http://www.cnn.com/2004/S...index.html


Prince announces arena tour
Tuesday, February 24, 2004 Posted: 11:11 PM EST (0411 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Prince will return to arena stages for the first time in six years with a national tour featuring classic hits such as "When Doves Cry" and "Little Red Corvette."

"It's older music, but it's going to be played in a newer way," the typically reclusive performer said Tuesday in announcing the tour that begins March 29 in Los Angeles and will hit at least 38 cities.

Prince followed his announcement with a half-hour concert backed by his eight-piece group, the New Power Generation Band. He performed the title song from his upcoming new CD "Musicology" before answering questions from 200 fans and reporters.

The 45-year-old musician is in negotiations with various record labels to release his new disc. Since he parted with Warner Bros. in 1996 after a bitter feud, he has either released his albums on the Internet or through other labels or distribution deals.

His upcoming tour shows the singer is ready to move back into the pop music mainstream he dropped out of in the '90s. He kicked off this month's Grammy telecast with Beyonce joining him on his hit "Purple Rain"; this marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking album and movie.

"It's older music, but it's going to be played in a newer way,"



Uh oh, you know what that means.