Prince Rogers Nelson was a cultural icon, ground-breaking artist and one of the most influential, prolific and revered musicians of his generation, inspiring diverse groups of people around the world. This show talks to people who have memories of the Purple one, and will include associates, bandmates and fans alike. Don't be 'alone in a world that's so cold' - join us! May U Live 2 C the Dawn...
INTRO2mins - First memories of Prince, and standing next to the TV...feeling the static from Gett Off! Listening to Prince's Hits cassette in the Green Mondeo.4mins - Born in the year of Lovesexy!5mins - When did you realise that Prince's work could become a lifetime pursuit? "First and foremost I'm a fan...". Obsessed with John Waters, Pee Wee Herman and Bette Davis too. 'Eccentric, creative and fabulous people'.6mins - Seeing Purple Rain at 14 and getting into fashion. "Prince was always on my mood board."7mins30s - Studying Prince for years as an independent researcher alongside work...'when you do a PhD it's just the beginning of your research.'9mins30s - 'The idea of Prince & Fashion, with a focus on the labour aspect and fan culture as well...'11mins30s - What's going on with the Prince of the late 1970s? Casci unpacks the different sartorial elements. 'Very typical of a young adult finding themselves...through dress.'14mins - Prince's experiments in fashion, thrift stores, borrowing, wearing women's clothing...17mins - 'Becoming Prince': The Beautiful Ones book, and understanding elements of Prince's early imagination and dress-sense. The influence of his parents, musicians in North Minneapolis...and getting dressed to the 9s in the 1970s.22mins - Heroes and influences...23mins - Make Up.26mins - World Building...'in a world called Fantasy'30mins - Prince's female kinship. 'He surrounded himself with incredible women...and loved female energy.' Sly Stone's fashion, and James Brown's performances...expressing sexuality and sensuality. 'He liked the way particular fabrics felt on his body...' How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.LINKSPlease follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media.Email me at: bleazas@hotmail.com if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show. #prince4ever #love4oneanother
PART 2: Talking Prince....INTRO - Can you remember the first track of Prince that you heard...?3mins - Rhonda Smith, and inspiration from female bass players7mins - Nik West's Favourite Prince bass line?8mins30s - Alphabet Street & This Is Not Music, This Is A Trip...11mins - Daisy Chain: Prince and Larry Graham14mins - Paisley Park, practicing in the hotel room and jamming with Prince15mins30s - Talking solo careers with Prince17mins30s - Recording with Prince and unfinished projects19mins30s - In what ways was Prince not like you expected?22mins - Going back to his musical origins and Prince taking inspiration from younger musicians...27mins - Advice to young girls in the world of social media?30mins - Where does Nik draw her style influences from?32mins - Nik's feeling on Prince's legacy...35mins - Nothing Compares to Prince shows in Australia with St Paul Peterson38mins - What's next for Nik? She shares exclusive news on a new project!
INTRO2mins - Nik talks about her Cotton Candy World Tour and playing at The Jazz Cafe in London4mins - Shredding with lead guitarist Joey and why chemistry is so important to the band dynamic5mins30s - learning guitar from her Dad at an early age6mins45s - Playing gospel music by the Clark Sisters9mins30s - Use of bright colours, a distinct visual style and being everything that you are...'the class clown'11mins - is there a separation between superhero bass player Nik West, and Nik West offstage as a mum and an everyday person?13mins - How did Nik come to meet (and work with) bass hero - and inventor of slap bass - Larry Graham14mins30s - Recording with Larry Graham20mins - Career and playing advice from Larry: valuing space in music, being yourself and letting your tribe find you...24mins - Supporting George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic!29mins - Creating a career your way and being very independent in the music industry.30mins - Black Beauty, working with Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics and auditioning in the music industry.
INTRO2min - Do you have a most cherished Prince related possession (from the 9 years you worked together)? "I joke with my friends that I only buy vinyl with my name on it!"4mins - Biggest 'pinch-me' moments working with Prince...? 3121 era, cherished memories.6mins30s - Which kind of people engaged Prince best behind the scenes?7mins30s - Prince and his heroes...and a fierce competitive streak.8mins - Memories of the Musicology tour, Sam's favourite shows.10mins - When did you last speak to Prince?11mins - Where were you, when you heard...14mins - View of The Prince Estate and posthumous releases overall17mins - What was it like getting tapes in the post from Prince??17mins30s - Any tracks that you personally heard for the first time that blew you away?19mins - Studio version of Prince & The Band22mins - What's the piece of work that you're proudest of?23mins - The creative process of working with Prince26mins - NPG Ahdio Shows31mins30s - DJing on Twitch: how does it work?33mins - Prince album battles! Lovesexy vs The Black Album...Cindy C vs Alphabet Street??36mins30s - Legacy
INTRO2mins30s - Growing up in Chicago Illinois4mins - Pursuing a career in the Web back in the mid 90s..."it was an interesting time, it was kind of like the Wild West"5mins30s - Nona Gaye & The Beautiful Experience6mins30s - Finding all of the other Prince fans on the internet via online communities...and organising parties at the Berlin club in Chicago9mins - When did Sam first have contact with Prince? Fans coming together on a 'community project'...and AOL chat rooms.11mins - How long did you think it would last?13mins - Confidentiality and Prince...14mins - Love4OneAnother.com in 1999 and Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic16mins - Prince's legacy in the digital world - one of the first to have his own internet business and music distributing artist17mins - Releasing a 'ton of music in 2001'...'a tremendous explosion of activity for him...' and The Prince Museum online.19mins - If Prince had lived and you had to design a digital presence for him now, what would that be?21mins30s - What was the Prince music you first became aware of, early memories and favourite unreleased recordings...27mins30s - Meeting Prince in person for the first time...30mins - Maintaining professionalism as a fan...32mins - How difficult was it to challenge Prince? Fan websites
Intro1mins30s - Wishing he could have spoken to Prince during the making of his Cloud guitar, the instrument specs, and making something great instinctually.3mins30s - Guitar specific questions for Dave on the Cloud guitar and how it was made - how much was stock, and what was bespoke?5mins - Prince and his heavy strings, and Takumi the guitar tech.6mins20s - One month and a half to come up with a world famous guitar! 9mins30s - Wendy Melvoin's clear body guitar...and the story behind it.12mins - Sam asks Dave how he felt when he first saw Prince play the guitar in the movie...and also when he first saw Prince playing the cloud guitar live.13mins - sitting in on the Purple Rain rehearsals with Prince 'every day was exciting'15mins - going to Paisley Park, and taking part in 'the Celebrations'18mins - How did Dave feel when Prince passed away? "I couldn't say anything, I was just speechless..."21mins - The Prince Estate asking Dave to give up the trademark on his guitar design.25mins - Which Minneapolis musicians did you get to know along the way?26mins30s - Still making the signature White Cloud guitar, and taking orders from around the world.30mins - Meeting other Prince guitar makers, and knowing a network of musicians.33mins - What happened to the original cloud guitars that Dave made?
Intro2mins - Growing up in Minneapolis and musical background3mins15s - The Beatles, and early influences4mins20s - First song Dave learned on the guitar, and favourite music5mins30s - Father-son relationship and parental support for guitar playing and passions7mins - Working in the local music store in MPLS, learning about the guitar as an instrument...and a 'sideline for voilin repair-men'11mins - Starting out as a Luthier, working from home...and supporting local bands12mins - Bumping into Prince at the Knut-Kupee music store...'we knew about him for a couple of years before the first album...'13mins - Minneapolis in the late 1970s, black and white musicians playing in different parts of town14mins45s - Auditioning for Prince's early band, Dave shares his memories...trying out at Dell's Tyre Mart19mins - What were musicians wearing in the late 1970? 'A lot of spandex was occuring!' MPLS music scene memories...21mins - An amazing achievement for someone who created an entire scene and became famous throughout the world - Prince putting Minneapolis on the map.24mins - Working in London in his early 20s and working with famous musicians early on in his career (1981-83)26mins - Working with Gary Moore, and a guitar inherited from Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac29mins30s - How did going to London influence your part in Prince's story?31mins - Coming back to MPLS and Prince is achieving a level of fame...and the initial approach from his people. "He wants a guitar, and you're going to make it..."33mins30s - "I was exhilarated rather than nervous..." - making Prince's most iconic guitar having never made one before!36mins - Did you know if the guitar was actually going to be part of the Purple Rain movie??
1mins30s - Prince's music in the 90s, albums Jim liked, plus bootleg tapes from '93/'94 - The Beautiful Experience and stripped back versions of Come and Endorphinemachine after hours in London.3mins15s - Emancipation was a major artistic statement, but was it a seminal work? Plus liner notes for The Gold Experience (and not getting paid for it).5mins - "Fighting for the freedom he knew technology offered...". And Chance The Rapper winning multiple Grammys from a self-produced tape...missing Prince6mins - Hit n Run part 1: 'A Creative Approach'.7mins30s - Getting commissioned to write the liner notes for The Gold Experience.9mins - A rebirth in the 90s & 'Bud Lite on guitar!' on NBA All Star weekend.13mins - Getting up, then staying up late, to watch Prince play aftershows...17mins - Prince & Madonna on the same stage...and still seeing some of the NPG and The Revolution around town18mins - In admiration of Morris Hayes19mins30s - Going back to Paisley Park...how do you feel about it?21mins - Opinions on the music after 2002...remaining 'an avid listener'. The Current radio show in MPLS.22mins30s - memories of the last show, a Piano & Microphone performance24mins - When Prince passed away...an energy change in Minneapolis: writing an obit 'through the tears'26mins30s - 'I would never write that now...' an open letter to Prince in the media28mins - Playing with local musicians on the night Prince died29mins30s - Jim's view on the music coming out retrospectively & Welcome 2 America32mins30s - 'Context is everything with Prince...', so stay open33mins30s - Favourite live show of the 1980s, and which live DVD should be released?
Jim Walsh - journalist and author of Gold Experience: Following Prince in the '90sIntro2mins - Were the 1990s Prince's 'punk period'?5mins - Challenging Prince to be more vital!8mins30s - the mad scientist out in Chanhassen, the feeling of greatness nearby10mins - Going back to Paisley as a museum? Being in the building together...11mins - the 90s, the forerunner to everyone having their own radio station...and preserving the legacy13mins - Thoughts on The Rainbow Children, a transitional album and critically renowned live shows15mins - seeing Prince over the years, often until 6am17mins - living your life to the fullest creativity18mins - seeing Prince for the first time in the early 1980s at First Avenue - "they were just badass, oh my God!"21mins - Allen Beaulieu photographer, studio was just up the street from First Avenue...where Target Center is now. Pictures eventually adorned all of Prince's early album covers.22mins30s - What kind of person was Prince? "Really warm and loving...he was know-able, that was my experience."25mins - Playing different styles of music every night at Paisley Park27mins - Jam of the Year tour memories from 1997, followed by an all-night performance... 'it was so good!'29mins - Middle-aged bad-assery at The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and The Superbowl30mins30s - Best guitar solos ever? 'Feathery blues at Glam Slam...'32mins - Carlos Santana, Larry Graham & Prince at the Northrop Auditorium34mins - Larry Graham's influence on Prince: Jim Walsh's view36mins - A fleeting sight of Prince in 2014, 'a deeply spiritual God-loving man'.
Author Neal Karlen, in conversation with Sam Bleazard.Introduction - New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, author...friend?1-3mins: "Please don't let my scoop go away!" - Memories from another lifetime...and the BBC Omnibus documentary4mins ...time to stop writing - and talking about - Prince, wanting to be a fan again and not a critic...7mins - MPLS, segregation and the 'Minneapolis Sound'9mins30s - Prince as an 11-year-old kid, and a story from one of his substitute teachers11mins30s - Was Prince's life a sad story or a triumphant story of success?13mins30s - 'This Thing Called Life' - were you worried that by being so candid it would create a backlash on the book?17mins - the audiobook, the showman and Prince off the record in the 1980s19mins - small aspects of the real guy being revealed: showing the imperfect human being behind the star.20mins30s - "I Love U..."? And how it feels...22mins30s - Humour in the book and 'The Crusher'!24mins30s - The dilemma of releasing tapes of Prince speaking from the 1980s...'the most compartmentalised person I've ever met'27mins - "Prince who?" - "The real Prince!"29mins - The only person still awake at 4am and happy to shoot the breeze...30mins30s - Different personalities and the blurring between friendship and employment33mins - Not deifying Prince...and his relationship with his mother and father49mins - the last conversation with Prince (3 weeks before his passing)50mins - any things you wished you'd put in the book?
INTROWith pianist Greg Kane1min - "Prince is the teacher", and why the 1980s needs more respect. Funk as social commentary.3min - Covering Sign 'O' The Times, audiophiles, working with jazz musicians and having no fear.5mins30s - Seeing Prince after hours at the Garage in Glasgow.7mins - Near misses with Wendy and Lisa, Bobby McFerrin and Paisley Park.With vocalist Pat Kane10mins - Musical background, jazz heritage, hearing Prince for the first time and the ambition of 1999.13mins30s - the 80s as the era of 'half-punk, half synthesizer'. 15mins - the influence of 1986 album Parade on the band, and its 'majestic landscapes'.17mins - The Family album, Prince's side projects and Eric Leeds ('the best funk saxophonist ever').18mins45s - Sign O The Times: 'his sense of taste, and his choices are incredible'. Prince's phrasing and genius.23mins - Horn riffs and discord in Prince's music, Alphabet street and arrangements in jazz, pop and soul.26mins - the musical work and career of Clare Fischer and Rufusized by Chaka Khan.28mins30s - Prince's solo piano and microphone work, Pat's favourite eras of Prince and reflection on his late career. 32mins30s - Acoustic album The Truth and solo piano album One Nite Alone.33mins30s - Money Don't Matter 2Nite and Diamonds & Pearls (big band version on Bandzilla).35mins - Music as protest, social commentary and rebellion in Prince's music.36mins30s - Prince as the 'link' in African American roots music.37mins30s - Gett Off: "Jazz is the preacher, but funk is the teacher" and the Pharaoh Saunders mode.38mins - Funk like an elephants foot, George Clinton and musical theories.39mins - Creating a zone of freedom for black artists, and The Work.41mins30s - Creating tracks and new songs forming organically at jam sessions.43mins - Memories of musical celebrations at Paisley Park with Prince.45mins - Hoping to work with Quincy Jones at the height of their fame in the 1980s (and recording at Paisley Park).47mins - Jamming with Stevie Wonder and D'Angelo.49mins - Pat asks a Prince fan for thoughts on his untimely death.56mins - Funk revivals, snap bass and Pop Life.58mins - A Prince cover the band are ashamed of! And 80s nights at Butlins.60mins - What question would Pat ask Prince if he were still alive today?
INTRO2mins - 'going to concerts all the time' in my teenage years6mins - growing up in a family listening to a diverse and eclectic mix of music9mins - going to the Coliseum to see USC football games10mins30s - memories of the show and lasting impression of Prince that day. 'He blew me away...and definitely captured my imagination'.11mins - a concert that started to 'get a little scary'12mins30s - negative energy as things start being thrown onto the stage14mins - '...the way he was dressed was just too much for The Rolling Stones fans...they weren't ready for it.'16mins - lasting impressions on Prince that evening. 'So dynamic...there was a confidence and stage presence there.'18mins - Prince feeling vital again with 3rd Eye Girl and the Piano & Microphone tour.20mins - Book of Prince fan memories: The Day I Was There. Ricci recalls the Purple Rain tour in 1985 - 'wear something Purple!'25mins - Andre Cymone and the influence of Adam Ant and the New Romantics.26mins - The euphoria of the LA Forum in '85 - 'it was so inspiring, the whole visual of it.'29mins30s - The 1980s - an era of separations, divorces and broken homes...the role Purple Rain the movie played in the teenage psyche.31mins30s - 'A.U.T.O-matic' - Ricci's rock memorabilia story35mins - Furthest lengths / greatest expense to see a show...37mins30s - Feelings on posthumous releases from Prince's vault.38mins30s - any things you'd like to hear in future?40mins - Reflections on the Prince community, and what it all means ultimately. Love 4 One Another...
Part 3 of this interview features music from the Beverley Knight album Affirmation (released in June 2004), including short excerpts from Supasonic, Tea & Sympathy and No One Ever Loves In Vain. Music used by permission. Additional music - Signs - was written, arranged and produced by Gavin Calder. Queen of British Soul Beverley Knight, has been one of the UK's most consistent artists for over two decades. She has had gold and platinum-selling albums, 14 Top 40 hits, sold-out tours, 3 MOBO Awards, Brit Award and Mercury Music Prize nominations - plus an Olivier Award nomination for musical theatre. She's also a massive Prince fan...tune in to parts 1 & 2 of this exclusive interview to hear more memories of Prince, and the influence he had on her career.
Part 2 features music from the Beverley Knight album Affirmation (released in June 2004), including short excerpts from Come As You Are, Supasonic and Keep This Fire Burning. Music used by permission. Additional music - Signs - was written, arranged and produced by Gavin Calder.
Listen in to our latest podcast to hear more about the career path of one of the UKs most loved artists and performers, Queen of UK Soul, Beverley Knight.
Duane Tudahl has spent his career working on TV series, but also producing numerous documentaries and music videos. He is a writer and researcher, who has contributed many articles for Uptown magazine – the key Prince fanzine – for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. In recent years he received praise for his books documenting Prince's studio sessions in the 1980s, which are extensive in their research and provide an in-depth insight into the period.Thank you to all of our listeners around the world who've been tuning in and downloading the show from Europe to the USA, South America, India and Australia, your support is much appreciate.And our thanks to Gavin Calder for the music on today's show, which features the original album mix of True Funk Soldier, from the album Deep Field, by Balveda. Go to the Bandcamp website to hear more. Please keep clicking on subscribe, leave your reviews and spread the word, whether you're listening on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon music, Gaana or Jiosaavn.Chapters & themes- Did Prince have any regrets from the mid 80s period? 'Prince was a control freak - he was a decider...after Purple Rain who's going to tell you what to do?'- Duane discusses the We Are The World? recording and the aftermath of the Purple Rain tour.- Prince goes to the beach and Duane's favourite stories - 'the ones that humanise him in some way'.- We discuss Prince's legacy and the threat to his legacy from potential revisionist history in the future.- The questions Duane would most liked to have asked Prince.- Future projects - what's next for Duane?
Duane Tudahl has spent his career working on TV series, but also producing numerous documentaries and music videos. He is a writer and researcher, who has contributed many articles for Uptown magazine – the key Prince fanzine – for 12 years, from 1991 to 2003. In recent years he received praise for his books documenting Prince's studio sessions in the 1980s, which are extensive in their research, and give further insight into one of the most fascinating periods in popular music.A big thank you to all of our listeners around the world who've been tuning in and downloading the show from Paris, to Detroit, from Bombay to Brazil, we really appreciate your support.And our thanks to Gavin Calder for the music on today's show, which features a Quiet Storm remix of True Funk Soldier, from the album Deep Field, by Balveda. Go to the Bandcamp website to hear more. Please keep clicking on subscribe, leave your reviews and spread the word, whether you're listening on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon music, Gaana or Jiosaavn.
Tune in to hear Sam Bleazard discussing early life, musical inspirations and movies, with recent Oscar winner Jon Batiste. Jon talks about New Orleans, representing New Orleans in the TV show Treme, collaborators on his latest album We Are, and the inspiration he drew from Prince early on in his career.
Summary: chapters and themes.PART 31min - Going back to a normal life and the 9-5...and why it was a good thing.4mins30s - My favourite memories of Prince...'he was a whole different person when we played basketball...and he was such a fun person outside of the music'.7mins - The lessons that Prince taught me, for life in general and for my career.9mins45s - Contact with Prince in later years, and concerns.13mins - Remembering the final conversation, over a meal at Paisley Park.17mins - The Revolution reunions planned over the years and celebrating with fans in Minneapolis.19mins30s - Looking to the future. BrownMark on YouTube.22mins - A place in music history and continuing on the legacy.26mins - Bye for now...and see you in Europe!
Summary, themes and chapters1mins - Memories of First Avenue and the debut performances of Purple Rain.5mins - Choreographing Prince & The Revolution and the changing face of the band.8mins - Movie premieres, wardrobe disagreements, concerts and 'craziness'.11mins - Prince and poducer bands: Mazarati; The Time; Vanity 6 and The Family.13mins30s - 'Too much too young is not a good thing' - the pressures of stardom on tour.18mins - The full story of how one of Prince's most famous songs was recorded.24mins15s - Being fined for missing notes, and working for one of music's most demanding bandleaders.27mins - Meeting the expected standards, and the parting of the ways.
Chapters1min - Meeting Prince for the first time.2mins45s - Minneapolis clubs in the late 1970s.5mins - Sharing the limelight with Prince and being a new face with a fanbase.8mins - Roller skating at the lake with Prince and Vanity.10mins45s - Prince's bass playing and musical influences.15mins30 - Debut gig supporting The Rolling Stones, and Prince regroups.22mins - Life in the Purple Kingdom, the world of fandom and entertaining the people.26mins - Staying up late and burning the creative candle at both ends.