|:. DISCLAIMER: J7 and the folx behind the 777 Update are not affiliated with TDC.Org. Rather, J7 and RolThaDice@AOL.com are part of the Prince online community, and we offered them space on the net to keep us informed of all things Paisley. It has not been edited by the TDC.Org staff in any way, well, except for coding and other small stuff, you know, to make it look nice and pretty for our Motor Babies out there. DISCLAIMER .:|. And now, the latest 777 Update, dated Friday, January 19, 2001. "The news, not the bull ...." Welcome 2 a special edition of the 777 Update, a Prince newz update not afflicated with Paisley Park, NPG Records, Warner Brothers Records or NPGonline in any way. In this Update, we will be reviewing the past year and looking forward to what may be in hand for the year to come. This is an article / commentary. The article has been ready for the past week, but we were waiting for some newz to drop right after the original Update was to have been uploaded. So instead of waiting til February to report on it, we thought we would wait a few days so we could break it. The article was already written and I felt no need to change it although things were affected. So first, the quick newz, then the year in review ... . Newz Item #1-Prince to do a full scale tour in U.S. instead of Europe Prince has decided to stay in the U.S. and tour Europe later on in the year. The original idea was to have Prince go to Europe to start the tour but has since been changed. So far two dates have been announced; one is confirmed while the other is not. The dates are ... 02/02/2001 Tampa, Florida @ The Ice Palace (not confirmed) Tix to go on sale Monday morning 02/04/2001 New Orleans, Louisiana @ New Orleans Arena (confirmed) Tix go on sale Monday morning @ 10 a.m. CST Now if the Tampa show proves to be true, isn't the Super Bowl the Sunday previous? And doesn't Steven Tyler record at a studio in Florida? What is going on? Maybe they will compare notes and wear assless pants while makin love in an elevator. Or maybe Aerosmith will just take Kid Rock on the stage and disapoint us all. Newz item #2-"Rave" Special Edition signed for tenitive release date The Rave Special Edition cd looks like it will finally see the light of day on March 30, 2001. For those needing a tracklisting, please email me or you can wait for the February update which will carry it. Newz item #3-Prince discussing a Distribution / Contract deal with Earvin "Magic" Johnson Prince has been in Los Angeles three (3) times since December 5, 2000, and is in discussions with Earvin "Magic" Johnson for at least a two-cd distribution deal with Magic Johnson Records -- very new talent on the label and is distributed thru MCA Records. Suprisingly, it was Magic that approached Prince about the deal after promoting the Fall 2000 Hit 'n' Run Tour. Prince would like someone who would only promote him but Prince also respects Magic for what he has done in South Central Los Angeles and his very successful theatre venture. Nothing has been signed, although we all know Prince does aggreements, not contracts. And it does strike us as odd that a week after the meeting, Prince finally has a release date for the Rave Special Edition. Newz item #4-Is something "Super" in store for January 28th? ????????????? record ????????????? NO ??????????????????? ??????????? possible performance ????????????????????? Tyler ?????????? ????????? says ???????????? hopefully ??????????????????????????????????? * * * The NPG Address * * * More ranting, then raving - "Yes, Artist, I was wondering if you go to the movies?" It seemed like a rather easy question, but , rarely one to give a direct answer rambled on about what was real and what was fake in movies. After stopped talking, the caller was like, "(Y)ea, but do you see any movies?" was supposed to perform on this day in December, 1999, but because of an illness, he decided to just do an interview. In a surrounding and with a host he just did not really feel comfortable with, Carson Daly, it was a lost cause. A media blitz of "The Today Show,", "TRL", "The Early Show," "The View," and "Live with Larry King,". With the exception of "The Early Show" on CBS, which is the lowest-rated show of all of the American television network morning programs, chose not to perform or was sick. All these shows were used to promote the "Rave" cd. He was very disapointed with the promotion by Arista Records, but with these interviews, it did not help sales. Canceled were many appearances slated like "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" because the media was already losing interest in . During most of the interviews, he would bring up his pay-per-view concert and talk more about the all-star gig than the new cd on the shelves. The most frustrating thing was how he seemed to talk about everything else but himself or his music. Mostly talking of "entropy." And if he did talk about music, he would mention Larry Graham about two times. He seemed more rehearsed in what he would say then he did in 1996. All in all, it made the year he was talking about for almost 20 yearz (1999) seem more than a let down than of anything. He had a cd that had potential but never got off the ground. "My Name is Prince, and I am Funky" On May 16, 2000, finally reclaimed his legal name - Prince Roger Nelson - in a press conference in New York City stating that his publishing contract ended with Warner-Chapel on December 31, 1999. Some wondered why he did not announce it then (New Years Eve/Day 2000), others were just more than happy to be able to call him Prince again. Announced on that date was the planned release of the "RAVE" remix cd, which has yet to see the light of day. Two weeks before the announcement of the name change, Paisley Park announced a planned one (1) week celebration of the music of Prince in Chanhassen, Mn. For seven (7) long years, he has had to play the name game, and we had to play along with him. Even in interviews in 1999, it seemed like that was all the interviewer could talk about, never being able to get over it. One minute was saying his spirit advised him to change his name, and the next minute it is over contract disputes. Who, except for the media, cared? The fans were happy to call their man the Prince that they see him to be. But the real question is, was he just coasting along the past seven (7) years releasing product he could make in his sleep, or releasing a great cd after he lost interest in it ("the GOLD experience")? The fact of the matter is, the name Prince alone on any cd will sell more copies any day than anything with the symbol. "Everybody's Going Uptown" On June 7, 2000, Prince invited 1,500 of his closest (or the ones who could afford it) friends to Paisley Park to party with him. No matter what Prince says, it was thrown on June 7 because of his birthday. The purpleheadz got to see everything except for a true Paisley Park concert by Prince. The lines may have been long to get into Paisley, and the Love4OneAnother Room, but it was definitly worth it. Do you really need more of a reason to party inside Prince's home? The concert to end it all on June 13 had many memorable moments. With a semi-Revolution reunion, it was something that kept people very entertained. Still seeming to get used to his name, in the concert, Prince said, "(S)o many songs Prince wrote, so little time." There was togetherness everywhere in Chanhassen that week. Prince played some very good new songs which have yet to be released during the week-long event at Paisley. It seemed like Prince was enjoying the party atmostphere of the fans, being very friendly towards the ones who would not stare at him for too long. Prince hints at making this a yearly thing and the Purpleheadz were on cloud 9, 10 n 11. "Baby, I'm A Star" A long talked about tour finally raised it's head on Election Night, Nov. 6, 2000. Titled "The Hit 'n' Run Tour," Prince did mainly a greatest hits package with all but one (1) of the tracks being from 1991 and before. It opened to poor reviews from critics and fans alike. But by the time it ended on Saturday, December 9, in Las Vegas, the reaction was more than positive. Some Purpleheadz are getting turned off by the medleys of songs he played, some say that more new stuff, others saying they want the old. What is a Prince to do? Basicaly stating by the last few dates of the tour, someone old should bring somebody new. Prince is getting many younger fans turned on to him as of late and they have not seen this type of "greatest hits" package. Doing songs mostly from the "Purple Rain" and "Sign 'O' The Times" periods, it was a major treat for Purpleheadz like myself to hear songs that they have never heard before live. Even major purpleheadz, that were heavy doubters of this tour's content, were blown away by Prince's aura, which had arrogance not seen since 1993. "I've Seen The Future and It Will Be" The Year 2000 for Prince started off with more of a whimper than a big bang, but ended with a new-found popularity without even releasing a new cd. He has chilled about "fans" websites and even gives webmasters NPG-related banners to use for a link to NPGOnlineLtd.Com. Letting Purpleheadz into Paisley Park for a week-long celebration was another huge step in the right direction. You do not normally hear artists bringing their fans into thier recording studio / home away from home. With the addition of the baddest drummer since Michael B. - Mr. John Blackwell, Prince's tour was off the hook. We have much love for any former or current members of the New Power Generation, so no disrespect is ever intended. Prince is planning to tour Europe and other countries starting in February, but Magic Johnson and I, myself, feel strongly that Prince should continue to tour the United States in larger vnues. There is no real neccessity to release a new cd just yet. Rumor is though that Prince is sitting on a masterpiece and tinkering with it left and right. Prince should also release the "Rave Special Edition" with not a lot of fanfare. Just let the hardcore have it for their own private Purple Underground collection. With Magic apparantly handiling more than just tour promotions, the sky's the limit. Magic was also trying to work up some "Super Sunday" magic on January 28, which has yet to be confirmed or denied by NPGonlineLtd.Com. (note :: Prince wanted to play the Super Bowl if the Vikings made it, which they did not. At press time, there were several people saying that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith was still trying to get Prince to play. Again, this has yet to be confirmed or denied. Just remember who broke the story first [December 13, 2000] ). Not to sound philosophical, but the stars are aligning in a weird way. It looks like it will be 1991 all over again with the dominence of Madonna, Michael & Janet Jackson, U2, and the artist forever known as Prince. If you think I'm going to be wrong, look me up December 27th, 2001. It also looks like this will be a year where people who sort of like Prince will have more fun than the ones who consider themselves the hardcore fans. Prince is just stopping the purple boat to pick up more peeps, but if you can accept change, in the end, you will be satisfied. If not, you can bitch and bitch or just get on the dancefloor and have some fun. And for those who have trouble seeing Prince's point of view, remember the reason you started liking him in the first place ... the music. Prince, if he does decided to do another media blitz, should perform more than talk, especially if he does decide to do shows like TRL again. Show the world again why you are the most talented musician alive. But most of all, Prince should be true to himself. No one in this world can be seen as perfect. Be wild and have fun in 2001 ............J7 This Update is in honor of Matt @ Prince.Org who will be leaving Prince.Org shortly. Thank you Matt, for letting The Update post on Prince.Org and letting us give you exclusive info in the past two yearz. Much love 2 all no matter where you are at. J7 Coming in the February 2001 777 Update ... a very special one for fans and collectors. 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