom Petty's face when Prince leaned back off the stage was becuase he was imagining the back pain he'd feel if he'd tried to do that.

An aspect of the story I've found a bit hard to swallow is the revisionism of Harrison's son. That's not forced delight on his face, during this performance; that's enjoyment.

My take on this moment is that Prince just took over the stage and went with what he was feeling. I've watched the clip numerous times and I've always thought that Petty became alittle irritated with Prince for playing his guitar for a longer time than what the band originally wanted him to play. I think there's even one part where Tom starts to sing over Prince's playing and then realizes that P ain't stopping and just goes with it, then he realizes what's happening and becomes amazed at just how good Prince is at that moment. George's son is definately having the time of his life- you can see the sheer joy on his face.

purplefam99 said:

Genesia said:

Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.

In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.

And that always worked like hell with me!

He just killed it and pimp-walked right off!
Awesome!

SimonCharles said:

dandan said:

If that rehearsal story is true then I'm glad he stole the show and boucned. He made the lot of them look like OAPs. Tom Petty's face when Prince leaned back off the stage was becuase he was imagining the back pain he'd feel if he'd tried to do that.

An aspect of the story I've found a bit hard to swallow is the revisionism of Harrison's son. That's not forced delight on his face, during this performance; that's enjoyment.

Yes, he made himself look stupid with his negative comments years later when at the time he was smiling away and can be heard saying at the end 'where's Prince?'

.

If the rehearsal story is true it makes his performance and exit even more enjoyable.

Woah, woah, woah what's all this about Dani Harrison not liking it? I've never heard that.

SimonCharles said:

Genesia said:

Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.

In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.

That's a fair point too...although, I can't imagine how it could not have been well received: there was just fine playing, no histrionics.

I just meant it in terms of the fact that Prince didn't have a real rehearsal. That guy who had the first solo just kept stomping all over Prince at the rehearsal, to the point where Prince basically said to the director (or producer or whatever) afterward, "Don't worry - I got this."

Yeah, I've also read (on the org) that Dhani talked some smack about P's HOF performance.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Yeah, I've also read (on the org) that Dhani talked some smack about P's HOF performance.

He was fucking LOVING IT!

dandan said:

Woah, woah, woah what's all this about Dani Harrison not liking it? I've never heard that.

Yeah he mentioned that Prince showboated (which he did but thats prince..) but so what? Don't go back & say you had a problem with it when clearly you didnt back when..

I heard Petty was pissed at P not learning the song. Apparently in rehearsal Prince played like he hadn't even heard the tape they sent him. In hindsight I think this was P setting them up for the nxt day when he would blow them outta the water, gives the moment more spontaniety & we all know Prince was married to the moment.

[Edited 3/19/19 9:31am]

Farfunknugin said:

dandan said:

Woah, woah, woah what's all this about Dani Harrison not liking it? I've never heard that.

Yeah he mentioned that Prince showboated (which he did but thats prince..) but so what? Don't go back & say you had a problem with it when clearly you didnt back when..

I heard Petty was pissed at P not learning the song. Apparently in rehearsal Prince played like he hadn't even heard the tape they sent him. In hindsight I think this was P setting them up for the nxt day when he would blow them outta the water, gives the moment more spontaniety & we all know Prince was married to the moment.

[Edited 3/19/19 9:31am]

I think Dhani may have been referring to Prince's showy exit (Guitar throw erc.) I can see his point.

I have the expanded rarhof disc set. It shows Prince backstage right after the performance and he is talking with one of the members of ZZTop and then leaves to go to a concert that he was already late to perform at.

lots of mis informations here

first of all Prince didnt have a chance 2 stretch during

the rehearsals because the guitar player who played the

first solo started playing the second solo in the spot where Prince was

supposed to play lead guitar.

After the rehearsal Prince told the organisators not to

worry and that everything will be ok.

Now regarding u wanting Prince to stay after the rnr

performance and share the spotlight????

what the f...? how could he stay there after

offering his heart on a plate?

That solo was far from best guitar solo by Prince but for sure he did invest

all his heart soul and balls.

And its not true that While My Guitar was a tribute to George only.it was

a tribute to George and Prince because both of them

got inducted at the same time.

Everything Prince did that night was perfect.

Up until 3min and 26 sec tribute to George was very boring

lame and basic and i bet Prince got pissed and he was thinking fuck it

and he gave his soul right there .have you notice the change of vibe and dynamics after Prince starts soloing??? not only did he kick ass but he made musicians who played backing for him to elevate their performance also .

so it was so natural 4 him to leave after he did take no prisoners aprouch.

[Edited 3/19/19 22:41pm]