#PrinceCelebration2019
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Celebration 2019 VIP Day 2
(Though it doesn’t really matter for the price point today as we were all together on this shorter day).
Opening Session
JD Steele led us in a sing along of Forever in My Life
Prince’s memoir announcement
Opening screening : Vienna June 7, 2014 with 3rdeyegirl
Guitar
Plectrumelectrum
Crimson and Clover
She’s Always in My Hair
Purple Rain
Play That Funky Music
Screwdriver
What’s My Name/Sacrifice of Victor/Papa
JD Steele : Asked P what 7 from the [Symbol] album was about. He said it represents 7 record companies that enslave us all “and now we’re down to 2″
Jeff Katz
Moderated by Gilbert Davidson
Did the album covers for Parade, Sign O the Times, Scandalous Sex Suite
Resident photographer for Under the Cherry Moon
Shot first couple of days on set of Under the Cherry Moon. The cover was captured within 5 minutes of the beginning of the photoshoot.
They’d never shoot with a purpose, it was usually shot for the moment and it was applied it later.
The look Prince wanted to achieve for the film was met with resistance by the film company. Jeff had taken a Polaroid. P held up said Polaroid and said “this is what I want my movie to look like”
One year later he was dressed like this.
Paisley Park wasn’t done yet this was shot at a warehouse on Flying Cloud in Eden Prairie.
The background was from Chanhassen Dinner theatre, the set of “Guys and Dolls”.
He used a 16 second exposure for this and asked Prince to stay still for as long...P walked away after 8 that’s why he’s transparent.
Didn’t talk much, mostly used non-verbal communication.
Question : How much did his music influence images?
Answer : Pics never synced with music, again they were matched to the music after.
After SOTT era, he came back and Prince looked like this. This was shot at Paisley.
P: “I’m gonna go home and come back in a few hours.” Jeff took a nap at the studio.
And P returned looking like this :
These last two pictures were part of a 36 hour photoshoot.
P : Have you ever seen Barbarella?
Jeff : Yes
P : That’s what I want this to look like
Processed film to make it look like a cartoon
Looking into the possibility of doing a book “We want him represented in the best ways possible” (Wasn’t a promising option at the time by how they were talking about it despite the loud cheers of encouragement from the crowd)
There was an alternate version of this image of P sitting up looking straight into the camera. It was in black and white. There was an audible gasp from the crowd. (Edited to add said photo)
Jeff : Done in Stockholm in a tiny studio. “Let the intensity come from the person and their eyes”
Prince : “Shoot some details”
Gilbert was prince’s trainer, joked that he’d look like this after one day of working out.
His last shoot with P.
P wanted cityscapes, but didn’t want want to be in the city so Steve found some backdrops to use instead.
Gilbert : Why are you so silent about your work?
“I like photo sessions. I like shooting...not so much editing...when the session is done, I move on.
Gilbert : What advice do you have for aspiring photographers?
Jeff : You have to have an image with stopping power...see something differently than how someone else is seeing it.”
Note : There were several unseen images included as part of this presentation that are not on this site. A book would be wonderful to have!
Graffiti Bridge
Moderated by Steve Parke
Ingrid Chavez - Star of GB, May 1992 album on Paisley Park Records
TC Ellis - Grew up with P, True Confessions Paisley Park Record
Craig Rice - Played in a band with Andre Cymone back in the day, Assistant Director Purple Rain, Co-producer Graffiti Bridge, Managed Mazarati, President of Paisley Park Enterprises, Produced/Directed Paisley Music Videos
Craig
Prince and Craig talked about doing another movie. Wanted to call it “May U Live to See the Dawn” intending it to be a new age musical
Sets built at Paisley
Wanted to bring the original Time back
Intended to be a spiritual journey party/introspective music
“7 corners” west bank...with 7 clubs on each corner
Clubs different flavors and music
TC
TC knew Prince singe age 11
Always bugging Prince about rap and P wasn’t into it
True Confessions was done before Graffiti Bridge
His character in the movie is true to life
Ingrid
Ran into P at a club. Rode out to Paisley. Began friendship.
That winter recorded tracks, collabed with Prince. She’d read her poetry while he played different instruments to go with it on the fly.
Later in a band called Skyfish. She got the tape to Prince. P filled her apartment up with white flowers. Called and played her Heaven Must Be Near. She did a music video for it. Craig shot it and Prince edited it.
Craig
Prince sent Craig to go meet Ingrid “I want you to meet this women” Craig “Oh yeah okay...🙄”. Was impressed by Ingrid “She’s an artist...a real artist Prince you have to respect her as one.”
Were looking to cast the role of the angel, Craig said Ingrid was it.
Craig and TC were the only ones to hear Ingrid Justify My Love as a demo before Madonna covered it.
Craig
GB was to be connected to Purple Rain, but was not to be grounded in reality.
Steve : Started painting for prospective art directors. Didn't know GB was on the way. Levi shared a version of it it with Prince. Steve was told that it was on Prince’s desk, “and he looks at it every day”. P asked for changes (Put Jill Jones’s face on Cindy Crawford’s body, etc.) he used sandpaper to make the changes.
They built seven corners in the Paisley Park soundstage. There were roads, buildings, streetlamps.. Prince: “Oh my god can we keep it?”
TC
All of the old school cats we grew up with were in this. “I could feel the tension but it was all love”
“Had the feeling of the whole neighborhood together making Graffiti Bridge”
Terry and Jimmy held more weight now with their success, Ingrid was a bit of an outsider as even the extras were from the old neighborhood.
Ingrid hung out by herself a lot or with the members of The Time
P wanted everyone one set even if they weren’t filming.
Q&A
Q :Why was the name of the movie changed to Graffiti Bridge?
A : There was a bridge in Chanhassen called “Graffiti Bridge”, “May U Live to See the Dawn” was too long and didn’t sound like a film title. 7 Corners was too native to the Twin Cities
Also Prince wrote the script, they brought in a script writer to help him with it later...and he re-wrote it...then proceeded to ignore it.
Q : How was the movie received?
A: It made money, but people really just wanted “Purple Rain 2″. They did a screening of the movie in Harlem and it didn’t go well. That was hard on Prince.
Not about the music, it’s the community and bringing everyone together.
Ingrid never watched the movie until Mothers’ Day 2018. Felt it wasn’t as bad she remembered.
Q : Why didn’t you use the real Graffiti Bridge?
A : Prince wanted to shoot the movie in winter...in Minnesota. Enough issues when they did Purple Rain during the cold Minnesota months.
Other side note : After the screenings, Prince’s confidence about GB started wavering. He didn’t promote it much.
Q : Why was Question of U cut from the movie?
A : Running time. It would be in a special edition, but it didn’t make enough money for WB to support one.
Q : What does “May u live to see the dawn” mean?
A : “Sometimes he would just say things and you’re just like ‘okay’”. (Nobody knew)
Q : Can you touch on the Still Would Stand All Time scene?
A : It was shot at the club, not Paisley.
Their Favorite Parts :
Ingrid : Love Machine scene because it was out of character for her
TC Ellis : The rap...and then he rapped about the Paisley associated Minneapolis Black Music scene up until about the GB time (which was amazing by the way I hope he transcribes it and posts it somewhere! It had song and album titles and everything!)
And that was it for today for the sessions at Paisley!
Big Screen was also tonight which unfortunately was the same show as last year, but still a good show nonetheless. Last year was slight shock/jam...this year for me was wayment...oh...okay whatever still Prince...and for some reason was way more emotional for me this year? Probably a personal thing though.)
Day 3 tomorrow!
#PrinceCelebration2019#forgive typos its been a long day you get the gist#thanks for yesterdays corrections guys bleary eyed then too!
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@prince (1958-2016). Thank U for blessing this World with your incredible music and talent. U are always missed, never forgotten and forever loved. @allontheboard . . #prince #prince4ever #princecelebration2019 #princerogersnelson #prnfamily #paisleypark #princearmy #thepurpleone #princefans #ripprince #alwaysloved #neverforgotten #music #icon #legend #genius #princestagram #repost from @allontheboard https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwi5ZObFmCz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o2gxnx082ejc
#prince#prince4ever#princecelebration2019#princerogersnelson#prnfamily#paisleypark#princearmy#thepurpleone#princefans#ripprince#alwaysloved#neverforgotten#music#icon#legend#genius#princestagram#repost
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You Find It You Keep It! #YouFindItYouKeepIt #MagnetDude #CalhounSquareMN #Uptown #Minneapolis #PrinceCelebration2019 #Prince #magnet (at Uptown, Minneapolis) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw0A7QkHfdl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pnzs50fwd3r9
#youfindityoukeepit#magnetdude#calhounsquaremn#uptown#minneapolis#princecelebration2019#prince#magnet
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#3rdeyeboy at the @firstavenue #princecelebration2019 (à First Avenue & 7th St Entry) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwp5x7-gdrFwuaxOTBdLwrGjiHijiNdQkO7Aaw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sxuazeblksaq
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Space To Fill
Three years. Hmm. Still feels like a loss. Maybe that's just how these things go. But. This is a celebration! And Prince knew how to celebrate. To wit. Here's his version of Honkey Tonk Woman... funked it all up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpHtwa8YGBU … [=
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As an extension of #PrinceCelebration2019, the four-day event honoring the life and legacy of Prince, Paisley Park will again be presenting an exclusive off-site concert event titled PRINCE: In Concert on the Big Screen. The concert event will take place at The Armory in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, April 26 at 8pm.
The concert will feature newly remastered and never-before-released audio and video of Prince accompanied live on the Armory stage by an all-star ensemble of musicians who performed alongside the icon throughout his storied career. The live concert experience will showcase Prince in his inimitable sound and style, highlighting the incendiary energy he brought to each performance.
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@kei_beauty1: Flashback Friday 🔦June2019 Music Celebration 🎉 0(+> #bunkersbarandgrill #musiccelebration #princecelebration2019 #chaseandovation #musicbarandgrill #paisleypark #princetribute #minneapolis #minnesota #mpls… https://t.co/Rj2dDqjVCJ
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Celebration 2019 VIP Day 4
Opening Session
They had outfits set up on the a stage in the soundstage. This day was particularly interesting to me as we got to see these up close
JD Steele sing along was Boys and Girls
Screening August 14, 2007 London
1999
Musicology
Cream
U Got the Look Shh
Take Me With U
Guitar
Somewhere Here on Earth
7
Forever in My Life
Revolution Panel
Moderator : Duane Tuhdal
Did P talk about Paisley Park when you guys were together?
“Constant desire by him to find a place where everyone could go”
(Then it just wandered a bit for them sharing stories”
“If you ever said no to him he’d be like ‘next’”
If you look at your watch around him he’d be like “You got somewhere better to go?” - Wendy
I tried to have a social life. He flew me to LA and picked me up from the airport. He said “Mark I know you have a band”. ( Mazarati) Mark would go to their shows in a mask to not be discovered.
Prince didn’t have to compete with anyone...he lived and breathed music and sound it was natural
“It’s all he lived to do” - Mark
He could play what he heard all in one take...would start with the drum track first.
Inspiration Behind All My Dreams : W&L took Prince to a Kid Creole and the Coconuts show. August came out with a megaphone...All My Dreams has that same effect
“Don’t take my personal stuff and make it yours...he had to dominate whatever it was...” Lisa on Prince’s inspiration
You all were around for about 3 years...do you consider 1999 a revolution album?
“1999 not really” - Wendy but she does consider SOTT a rev album
P workshopped Time/Vanity 6/Family songs with The Revolution “We were his muse”
Brown Mark is the pancake maker
Bruno’s Barbecue and The Loon were some of Prince’s favorite places
Funny to go out to eat. P would order the entire menu and nibble a little of each.
Doritos were def a favorite. “you’d walk in the room and it would smell like toes”
What was it like when the phone rang at 3am?
“Don’t answer!!!” - Wendy
He had something hot “I’m cutting and you’re missing out! *click”
Hucky Austin sent to retrieve Brownmark “Mark You Know good and well I can’t go back without you...”
We hardly got paid anything, but we were there.
Bobby talked about being at a party for his wedding and at 10:30pm Prince called a rehearsal...the origin of Empty Room.
“His emotions turned into music”
BrownMark did a lot of the choreography for the Revolution in Purple Rain.
“We understood his emotions..we all went through it together as a brand new thing...” - On the Purple Rain hysteria
“He had amazing bands that played rings around my abilities, but we were greater as a group than as individuals”
“Matt gave him the most extraordinary hands you can ever have on a synthesizer” - Wendy
“The stages of grief don’t count when you lose someone like Prince.”
That’s for people you know who die of natural causes.
“I cannot reconcile that that man is no longer on this planet anymore..we’re all trying to get some sense of who WE were when he was on the planet. That’s why we’re all here in this room today.” - Wendy
“When he died, he gave us each other” - Wendy
Funk Soldiers Panel
Moderated by Andrea Swensson
Kirk Johnson
Chance Howard
Renato Neto
Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II
How did the Funk Soldiers shows go for you?
Kirk
“You’ve been through the Prince school. You think about how people would be affected. If it’s a Prince celebration it should be him singing his songs. Not a hologram. He told me to make sure they never did a hologram. You have to think about camera angles and how he’d want to be seen...I don’t want to take the credit for it Prince already did the work”
“He mentioned that the shows are the same because it’s like how a tour would be done...you do the same show.” - On why the show was the same as last year though there was more footage of Prince this year.
Chance
Last year he got sick and went to the hospital with gall bladder problems so he was excited to be there this year.
“To have him on that screen looking at us, it was surreal” (They had a screen down below that they could look at).
Renato
Came in a few days before, just a few rehearsals and was ready to go
He thanked Kirk for organizing everyone
Sly
He found it a little sad, memories, remembering what it was like to be on stage with this man
Kirk
Couldn’t use NPG because it’s licensed. Wanted a combo band including members of The Revolution, The Time, and different iterations of NPG, but not everyone was ready or didn’t understand what the band was.
What did you take away from working with Prince
Kirk
Prince advice always “play it how I want you to play” it’s that way for a reason.
Chance
Prince talks to you to educate you and he talks to you to bring things out of you.
John Blackwell, Renato, Rhonda were jamming and Prince invited Chance in the early days. Chance tried to show off. P looked at him like “really”? During a break P walked Chance up the steps in the NPG music room to a room that was a barbershop at the time and they talk...
P : Do you have any children?
C : Yes
P : How would you feel if I slapped your sun upside the head?
C : Before or after I put you in the hospital
P : Laughs, Seriously. You’re slapping my children upside the head right now. These songs are my children...
Renato
Never seen anyone love music like Prince. He was 33/34 when he started and he respected how much time Prince put in to be the best
Sly
12 hours a day 6 days a week for rehearsals
Made him conscious of how he appeared in public. “I can’t wear sweatpants at the store?” No you’re in my band.
He took demanding more to heart.
Kirk
P told him he used to sleep with his guitar. Wake up playing and playing himself to sleep.
Renato
P allowed musicians to shine...one time P left the stage for 5-10 minutes while Renato was soloing. He was looking around like “when are you coming back” and P was offstage laughing at him
Kirk
5 fingers in the air means $500 fine.
“He wanted to get away from playing the hits...he wanted the audience to allow him to grow”
Emancipation Sessions (There’s a screen of Emancipation liner notes on the screen behind them with a kid version of Kirk)
P’d just fired everyone.
They spent a year recording almost 100 songs
Little boy Kirk was photoshopped to be in front of a soundboard, he was originally sitting at a kitchen table
Kirk’s brother presided over Prince and Mayte’s wedding
He was also the best man.
Chance
Played on Call My Name and was just told a few minutes before the panel that the song won an Grammy.
Did you realize the whole world was hearing you play?
When performing with him you’re so in the moment of wanting to be great and not wanting to mess up. You don’t think about it everything you’ve done until way after the fact. - Kirk
Superbowl was 10 days of rehearsals - Renato
Sly
Clip of Big City
When they got there they got to work transcribing horn parts for the music, they then rehearsed as a group, and then with the band
Prince would re-arrange them by picking different bars from different songs and telling them to combine them.
The Revolution Concert
America
Computer Blue
Mountains
Erotic City
Let’s Work (With Stokley)
Let’s Go Crazy
When Doves Cry
Raspberry Beret
1999
Sometimes it Snows in April
Purple Rain (Omar Nelson came out and kissed Wendy like Prince does in the movie)
I Would Die 4 U
Baby I’m a Star
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Celebration 2019 VIP Day 3
Opening Session
Spirited start to the day! Fams started a party line around the soundstage to Let’s Work.
JD Steele also led us in a sing along of Raspberry Beret
Bob Cavallo
Moderated by Bobby Z
Earth Wind and Fire’s studio the Complex was the inspiration for Paisley Park. They filmed pickups for Purple Rain there and Prince told Cavallo “I want want one of these”
WB didn’t know much about Purple Rain until it was almost done. It was financially backed by Prince and Cavallo ( Cavallo said he only contributed about 20%...the rest was Prince’s money or advances on his royalties)
Cavallo’s management agreement was about to run out. He told Steve Fargnoli to try to get a Prince to sign a contract for 5 more years. Prince said “I’ll sign one if you get me a movie and not about some drug dealer and jeweler...and I want my name above the title.
They had trouble getting people on board to write the movie William (Bill) Glenn (of Brian’s Song) wrote the first version but it was “not edgy enough...too TV”
No director would sign with them
Watched a movie called Reckless. There was a kid sitting behind him who asked what he thought. Cavallo said it was okay...the kid said “Well I edited it.”
Cavallo had dinner with Albert Magnoli the writer of that movie to see if he’d sign on for Purple Rain. He initially passed. Cavallo “You passed? You don’t have a pot to piss in and you pass? I’d pay you 75k and you’re passing.” Magnoli thought it was too square. Cavallo “Then rewrite it”
“Mo Austin didn’t have anything to do with Purple Rain”
“He made that movie Paul Simon made. That was a failure.”
WB passed on producing the movie, Guber Peters also passed, as well as others
Richard Pryor’s company Indigo Films did NOT pass! Jim Brown (the football player) was CEO at the time. Both Richard and Jim were thrilled to do it! However Jim got mad that Cavallo hired a cinematographer without checking with him as he wanted to hire Black staff to support the project. Bob said he didn’t have time to wait to find some so Indigo dropped the project.
They had a completion bond gaurantor for the film and ended up being 3-4 weeks behind at one point. To catch up, they got more cameras and filmed the movie at multiple angles vs doing several takes. This caught them up.
Promo department thought When Doves Cry was a flop. They wanted Let’s Go Crazy to be the lead single.
Cavallo managed Earth Wind & Fire. (Other info about Cavallo opening a night club his senior year of college which was very successful. Bill Cosby opened for acts when he was coming up on the scene. “He met his wife there and I guess he did other things...” *groan from the audience
On how Cavallo and Prince first linked up Prince had gone to an EWF show and said “When I saw that show, it scared me. I don’t know if I can do something that good.” Asked to meet their manager. Cavallo went to see his show...where he was wearing a Trench coat, panty hose, and g-string. He said “Well young man...show was great....but I don’t think it’s alright to go out on stage in your underwear.”
Prince : Okay I’ll take them off.
He said there was maybe 20 people at that particular show
Purple Rain was made with 7.6 million dollars
They had to fight to get it into theaters to show it. “It was the race thing”
Even WB wasn’t on board at first as a distributor. Cavallo was trying to rally them “If you’re a young Black person age 11-30 and you see Prince headlining his own movie, you’ll go see it opening night.”
At first they could only get a couple of theaters...and were told they couldn’t do it in the south because they were worried about race riots.
Cavallo went to the Chairman of WB with his case and he was on board “Get me 800 theaters or I’ll get someone who will”. (These days movies open in about 2k theaters in the US)
Prince got 15% gross cash guarantee for 3 films
The Purple Rain sequel pitch Cavallo had for Prince was Purple Rain 2 : Further Adventures of The Time. The Time went to Vegas and got in trouble with the mob and cops. Only showgirls liked them. Prince wasn’t in it except for a cameo to give advice.
He also tried to get P to get Madonna to star in Under The Cherry Moon
Prince wrote Under the Cherry Moon even though there’s another name on it.
Cavallo wasn’t a fan of Kristin Scott Thomas as the star. He gave Prince a tape of the options for actresses and put her last.
Prince : “I see why you put her last in the group of girls you figured she would outshine the others!”
Cavallo went on to manage the Disney music catalog among other numerous things.
“The greatest joy I had in the music business was with Prince”
A memory : Prince calls “When are you gonna stop beating that dead horse?”
Cavallo : “What dead horse”
Prince : Earth Wind and Fire
Cavallo scolds him for saying such things
Prince : If you knew how good I was, you’d be meet me in Minneapolis
Cavallo thought about how cold it was there and sent Fargnoli instead
Tour Part 2
Video editing bay
More from Vienna 2014
Forever in My Life (With a Bass solo by P...noticed his voice and bass were turned WAY up in the mix)
Controversy
1999
Atrium
I had to smh at Peach being played during the moment of silence haha gosh #bouncingtitties
Cream top is in the Diamonds and Pearls room which is where I usually spend most of my time watching the show footage in there
Studio B
Nothing really new here if you’ve done a VIP or Ultimate VIP tour.
The isolated vocals for Breakdown are still in the control room
We took pictures with one of the P mic stand Symbols.
The coat on display on the right is the same one he’s wearing on the left
Screening
Musicology May 28, 2004 (Shout out to his sneakers)
Let’s Go Crazy
I Would Die 4 U
When Doves Cry
Baby I’m a Star
Shhh (Good job on the slow pans up his body btw)
DMSR
Acoustic Set (Little Red Corvette, Cream, Raspberry Beret 12:01, Adore, Sweet Thing, Dear Mr Man/Hit the Road Jack, 7) He was super chatty during this. Told the story of going to an after party from the previous night and a “da-runk” (how he said it lolol) guy told him his favorite song was Strawberry Barrette. P made sure to sing that as the lyric when he did Raspbert Beret.
The Funk Soldiers Concert
(I def sprinted up to the front for this! This is MY CREW!)
Rock and Roll is Alive
Chelsea Rogers
Party Up
Black Muse 🙌🏾
Life of the Party
13 They had a dance troupe of 6 young Black girls from a dance studio Prince donated to dancing to this and it gave me LIFE! SO cute and completely appropriate!
You Make My Sun Shine
SHADES OF UMBER OMG 🙌🏾 (Sorry for how I tweeted about this btw, this is what I meant as a nod to the boot listeners. One of the only times this was performed live was at Montreux 2013. It was also extra special because they had local young people doing this song with them and it sounded FANTASTIC!)
Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
Guitar
Act of God
This was my favorite concert of all of them truly! They added nice touches like playing associated videos behind them or displaying the album art of the albums they were playing from. Their show is always a cross catalog musicology lesson of P’s discog and I appreciate that so much!
Also briefly talked to some reps from Sony again this day. I will say from our conversation I do trust that team with P’s music. They were not suits, they were FANS. Talked deep cuts and Prince nerd geekery with them. Really appreciate that the people trying to do things there are fams as much as we all are, truly. (No seriously I was like don’t look too close at my social media please and we laughed about it). Very excited about stuff that’s on the way! (Different department than the purple wax stuff so don’t ask, lol...)
Probably my favorite day of the 3 guys wow.
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Celebration 2019 VIP Day 1
Opening Session
Joel W welcomed us to Paisley and introduced Sharon and Omar Nelson. He noted that it will be the family’s responsibility to manage P’s legacy in the future and we should be kind to them, especially on the internet (Randomly quite direct about this?)
The MC is JD Steele of The Steels (frequent contributor at Paisley...ie Graffiti Bridge, Diamonds and Pearls, Symbol, etc.) He was energetic, fun, and did a great job!
Opening screening : The Time October 4, 1983 First Avenue. The lineup of the band included those who would be in the movie Purple Rain. Set list
777-9311
Girl
Jungle Love
Wild & Loose
Gigolos Get Lonely Too
Cool
The Bird
Omar Nelson thanked everyone for coming and Alfred Nelson said a few words
Tour Part 1
Studio A
Sound engineer Jason greeted us and we listened to isolated instrumentals for Rock n Roll Love Affair. Started with drums, then added on guitar, bass, then voice. It was a rough mix so you could really hear P’s voice! We listened to about 3 and a half minutes.
He then played the version from the album with the horns added. (P played everything except the horns of course).
People asked Jason questions while smaller groups went into the control room of Studio A where we heard them play Stare
Most meaningful moment : “Don’t overthink. Does it sound exciting or not? That’s what matters” – Prince
Studio C (Purple Rain Room…noting new things)
Prince’s ideas notebook for Purple Rain is on display here. It’s a regular ole blue Mead spiral notebook
Patterns for his trench coat are here
UTCM Room
Mountains felt hat is here
UTCM script is here
Nothing New in the Graffiti Bridge Room
History Hallway
Jeff Katz prints are here now, much bigger
This one in particular was interesting. We spent time here looking! Cool to see in detail!
Jesse Johnson Panel
Andrea : What do you remember Prince telling you about his plans for Paisley Park?
Jesse : (all of the following bullet points lololololol) This is going to be in the order it was said. Yes it’s all random he was doing a Princely stream of conscious monologue. Andrea couldn’t get another question in! :
Only inside Paisley twice. Last time was Graffiti Bridge
Before, he’d left the Paisley team the day of the Purple Rain premiere. (He didn’t go). He knew if Prince knew he wouldn’t go “he would have had my shit on the cutting room floor”
In the first edition of Sheila E’s debut album he is listed in the credits for Strawberry Shortcake. Subsequent issues, his name is removed due to Prince being mad at him
The songs for Sheila’s first album were intended for Vanity 6
“When you get a divorce you don’t go back and marry the same lady…when you leave you leave for a reason.”
Didn’t really make money from Purple Rain or The Time.
First visit to Paisley : Prince ran over and hugged him “Damn about time somebody who knows how to dress show up”
P and Jesse used to rent a Cadillac Seville and put on big hats and ride down the street playing Sly and the Family’s Stone’s There’s a Riot Going On when they went to California
Back to first visit at Paisley, Prince took him around and showed him everything. P was super excited, but Jesse was still guarded and untrusting of Prince. He felt strange about the hug Prince gave him.
“I have brothers I don’t love like I love you” Prince to Jesse…Jesse didn’t feel the love
“People can be mad but this comes from my experience.”
Jesse was proud of Prince for building Paisley Park despite his other feelings about Prince at that time
Jesse came to Minneapolis in 81 the Time wasn’t the time yet, they were called The Nerve…and it was just Jesse and Morris at first “The Black Hall and Oats”
When he first met the rest of The Time, they didn’t like him…and he didn’t like them.
Got along with Prince right away. “He didn’t have to do anything with me”
Morris went out on tour with the gang for the Dirty Mind Tour. His job? To videotape the concerts
The Time’s personalities came from people they knew, Hollis Woods “Yay-yes” (say it aloud), Ronnie Robinson, “I know that’s right!”
One particular time Ronnie said “I know that’s right Prince Nelson!”
Prince : “Man why you gotta say my whole name?!”
“Ya’ll have no idea how hood he was and how funny he was”
“I never take credit for anything I did not do”
“When I left he had it out for me...I was a young father and needed to feed my kid.”
I made 5k from Purple Rain
When I went to his house and saw his raggedy gear back in the day I realized “it’s not about the gear it’s about the talent”. It encouraged him to strike out on his own.
“It looks like animosity but I was hurt…I was crushed.”
He knew D’Angelo since he was a kid
Jesse and Prince always had an honest relationship…same with Jamie Shoo, Denise (Vanity), they all left because they weren’t “yes men”. They would often call P out.
Harold Bloom, booking agents, others wouldn’t work with Jesse. “If we work with you, Prince will leave.”
2008 Prince was there when The Time performed with Rihanna. Jesse could hear Prince talking to Jerome “What’s up with Jesse, why won’t he speak to me?” Jesse remembered he was still holding that grudge.
“Prince, Morris, and I were as tight as any heterosexual men could be”
Read the same books, liked the same foreign films, liked other films (ie Eraserhead)
Couple of weeks before P passed, Jesse was in Wellington, NZ. Prince called and left a voice mail “I love you…you need to do you…the people you’re working for are beneath you…”
Tried to call back, but he’d called from an unlisted number
P passed 2 weeks later.
“Now I’m saying how much I love Morris. I feel stupid for wasting so many years…”
“Thank yall for being my therapy…I was terrified to come here.”
“Coming here heals my soul”
“We’d be out at the club and then the studio. Prince and Morris would be behind the console laughing and happy and my ass would be on the couch sleep.”
Prince woke him up “Jesse I need you to hit the gong… Yall know you gotta do a w-4 for the session? I filled that shit out to make sure I got paid!”
“I adored them…Prince and Morris”
Time rehearsal… “I wish I could hear what he said but it explains our dynamic so much. We’re playing and all the sudden it stops and Prince goes Jesse…(mumble I wish I knew what he said) and then I go “Man! I ain’t doing that!” Morris : Heeehh hehh….
“He was always telling me to do crazy stuff… he’d be like “If you dance then the girls will be like ‘man that means he’s good in bed!’”
Jesse Johnson Concert
Love Struck
Be Your Man/Controversy
Jungle Love
I Want My Girl
I Feel For You (Used to jam with Prince on this but playing bass)
Brand New Day
My Life
Can You Help Me
Addiction
She (I Can’t Resist)
Crazay
Licking Stick
Being Black in America
“You’ve given me such appreciation, forgiveness and love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
And that’s day one! Like I said elsewhere, Jesse was completely gracious, thankful, and humble...and heartbroken. This was absolutely a healing experience for him. He put on an AMAZING show and his panels were honest and transparent. I kept looking at P’s symbol behind him as he spoke or played...and my heart broke for his guilt about all the “wasted years” as he called them...the music they could have made together and the frank brotherhood they shared...but still this was his opportunity to say goodbye to his friend...and he did...and it was beautifully done.
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Yikes at the title of “superfan” but a couple of us got to drop some thoughts on the Current’s blog about celebration!
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Prince Celebration 2019 Final Thoughts
(Pic by Paisley Park)
I posted this on my social media accounts a bit after we left Paisley Park the last day:
Just taking a moment to reflect while I'm in my feelings, I feel him more in everyday quiet moments now than in his home. The saying Paisley Park is in your heart is more than a lyric, it's a way of life.
I loved this sentiment Wendy said today "I cannot reconcile that that man is no longer on the planet anymore... We are all trying to get some sense of who WE were when he was still here...that's why we attend events [in honor of him]"
I agree, but for me, Prince was very personal to me before he passed. It was just us. After, I gained so many friends because of our shared love of this man. I find that I love events honoring his life to see and be around people who love him like I do....
But I still default to my normal of "just us" to feel him the most.
As you read in the recap, Wendy said “When he died, he gave us each other.” I think this year, that is what I left with feeling the most strongly. For me, my Celebration experience was somehow less about Prince, and more about the community of his fandom, and especially those I’ve grown close to over the last few years or even the past few months.
I will probably always go to Celebration every year no matter when it is to support events that promote his legacy in an official capacity, and I know they recognize that they will always have a built in audience in the people who will do that...
But I do hope though they they find a way to dig deeper. I left feeling like there wasn’t enough of him..or just that this year felt disconnected. It’s wild right to spend 4 days there and feel that way? Not sure if it’s because I go there so often or if others might feel that way? Or maybe that is part of my own healing...to know that I don’t need to look to things or places or experiences to immerse myself in the energy of The Professor.
He truly is wherever I am.
He truly is in my heart.
Full write ups of each day for VIP Track 2 :
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
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Some highlights from day one!
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N.E.W.S. for our Purple Friends and Fams: ---- As an extension of #PrinceCelebration2019, the four-day event honoring the life and legacy of Prince, Paisley Park will again be presenting an exclusive off-site concert event titled PRINCE: In Concert on the Big Screen. The concert event will take place @armorymn in downtown Minneapolis on Friday, April 26 at 8pm. The concert will feature newly remastered and never-before-released audio and video of Prince accompanied live on the Armory stage by an all-star ensemble of musicians who performed alongside the icon throughout his storied career. The live concert experience will showcase Prince in his inimitable sound and style, highlighting the incendiary energy he brought to each performance. Attendance to the Armory event is included in each Celebration 2019 ticket. VIP ticket holders to Celebration will also have the opportunity to attend an exclusive Dance Party at The Armory, hosted by DJ Kiss following the conclusion of the live concert. Individual tickets for PRINCE: In Concert on the Big Screen go on sale today starting at 11:00AM CST and are available at Ticketmaster or armorymn.com. Don't miss your opportunity to celebrate the iconic artistry of Prince at both Celebration 2019 and PRINCE: In Concert on the Big Screen. We look forward to seeing all our #PurpleFamily members this April! Artwork credit: The Prince Estate / Martin Homent @redfoxbandit #Prince #PaisleyPark #repost from @officialpaisleypark https://www.instagram.com/p/BtoECYIB82n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gkctnhyrgak1
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Empieza la cuenta atrás para nuestra celebración en Barcelona, muy pronto empezaremos a dar NOTICIAS, haremos que la ciudad tenga una primavera de color púrpura. Ya podéis ir haciendo vuestros planes, el d��a central será el domingo 21 de abril, y tenemos muchas sorpresas previstas durante ese fin de semana.#PRINCECELEBRATION2019 #PURPLEWEEK #LOVEPRINCE #PRINCE #PURPLEFAMILY #LIVEMUSIC #visitbarcelona #barcelona #LOVE4ONEANOTHER #REMEMBERINGPRINCE @unitabecky2_6d9 @princeparty_uk @purple.prince.4.ever @locssopurple @purpleproject_art #photolab #repost from @miguel_npg https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJkQPQBiI0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1evnwbiv8wlej
#princecelebration2019#purpleweek#loveprince#prince#purplefamily#livemusic#visitbarcelona#barcelona#love4oneanother#rememberingprince#photolab#repost
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Celebration 2019 News!
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