Me and Prince
We go waaaay back!!!
I used to write a monthly column in a musicians’ magazine where I reviewed a gig - from the equipment point of view. So each month I’d pick out some show - any show - to get the band’s album, meet the techs, and review.
So of course I chose Prince, as you would.
I went along to the Wembley Arena in the afternoon, and was met by the PR person who took me to the backstage area. The whole show was ‘in the round’, and the various technicians all worked underneath the central circular stage. There I met Dallas Schoo - Prince’s guitar tech. He showed me his main guitars (all ¾ scale length), and of course I overloaded him with a million questions from an over-excited guitar player fan. It was utterly incredible, hearing the full details of how Prince liked things.
Also of how he worked. On the guitar bench was a TV monitor, showing what was going on onstage - and Dallas would keep a close eye on it throughout the gig while he changed strings, tuned up etc. “I’d know there was a guitar swap coming up in about two minutes,” he explained, “But quite often he might extend a song section, or miss out part of it,” - this band was tight! - “I’d see him eventually move to the area of the stage directly over me… He’d disappear… and I’d turn round to the stairs and he’d reach down for the next guitar, snatch it from me and run and I’d be back at the bench, working towards the next change!”
Dallas then contrasted this with working with The Edge from U2; he’d walk onstage with the next guitar, tap him on the shoulder and they’d swap instruments! Edge was utterly engrossed in the music - as he should be. A different way of working.
A couple of years went by. Prince was on tour again, and arrangements were made to do another review. I had the presence of mind to take along the previous review with me, and at one of the security checkpoints someone (who obviously hadn’t got the memo) grilled me for full details about what I was doing there - and I mentioned I had the magazine with me…. He took it away, and I waited. After ten minutes he returned; “OK - come on through…” Prince had read my article - and approved!!!!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG…!!!!
It was me and the magazine photographer, and we started doing our journalist stuff - getting the gear scoop, checking out the stage area (all Boss pedals BTW. Big Mesa Boogie stacks).
Time passed, and eventually the whole area had to be cleared for the soundcheck. However me and Simon - being devious by nature - crouched down behind a couple of seats in the second row…. Prince appeared (in yellow suit with black polka dots!), and the whole band ran through their usual soundcheck procedure; a big jam - the most amazing hard-driving up-tempo funk improvisation, quite possibly to be included in a future set list.
Apparently he’d check out recordings of that night’s gig for improvements/additions afterwards when traveling from the venue, quite possibly on the way to another jam - basically another gig - somewhere else afterwards.
He had the black American R&B musician’s work ethic... He played lots of gigs!
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Blog by David Rainger