I’ve been listening to his last four albums in rotation for a week with a view to doing a Nights In on HITnRun Phase Two because it gets a physical release later this month.
It is indeed. The sound is tremendous. It is spilling over with horns (up to twelve to a track) but it is the presence of a genuine human drummer and velvet female vocals that give it its warmth, topped off with Prince himself playing bass as a lead instrument. Even the weaker songs sound wonderful. Easily his best album of the Teenies.
It also has the air of tying up loose ends. Half the tracks are refurbishments of previous releases dating back a number of years.
I can confirm that the only Prince album I own is Purple Rain.
This lack of ownership does not stop me feeling like this is another massive loss.
2016 is turning out to be a right shitty year?
I was driving the car when the news broke on Radio 2. Fucking flabbergasted. The guy had boundless energy – more than anyone else I know. What the fuck happened?
Sign of the Times one of the best albums ever recorded. I can’t take much more of this.
Jesus. When Bowie died I thought ‘nobody had that ten-year run of albums, one a year, where every one was an extraordinary tour de force, each one completely different from the last’.
And I forgot Prince. From 1982 to 1992, you could say that certain albums were not to your taste, but by God they were fantastic. I was lucky enough to see him three times, but wish I ‘d seen him at his 1985-1987 absolute best. What a talent. What a loss.
Appalling news. One of the people I’d always wanted to see live, but never will now. Parade is my favourite album, just an endlessly creative fountain of music from start to finish.
Keep re-reading the news and it’s still not sinking in.
The last time I saw him perform live was about four years ago. He was 53 and had the energy and moves of a 17-year-old and I thought how someone like him would never slow down.
Can’t believe he’s now stopped completely.
Really shocked and saddened by this one, nearly drove off the road in surprise as I heard the news on the radio while on my way home.
I’m playing the Black Album…. wow, it’s done well. Almost as good as anything he ever did. The brass riff on Rock Hard in a Funky Place alone is a gem.
Play this and Dirty Mind dead loud and dance your sweet can off. The sad songs can wait.
First year at Uni. 1986. Shared house with five other guys. From India, Sri Lanka, Poland, Hong Kong and Nottingham. Prince, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen unite us all. Music makes us stronger and breaks barriers. So yeah, this matters.
What insanity is this?? Not Prince as well…
The best live artist I’ve ever seen, luckily I got to see him several times, both in the 80s and a couple of years ago.
In fact, after seeing him two nights in a row at the Sign O’ The Times tour I retired from watching gigs for a few years, as I thought that nobody would be good enough to not disappoint me after having had my mind truly blown by Prince.
And it’s not even May yet!
I’m equally fascinated by guitarist Marc Mann (in the black cap) who takes the first solo. He has Clapton’s guitar parts down pat. He was great in the Concert For George, too.
As for Prince. Did we ever work out where his guitar went at the end?
Like what everyone said. There’s an indecent haste about all of this – we’ve barely acknowledged the passing of someone for whom there’s huge affection, respect and now shock, when another one happens. Itsespecially horrible when it’s someone who clearly still had much to give, as was the case with Prince.
Shame cos no one ever actually phones them, they just turn up where they are not wanted with their flashing “look at me” lights and side nines trampling away.
And there I was thinking this was a discussion forum where all points of view are welcome, even the pointlessly nasty ones, like yours on the Donovan thread.
Looks like I was wrong. Perhaps you’d care to post your email address here and we can send our posts to you first so you can approve them?
Hi DFB! This is maybe the second time in many years of sharing the blog that you’ve responded to a comment of mine. Thanks for taking the trouble, and I’m glad it meant that much to you.
Nor me really.
He was streets ahead as a musician and arranger, and some of his hits were very good pop songs, but there never seemed to be much soul going on. Another popular musical polymath would be Stevie, but they’re like chalk and cheese to me.
I’m fascinated by the way something like this is being reported in the mainstream TV news. Social media is now all-important it seems, so as part of their coverage Sky News are reading out banal Tweets from no mark celebs like Robbie Williams and Katie Perry.
When Lennon died I don’t recall the TV news leading off with one line tributes from Engelbert Humperdinck, Vince Hill, Shirley Bassey and Clodagh Rodgers
No different to when Bowie died and an erstwhile Spice Girl mourned his passing on the bbd by announcing Major Tom was her favourite Bowie song.
Keep the celebs out of it I say.
“They all said something trite like “Gone too soon”.”
57’s not such a bad innings depending on the life you’ve led. The amazing thing with david bowie was that, considering his drug taking in the 70s he made it to the age he did.
My father died at 57 which is by any standards young but when you see the way he lived it’s surprising he made it that far.
I suspect it may come out that Prince was another ‘Michael jackson’ prescription drug addict …
It’s all fodder for the 24h, slavering maw of online media – they immediately need stuff to report, meat for the bulletins. Twitter? It’s a lifesaver. INstead of desperately ringing around PRs to try and elicit some anodyne ‘comment’ from – someone – anyone! heer you instantly have eminences like Ronnie Wood, the Pope or Bear Grylls Tweeting something cut’n’paste-able about [insert dead celebrity here]? Great! That;s going in.
It’s shallow, vapid, moronic and utterly predictable
ok here’s a question . I’ve been watching a you tube thing on his half-time show at the Superbowl in Miami. It is pissing down and he is soaked playing electric guitar.
I only saw him in February. He played a show in Melbourne, just him, a baby grand, some candles. I took my daughter who has since become a huge fan.
This morning she wore a raspberry beret to work.
Very talented guy, musically, but not really my thing.
The news of course is a shame, but I don’t get this mass grieving thing these days. The Diana effect ? Some mass cathartic emotional purge rooted in something deeply fucked about society ? Same with Bowie. People saying (exaggerating ?) about crying for days, being in deep shock and numb with grief ? This is surely something that only happens when you personally lose a loved one. As for ‘what’s going on’ – life is transient. People have their time and then die/pass over. That’s all there is to it. All is transient.
Not necessarily Rob. The idealised relationship one can have with an artist can lead to more extreme feelings than those for someone you have known all your life, whose positive attributes are balanced by knowing their flaws and imperfections.
Life is transient, yes, but it is a great deal easier to accept someone passing if they fall off the perch at 85, after a life well-lived, rather than with many years ahead of them to do more stunning performances, albums etc. Also agree with MC about having an “intense” connection to an artist, particularly if it started in the impressionable teenage years. As for me, I’m more upset about Victoria Wood. I think this is because I was looking forward to many years of her making me laugh on Radio 4 panel shows, TV etc and helping me through the aging years with her poignant and funny writing. She always championed the underdog coming good, something Bowie and Prince did, appealing to those more marginalized by “conventional” society.
By the way, loving the purple website banners. Would definitely keep them on!
The only time I felt the nearest equivalent was John Lennon. I was 12 years old, a huge Beatles/Lennon fan. I think it was they were important factors but above all it was the awful manner of his death . The palpable sense of shock and sadness was everywhere.
Safe journey Prince. He brought joy to so many a people. That’s a divine gift and life well lived.
Lennon was murdered in a senseless way, so the shock was multiplied.
I don’t remember there being the Diana style outpourings for Jimi, Janis, Brian and Jim. Just sense of anger tinged with sadness, plus a touch of morbid curiosity.
Good point Rob. There was almost a sense of “well, with they way they carried on, they deserved it, anyway” from the parents who still saw rock & roll as the devil’s work.
Now rock is part of the establishment and the death of Bowie or Prince is on the level of the loss of a major statesman or minor royalty.
Most of the recent deaths are simply life’s roll call – even Bowie.
He was sick not touring etc. Prince seemed to be no less productive now than before , touring again and someone who you , well I, still wondered what he would do next.
Fifty-seven v twenty-seven but I see it more along the lines of Hendrix’s death.
2 of the biggest indie stations down here Triple R and triple J are both playing NOTHING but Poonce. Quite remarkable. Triple J will be doing so all weekend.
Thanks Junior. Didn’t really do much for me though. Not a patch on the original and none of Jimi’s soul – too much tech show for me with not much feel. Something I always found with his guitar playing.
well of course I’m not saying Hendrix v Prince on red House but I disagree strongly that he lacks soul. I think he is a very very soulful player and can really play the blues with the best of them.
Jimi was like a Shaman channelling, out of his body, looking down from the Astrals and grinning with amazement and disbelief. Prince, bless him, is merely demonstrating his licks, by comparison.
I thought Prince used to spread himself too thin. His guitar playing was amazing, but it was only a small part of what he did. I didn’t find the rest of it that appealing, especially the falsetto singing.
I think it is easy to devalue the musical performance because of the falsetto, the mincing , the androgyny. I mean fuck just listen to him doing bass solos, let alone guitar, keys, singing,
Don’t want to buy into an argument Rob but you did say his playing was tech showy with not much soul and I see having soul in your playing as a key part of the talent
In my own subjective opinion, in that clip. I’m perfectly capable of admitting that I am not well versed in the man’s catalogue, and his playing style aside, it is obvious to me that nonetheless he was a very talented artist, dear boy.
And technology being what it was in the 60s, Jimi’s live shows were often a mess. He was out of tune much of the time and he’d take forever between songs. He didn’t have a spare guitar, so he’d mumble a kind of incomprehensible stoned stream of consciousness into the mic while tuning. Many of the songs degenerated into sprawling messy jams and feedback.
You wouldn’t get that today. Things are much more professional and equipment has improved out of sight.
No stage monitors, unreliable amps and PA systems. Also, Jimi was so out of his bonce on drugs he couldn’t perform properly, sometimes.
People were always giving him drugs and reportedly, he rarely refused them.
Not so much the amps but the PAs were poor in the 60s. Foot pedals too were in their infancy. Fuzz box Wah-Wah and maybe one other custom built effect were all Jimi had. And a stock Fender Strat off the shelf for almost every gig. And yet he was still great.
My bad as the youngsters would say – the clip is located below.
I’m trying to post on Facebook, watch the rugby league and AFL ,drink red wine, respond to you lot and try to ignore HPs interjections above that I’ve only just spotted. And it;s Friday night.
Yes if you don’t like funk with a capital F, dance music, falsetto, shimmying,etc you probably won’t like him. Even if he can play blues or a guitar solo that leaves Clapton’s original in the shade
I like funk, me. I like it in my face, which is the recommended method of intake. I gots scads of funk in my iTunes. I’m not averse to dance music, either. Falsetto? No greater fan. Blues – not so much. But I have never liked the diminutive purple one, although I’m prepared to admit he had talent “out the ass”. Not for want of trying – I paid for his albums back in the First Vinyl Era. Never got my money’s worth. I admired his fluency with the guitar, his taste in back-up singers. But I thought, and I still think, he was a preening, pouting show-off who made it clear he felt he was entitled to much more than he was getting. Of anything. Except shit from me. His death has in no way made his art more approachable.
A funk artist being a preening pouting show off. Who’dathunk ?
I remember seeing Fela’s son Seun in a classic Afrobeat show and someone commented on the sexist lyrics.
Jeepers creepers
Yes, you’re right, of course. Nothing inherently wrong with being a preening, pouting show-off – bit of a requirement, in fact. He ticks all the boxes except the one marked “I care”.
To @hp-Saucecraft well this is the fork in the road. You do or you don’t. But looking at your history of liking truly unique eccentric independent quirky genii.see Zappa and Wilson. Your love of guitar demo gods see Hendrix and your recently stated love of funk , if asked before I’d have put money on you being a fan.
Me too. But I’m not alone in being more an admirer of his undeniable talent than a lover of his work. Which leaves me cold. I can admire the brushwork and the (er …) play of light in a painting by Reubens without liking the picture at all. In fact, Reubens is a good comparison, as he didn’t have any hit singles I can remember the verses of either.
That’s what we like civilised agree to disagree and acknowledgment of the others point of view.
Now log onto Double J via the net and you can get Poonce for the next 2 days solid.
Just saw a comment on Twitter to the effect that she seems to have half finished putting on a Robin Hood costume before giving up and going on a bender instead.
Hey Jasmine – there’s a joke here you should be “in” on. Young Johnny Concheroo hails from That Madchester himself (an Ancoats lad), and lapses into Stansfield English himself when half-pissed. ‘E’s fookin madferit!
Prince was clearly a very talented guy and loved by millions. His music or films didn’t connect with me in the same way Bowie did, even though at 46, I’m more a ‘Prince generation’ rather than Bowie.
I can perfectly relate to and understand the shock and empathy though.
Same here; he wasn’t my thing but obviously millions were moved by his music and he had a rare level of talent.
I found him compelling to watch but it was more on a technical level as his performance and musicianship were phenomenal, than on any real emotional connection (for me).
I have no problem with people expressing their shock/sadness – I felt the same when Garry Shandling died. It would be pretty weird if people felt nothing when someone who moved them emotionally dies (esp. suddenly), and if they can’t articulate it without being cliched or cheezy – who gives a sh*t? ‘In Memoriam’ columns are full of references to “angels,” etc. – you can’t expect everyone to turn into WB Yeats just because someone’s croaked.
I just found out that guitarist Eric Johnson was signed to Warner Bros following a recommendation from Prince, who saw him on the Austin City Limits TV show. So that’s another plus from me.
Obviously a huge loss for an 80’s nut like me. As much as everything else I loved his lyrics, a bit surreal but somehow all made sense. One of the few that deserve the G word.
The song that made me ask for the first time, “Who is this Prince chap?”
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
The song that helped me convert others to his music:
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Spooky alert: April 21st 1986 appears as one of the dates at the end of the video.
I have an old school friend who I’ve not seen for years who I know will be absolutely devastated by his death. I’m going to see if I can in touch with him this weekend.
RIP “PURPLE RINCE” U WAS THE “KING OF” ROCK POP “N” ROLL!! NUTHIN COMPADRES 2U!! THEIR’L BE BLOWIN RASBERRY BERETS IN HAEVAN 2NITE 56 IS NO AGE WHAT A TERIBLE YEAR FIRST LEAVON HULME AND NOW U2? DOVES ARE CRYIN @NO. 49 2NITE MANDA SAYS U WOUD DIE 4 US BUT U COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF HER NAN LUV FROM JASE IN SALES RIP LOL
You’ve probably seen this already, but if you haven’t, here’s Bruce Springsteen opening his Brooklyn concert with Prince’s Purple Rain (with Nils Lofgren on guitar) I reckon they do a pretty good job of it, too.
Haven’t seen this before .Prince playing Purple Rain for the first time in concert- parts of which were used on the album. Annoyingly didactic and fawning screen notes and the film is ropey but the sound is great.
Fuck he could play.
Playing a Hohner telecaster copy- didn’t know that.
policybloke says
Oh. Good Grief. 2016 is turning out a very bad year.
Black Type says
My two absolute musical heroes, both gone. I just cannot believe this.
Tiggerlion says
Unbelievable!!!
I’ve been listening to his last four albums in rotation for a week with a view to doing a Nights In on HITnRun Phase Two because it gets a physical release later this month.
Black Type says
HnRP2 is bloody fantastic!
Tiggerlion says
It is indeed. The sound is tremendous. It is spilling over with horns (up to twelve to a track) but it is the presence of a genuine human drummer and velvet female vocals that give it its warmth, topped off with Prince himself playing bass as a lead instrument. Even the weaker songs sound wonderful. Easily his best album of the Teenies.
It also has the air of tying up loose ends. Half the tracks are refurbishments of previous releases dating back a number of years.
Kaisfatdad says
Very, very sad news. Only 57 years old. A dreadful loss.
I’m so shocked that I can’t even get it together to post a YouTube clip.
Yeah, that bad!
MC Escher says
Well fuck this year.
Baskerville Old Face says
A sad day for music. This guy was a genius. RIP
James Blast says
What the fuck is going on!!?
paulwright says
That’s twice this year that genius is not overstating it. RIP
VincePacket says
I tend to avoid the RIP posts. But Prince? I have a huge fucking hole in my heart now.
Number Six says
My 80’s gone.
Rigid Digit says
I can confirm that the only Prince album I own is Purple Rain.
This lack of ownership does not stop me feeling like this is another massive loss.
2016 is turning out to be a right shitty year?
Please will everybody stop dying
count jim moriarty says
Can’t honestly say that I was a fan, but can we just move straight on to 2017 now please. This constant stream of RIP’s is not funny anymore.
SteveT says
I was driving the car when the news broke on Radio 2. Fucking flabbergasted. The guy had boundless energy – more than anyone else I know. What the fuck happened?
Sign of the Times one of the best albums ever recorded. I can’t take much more of this.
seekenee says
57 is no age. what a shocker. RIP.
TrypF says
Jesus. When Bowie died I thought ‘nobody had that ten-year run of albums, one a year, where every one was an extraordinary tour de force, each one completely different from the last’.
And I forgot Prince. From 1982 to 1992, you could say that certain albums were not to your taste, but by God they were fantastic. I was lucky enough to see him three times, but wish I ‘d seen him at his 1985-1987 absolute best. What a talent. What a loss.
badartdog says
jesus fucking christ
ipesky says
I was watching the clip of him wigging out at the George Harrison concert just the other day. Let’s go crazy…..
Mavis Diles says
I retire from pop music. It’s dead now.
eddie g says
Bob, Mick, Keef, Charlie, Ringo and Paulie still left.
When they’re gone then it really will all be over.
tkdmart says
Lovesexy Live, NEC 88… Still my favourite all time gig. I was lucky enough to see him in Manchester Academy too
Junior Wells says
Staggering absolutely.
My age.
More musical talent than most by a long shot, possibly too much talent for him to manage it.
This one has stunned me.
Black Celebration says
Around about this time, no one came anywhere near him.
http://www.jukebo.com/prince/music-clip,mountains,suru3.html
Junior Wells says
yes right up there
I’d nominate The Cross off Sign Of The Times
Uncle Wheaty says
The Cross is my favourite Prince tune
Kid Dynamite says
Appalling news. One of the people I’d always wanted to see live, but never will now. Parade is my favourite album, just an endlessly creative fountain of music from start to finish.
Marwood says
Sometimes it snows in April. That tune is playing in my head as I type.
What sad news, what a terrible year this proving to be. It feels like all the good guys are being struck down.
Black Type says
Gambo’s on.
Moose the Mooche says
“I’m a tad more interested in flying your kite tonight”
Scarlet says
Keep re-reading the news and it’s still not sinking in.
The last time I saw him perform live was about four years ago. He was 53 and had the energy and moves of a 17-year-old and I thought how someone like him would never slow down.
Can’t believe he’s now stopped completely.
Really shocked and saddened by this one, nearly drove off the road in surprise as I heard the news on the radio while on my way home.
This has reappeared for the time being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYKMis5uFv8
Scarlet says
(The live version of Purple Rain that is as close as anything to the album version.)
Black Type says
It is essentially the album version. The recording was so spot-on that it was used for the album, with only minimal overdubs.
KDH says
“I want to live life to the ultimate high
Maybe I’ll die young like heroes die”…
Prince – Under The Cherry Moon (1986)
Moose the Mooche says
I’m playing the Black Album…. wow, it’s done well. Almost as good as anything he ever did. The brass riff on Rock Hard in a Funky Place alone is a gem.
Play this and Dirty Mind dead loud and dance your sweet can off. The sad songs can wait.
Mavis Diles says
First year at Uni. 1986. Shared house with five other guys. From India, Sri Lanka, Poland, Hong Kong and Nottingham. Prince, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen unite us all. Music makes us stronger and breaks barriers. So yeah, this matters.
Locust says
What insanity is this?? Not Prince as well…
The best live artist I’ve ever seen, luckily I got to see him several times, both in the 80s and a couple of years ago.
In fact, after seeing him two nights in a row at the Sign O’ The Times tour I retired from watching gigs for a few years, as I thought that nobody would be good enough to not disappoint me after having had my mind truly blown by Prince.
And it’s not even May yet!
chiz says
The end of this; virtuosity and showmanship. And magic.
Johnny Concheroo says
I’m equally fascinated by guitarist Marc Mann (in the black cap) who takes the first solo. He has Clapton’s guitar parts down pat. He was great in the Concert For George, too.
As for Prince. Did we ever work out where his guitar went at the end?
ruff-diamond says
He had a flunky hanging by his ankles from a trapeze who caught it (just out of camera shot).
Johnny Concheroo says
I’d like to see footage of that!
Blue Boy says
Like what everyone said. There’s an indecent haste about all of this – we’ve barely acknowledged the passing of someone for whom there’s huge affection, respect and now shock, when another one happens. Itsespecially horrible when it’s someone who clearly still had much to give, as was the case with Prince.
Junior Wells says
you’d think there would be a lot of interest in his music vault.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Not from me, Junior.
Johnny Concheroo says
Me neither. This is no time to be churlish, but the only thing about Prince that ever appealed to me was his guitar playing.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Not that anyone should care, but I always said I never “got” Prince’s music, and I never found him particularly (or at all) appealing as a personality. This doesn’t make me grumpy or sour (qualities I saw in him), but it doesn’t make me want to webgrieve© for him, either. Nor does it make me join in with those throwing up their hands in despair at 2016 being in some way a “bad year” that they can’t wait to end (presumably we’ll all stop dying in ’17).
But I like the purple masthead very much.
DogFacedBoy says
God the grief police are quick aren’t they?
Shame cos no one ever actually phones them, they just turn up where they are not wanted with their flashing “look at me” lights and side nines trampling away.
Johnny Concheroo says
And there I was thinking this was a discussion forum where all points of view are welcome, even the pointlessly nasty ones, like yours on the Donovan thread.
Looks like I was wrong. Perhaps you’d care to post your email address here and we can send our posts to you first so you can approve them?
H.P. Saucecraft says
Hi DFB! This is maybe the second time in many years of sharing the blog that you’ve responded to a comment of mine. Thanks for taking the trouble, and I’m glad it meant that much to you.
Grieve On, dude –
Sgt Knacker
The Grief Police
niscum says
I love DFB’s self-righteous anger at others (Stewart Lee, Elvis C?). Always makes me smile.
Though normally he waits till one of the bigger boys on here have made a snide comment before jumping in. Good to see he’s finally found his feet!
minibreakfast says
“Purple masthead”.
Fnarf.
Jimmy says
Nor me really.
He was streets ahead as a musician and arranger, and some of his hits were very good pop songs, but there never seemed to be much soul going on. Another popular musical polymath would be Stevie, but they’re like chalk and cheese to me.
Johnny Concheroo says
He was clearly a genius and lived within the music, but at times it was all a bit too close to dance music for my taste.
Johnny Concheroo says
I’m fascinated by the way something like this is being reported in the mainstream TV news. Social media is now all-important it seems, so as part of their coverage Sky News are reading out banal Tweets from no mark celebs like Robbie Williams and Katie Perry.
When Lennon died I don’t recall the TV news leading off with one line tributes from Engelbert Humperdinck, Vince Hill, Shirley Bassey and Clodagh Rodgers
ruff-diamond says
All prefaced with “I never met him but…”, no doubt.
Johnny Concheroo says
They all said something trite like “Gone too soon”.
I for one feel a lot more able to cope with the news now I know what Katie Perry thinks of Prince’s demise.
Johnny Concheroo says
Sorry, that’s Katy Perry. You can see how down with the kids I am.
ruff-diamond says
“Gone too soon (how old was he again?)”
Johnny Concheroo says
And that old media stand-by “Tributes are flooding in…”
SteveT says
No different to when Bowie died and an erstwhile Spice Girl mourned his passing on the bbd by announcing Major Tom was her favourite Bowie song.
Keep the celebs out of it I say.
niscum says
“They all said something trite like “Gone too soon”.”
57’s not such a bad innings depending on the life you’ve led. The amazing thing with david bowie was that, considering his drug taking in the 70s he made it to the age he did.
My father died at 57 which is by any standards young but when you see the way he lived it’s surprising he made it that far.
I suspect it may come out that Prince was another ‘Michael jackson’ prescription drug addict …
H.P. Saucecraft says
Nobody’s mentioning the smack.
Bingo Little says
I think you better quit
Talking that shit
Or you’ll be leaving with a fat lip
H.P. Saucecraft says
I didn’t mention the smack. Merely pointed out that nobody was mentioning the smack. Nuance, brah.
Bingo Little says
Oo you calling a nonce bra?
H.P. Saucecraft says
You want a smack or what?
Bingo Little says
Don’t mention the smack!
H.P. Saucecraft says
The smack never did me any harm as a lad. Bent over and took it like a man.
slotbadger says
It’s all fodder for the 24h, slavering maw of online media – they immediately need stuff to report, meat for the bulletins. Twitter? It’s a lifesaver. INstead of desperately ringing around PRs to try and elicit some anodyne ‘comment’ from – someone – anyone! heer you instantly have eminences like Ronnie Wood, the Pope or Bear Grylls Tweeting something cut’n’paste-able about [insert dead celebrity here]? Great! That;s going in.
It’s shallow, vapid, moronic and utterly predictable
slotbadger says
Gah, typos galore
ernietothecentreoftheearth says
Well, you say that, but when Lennon died I spent the whole day camped outside Vince’s house to hear what he had to say.
Modern life is so much more convenient.
Junior Wells says
ok here’s a question . I’ve been watching a you tube thing on his half-time show at the Superbowl in Miami. It is pissing down and he is soaked playing electric guitar.
Why didn’t he fry?
Johnny Concheroo says
Wireless guitar lead
Hot Cider says
Wow.
That’s how to put on a show.
Thanks for posting.
Tim The Admin says
It felt only right to turn the site Purple in his honour. Take care y’all x.
Sewer Robot says
Class.
ruff-diamond says
Well played.
Kaisfatdad says
Nice work Tim!
duco01 says
I must say I like the site’s new purple livery.
minibreakfast says
And the new footer.
nigelthebald says
Thank you, Mini – I had missed that.
hubert rawlinson says
Nice touch.
Kid Dynamite says
Good work.
DogFacedBoy says
An impromptu tip of the hat to the Purple one that I saw tonight.
H.P. Saucecraft says
This is fantastic. The entire audience getting up on stage like that.
Red Lodge says
I only saw him in February. He played a show in Melbourne, just him, a baby grand, some candles. I took my daughter who has since become a huge fan.
This morning she wore a raspberry beret to work.
Kaisfatdad says
Good for her @Red Lodge.
These small personal tributes are so much more meaningful than all the squawkings of twitterati.
Junglejim says
Seconded KFD – what a touching way to express her feelings (I’m sure it was the kind you find in a second hand store)
☔️
Kaisfatdad says
Damn right JungleJim! And I’ll bet that, as icing on the cake, she walked in through the out door.
Sniffity says
It was only 19 degrees in Melbourne today…hope she wore much more.
Gary says
This is how I’ll remember him. Hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LhcParuzpc
Johnny Concheroo says
Almost too wee!
Time for this, I think
Rob C says
Very talented guy, musically, but not really my thing.
The news of course is a shame, but I don’t get this mass grieving thing these days. The Diana effect ? Some mass cathartic emotional purge rooted in something deeply fucked about society ? Same with Bowie. People saying (exaggerating ?) about crying for days, being in deep shock and numb with grief ? This is surely something that only happens when you personally lose a loved one. As for ‘what’s going on’ – life is transient. People have their time and then die/pass over. That’s all there is to it. All is transient.
MC Escher says
Not necessarily Rob. The idealised relationship one can have with an artist can lead to more extreme feelings than those for someone you have known all your life, whose positive attributes are balanced by knowing their flaws and imperfections.
fortuneight says
Exactly – and the idealised nature of the relationship makes the shock so much greater.
Rob C says
Psychobabble excuses for mardy types.
Carolina says
Life is transient, yes, but it is a great deal easier to accept someone passing if they fall off the perch at 85, after a life well-lived, rather than with many years ahead of them to do more stunning performances, albums etc. Also agree with MC about having an “intense” connection to an artist, particularly if it started in the impressionable teenage years. As for me, I’m more upset about Victoria Wood. I think this is because I was looking forward to many years of her making me laugh on Radio 4 panel shows, TV etc and helping me through the aging years with her poignant and funny writing. She always championed the underdog coming good, something Bowie and Prince did, appealing to those more marginalized by “conventional” society.
By the way, loving the purple website banners. Would definitely keep them on!
Junior Wells says
I put Bowie and Prince on a different level to you usual rock star.
Political leaders, religious leaders, cultural icons -all can trigger a strong sense of loss without knowing them.
Rob C says
A sense of loss is one thing, and perfectly understandable. I’m talking about your full on grief mode. Quiet baffling to me.
Johnny Concheroo says
Full-on grief mode.
I’m off to find some railings to tie some flowers to. I may even hold a midnight vigil with all candles and shit.
Gary says
I still haven’t got over Meg Mortimer leaving Crossroads.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Me, I’m still webgrieving Levon Helm. How soon we forget.
Rob C says
The only time I felt the nearest equivalent was John Lennon. I was 12 years old, a huge Beatles/Lennon fan. I think it was they were important factors but above all it was the awful manner of his death . The palpable sense of shock and sadness was everywhere.
Safe journey Prince. He brought joy to so many a people. That’s a divine gift and life well lived.
Johnny Concheroo says
Lennon was murdered in a senseless way, so the shock was multiplied.
I don’t remember there being the Diana style outpourings for Jimi, Janis, Brian and Jim. Just sense of anger tinged with sadness, plus a touch of morbid curiosity.
BigJimBob says
That was then this is now. It is a connected age. McLuhan was right.
Rob C says
Also, Rock musicians were still seen as semi-degenerate social pariahs by the establishment. A touch of the Telegraph rustling and good riddance.
Johnny Concheroo says
Good point Rob. There was almost a sense of “well, with they way they carried on, they deserved it, anyway” from the parents who still saw rock & roll as the devil’s work.
Now rock is part of the establishment and the death of Bowie or Prince is on the level of the loss of a major statesman or minor royalty.
Rob C says
… the thing is, I REALLY don’t have a problem with Sir Mick playing cricket at Lords. Honestly. It’s all Lila.
Hari Ramsden.
Junior Wells says
Most of the recent deaths are simply life’s roll call – even Bowie.
He was sick not touring etc. Prince seemed to be no less productive now than before , touring again and someone who you , well I, still wondered what he would do next.
Fifty-seven v twenty-seven but I see it more along the lines of Hendrix’s death.
2 of the biggest indie stations down here Triple R and triple J are both playing NOTHING but Poonce. Quite remarkable. Triple J will be doing so all weekend.
Bingo Little says
I think you’ll find that grieving peaked in 1971.
Johnny Concheroo says
Very good!
Bingo Little says
Love a bit of Prince, and sorry to see him go.
Going to listen to the Batman soundtrack today. Cool points be damned, it’s still my favourite.
Oh, and can I be the first to post this…
DogFacedBoy says
Shot by Chris Morris as was the Chaka Khan / Bee Gees gunfight from the same series
Junior Wells says
Batman soundtrack is tops
@RobC you might like this line of Prince- doing Hendrix’s Red House with Maceo Parker
https://my.mail.ru/mail/bonitolo-luks/video/12838/20086.html
Rob C says
Thanks Junior. Didn’t really do much for me though. Not a patch on the original and none of Jimi’s soul – too much tech show for me with not much feel. Something I always found with his guitar playing.
Junior Wells says
well of course I’m not saying Hendrix v Prince on red House but I disagree strongly that he lacks soul. I think he is a very very soulful player and can really play the blues with the best of them.
Of course he is showy but showy…Hendrix ???
Rob C says
Jimi was like a Shaman channelling, out of his body, looking down from the Astrals and grinning with amazement and disbelief. Prince, bless him, is merely demonstrating his licks, by comparison.
( Is there an AW Pseuds Corner ?)
Johnny Concheroo says
I thought Prince used to spread himself too thin. His guitar playing was amazing, but it was only a small part of what he did. I didn’t find the rest of it that appealing, especially the falsetto singing.
Rob C says
Eric rated him as the world’s best player. Perhaps I need to re-visit/evaluate ?
Johnny Concheroo says
You’d need someone to point out the guitar tracks, otherwise it’s a case of wading through a lot of other stuff.
Rob C says
Hmm. I’ll do some research. Don’t want any Jehova antics.
Junior Wells says
I think it is easy to devalue the musical performance because of the falsetto, the mincing , the androgyny. I mean fuck just listen to him doing bass solos, let alone guitar, keys, singing,
He was a PRODIGIOUS talent
Rob C says
I’m not in disagreement about his talent, which was tremendous.
Junior Wells says
Don’t want to buy into an argument Rob but you did say his playing was tech showy with not much soul and I see having soul in your playing as a key part of the talent
Rob C says
In my own subjective opinion, in that clip. I’m perfectly capable of admitting that I am not well versed in the man’s catalogue, and his playing style aside, it is obvious to me that nonetheless he was a very talented artist, dear boy.
Have a pakora x
Johnny Concheroo says
And technology being what it was in the 60s, Jimi’s live shows were often a mess. He was out of tune much of the time and he’d take forever between songs. He didn’t have a spare guitar, so he’d mumble a kind of incomprehensible stoned stream of consciousness into the mic while tuning. Many of the songs degenerated into sprawling messy jams and feedback.
You wouldn’t get that today. Things are much more professional and equipment has improved out of sight.
Junior Wells says
Johnny – just regarding that falsetto bugbear. Play that clip of The Cross above.
Johnny Concheroo says
Sounds a bit grungy. That’s not him singing, surely?
Junior Wells says
Good grief
Johnny Concheroo says
Are we talking about the same track? I looked it up on YouTube
Junior Wells says
You don’t get it. He’s a chameleon but that doesn’t mean what he does has less merit coz he can do so much other stuff too. He does it all well.
Johnny Concheroo says
You got that right. I don’t get it.
Mike_H says
No stage monitors, unreliable amps and PA systems. Also, Jimi was so out of his bonce on drugs he couldn’t perform properly, sometimes.
People were always giving him drugs and reportedly, he rarely refused them.
Johnny Concheroo says
Not so much the amps but the PAs were poor in the 60s. Foot pedals too were in their infancy. Fuzz box Wah-Wah and maybe one other custom built effect were all Jimi had. And a stock Fender Strat off the shelf for almost every gig. And yet he was still great.
Junior Wells says
You honour can I introduce an expert witness for the defence , Mr Miles Davis?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BxRYIoKMJU
Junior Wells says
My bad as the youngsters would say – the clip is located below.
I’m trying to post on Facebook, watch the rugby league and AFL ,drink red wine, respond to you lot and try to ignore HPs interjections above that I’ve only just spotted. And it;s Friday night.
Yes if you don’t like funk with a capital F, dance music, falsetto, shimmying,etc you probably won’t like him. Even if he can play blues or a guitar solo that leaves Clapton’s original in the shade
Junior Wells says
But enjoying thediscourse
H.P. Saucecraft says
I like funk, me. I like it in my face, which is the recommended method of intake. I gots scads of funk in my iTunes. I’m not averse to dance music, either. Falsetto? No greater fan. Blues – not so much. But I have never liked the diminutive purple one, although I’m prepared to admit he had talent “out the ass”. Not for want of trying – I paid for his albums back in the First Vinyl Era. Never got my money’s worth. I admired his fluency with the guitar, his taste in back-up singers. But I thought, and I still think, he was a preening, pouting show-off who made it clear he felt he was entitled to much more than he was getting. Of anything. Except shit from me. His death has in no way made his art more approachable.
Junior Wells says
A funk artist being a preening pouting show off. Who’dathunk ?
I remember seeing Fela’s son Seun in a classic Afrobeat show and someone commented on the sexist lyrics.
Jeepers creepers
H.P. Saucecraft says
Yes, you’re right, of course. Nothing inherently wrong with being a preening, pouting show-off – bit of a requirement, in fact. He ticks all the boxes except the one marked “I care”.
Rob C says
Your bad what ?
Junior Wells says
I directed JC on a wild goose chase “above” when the clip is below.
Junior Wells says
errr that was a joke wasn’t it Rob !!
doh
Johnny Concheroo says
Got it finally. I enjoyed that and it was so much better than the LP version. He’s a truly great guitar player.
Junior Wells says
thanks for persisting JC
Junior Wells says
To @hp-Saucecraft well this is the fork in the road. You do or you don’t. But looking at your history of liking truly unique eccentric independent quirky genii.see Zappa and Wilson. Your love of guitar demo gods see Hendrix and your recently stated love of funk , if asked before I’d have put money on you being a fan.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Me too. But I’m not alone in being more an admirer of his undeniable talent than a lover of his work. Which leaves me cold. I can admire the brushwork and the (er …) play of light in a painting by Reubens without liking the picture at all. In fact, Reubens is a good comparison, as he didn’t have any hit singles I can remember the verses of either.
Junior Wells says
That’s what we like civilised agree to disagree and acknowledgment of the others point of view.
Now log onto Double J via the net and you can get Poonce for the next 2 days solid.
Junior Wells says
And here is one for @Uncle-Wheaty
This Russian site seems to have thwarted his embargoes.
The Cross from the Love Sexy tour.
https://my.mail.ru/mail/ginovannelli60/video/_myvideo/259.html?related_deep=1
Uncle Wheaty says
Awesome!
That was marvellous, thanks for posting that.
nigelthebald says
Out come the freaks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4VrqWzhd5M
nigelthebald says
“..I believe it’s more than likely probable, without a shadow of a doubt possible…”
😀
Mavis Diles says
In many ways a fitting tribute. The man himself had some “unusual” beliefs.
nigelthebald says
I like the Kinky Friedman line:
“I’m a Jehovah’s bystander. I believe in a Supreme Being, but I prefer not to get involved.”
Junglejim says
It’s definitely the most likely explanation
BigJimBob says
Not another episode of Satanic Illuminati Blood Sacrifice Conspiracy Exposed? These sacrifices are like No 51 buses aren’t they?
Mavis Diles says
Looks like Lisa Stansfield has had a heavy night… this is very funny… I think I’m in love…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0grX0ePXrHI
Bingo Little says
That is absolutely fantastic. Give that woman a Brit Award.
Mavis Diles says
Just saw a comment on Twitter to the effect that she seems to have half finished putting on a Robin Hood costume before giving up and going on a bender instead.
Johnny Concheroo says
*shudders*
She flaunts that gormless Manc accent like a badge of honour. And she sounds half-pissed. Embarrassing.
And it was a total non-story.
Jasmine Peeking says
Fook off. No seriously, fook off.
Johnny Concheroo says
Are you madferit??? Yeah I’m fookin’ madferit. Y’know warra mean?
Jasmine Peeking says
Why are you still here?
Johnny Concheroo says
I’m loving it here, me. I’m fookin’ madferit, Y’know warra mean?
H.P. Saucecraft says
Hey Jasmine – there’s a joke here you should be “in” on. Young Johnny Concheroo hails from That Madchester himself (an Ancoats lad), and lapses into Stansfield English himself when half-pissed. ‘E’s fookin madferit!
Johnny Concheroo says
I much preferred Jasmine’s endless rib-tickling stories about her wacky music-crazed hubby. They cracked me up no end.
Honestly, men! Can’t live with them, can’t castrate them.
minibreakfast says
Wait, I thought Burt, I mean HP, was Jasmine?
I don’t know which way is up anymore.
Johnny Concheroo says
That Burt. He’s like the ruddy Scarlet Pimpernel
minibreakfast says
Wait, now you’re saying he’s Scarlet, as well?
Johnny Concheroo says
Yes. No, oh, I don’t know.
I’m all confused now.
Bingo Little says
I suspect that Lisa is paying her own special tribute to The Purple One by spending the day high on crack and toting a machine gun.
Junglejim says
Boom!
Junglejim says
That Daphne from Frasier has let herself go a bit..
duco01 says
That’s right, the Prince film to which the “Parade” album was the soundtrack was originally entitled “Under the Daphne Moon”
Junglejim says
Well played, Sir!
SixDog says
Prince was clearly a very talented guy and loved by millions. His music or films didn’t connect with me in the same way Bowie did, even though at 46, I’m more a ‘Prince generation’ rather than Bowie.
I can perfectly relate to and understand the shock and empathy though.
ewenmac says
Same here; he wasn’t my thing but obviously millions were moved by his music and he had a rare level of talent.
I found him compelling to watch but it was more on a technical level as his performance and musicianship were phenomenal, than on any real emotional connection (for me).
I have no problem with people expressing their shock/sadness – I felt the same when Garry Shandling died. It would be pretty weird if people felt nothing when someone who moved them emotionally dies (esp. suddenly), and if they can’t articulate it without being cliched or cheezy – who gives a sh*t? ‘In Memoriam’ columns are full of references to “angels,” etc. – you can’t expect everyone to turn into WB Yeats just because someone’s croaked.
The purple masthead is an excellent touch.
BigJimBob says
“So did you shag him?”
Tiggerlion says
Increasingly looks like an overdose. Apparently, he was rushed to hospital 6 days earlier & given an antidote for an opiate overdose.
fortuneight says
He wasn’t really my thing but I did enjoy reading this,
http://www.vibe.com/2014/06/purple-rain-turns-30-princes-engineer-shares-majestic-and-maddening-studio-stories/
I saw him live in (I think 1995) and he put on quite a show. A prodigious talent.
fortuneight says
Oh, and did anyone else ever visit his shop in Camden Market?
Johnny Concheroo says
I just found out that guitarist Eric Johnson was signed to Warner Bros following a recommendation from Prince, who saw him on the Austin City Limits TV show. So that’s another plus from me.
Dave Ross says
Obviously a huge loss for an 80’s nut like me. As much as everything else I loved his lyrics, a bit surreal but somehow all made sense. One of the few that deserve the G word.
Ahh_Bisto says
The song that made me ask for the first time, “Who is this Prince chap?”
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
The song that helped me convert others to his music:
Manic Monday – The Bangles
Spooky alert: April 21st 1986 appears as one of the dates at the end of the video.
I have an old school friend who I’ve not seen for years who I know will be absolutely devastated by his death. I’m going to see if I can in touch with him this weekend.
Bingo Little says
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tonight-show-dave-chappelle-explains-711896
Very good.
nigelthebald says
Got live if you want it:
http://www.guitarplayer.com/artist-videos/1436/princes-greatest-guitar-moments/57721
bricameron says
Paging an anthropologist.
Sniffity says
Surprised we haven’t heard from Manda or Jase yet…
H.P. Saucecraft says
RIP “PURPLE RINCE” U WAS THE “KING OF” ROCK POP “N” ROLL!! NUTHIN COMPADRES 2U!! THEIR’L BE BLOWIN RASBERRY BERETS IN HAEVAN 2NITE 56 IS NO AGE WHAT A TERIBLE YEAR FIRST LEAVON HULME AND NOW U2? DOVES ARE CRYIN @NO. 49 2NITE MANDA SAYS U WOUD DIE 4 US BUT U COULD NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF HER NAN LUV FROM JASE IN SALES RIP LOL
duco01 says
You’ve probably seen this already, but if you haven’t, here’s Bruce Springsteen opening his Brooklyn concert with Prince’s Purple Rain (with Nils Lofgren on guitar) I reckon they do a pretty good job of it, too.
Junior Wells says
Haven’t seen this before .Prince playing Purple Rain for the first time in concert- parts of which were used on the album. Annoyingly didactic and fawning screen notes and the film is ropey but the sound is great.
Fuck he could play.
Playing a Hohner telecaster copy- didn’t know that.
https://www.facebook.com/FarrelltronGraphics/videos/1036358926388042/?fref=nf
Kaisfatdad says
A friend posted this short clip on my FB page. What a captivating speaking voice he had. And how honest he could be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V5-vEpqLTE