Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Bland

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with the Minneapolis Funk All stars featuring appearances by St. Paul Peterson, Elisa Fiorillo, Dr. Matt Fink, Oliver Leiber, and Jerome Benton. We discuss their latest new single Gotta Keep the Funk Alive and dig a little into each legendary player on stage to give them their flowers and learn a little about the historic contributions to the Minneapolis sound. Plus we chat about new music topicality, rumors, and conjecture.

Mr. Christopher recaps the full week of the Prince Celebration 2026 and beyond with NPG Legend, Michael Bland. Join the crew as we talk about the new upcoming Prince album Timeless, new box sets arriving, a dozen unreleased tracks, panels featuring Bootsy Collins, Morris Day, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lisa Coleman, and more. Plus the review of a full purple star studded concert with NPG and Revolution members, with special guests like Bilal, Miguel, Sounds of Blackness, and more! It's 3-1/2 hours of event coverage. Get your groove on.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland talk about the curse of A.I. in art and music, the music business in general, the changing of the music genre guard, the upcoming Prince Celebration, and other events and topicality.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland walk through the intense 2026 Prince Celebration Schedule. Get ready for information overload deconstructed and crafted for actual human consumption. We cover day by day explaining the difference between VIP and General Admission, the events, the speakers, the transportation, the hotels, and so much more. We even discuss the off the track events going on for folks that want to purchase single day tickets and have more freedom to do a wide array of funky happenings. We talk about it all. Buckle up.

Executive director of Black Men Vote, Michael Bland, and co-founder and principal for The Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice, Desiree Cormier, talk about Black civic and political power and other trending political topics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Join Mr. Christopher as he enjoys a Q&A session with Michael Bland to find out what we all want know. Discover stories of his parents, his favorite cereal, his favorite cartoons, girls on the road, Prince's practice sessions, Nick Jonas, UFO's, and SO much more. It's a roller coaster.

The dynamic duo is back as NPG legend Michael Bland joins Mr. Christopher who returns from his Minneapolis journey to recap the 10 year anniversary of Prince's transition and the events at Paisley Park and beyond. A very candid conversation regarding his lengthy discussions with members of the Prince Estate. Mr. Christopher makes an argument for their efforts and challenges amidst a tidal wave of negativity and pushback from the Prince fam. You don't want to miss this show as he reveals details from behind the purple curtain including reasonings for release cancellations, the Hollywood star, and cease and desists.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland are joined by Live 4 Love (Mayte Garcia, Gilbert Davison, and Kirk Johnson) to discuss the cancellation of Prince's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the 10 year anniversary of Prince's death, LA events, and other insightful topics.

Michael Bland reveals what it was really like playing with Prince at the height of the New Power Generation era.In this rare 2001 interview, he shares untold stories from inside Prince's band.Best known as the powerhouse drummer behind Prince & The New Power Generation, Michael Bland joins Joe Kelley for a deep dive into one of the most iconic eras in funk and R&B.Bland reflects on:Life inside Prince's bandThe Minneapolis music sceneHis work with Sons of AlmightyThe mindset and discipline behind elite musicianshipThis is a rare, unfiltered conversation with one of the defining drummers of Prince's NPG era.___Musicians Reveal with Joe Kelley features in-depth interviews with legendary artists, Prince collaborators, and top session musicians—sharing the real stories behind the music.From inside Prince's world to the broader legacy of funk, R&B, and rock, each episode dives into the musicianship, moments, and untold stories that shaped the sound.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with Al Evans and Neal Evans of Soulive to discuss the band's newest album Flowers. We discuss NPG's impact on Neal, the beginnings of Soulive, the genius of Van Hunt, the future of music, recording in Iceland, and so much more.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with keyboardist Cassandra O'Neal to discuss her career which includes NPG, Macy Gray, Mary J. Blige, Jay Z, and so much more. It's an incredibly loose and fun interview that you don't want to miss.

Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland discuss the 2026 Grammy Awards covering the major highlights including political statements, D'Angelo, Roberta Flack, Jellybean Johnson, and more. It's a breakdown as only the Funkatopia dynamic duo can do it.

Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland discuss the battle between Apollonia and the Prince Estate, the loss of Earth's gravity later this year, Madhouse 8, Questlove, and many other ridiculous tidbits.

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland as they launch 2026's first Free 4 All of the year. We look back on NPG Music Club, a discussion about Prince in the AI world, recent passings, the ongoing Stranger Things effect and missed opportunities, and much more randomness and rabbit holes.

** PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ** Featured in Jam Fans Forum Episode 8: This is the show where expert panelists provide their top picks in various funk music categories. This time around, we are taking on the purple majesty topic of the 5 Top Prince Funk Songs of All Time. Making this Jam Fans Forum extra noteworthy is it's the first one standing alone, as previously it was presented as a special edition under the Where'd You Get Your Funk From? Umbrella. With that, there's a new opening, closing and theme music, so let us know what you think! Joining host Scott "DR GX" Goldfine are three esteemed Prince authorities who are all making their Jam Fans debuts: Chris Horton, a.k.a. Mr. Christopher, who for almost 20 years has run the Funkatopia website that was visited by Prince himself, and today includes a popular podcast with co-host Michael Bland, a radio station and music reviews; Duane Tudahl, an award-winning author who's written two of the most thoroughly researched books documenting Prince's prodigious 1980s studio sessions, as well as contributed to new deluxe reissue packages; Steve Grevious, a.k.a. Stevie G, co-host of Rickey Vincent's The History of Funk radio show as well as other KPFA content.  While new to Jam Fans, Duane Tudahl was featured on the TRUTH IN RHYTHM show, and Mr. Christopher can be seen on an episode of Where'd You Get Your Funk From? Check out those in-depth interviews to learn more about them. Thanks to all of them for keeping the funk alive!  Support Tudahl's current documentary project for the Baltimore band Crack the Sky. Find out more here: http://kck.st/438U66a Panelists' Picks Ground Rules: - Pick 5 top Prince/Symbol funk (not pop or rock, etc.) songs (no bootleg or Vault picks); no proteges - Panelists reveal their picks one at a time, explain why and allow others to react. - Picks are not shared ahead of time, so everyone experiences the reveals together. - Panelists compile alternates in case someone else names the same pick first. Thus, we will end up with 20 picks in total! - Picks may be shared in random or non-chronological order.  - Picks may be based more on personal preference than historical context. Go to https://funknstuff.net/jam-fans-forum-20-prince-funk-songs OR https://wp.me/p77e8T-3Jy to listen to and buy this episode's 20 top Prince Funk songs.  Be sure to like, comment, share and subscribe – and let us know other categories you would like to see covered. Also, share your own choices for the 5 Top Prince Funk Songs of All Time. RECORDED SEPTEMBER 2025 LEGAL NOTICE: All video and audio content protected by copyright. Any use of this material is strictly prohibited without expressed consent from original content producer and owner Scott Goldfine, dba FUNKNSTUFF. For inquiries, email info@funknstuff.net. Get your copy of "Everything Is on the One: The First Guide of Funk" today! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1541256603/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1541256603&linkCode=as2&tag=funknstuff-20&linkId=b6c7558ddc7f8fc9fe440c5d9f3c400

On the 4th day of November, we need a purple high. Join Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland as we discuss the Save the Date announcement from the Prince Estate for the 2026 Prince Celebration and what we might be able to expect, the Diamonds and Love bootleg drop, public feedback from the Purple Rain Broadway play, amusement parks, and much more.

Join Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland as they discuss the Grammy nominees, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, bands that are still not inducted, and other random topics.

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland as they reflect on the life of Jellybean Johnson who recently transitioned. Also, a brief discussion on the remastering of Around the World in a Day and expectations and early reactions.

Join Mr. Christopher as he unboxes the Deluxe edition of Around the World in a Day alongside NPG drumming legend Michael Bland. It's a first-hand reaction as Mr. Christopher avoided reading or viewing all online reviews and unboxings to have a complete surprise. We also discuss Record Store Day and the Because Sound Matters Purple Rain vinyl release.

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG/Soul Asylum drummer Michael Bland as they discuss the 50th anniversary of Parliament's Mothership Connection, the 11th anniversary of D'Angelo's Black Messiah, and also chat about their first vinyl memory and first album bought with their money. Plus tons of other topics including what it must be like to be famous and under total scrutiny, overtone singing, and the magic of nostrils.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland welcome celebrated Prince and the revolution keyboardist Lisa Coleman,. We discuss her early days, Joining Prince's band, writing issues, problems on the road, the amazing Wendy and Lisa albums, and so much more. It's a purple-licious show, but with the focus on the ladies.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland discuss what the Prince Estate is planning to release. We also discuss the user wish list and expectations around releases and what they want to see. A very lively discussion filled with hopeful, but realistic banter.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with Parliament Funkadelic's keyboardist Danny Bedrosian to discuss his new book covering P-Funk's 1975 where they dropped Chocolate City, Let's Take it to the Stage, and Mothership Connection. Then we reflect on the passing of D'Angelo and look back at his legacy. Then we close it up celebrating the 44th anniversary of Prince's Controversy released in 1981 and talk about the album track by track.

Celebrated Drummer for Prince, Michael Bland reflects on his time with Prince as he tackles new projects.  

Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland welcome Eric Rogers of the Paisley 5 & Dime, an online purple auction house and community that specializes in Prince memorabilia and artifacts. We'll show and discuss some of the most rare items from Prince's long and storied career.

Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland to showcase their 20 favorite debut albums from a wide variety of music styles. Funk, neo-soul, rock, and more are all celebrated in this temporary visit into the music minds of the Funkatopia Live crew.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland discuss the remastering of Around the World in a Day and discuss other purple topics, plus a surprise guest appearance by celebrated Prince photographer Steve Parke.

Funkatopia hosts Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland have an open discussion about the challenges with new Prince releases in a posthumous world. From rabid fans to misinformation to what you can probably actually expect. Plus, we open the phone lines to let the audience chime in to share what they would like to see. It's an action packed purple geek out session Free 4 All.

NPG keyboardist Tommy Barbarella joins Mr. Christopher and NPG drummer Michael Bland to catch up on music history, learn new stories about each other, talk about gear, and so much more.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with celebrated photographer Allen Beaulieu, the man responsible for the infamous photos of Prince's most genius eras including 1999, Dirty Mind, Controversy, and many others. Note, that this is a very visual show, so apologies to audio only listeners, but there are enough stories to warrant this journey.

Jesse Johnson does his final interview ever (?) with Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland talking for over 3 hours on a variety of topics including playing inside of Paisley Park, new music, COVID, conspiracy theories, iPhone vs. Android, and much more including claiming that this will be his last interview that he will ever do. That means you HAVE to listen.

Guitarist Mike Scott sits down with Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland to discuss his humble beginnings and his decision to stay in Minneapolis which led to his work with Prince, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and beyond.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with Maya McClean. While she was mostly known for performing with her sister with Prince as The Twinz, she now shares her journey to becoming a spiritual life coach, life on her own, working with Prince, and much more including her upcoming album Awakening. She also graces the show with a full performance of her song Waterfall. It's a super spiritual mind journey of discovery for herself that she wants to share with the world.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with the legend behind the scenes Jerry Hubbard. He has been a solid pillar in the Minneapolis music scene from childhood. He's played with Prince, The Time, The Family, Jesse Johnson, was on Michael Jackson's label and so much more. Take a deep dive into Minneapolis music history as we discuss Minnesota's deep musical history discussing bands like Grand Central, the original Sonny Thompson version of The Family, Flyte Tyme, Alexander O'Neal, Morris Day, and so much more. Hold your nose, because it's a baptism of Minneapolis music and it's about get funky in here.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with the Time Band featuring Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Tori Ruffin, and Ricky Freeze Smith to discuss their history with Morris Day and the Time, their Masterclass, and plenty of behind the scenes stories.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland welcome Indian bassist Mohini Dey to chat about her current touring schedule, her past, her upbringing, childhood challenges, religion, space in music, cathartic performances, and much more.

Mr. Christopher sits down with Funkatopia co-host NPG drummer Michael Bland to discuss the 2025 Prince Celebration taking place in Minneapolis and Chanhassen, MN. We discuss the new music coming, the Celebration panels, unreleased music heard, plans for video releases, the rebirth of the NPG Music Club, and much more including addressing a few "Mr. Funkatopia" shout outs from Londell McMillan during the Vault Session panel and the stories that sparked it. All this and way more than we deserve in an almost 3-hour packed show.

Join Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland as they sit down with all of the members of The Family including St. Paul Peterson, Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, Susannah Melvoin, and Eric Leeds. We discuss new FDeluxe music, the Prince Celebration performance and a wealth of purple stories. Then we top off the night with a surprise visit from New Power Generation (NPG) members Morris Hayes and Tony Mosley to share even more unheard stories from the road and new events for the band.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit with Philip Lassiter and Shelby J to discuss his new album Soul of the World and debut a new track. Plus Damon D joins to talk about his Minneapolis dance class. Then Mr. C and Michael chat about the upcoming Prince Celebration in Minnesota, the pricing, the events, as well as the external events in and around Minneapolis area.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit with the iconic trombonist Fred Wesley who was an integral part of the sound of James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, the JB's, the Horny Horns, and many collaborations from Abraham Inc. to Van Morrison.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with funk maestro Cory Wong to discuss his history, Prince's influence, the Fearless Flyers, Vulfpeck, ADHD, working with Michael Bland, and so much more.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland welcome Tower of Power drumming legend David Garibaldi to discuss his time with Tower of Power, his near death experience with a train, the true story behind the 777-9311 drum track, his retirement, and what he's doing now.

Mr. Christopher and NPG drummer Michael Bland discuss the 40th anniversary of Prince's Purple Rain follow-up, Around the World in a Day. We also discuss how we've dealt with the loss of Prince 9 years later. Plus plenty of rabbit holes.

What inspires a company's commitment to community support and engagement? Michael Bland, Capital Project Stewardship Leader at Celanese, illustrates how their proactive approach led them to The Rose, supporting its mission through donations and involvement. From providing much-needed chemo kits to actively participating in community events, Celanese has become a partner rather than just a donor. Their employees, driven by values and empowered by the organization, strive to make a profound impact in the community. Key Questions Answered 1. What is Michael Bland's role at Celanese? 2. What does Michael enjoy most about his job at Celanese? 3. Can you explain what Celanese does as a company? 4. How did Celanese first become involved with The Rose? 5. What kind of community support has Celanese provided to The Rose? 6. Who did Michael Bland dress up as for the Shrimp Boil's 80s costume contest? 7. How did the Celanese team participate in the Shrimp Boil event? 8. What was the significance of the survivor's quilt mentioned in the episode? 9. How does Celanese view its role in community involvement, according to Michael Bland? 10. What is the "Keep the Mobile on the Road" program mentioned by Dorothy Gibbons? Timestamped Overview 00:00 "Breast Health Podcast: Community Support" 04:48 Celanese's Commitment to Community 07:11 Dressing as Slash and Axl, 1986 09:44 Affordable Shrimp Fundraiser & Community Event 14:15 Shared Enthusiasm Impresses New Visitor 16:51 Breaking Silence for Early Detection 21:09 Underestimated Support Logistics 22:13 Mobile Repair Fundraiser Program 25:14 Donations Support Trauma Recovery ProgramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down to discuss the interview with MonoNeon and of course, in their usual style, it diverges into a full blown show that has very little to do with MonoNeon and all about Prince's legacy and whatever else they discuss. Which is everything purple.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with bass gawd MonoNeon to discuss his upbringing, his wardrobe, the sock, Prince, the album he worked on with Prince (Black is the New Black), inspirations, and much more. Tune in and vibe out.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland discuss the newly released information on the Prince Celebration 2025. We talk about the pricing, the bands, the events, the hotels, transportation, and more. Including a visit from a special guest.

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with music luminary Thomas Dolby. We talk about his breakout success in the 80's, From his side projects, his hits like Hyperactive and She Blinded Me With Science, chilling with Michael Jackson, friendships with XTC's Andy Partridge, working with Todd Rundgren, and so much more.

Mr. Christopher and Funkatopia co-host Michael Bland discuss Prince, the Prince Celebration. Joni Mitchell, Meshell Ndegeocello, and tons of New Power Generation questions for Michael.