I don't know exactly why he did it, but my understanding of the events that led up to it are this. Prince was in LA working on Nikka Costa's new album. Nikka's studio is next door to Wendy's. Nikka informed Prince of this and a day later Wendy called Nikka all excited cuz Prince called her and they hadn't talked in like 9 years or so. Couple of days later they shot the Tavis Smiley show.

And to the guy who doesn't understand the respect that fans give to Wendy and Lisa, or the Revolution as a whole? Others have explained it quite well. It's not just about the musicianship. Yeah, we know that Michael Bland and John Blackwell are much better drummers than Bobby Z. I saw an interview once where Prince said that Bobby watched him like no other drummer. The Revolution could turn on a dime. If P switched gears in the middle of a song, they were right there with him. And Wendy and Lisa are primarily responsible for Prince's growth as a musician and a writer. Don't tell me you can't hear the difference after W & L left. The orchestration, the strings, etc. If you have any love for Around the World In a Day or Parade, you HAVE to thank Wendy and Lisa for that.

And i'm sorry but Brown Mark is better than every bass player that's strolled through the NPG INCLUDING Larry Graham (who is overrated).

Nuff said.

Wendy and the rest of the Revolution should hope Prince takes them back because being in his band is the greatest thing that any of them have achieved in their careers. Let's face it - Wendy and Lisa would just be a couple of hagged out folksy lesbians playing in tiny LA clubs if Prince didnt make them internationally known with Purple Rain.

And will someone please explain - with some intellectual insight and analysis - what the facination with Wendy and Lisa is for most of the european and caucasian American fans? Anything they brough to the group was nothing greater than what other post-Revolution band members contributed. Hell, they are not even the best gutiarist and keyboardist that Prince ever had! Where is the respect for what Levi and Morris Hayes brought to the table? Are we to believe that Bobby Z couold even carry John Blackwell's jock strap? No guitarist has come along that could top Dez Dickerson's hard rock vibe.

There are at least 3 incarnations of the NPG that could smoke the Revolution from Purple Rain with ease. I try to resist the fairly obvious fact that Wendy and Lisa are two white girls and that is the main appeal for certain types of "fans" of, as Prince once said, "the lighter persuasion".

I have all of Wendy and Lisa's albums and one that was not even released. They do good music - but they dont deserve all the credit that isheaped upon them for their work with Prince. It is that simple. In fact, there is a limit to how much thet actually did once you sit down and read the history on those classic albums in the 80s such as Purple Rain, Parade, and Sign O the Times.

Wendy and the rest of the Revolution should hope Prince takes them back because being in his band is the greatest thing that any of them have achieved in their careers. Let's face it - Wendy and Lisa would just be a couple of hagged out folksy lesbians playing in tiny LA clubs if Prince didnt make them internationally known with Purple Rain.

And will someone please explain - with some intellectual insight and analysis - what the facination with Wendy and Lisa is for most of the european and caucasian American fans? Anything they brough to the group was nothing greater than what other post-Revolution band members contributed. Hell, they are not even the best gutiarist and keyboardist that Prince ever had! Where is the respect for what Levi and Morris Hayes brought to the table? Are we to believe that Bobby Z couold even carry John Blackwell's jock strap? No guitarist has come along that could top Dez Dickerson's hard rock vibe.

There are at least 3 incarnations of the NPG that could smoke the Revolution from Purple Rain with ease. I try to resist the fairly obvious fact that Wendy and Lisa are two white girls and that is the main appeal for certain types of "fans" of, as Prince once said, "the lighter persuasion".

I have all of Wendy and Lisa's albums and one that was not even released. They do good music - but they dont deserve all the credit that isheaped upon them for their work with Prince. It is that simple. In fact, there is a limit to how much thet actually did once you sit down and read the history on those classic albums in the 80s such as Purple Rain, Parade, and Sign O the Times.

Let's face it - Wendy and Lisa would just be a couple of hagged out folksy lesbians playing in tiny LA clubs if Prince didnt make them internationally known with Purple Rain.

And will someone please explain - with some intellectual insight and analysis -

I don't know. Because the cookie told him to.

My guess is the Revolution are going to perform with him for his Rock and Roll HOF induction. It wraps it all up in a nice package. Some new side projects with the girls would be nice.

As for the Revolution as a band: I was pissed when Wendy replaced Dez. Dez and Dr. Fink were my favorite members back in the day. Dez freed Prince up to do whatever he wanted on stage. Wendy and Lisa were probably the last band members who able to tell Prince the truth.

My guess is the Revolution are going to perform with him for his Rock and Roll HOF induction. It wraps it all up in a nice package. Some new side projects with the girls would be nice.

As for the Revolution as a band: I was pissed when Wendy replaced Dez. Dez and Dr. Fink were my favorite members back in the day. Dez freed Prince up to do whatever he wanted on stage. Wendy and Lisa were probably the last band members who able to tell Prince the truth.

d:

Alright, I reposted just so everyone could see how ridiculous your logic is...i see what your saying on some points...yes they're not his greatest musicians. But even Prince knows that artistically the stand above any other bandmates he's had. Anything Wendy & Lisa touch has a sense of sophistication & class, even the most musically simplistic things have a aura of smarts to it. & The whole Wendy & Lisa white issue is played...and plain ignorant.


Nero

neronava said:

Well, you can think that black and white doesnt matter but it does. It always has. Prince knows that. THat is why he insisted on having whites in his band: he was plaaning crossover appeal. More than one person that worked with him has verified this conscious move on his part. He did it because he understands the role that race plays in the music business and the attitudes of some fans Wendy and Lisa didnt have a golden touch to the extent that their fans claim. Prince was Prince before them. Where was the golden touch after they left Prince? Do you think they would have gotten as much credit had they been black?
[This message was edited Mon Feb 23 8:32:03 2004 by NPGLOVER]

He probably did it because he knew that some of his lame fans would wet themselves over it.

And will someone please explain - with some intellectual insight and analysis - what the facination with Wendy and Lisa is for most of the european and caucasian American fans?

If one is to believe about the homophobic comments Prince has made in the past (regarding Wendy and Lisa as well - something to the effect that he would not work with them as long as they maintain the particular lifestyle they have chosen), then seeing them performing together could be seen a sort of relief - finally he has given up the silliness of judging people on the grounds of their sexuality.

Maybe it is also a sign of his coming to senses after this JW nonsense we witnessed in the last three-four years. Another proof for that is his changed now explanation for not not cursing any more - as he admitted he doesn't curse now because it's not cool (as everybody else does).

neronava said:

Well, you can think that black and white doesnt matter but it does. It always has. Prince knows that. THat is why he insisted on having whites in his band: he was plaaning crossover appeal. More than one person that worked with him has verified this conscious move on his part. He did it because he understands the role that race plays in the music business and the attitudes of some fans Wendy and Lisa didnt have a golden touch to the extent that their fans claim. Prince was Prince before them. Where was the golden touch after they left Prince? Do you think they would have gotten as much credit had they been black?
[This message was edited Mon Feb 23 8:32:03 2004 by NPGLOVER]

Wendy wrote & performed "My Favorite Mistake" a number one hit for Sheryl Crow,