Lawd lawd lawd…The Family got off! Point fucking blank. This is gonna be a long and winding road...I mean thread because I have to fit it all in somewhere, somehow…

I couldn’t find my damn boa! I dressed crazy by dressing conservatively for the most part booo

Well we left and did a meet n greet with some online members and it was great to meet folks finally. Nu, Blue, Efan, KD, Resistor, Ananda (bwahahaha-u owe me!), EC, Purplestyle 7, Utopia, Beautifulone7, J7, Pej, Chico, RedZryder..chile I was so nerbous tee hee!

Wow what a great night. It was like the celebration inside out because Prince was not there yet it was prince-ified…and because instead of seven days it was only one night but OH WHAT A NIGHT! I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN MY BEST PRINCE RELATED EXPERIENCE EVER AND THE MUTHERFUCKER WASN’T EVEN THERE LOL

First off there was that “buzz” in the air...deep down folks were hoping he would show but nevertheless whatever happened The Revolution and others were going to be joined in one place for the first time in so many years or ever. Apples, JJ ( the lady cab driver moaner) , Mad-fuckin-House, The Family. It was just a little reminder of what that Triple Threat tour atmosphere must have been like...or like the great one said, maybe the ragtag 86 era.

Well it all began a bit late and Carmen came and did her into and it was just buzz…JJ came and sang and it was weird and she had a nice dress on that I wold wear if I had that type of body…and she got love from the audience and she knew we knew who she was. Then Apollonia came on and did her sing song thing with the audience helping and she did not seem comfortable for some reason. It was as if she was doing try outs or something, I don’t get it. Is this the girl who “tried” to sing Sex Shooter? What gives? These folks were here to adore ya and u still gonna be shy? Whaaa? Anyways the audience was still giddy and I was not really paying attention because I was looking for someone anyways walking around…but I feel I did not miss anything and I thought Jill could have sang another number or a different song at least…ah well.

Then they introduced Madhouse and the place became a madhouse...Sheila walked over to da drums as everyone including her was introduced…and lawd folks went Ker-razeee lol. Fink came out and they tripped, but there was that one spotlight in the center waiting for the main mufugga…here comes Eric like he is the shit, and he is…and the funny thing is was that we knew it and HE knew it lol…he comes movin up slowly into his light with his head cocked and ear to the audience as in “lemme hear it” lol. He knows he has love. Well they did their numbers but when they did 6 is when folks really got down. Folks were just swoopin.

Then came…the one...the only…The Family..introduced as a band of “ones” as previously mentioned in other places. I was on my way for another brew but when she (Carmen) said that ( a band of “one”’s) I had to get back to my seat because I was NOT going to miss this even for a lil bit. They were introduced and back lit and came onstage to their respective places…ahhh the atmosphere of this band and the joint when they came on. It was like seeing a mythical band that never got to be. The place went crazy I swear...I know I did. The opening strings of River Run Dry was playing as they came out and it was ON! I swear. Susanah and Paul began singing and there was Jerome off to the side doing his Jerome thing LOL…he can work that one drumstick and tap it on the one like nobody’s business LOL. Man when they did Screams Of Passion it was AL over as well…folks were into this so bad and so much it was simply joy, simply joy…and don’t get me started on High Fashion. Folk s were just jammin and at the part about “one of my boys had to carry half, baby u know that’s bold. Wait a minute!” was sung with him even though he changed it up ading Jerome to the mix…and Mutiny? Get t he fuck outta here...they tore that one up..Paul worked up a sweat working this song like a 9to5! When they would go to the Mutiny…I’m Takin Ovaaa chrous. part folks were jumpiin up and down pointing their finger like they do to Jump Around by House Of Pain and it was beautiful, simply beautiful...they were ALL getting down working it..Paul, Sus, Jerome, JELLYBEEEAAANNN!! “don’t be so mean!” Paul kept saying lol….Eric was blowin and Jerome was doing his comical thing, dancin’, having fun go around the audience etc…the band had everybody up and on their feet and just so glad to finally se The Family live…and it was cool too without Prince because even though Prince wrote and directed, he was never “there” in its presentation to the public so to speak so it was as if nothing was missing and the band finally got its chance…and they broke Nothing Compares To You simply down too, I wanted to cry—Mutiny and Screams and Nothing made me break down inside with I don’t know what to call it..Nothing was simply beautiful and the anticipation when they began it…folks were raving. I know I was. It was something on a higher plane I swear, at least to me and others I’ve witnessed loving it. This was truly a blessing to see The Family and they ha d so much fun performing u could just se the joy from them. Paul was simply amazing in presence , having fun, and in voice!
I was ready to go home if need be after that set seriously –there performance alone was worth it to me.

Then Sheila came on with her Romance 1600 band—my fav album o f hers ..I love me some romance 1600 …She played Belle Of St Mark which was never a favorite but its pop and sh e was there to help out –it ended up being a nice groove and it came out good live…made me wonder if she was still singing about prince..then she broke out with Olivers House and at first I didn’t know what it was but she sort of freaked it and took out the electronics roboticness of the music and it was cool! Gonna have…fun...Olivers house...make a lotta white noise…etc lol had me dyin that she pulled this deep cut out…hell yeah…Then she also did 17 Days and Im like whaaa but lovin th e chorus etc and th e whole place was singin with her and doin th e rain come down hand gestures hahaha…and when she finaly broke out th e obligatory Glamours Life it was cool to hear and sing to th e “they drove to 55 secret st…” part. And by the 7th wave, she knew she had a problem…love..its glamorous! Sheeeit I loved it. I also got to witness doing a SOTT worthy drum solo right in front of my own eyes (see..there is a god).

Then The Revolution.It was odd to say the least. Mark now is taking over th e stage for being passed over on presence in the past lol. When they came on it was like a sigh of relief…and emotional as hell as was the whole evening and other performances from the others...no Prince...maybe he will end up last who knows. When Wendy said he isn’t here tonight I was ice-grilling with a “no” emotoicon stance…but she was doing Anotherloverholeinnyohead and I couldn’t front any longer—I said ahhh fuck it and grooved. Then she sang “u don’t understand face to face” and we all sang it in unison and it was semi sung with passion to u know who and why. The Revolution for the most part got off and at the beginning of Mountains I didn’t know what it was but then they began singing and it was groovin… The whole crowd LUBBED Mountains …and they broke it down to goodtars and drums on the one lol. Sheila dubbed the geetars as “good”-tar that night lol. Lisa tried to do the Bobby on the drums thing but I couldn’t hear what she said lol. Wendy did great as a frontwoman and her version of Purple Rain was beautiful…respect to her. I want to hear a version with her sangin it.

Patti was funny readin th e words and hootin n hollerin etc and Chaka went thru the motions (thank god only one song).

It was a wonderful night but it was alas emotional and melancholy….and it was a great vibe. Me and another person said thank god that they didn’t sing Sometimes It Snows because they and we would not have been able to handle it, it was that raw of a nerve night...and it makes me wonder just like it made Robert Plant wonder.

This Prince family tree is something very special. And it really hit home fo r me that night. There is so much love in this Prince fabric that it is overshadowed by the politics of the industry, the bands, and us as the audience. That night was my best Prince experience and he wasn’t even in the house but he was in spirit in more ways than one and in ways we don’t know. The bands being together was so much camaraderie and love between them it rubbed off on us all I believe. Some tings of note:

This was also very special to me because I seemed to have crossed that lone from net world to real world—I met a lot of wonderful, extremely wonderful people from the net community. We had a complete blast. We got to meet the bands and they were very very nice. But the best part of the night was the people from the online community. That was the highlight to me. Finally meeting up with the people I see on a damn near daily basis and only see their avatars and words. Each person I met was a great experience. I had to carry one who was drunk from the top of the forum stairs to the floor seats where we were and folks were looking at me like “aahhhahah his lady is drunk when it was my wife behind us being very accommodating with me walking someone drunk who we JUST met a few hours ago who was drunk then down the venue... as well as when I inspected a tit with a symbol tattoo. Some of us had a preshow dinner which was the very first meeting up for me and it was cool. I was so nervous lol. But it all worked out well. I had din din with Nu and his fair maiden. TGIF has terrible fish n chips by the way. Met crazy folks like EC, Blue, Kd, Beautifulone7, Resistor, EC…and later Efan, Pej, Chico, J7 and more…after we met folks and something else of note:

The bands all had this family vibe...Finks ma and pa were even there and I talked to his pops who was very nice...Sheila is very very tiny –how can she be that powerful on drums in that small little body lol…David Riv even Steve Parke was there..and the lighting—props to Mr Bennett! He lit up the audience with back lighting several times and I didnt have foundation on but still—several folk s had that hand devils horns sign held up like they did in Lets Go Crazy hehehe…Jerome and his wife, etc ..me and Nu imagined that this was what it must have been like behind the scenes at the 86 shows. Meeting Wendy n Lisa and Susanah and Matt , Paul, Jellybean and his big self, Eric! Lord! I was sooo excited and like a schoolgirl I had no idea…I was literally drunk on excitement and felt like I was in some dream..the whole friggin night I felt like that..I was gaga seeing Wendy n Lisa and it showed ask Pej—I was being clowned all night because it was a proverbial kid in a candy store vibe for me…not just meeting some of the musicians I grew up listening to but I had good online community people and my better half with me to share it with. The bands all seemed to be happy to see one anpothe r and it was sad sometimes…Sheila is a special person..



But as I said it was the people I met that made it that much more especial to me…Nu-KDowney –BlueAura-Efan-Ecnirp19997 -Happi -JovanAngel -Pej –Chico,
NMNPG , Resistor, Utopia7 , Mauve , Berry, Brian ,TheResistor ,J7, Ananda, EC, Tisamarie,,Insatiable, Mardistitsta, EverlastinNow, ( me and Everlastin Now even joked around. I can’t hate too much on the girls no mo hehe) SK etc..Redzryder, Purplestyle 7
So that’s Bobby eh lol?…does he...has he...ever hurt anyone when he does his dances in the audience because it looks like he is going to take somebody’s eye out one day. God knows I’m forgetting somebody etc it all happened so fast and so furious. Our lil entoruage were just like cool ghosts..Pej and Chico and Nu and Blue and My baby, and Berry even….we had so much fun and it was sooo great to meet up with these people after all of this time. It was a perfect atmosphere and nothing could have made it better. You say you wanted a revolution? Well we got it, had one…and an open bar doesn’t hoit either. So props to The Revolution, Th e extended family bands, and more importantly to thoise from P org and npgmc for making this a night I will never forget . It literally changed my being and that’s what this was like..one of those performances where it changes you..several things like that come to mind...the U2 spring Zoo Tv was a life changing event…the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge second night Rose Bowl, Patti Labelle in 1990, Meshell in 2000 etc..some events just take you higher and this was one of them. And Prince wasn’t even there, that’s the irony and humor of it imo. Sheila mentioned “if u know a promotoer..let em lknow so we can tour with this”, which is an excellent idea. Theaters weould be packed. This was billed as a 1st Annual thing so maybe this will continue logistics willing. Now I know what folks felt at The Celebrations—and how interested it must have been because it was a 7 day event..I remember reading how folks were having withdrawl symptoms last year and couldn’t really understand why—now I do…..special thanks to D, my better half for allowing me to really go “out there” with her not knowing the people as I did and for understanding and taking care of me…she was just chillin while I was runnin around like a kid in a candy store like Pej and Nu ( “rd you’re hyper”)said I was lol…and thanks to everyone I met for making it my best Prince experience ever.
[This message was edited Sat Dec 20 19:43:02 PST 2003 by rdhull]

i been waitin for this chit since last week... kick-ass report, man!

Great report.

Nice to get some 'feeling' along the other more 'factual' reports.

5 stars for you!

RD, yer report lived up to my high expectations, and then some. Wish I coulda been there grinning like a fool and dabbin' my eyes witchall, but you shared the experience with those of us who couldn't go...yer true purple, thass fo sho. Thanks for taking the time, as always, you saucy bitch.

RD, as you know, I'm so happy for you and the joy you experienced at the Family Jamm.

So here's another for such an excellent, heartfelt report.

Hey rd,

It was great to meet you and with some of the exchanges we've had our meeting was that much more funny to me.

EverlastingNow said:

It was great/fun meeting u too--we laughed didn't we lol?

As u know Im now a W&L jock lol
[This message was edited Sat Dec 20 17:26:40 PST 2003 by rdhull]

One thing --well one of th e thing that strikes me:

I wonder if Prince realizes just what he has. This "family" tree of acts that are endeared to this day. I mean it was barely advertised but if word of this got out that a tour of his acts etc was forthcoming..wow.

But not just from that standpoint..I mean from a human aspect as well. He has all of these people he has a connection with and from all accounts everything seems like its all good and th epast is th e past and its like a family..good times are ready to be had...

and the fans old and new ..are salivating for soething like this..not just with the rev but with the time with Jesse, The Family, Madhouse etc...

Prince has something very special in his hands and I witnessed it that night--not by th eperformances but by th e comaraderie of the people etc--the band and th e audience..the bands families were there for goodness sakes...

His vision of the past has the oppurtunity for such such great things ye t to come if only it was realized...

rdhull said:

I think he's afraid of his past.

Seems like he has a fear of interpersonal communication and getting close to people (for fear of rejection?)

I'd like to say "it's his loss", but I think it's all our losses.

Still he does what the fuck he wants.

Romance1600 said:

there 'ya go

Dayum...You met me too...
I guess I'm not very memorable...
Granted I dont post much...
Dont chat much anymore either...
And we didn't talk too much...
But I wholeheartedly agree that the show was something special...
The chance to meet these extraordinary musicians was truely priceless and the thrill of a lifetime.
Not to mention to the chance to spend time with my wonderful extended family members that I've come to know and love over the years.

lovebizzare said:

Seems like you guys are armchair psychologizing.

gettoff said:

I knerw I would forget a few, but its been a week...hi gett off

MrTation said:

they are..what they have saidis nothing of the sort imo...Prince I believe was there for them in many ways

rdhull said:

I'm not , i just feel that's the reason why he didn't show

IMHO.

rdhull said:

I'll scoot over, there's plenty of room on their jock

Romance1600 said:

I think he's afraid of his past but he knows that's what sells tickets. At this point he sells more tickets than albums so he should just learn to embrace both past and present. He seems to have the hardest time with finding the balance, but then I see someone like U2 and it's a perfect blend.

And can you imagine if Prince could figure it out? If you're going to do an oldies tour for the last time, do it right and bring the Revolution along. Hearing the Revolution that night reminded me the heart that they brought to Prince's sound and the FUN.
Rd don't lie, Madhouse and The Family tore the roof off like nothing I'd ever seen. Shit, he should have those 2 bands OPEN his tour and Sheila too THAT would be too cool! It was so nice to PARTY to Prince's music, and like rd said, it was one of the best Prince shows I've ever seen, and the little bastard wasn't even there! (still love the man, but sometimes I just don't LIKE him)
[This message was edited Sat Dec 20 20:52:15 PST 2003 by EverlastingNow]

You know when you get that tingling feeling down your spine. You know almost orgasmic and usually felt at concerts or during certain parts of special songs be it by any artist...I felt that feeling that nite continuously and I felt it once again tonite while reading this thread.!!! leave it to rd to explain it in detail! my favorite part of the concert was right when I arrived during the family's screams of passion... i had to work late but i arrived about a half an hour into the show so i missed apples and one of my faves jj and madhouse, but the family themselves all there without a member missing made the night for me and made up for jesse's absence (still don't understand how his ass didn't come to this show, I mean it's just one night and I can't imagine him bein busy in the studio or sumfin ) regardless that after party was a treat!!! like rd said here and out loud to me there that nite "OPEN BAR PEJ!!!" the next thing you knew I was on the redbull and vodka tip like a bum on a ham sammich+ there were all kinds of hor de vours and you could believe my ghetto ass got my grub on !!


2 of the most memorable times at the afterparty were me and rd greeting leeds and paul... rd said "pej, who would have ever thought that me,pej,paul, and eric would all be mingling like this lol well maybe not in those same words but i was on my third drink at this point..


the other thing that had me rollin was seeing rd gleefully floating (not walking he was floating) from person to person saying what he would say, greeting, shootin the shit whateva, and he didn't even realize jellybean was sittin right next to our table for like a half an hour.. I pulled him aside and said you know that's jellybean johnson... he was so animated he went over to him and greeted him as if they've been old buddys or sumfin..caught him a lil off guard CLASSIC!!! (the bothaJellybean lookded like he been eatin well these dayz so I can understand not recognizin him)


i will never forget that nite !! not only did i get to meet all the revolution, sheila, the family and then some but i really anticipated meetin up with rd, Nu, and a few others which was a pleasure indeed!!! I got to talk to rd's wife who is an awesome woman who talks highly of her man!! !!!anyway to Nu and rd, y'all muffugaz got more autographs than the declaration of independence!!

PEJ said:

copy...print..save

simply dead on it...you right--I was high on some energy even thang just lovin it, meeting some heroes from music and off ( you guys). I was simply clwonin lol and coudlnt hold my joy in lol. I must have looked like a who knows what lol.Yes pej meeting your crew, chico, and blue, en, NU, mard, etc was the highlight...and meeting efan as well and conversing (thank god he was there) .we wrecked shit that night and I will never forget it. Who knew that after all these months etc that it would end up with all of us together rockin it? Thanks for being part of one of the greatest prince related nights (as well as Nu, en, blue, etc).A perfect ending to all of this.

.
[This message was edited Sun Dec 21 10:04:47 PST 2003 by rdhull]

Great report rd!

This post is soo full of crap!!This Rd person must be new to the internet. lol..j'k. Great post!I wish I had been there.Hopefully,you recorded this on dat or,maybe,they can release a cd of this for charity.I'd buy the hell outta one!

rockwilder said:

you know they allowed cameras into the venue that night with no hassle whatso ever... somebody if not many people must have recorded that show!!!

Awww, what a great experience...

Thanks RD for the report.

So, the bottom line is did anyone videotape the performance for a DVD? Were there cameras shooting the show for Sheila?

PLEASE!!!

Dippydippydope said:

I wonder?

PEJ said:

btw

Don't expect a DVD of the show. It was professionally videotaped for Sheila, but it won't come out. Maybe we can get her to plan ahead for next year!

madhouseman said:

we're gonna have to bug her to release it as a dvd!!! maybe give half the money to charity or whatever!

One of the profesional vid camera men stated that they had just recently recieved the call to ask to donate their time etc. to come tape the show (3 days prior). He also filmed th e backstage and vip shenanegins. He was not sure what would happen to the footage and stated that the logistics of putting it together would be a few weeks or months and then they would see what they would do with the end product (which was up in the air).

Give me a few minutes alone with them and I"ll convince them to release it. Was it a Prince.orger? If so, give us their name! lol