As a serious Prince fan, former record executive and tour manager, I really appreciate this show and interview with Alan Leeds. This was awesome!!! It is because of my love and respect for Prince and guys like Alan, that I pursued a career in the music business and I’m so thankful for all of the music, stories, and inspiration. Michael Dean’s Prince Podcast is the best, hands down !!!
2:15:20 - 2:17:09 was real talk. P needed a real friend like Alan to tell him that. Prince was a master at setting trends, not following them. That era in time was probably a time to take a break and strategize his next move.
I heard Alan Leeds's take on Prince on an old documentary on UA-cam. I watched this documentary 5-6 times, just because of how informative, eloquent and entertaining he is, when talking about Prince. Suddenly it dawned on me there had to be an interview with only his voice, and I was right. This does not disappoint, and I am so grateful! What an amazing interview!
Sorry, Alan, but the moment I heard Prince was doing a movie, I knew the result would be phenomenal. At the time, Prince was generating a lot of buzz in the music industry and when I heard "When Doves Cry," I literally ran through the house screaming, "He's done it! He's arrived!" When "Purple Rain" debuted in Chicago movie theaters, the lines wrapped around the block. People were turning out in droves. The record stores couldn't keep the album in stock. Prince-mania was sweeping the globe. It was an exciting time to be alive!
I agree with you. I was a teenager at the time when I read in one of those magazines that Prince was filming a movie. I had an inkling it was going to be great. But, that feeling became apparent once I heard like yourself "When Doves Cry". I was blown away from the production that was exuding through the radio. I was like OMG, he's pulling the stops on this joint. He was all in. Once I purchased the album ..I listened with assurance that this movie alone because of the soundtrack would rock the charts. The movie lived up to the expectation. The performance scenes right out the gate locked you in. Amazing. I viewed it twice that very day. It was one of his most daunting experiences in music for me at that point. It was like watching Michael Jackson's first time executing the Moonwalk or the backslide ,and the Thriller videos all in one with Hendrix reincarnated in front of your eyes. Purple Rain inundated even Prince. He even wanted to escape it his whole career after that. But , the impact was to ferocious. The residuals of that monster would follow him for the rest of his career. It defined his illustrious career. Rest In Power Prince.
Remigio Giovanni Ricci - I think Alan was referring to his and the camp's thoughts about Prince doing his own movie during the 1999 tour, because it was during that time that Prince had Fargnoli and Cavallo try to get the green light from WB to make the film. This was a year before WDC was recorded - that song was done in 24 hrs in March of '84, long after the film was initially done, because Magnoli needed a song for the montage footage in the film. Prince said okay, and literally handed him the song the next day. So, in the Spring of '83 Prince was gaining popularity, but nowhere near the level he reached after PR.
What a fascinating interview, such a pleasure to hear form Alan Leeds. I got all emotional when Alan talked about Prince toward the end of his life and possibly having some issues with his fingers/ hands and the fact that it may have prevented him to no longer be able to play music overtime. I had to wipe some tears. It's heartbreaking to hear that.😔😢💔
PRINCE did not have to play another guitar he had soooooo much other talent. PRINCE started a new chapter in his life.. nobody can sing dance forever. Prince was on another level.
Yes yes James Brown was the first to Say it Loud we 🖤🖤🖤 BLACK and we PROUD. PRINCE was on some JAMES BROWN shit in addition to.....Nah he was forced to leave us to soon.
What an amazing story teller is this guy! Thank you Mr Leeds for being so open and telling it like it went down, truly amazing to hear you sewing all these stories that we partially heard about here and there together so coherently. It was a pleasure to listen to you for 3+ hours :)
Thank you so much for creating all this legacy! We need to have this culture so much whether artists or fans. There ain't nothing like getting the education you need and that's not always coming from schools!
By far, the best interview you've done! Alan explains things so clearly and fits so perfectly with what we saw going on with Prince's career. When he got to the part of where Prince's blackness came from, he was SO on point. Prince was not nor was he ever a thug. I love Prince's music, and it is by far my favorite of all time, but hip-hop was not a genre that he understood. Therefore, as Alan says, that's why Prince's attempts at rap and such didn't reverberate the way his other stuff did. I feel the same way as Leeds in that I thought Prince was losing his way at that point. Prince was at his best when he was trying to be Prince, not trying to follow musical trends. In other words, Prince's work was at its peak when he was a leader, not a follower.
I personally really liked his take on hip hop, because hip hop is such an experimental genre and the mixture between jazz/funk and rapping was honestly one of the best things and should have been taken up by other artists as well. He might have just wanted to try something new?🤷🏽♀️ and some really good songs came out of that era most definitely
The amazing thing of being a fan of His is new stories keep popping up..new music....New vocals...Demo songs...wow a never ending story...However God gave Him all these gifts and deserves all of the praises...in JESUS name Amen...🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️✅
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Another brilliant podcast. Mr Dean you kept this one in the pocket and unleashed at the right time 👊🏽. This is like an audio book. Eric😒and Alan🙄 are very different😏 Alan's viewpoints are askew which I love. Don't agree with everything but we have that choice. But the love was there. It's palpable. And when you talk in love then it's real like it or not. The waves of sadness with Prince being gone and the way he went keeps crashing to shore everysooften like the stages of grief keep revisiting. Must say though that with each interview, each new book, each new unreleased or remastered music we are getting to know more about this beautiful, complicated, stubborn, unrelenting genius that we had for a while and ALL those lives he touched and the impact he had + or - on them. We know and we don't know. Much more to come. Bring it on. Have you tried to get Miko Weaver or Morris Hayes? Morris may have a book soon and I hope it has everything. Thanks Podcast Juice 😎💜
Without a doubt! 7 of the baddest brothers from mpls who rehearsed twice as much as the revolution?!? Man, by the time vanity 6 set was done those boys were loose and ready to kick ass! Thank god Morris wasn't playing drums cause it wouldve been a done deal.
Let me just clarify something: I am not a Revolution fan (my fave era was 90s NPG), but I must admit they were very important in that phase. They were there during some of his strongest albums and I believe Wendy and Lisa helped him in the direction of his music (I believe he wrote the songs, but maybe they were showing him different artists and gave him suggestions and criticism, different from other band members). Coincidence or not, Prince music never sounded so ´beatlesque´ as in 84-86. But, having said that, I almost dont have interest in Revolution live.
I do not assume I know the definitions of all the words people use. Was The Time was tighter than The Revolution? If Cool is the meaning, that is a matter of opinion. Morris made it clear that he was cool. Relationally, were they tighter? Yeass. They had been friends for a very long time. But there was a reason that both of those bands existed. The Time was who Prince was and he put his mark on them. The Time was where Prince came from and where Prince grew up. But The Revolution is where Prince was going. They were the vehicle. They were about Prince's quest to bring change to the landscape of music and society. On the album 1999, The Revolution's name appeared in obscurity which may speak of Prince's apprehension about what he thought he was seeing and hoped to see even more of. Would The Revolution be and represent the revolution in his career that he was looking for? After 1999 hit and was his cross-over album, there was no longer a doubt in his mind about what was happening. He declared the revolution was happening and had happened by giving his band, The Revolution, equal billing with himself on the cover of Purple Rain. It was like planting a flag. It takes a while for a band to become tight. But according to Dez Dickerson, The Revolution was already tight on the Triple Threat Tour. ". . . Prince had gotten to the point where he was just absolutely positively confident in who he was and what he was doing and the space that he owned on this record and on this tour. And we were in the same space as a band. We kind of could read each other's minds in a sense, to the point where we knew what was going to happen, we knew what he was going to do, he knew what we would follow him in, so everything on this tour - to me, this was the peak . . . . www.thecurrent.org/feature/2019/12/05/prince-the-story-of-1999-bonus-dez-dickerson-prince-guitarist-interview
I just listened to the other half of this amazing gem of an interview. It's interesting that he worked with KISS. The rock band KISS was the very first concert I ever saw. I was attracted to the ostentatious conspicuous part of it. I guess that's why later I enamoured guys like Prince who was fearless. It encouraged me to be myself in my own trajectory in the creative arts.
I saw The Voodoo tour too and wow, loved every moment of it. Really heard the Around the World, Parade and Sign o The Times influences in the purest way. That was a moment.
Finally caught up on this during my 12 hr Thanksgiving road trip and man, y'all did not disappoint! Alan Leeds brought ALL the smoke along w/that tea!😂 The D’Angelo stories tripped me out. Seriously, I wish that brother all the best. Michael Dean, the question that jumped it all off was at 2:14:20--- Damn! I wasn't ready for any of it, even when Leeds finished his rant at 2:18:30. I just heard that Carmen Electra LP--it's trash(even by today's standards); unfortunately I can't unhear it, sorry. Finally, I agree--P should've left rap/hip hop alone. He didn't need it. "You're Prince, dammit!“ Cats in the ’80s & ’90s were sampling James Brown tracks like crazy--just itching for P's stuff; he said “no“. I understood partly having to do certain artists’ and their vulgarity.. But c'mon--I think some artists definitely would've created wayyy more creative, timeless hip hop content off of Prince's samples! Sorry to say, it was Prince's arrogance to diss hip hop as if it was a talentless, short lived genre only THEN to switch up AND try to stake some claim by fusing live music + Tony M + The Game Boys. OK. (GETT OFF gets a pass bc that track is still dope.) However, this was not experimenting, this a combo of P chasing a genre + arrogance. Debate me, if you like. I still 💜 u, PRN! As usual, shout out to Podcast Juice for this dope interview!! 💜 👏🏽💜👏🏽💜
Props 2 u guys This is brilliant and the best one you have done yet. Leeds is spot on about the Revolution and while he’s giving his opinion and doesn’t sugar coat Prince it is brutally honest. Great interview guys - congrats ✊🏽
You put your foot in that 1 Mr. Dean. I love the Leeds, Eric as well, they always have great Prince stories. Best line ever "How are you a slave when you own the plantation!!🤣🤣" Just 1 nick pick would like to have known about his thoughts on Graffiti Bridge film and album. Other than that interview was 💯💯💯💜💜
A very interesting, educational, and informative interview with Bro. Alan Leeds about Prince and others. Much love and respect to Leeds, Prince, and all others. Leeds is a musical historian icon. 😊❤️
Brother this was the dopest interview I heard in a while brother I listened to it on the road last night & today & we are born the same year 1969 & I am listening to rainbow children today on vinyl my off for the election today 💯🎼☮️💟🇺🇸
Luv it..I think Alan would have been one of the few to get Prince some help if he would've still been around..Alan needs his own Tales From The Tour Bus..every time I watched Get On Up when James Brown wanted him to be the promoter..Chadwick did that..
Excellent interview, Michael Dean. I know you disagreed with my characterization of John Nelson, but your podcast is the only Prince podcast that I subscribe to. I really appreciate your hard work.
i'm a huge KISS and Prince fan and I can't believe Alan worked with both my favorites. I want to see a Netflix series based on his life. man that would be the greatest music series ever.
I can’t believe I’m just getting around to this podcast. Very insightful....I understand a few things much better now because of Alan’s shared perspectives here. The one comment he claims to have made to Prince.....”How are you a slave when you own the plantation?” That comment is definitely from a “handler’s” perspective. There are too many music lovers who are still asleep to the wiles of the music industry.
Alan said it perfectly. Parade was the album that made me a Prince freak. I was a dedicated fan after that, and bought every album for years, (even though I was aware of Prince when Controversy came out).
@@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony I hear ya, my man, do your thing, that's nice to hear. Yeah, I followed Prince early on too, but I'm all over the place musically, so I get it. I was blown away by what Michael Jackson was doing in the early 80s with his groundbreaking videos, the dancing and all, he completely changed the landscape of music. It's too bad he and Prince really never got along when they were young, you could see Mike wanted to befriend him, but Prince I guess because of the James Brown thing just didn't wanna give it a chance. But I'm right behind those guys age-wise, I believe both Prince and MJ are the same age, I think 63 and I'm 59. But looking at your pic you just struck me as a Rocker, but I listen to all types of music and am influenced by all types myself. I play guitar or got into it by how good Prince played, Prince easily could have gone the way of Rock himself, but he was influenced by funk as a kid, so, he went that direction. Sorry, man didn't mean to write this much, have a good one.
@@tubucocoNo worries. Musician’s that are influenced by Prince tend to be versatile. I, like you I’m sure, prefer to let my playing speak for itself. Have a good one. Stay safe.
this interview really shines a light on the role of what a record label can do for the success of an artist. it's much more than just put a song on the internet and work the social medias and say we don't need labels anymore. there is a strategy behind the success of an artist and labels we're good at that
I'm just listening to this again. I love his analogy about the Purple Rain film. I remember seeing it on my Birthday that summer. Pinnacle ear for me. He talked about the performances. He was right. He won a new audience over with performance scenes. That's basically what it was, a one hour and change music video. Michael Jackson was probably blown away himself. Everyone talks about his acting. It wasn't about his novice acting. I was waiting for the performance scene. I never saw him up until that movie, see him really perform. Just some videos. You had an inkling. So I get that what Mr. Leeds conveyed about the performances in the movie. Great Podcast.
Just noticed that the photo of Alan and Prince is inside an elevator. A lot of pics were taken at Paisley Park...I hope that this wasn't inside elevator that he died in...that would be too much irony. Loved hearing Mr. Leeds perspective...he is a legend in his own right.
For sure a total treasure to the game, He has an insight like no other.. one thing I have to disagree with though is IMO.. Prince wasn't trying to be gangsta by having a mic/gun. I thought of the exact opposite, that he was trying to say the mic can by like a gun/weapon for peace, justice and the truth and that's they only weapon any one truly needs.. Like the pen the mic is mightier than the sword or gun. Making Kiss salads? wow.. he really went to great lengths to keep them happy. I imagine he would even get them "Space Heaters" too... if they asked. ;) Proof of a dedicated team player.
This interview put a finger on what it was that got me lost on Prince for a bit in the 90's. It felt like he was trying to be someone he wasn't, whereas before and after it felt like he was being more genuine to his true self. He grabbed my attention again when I heard the song Gold and also when I saw the One Night Alone box set on display in the front of Tower Records. His eyes on that cover photo literally drew me in & I spent more money and bought the only box set I've ever owned. Even though the Love Symbol album sold and had some big hits with Most Beautiful & 7, it's not in my top of his. Same goes with the NPG, I love Mr. Hayes and obviously Sonny T & Michael Bland are musical beasts, but I wasn't feeling the whole Kirk, Tony M, Damon or the rest of it. Although I love what The NPG has been doing lately after he passed by trying to keep the music alive.
i had wondered why lovesexy was the only prince album that when you request a song from that album on alexa you have to listen to the whole album to hear one song
I bought the CD & still remember this very well in '88. We Prince fans rolled with it but I had a feeling others might not. There were also the Alphabet St. & I Wish You Heaven singles & their B-sides.
Ah, but sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Now I'm in my 50s, the more gutted I am to realise this is a frickin' thing! I'm currently suffering from golfer's elbow from something as simple as a few days of digging the garden back in summertime. So I suspect Prince, playing guitar and piano every day and night, probably had chronic tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, something like that... I noticed he'd always be wearing some kind of wristbands on stage in his latter years. And as a man who hardly slept and worked really hard all his life, it started to catch up on him. And I'm not surprised he was hitting the painkillers for it rather than stop and rest. Our idols are fragile and human like we are, and not magic, after all. Sniffle.
@@ElBeeEss And he had hip problems too, from dancing and jumping off risers doing the splits wearing high heels. I agree I'm sure he was taking meds for pain don't see what the big deal is.
Excellent point about Prince chasing "blackness" in the 90s and being lost. He could've, and should've, been black as a multi-millionaire from Minneapolis, same way Obama was black, educated and cool. When Prince tried to be gangsta and hood he lost the plot.
a black man doesnt have to chase blackness yall looking at it from yall eyes instead of a looking at it from an artist maybe he was bored and wanting to mess around with rap he doesnt become the first to start selling music off the internet being a dummy he knew he coulda made a hit song and just like that people would be kissing his example right after the love symbol album everybody said he fell off then what does he do comes with " The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" he did what he wanted to do and not what everybody thought he should do i love prince because he didnt try to repeat purple rain he tried new things that fed his soul
Man that bad tour! Mike was on fire!! That 85 to 88 run for mj was crazy, the Bad movement with Moonwalker, MTV covered the Bad tour and premiered Smooth Criminal which was his most beautifully shot video. My god, hell of a time man!
I don't quite get that reaction. They appreciated the PR album and with ATWIAD being so different, I can't really blame them. The money they put down for the album & movie tickets financially liberated Prince for several years & I bet he was grateful for that. This "you have to love everything & forever" rule you're stipulating here doesn't exist.
Well, it's more many people dismissed Prince when ATWIAD dropped due to expectation. That's a disrespect. You don't dismiss because you don't like the album.
@Tony looking at his statement from a place of context, it's not about "blame". It's separating the wheat from the tear, those that couldn't understand where prince was as an artist during Parade musically didn't move forward with him (film aside). Parade was very mature musically where as PR feels like a youthful spirited effort. Just like Stand vs Small Talk.
@@spinalcrackerbox I'm saying that at all, that's unnatural and impossible and unfair to hold anyone to that standard. I'm saying that there was a definite change in listeners when that album came out. Plus it was a sink or swim time for a lot of music/artist in that year. Out of the number of listeners that bought purple rain, it's safe to say that 30% less of them bought parade because it was pretty left of center to what he'd carved out for PR and some may have felt abandoned in a way. This isn't a "Parade failed because his fans suck and lack taste" thing, it's a "artist grows, listeners change" things. Very natural and most artist aren't ready for that reality.
Love this interview! Always nice hearing from those “behind the scenes” . I agree with a lot of what Leeds says, but I totally disagree with the saying, “he’s done everything”. Prince was probably slowly tapering from the music gig but he was moving along to the book realm. He definitely had a talent for writing, and from reading his unfinished memoir (unfinished rough draft!), in my opinion, it was above average. So much better than any of his colleague’s tell all’s. Many musicians like Elton John and Lenny Kravitz wrote books that are selling well. Also Prince told his editor that he planned to write fiction and maybe teaching books. Prince definitely had other career options. How much was his book deal?
@@godzchild3445 yes! And Prince was planning on having a reality show at Paisley. I suspect that’s why he was reaching out to his former protégés. He was going to have the behind the scenes people on the show too, and Prince would make occasional cameos. Prince had lots of other creative plans.
@@sunnypie2 I never heard Prince say he was planning on having a reality show!?🤔 is this a fact or rumour!? However after he passed i heard that his siblings or Tyka were thinking of a reality show but it never happened not sure if it was even true.
@@B.Jewels yes, Prince was actually negotiating with Netflix. You can look it up ! Prince had so many plans. He was also preparing for Paisley to be a museum. He was a busy body.
@@sunnypie2 Yes i was aware about his plans to make PP to be a museum and i looked it up and it said Prince had discussions about a reality show, but he was not going to be in it though.
The interesting thing about prince is that on r&b radio, he was the king of the radio. From 80-96, his singles were in heavy rotation on our radio stations. After purple rain, his hands were on the pulse. His sound ruled black radio. Janet had a prince sound for example. The problem was his records. Black people do buy records but we need at least 4 good singles to buy
I love Alan Leeds many talents and candor. I could listen to him speak for hours.
This is a amazing and engaging interview absolutely amazing!!!
@@paulcoleman292 Agreed 👍
As a serious Prince fan, former record executive and tour manager, I really appreciate this show and interview with Alan Leeds. This was awesome!!! It is because of my love and respect for Prince and guys like Alan, that I pursued a career in the music business and I’m so thankful for all of the music, stories, and inspiration. Michael Dean’s Prince Podcast is the best, hands down !!!
record executive and tour manager ? really ? 🤣😂
Greatest Prince Podcast interview of all time. Alan Leeds is the 🐐!
The Leeds brothers never fail to give insightful interviews. I love it!
Yep prince seemed very fond of both of them despite being burned by other record executives and so forth
Alan Leeds never has a loss for words. He seems to be the guy that brings the tea/ and juice in truth.
facts
Nice. 🎵🤎💜💙👋💚💛😊
LOVE IT ❗
I love listening to Alan Leeds. He lets everything out and I love it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Alan Leeds had me feeling like a fly on the velvet wall.
Alan is the Truth...speaking knowledge..Mike Dean this is definitely one of your best interview.
2:15:20 - 2:17:09 was real talk. P needed a real friend like Alan to tell him that. Prince was a master at setting trends, not following them. That era in time was probably a time to take a break and strategize his next move.
Can Alan just make a podcast talking about life! Lol, i love hearing him speak bro. Alot of wisdom and experience.
Rainbow Children is 1 of the most underrated albums
Its in my Top 5
Depends on who you ask😉💜its a GREAT album. One of his best IMO especially when created, why and how.
Love it
I heard Alan Leeds's take on Prince on an old documentary on UA-cam. I watched this documentary 5-6 times, just because of how informative, eloquent and entertaining he is, when talking about Prince. Suddenly it dawned on me there had to be an interview with only his voice, and I was right. This does not disappoint, and I am so grateful! What an amazing interview!
This is by far the best interview on the this podcast. Alan Leeds is coming with the real. So much insight and credibility. Can it get any better? 🔥🔥
Alan really made me lol while it’s literally “snowing in April” as I listen to this. I love his insight and honesty about prince’s career decisions.
Is he snorting
Okay
This was therapeutic to listen to for me as most of your podcast! Him and Eric probably my favorite interviews so far!
This interview is so much more than what I was expecting. So many great stories and the parts about D'Angelo was gravy. Great job!
I loved loved loved listening to Alan Leeds. Such a prolific career in music and a great memory. He is the true G O A T.
THE BEST interview I've heard on this channel !!
What an amazing interview. Thanks guys.
Sorry, Alan, but the moment I heard Prince was doing a movie, I knew the result would be phenomenal.
At the time, Prince was generating a lot of buzz in the music industry and when I heard "When Doves Cry," I literally ran through the house screaming, "He's done it! He's arrived!"
When "Purple Rain" debuted in Chicago movie theaters, the lines wrapped around the block. People were turning out in droves. The record stores couldn't keep the album in stock. Prince-mania was sweeping the globe. It was an exciting time to be alive!
I agree with you. I was a teenager at the time when I read in one of those magazines that Prince was filming a movie. I had an inkling it was going to be great. But, that feeling became apparent once I heard like yourself "When Doves Cry". I was blown away from the production that was exuding through the radio. I was like OMG, he's pulling the stops on this joint. He was all in. Once I purchased the album ..I listened with assurance that this movie alone because of the soundtrack would rock the charts. The movie lived up to the expectation. The performance scenes right out the gate locked you in. Amazing. I viewed it twice that very day. It was one of his most daunting experiences in music for me at that point. It was like watching Michael Jackson's first time executing the Moonwalk or the backslide ,and the Thriller videos all in one with Hendrix reincarnated in front of your eyes. Purple Rain inundated even Prince. He even wanted to escape it his whole career after that. But , the impact was to ferocious. The residuals of that monster would follow him for the rest of his career. It defined his illustrious career. Rest In Power Prince.
@@garfieldharrison510 it was a once in a lifetime experience.
Remigio Giovanni Ricci - I think Alan was referring to his and the camp's thoughts about Prince doing his own movie during the 1999 tour, because it was during that time that Prince had Fargnoli and Cavallo try to get the green light from WB to make the film. This was a year before WDC was recorded - that song was done in 24 hrs in March of '84, long after the film was initially done, because Magnoli needed a song for the montage footage in the film. Prince said okay, and literally handed him the song the next day. So, in the Spring of '83 Prince was gaining popularity, but nowhere near the level he reached after PR.
Great interview. Always nice to hear positive stories on Prince from great people like Alan.
This was excellent. Listened to the entire interview. Thank you for capturing this history.
What a fascinating interview, such a pleasure to hear form Alan Leeds. I got all emotional when Alan talked about Prince toward the end of his life and possibly having some issues with his fingers/ hands and the fact that it may have prevented him to no longer be able to play music overtime. I had to wipe some tears. It's heartbreaking to hear that.😔😢💔
Music is something he lived and died for. 😔🙏🏾❤️
PRINCE did not have to play another guitar he had soooooo much other talent. PRINCE started a new chapter in his life.. nobody can sing dance forever. Prince was on another level.
Yes yes James Brown was the first to Say it Loud we 🖤🖤🖤 BLACK and we PROUD. PRINCE was on some JAMES BROWN shit in addition to.....Nah he was forced to leave us to soon.
Killer Interview, guys. Thanks for what you do. Really enjoyed this one.
What an amazing story teller is this guy! Thank you Mr Leeds for being so open and telling it like it went down, truly amazing to hear you sewing all these stories that we partially heard about here and there together so coherently. It was a pleasure to listen to you for 3+ hours :)
Excellent!
Podcast juice ... is the Truth!
man, you ask the best questions...great interview.
Thank you so much for creating all this legacy! We need to have this culture so much whether artists or fans. There ain't nothing like getting the education you need and that's not always coming from schools!
By far, the best interview you've done! Alan explains things so clearly and fits so perfectly with what we saw going on with Prince's career. When he got to the part of where Prince's blackness came from, he was SO on point. Prince was not nor was he ever a thug. I love Prince's music, and it is by far my favorite of all time, but hip-hop was not a genre that he understood. Therefore, as Alan says, that's why Prince's attempts at rap and such didn't reverberate the way his other stuff did. I feel the same way as Leeds in that I thought Prince was losing his way at that point. Prince was at his best when he was trying to be Prince, not trying to follow musical trends. In other words, Prince's work was at its peak when he was a leader, not a follower.
I personally really liked his take on hip hop, because hip hop is such an experimental genre and the mixture between jazz/funk and rapping was honestly one of the best things and should have been taken up by other artists as well.
He might have just wanted to try something new?🤷🏽♀️ and some really good songs came out of that era most definitely
The amazing thing of being a fan of His is new stories keep popping up..new music....New vocals...Demo songs...wow a never ending story...However God gave Him all these gifts and deserves all of the praises...in JESUS name Amen...🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️✅
Alan Leeds is the truth! He gave so much insight into the Business. Lots of jewels dropped!....... -Keith Clizark
Brilliant interview.
Great interview. I love Alan’s stories, perspective and straightforward discussion. Well done
Excellent interview!!!!
Another Fantastic interview. Thank you 👍
Thank you.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Another brilliant podcast. Mr Dean you kept this one in the pocket and unleashed at the right time 👊🏽. This is like an audio book. Eric😒and Alan🙄 are very different😏 Alan's viewpoints are askew which I love. Don't agree with everything but we have that choice. But the love was there. It's palpable. And when you talk in love then it's real like it or not. The waves of sadness with Prince being gone and the way he went keeps crashing to shore everysooften like the stages of grief keep revisiting. Must say though that with each interview, each new book, each new unreleased or remastered music we are getting to know more about this beautiful, complicated, stubborn, unrelenting genius that we had for a while and ALL those lives he touched and the impact he had + or - on them. We know and we don't know. Much more to come. Bring it on. Have you tried to get Miko Weaver or Morris Hayes? Morris may have a book soon and I hope it has everything. Thanks Podcast Juice 😎💜
What a fantastic interview!
Fruit salad for Gene Simmonds 😂
Still listening to this interview in 2024. Absolute Gem. 💯
Nice
The Time was Indeed tighter than Revolution. Great interview, by the way
Without a doubt! 7 of the baddest brothers from mpls who rehearsed twice as much as the revolution?!? Man, by the time vanity 6 set was done those boys were loose and ready to kick ass! Thank god Morris wasn't playing drums cause it wouldve been a done deal.
Let me just clarify something: I am not a Revolution fan (my fave era was 90s NPG), but I must admit they were very important in that phase. They were there during some of his strongest albums and I believe Wendy and Lisa helped him in the direction of his music (I believe he wrote the songs, but maybe they were showing him different artists and gave him suggestions and criticism, different from other band members). Coincidence or not, Prince music never sounded so ´beatlesque´ as in 84-86.
But, having said that, I almost dont have interest in Revolution live.
@Brittany Taylor yeah, they dont care about my opinion, and dont care about your either, so why bother commenting here if not to express an opinion?
The drumming difference alone is enough to feel more with Time. However it was all Prince creation hahaha
I do not assume I know the definitions of all the words people use. Was The Time was tighter than The Revolution? If Cool is the meaning, that is a matter of opinion. Morris made it clear that he was cool. Relationally, were they tighter? Yeass. They had been friends for a very long time. But there was a reason that both of those bands existed. The Time was who Prince was and he put his mark on them. The Time was where Prince came from and where Prince grew up. But The Revolution is where Prince was going. They were the vehicle. They were about Prince's quest to bring change to the landscape of music and society.
On the album 1999, The Revolution's name appeared in obscurity which may speak of Prince's apprehension about what he thought he was seeing and hoped to see even more of. Would The Revolution be and represent the revolution in his career that he was looking for? After 1999 hit and was his cross-over album, there was no longer a doubt in his mind about what was happening. He declared the revolution was happening and had happened by giving his band, The Revolution, equal billing with himself on the cover of Purple Rain. It was like planting a flag.
It takes a while for a band to become tight. But according to Dez Dickerson, The Revolution was already tight on the Triple Threat Tour. ". . . Prince had gotten to the point where he was just absolutely positively confident in who he was and what he was doing and the space that he owned on this record and on this tour. And we were in the same space as a band. We kind of could read each other's minds in a sense, to the point where we knew what was going to happen, we knew what he was going to do, he knew what we would follow him in, so everything on this tour - to me, this was the peak . . . . www.thecurrent.org/feature/2019/12/05/prince-the-story-of-1999-bonus-dez-dickerson-prince-guitarist-interview
I just listened to the other half of this amazing gem of an interview. It's interesting that he worked with KISS. The rock band KISS was the very first concert I ever saw. I was attracted to the ostentatious conspicuous part of it. I guess that's why later I enamoured guys like Prince who was fearless. It encouraged me to be myself in my own trajectory in the creative arts.
I saw The Voodoo tour too and wow, loved every moment of it. Really heard the Around the World, Parade and Sign o The Times influences in the purest way. That was a moment.
This was an excellent interview👏👌👍🙌& I really appreciate it💜
Finally caught up on this during my 12 hr Thanksgiving road trip and man, y'all did not disappoint! Alan Leeds brought ALL the smoke along w/that tea!😂
The D’Angelo stories tripped me out. Seriously, I wish that brother all the best.
Michael Dean, the question that jumped it all off was at 2:14:20--- Damn! I wasn't ready for any of it, even when Leeds finished his rant at 2:18:30. I just heard that Carmen Electra LP--it's trash(even by today's standards); unfortunately I can't unhear it, sorry.
Finally, I agree--P should've left rap/hip hop alone. He didn't need it. "You're Prince, dammit!“ Cats in the ’80s & ’90s were sampling James Brown tracks like crazy--just itching for P's stuff; he said “no“. I understood partly having to do certain artists’ and their vulgarity.. But c'mon--I think some artists definitely would've created wayyy more creative, timeless hip hop content off of Prince's samples! Sorry to say, it was Prince's arrogance to diss hip hop as if it was a talentless, short lived genre only THEN to switch up AND try to stake some claim by fusing live music + Tony M + The Game Boys. OK. (GETT OFF gets a pass bc that track is still dope.) However, this was not experimenting, this a combo of P chasing a genre + arrogance. Debate me, if you like. I still 💜 u, PRN!
As usual, shout out to Podcast Juice for this dope interview!! 💜 👏🏽💜👏🏽💜
Amazing interview. Madhouse 8 & 16 could fit on a single CD and should’ve been included in the box set.
Love the idea of the two Madhouse albums as one CD.
@@themightycelestial It makes too much sense
Props 2 u guys This is brilliant and the best one you have done yet. Leeds is spot on about the Revolution and while he’s giving his opinion and doesn’t sugar coat Prince it is brutally honest. Great interview guys - congrats ✊🏽
I respect Mr. Leeds. He's a real dude
Amazing...thank you and thanks Mr Leeds.
Totally agree with a lot of Alan's comments especially with Prince's 90's issues
You put your foot in that 1 Mr. Dean. I love the Leeds, Eric as well, they always have great Prince stories.
Best line ever "How are you a slave when you own the plantation!!🤣🤣" Just 1 nick pick would like to have known about his thoughts on Graffiti Bridge film and album. Other than that interview was 💯💯💯💜💜
A very interesting, educational, and informative interview with Bro. Alan Leeds about Prince and others. Much love and respect to Leeds, Prince, and all others. Leeds is a musical historian icon. 😊❤️
Brother this was the dopest interview I heard in a while brother I listened to it on the road last night & today & we are born the same year 1969 & I am listening to rainbow children today on vinyl my off for the election today 💯🎼☮️💟🇺🇸
Thank you. Be safe out in them streets.
@@mdean yea Mike 💯
Such an interesting interview !!! I loved it !!! ❤️🥀
Luv it..I think Alan would have been one of the few to get Prince some help if he would've still been around..Alan needs his own Tales From The Tour Bus..every time I watched Get On Up when James Brown wanted him to be the promoter..Chadwick did that..
Excellent interview, Michael Dean. I know you disagreed with my characterization of John Nelson, but your podcast is the only Prince podcast that I subscribe to. I really appreciate your hard work.
i'm a huge KISS and Prince fan and I can't believe Alan worked with both my favorites. I want to see a Netflix series based on his life. man that would be the greatest music series ever.
Great excellent interview! Respect ✊🏾 to Dean & the Crew.
Mr. Leeds is so wise and intuitive 💎
Very good interview 👍
Another ICON!!!
OMG!!
Thanks again MEN!!
Wonderful interview!!
Mr Leeds..he's that "DEAL"!!!
-Jameraq
What a great and interesting interview.... An amazing life career.... Merci beaucoup 😊
Great interview, love it
I love the interview, he was the right hand man at the time, we old skool Prince fam,
Thank you for this. Much love and respect. Prince made you very wealthy Alan Leeds. You seemingly earned. CALIFORNIA LOVE 😎🎭😇💫
I can’t believe I’m just getting around to this podcast. Very insightful....I understand a few things much better now because of Alan’s shared perspectives here. The one comment he claims to have made to Prince.....”How are you a slave when you own the plantation?” That comment is definitely from a “handler’s” perspective. There are too many music lovers who are still asleep to the wiles of the music industry.
SOLID interview!!
Master class!
Mr. Leeds is hilarious 😂 l love his honesty wow, what an interesting Life he has lived with the legend Prince.
congratulations!!!!
Bravo fellas and Amazing interview.
Alan said it perfectly. Parade was the album that made me a Prince freak. I was a dedicated fan after that, and bought every album for years, (even though I was aware of Prince when Controversy came out).
Dude, you're a Rocker! You mean to tell me that you love Prince??
@@tubucoco I’m also a gospel and jazz bassist, and play classical piano. From Dirty Mind to Parade (and Madhouse), Prince was a huge influence.
@@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony I hear ya, my man, do your thing, that's nice to hear. Yeah, I followed Prince early on too, but I'm all over the place musically, so I get it. I was blown away by what Michael Jackson was doing in the early 80s with his groundbreaking videos, the dancing and all, he completely changed the landscape of music. It's too bad he and Prince really never got along when they were young, you could see Mike wanted to befriend him, but Prince I guess because of the James Brown thing just didn't wanna give it a chance. But I'm right behind those guys age-wise, I believe both Prince and MJ are the same age, I think 63 and I'm 59. But looking at your pic you just struck me as a Rocker, but I listen to all types of music and am influenced by all types myself. I play guitar or got into it by how good Prince played, Prince easily could have gone the way of Rock himself, but he was influenced by funk as a kid, so, he went that direction. Sorry, man didn't mean to write this much, have a good one.
@@tubucocoNo worries. Musician’s that are influenced by Prince tend to be versatile. I, like you I’m sure, prefer to let my playing speak for itself. Have a good one. Stay safe.
Miko was no Joke and His lead guitar skills wasn't nothing to Flex wit
Right, I have talk to him he is very nice and awesome guitarist
Miko Weaver is one of the best! 🎸❤️
Miko's one of the few that hasn't spoken about Prince after his transition
Miko amazing. You are right. Prince really trusted him to do a lot of soloing, great emotional creative player, not just another player w great chops.
this interview really shines a light on the role of what a record label can do for the success of an artist. it's much more than just put a song on the internet and work the social medias and say we don't need labels anymore. there is a strategy behind the success of an artist and labels we're good at that
This is awesome! Thank you Mr. Dean!
Alan Leeds is a fascinating interview,I don't agree with everything he says, however he is aware and been woke on some things,great job, respect
Great interview
D'angelo part begins at 2:19:27
I'm just listening to this again. I love his analogy about the Purple Rain film. I remember seeing it on my Birthday that summer. Pinnacle ear for me. He talked about the performances. He was right. He won a new audience over with performance scenes. That's basically what it was, a one hour and change music video. Michael Jackson was probably blown away himself. Everyone talks about his acting. It wasn't about his novice acting. I was waiting for the performance scene. I never saw him up until that movie, see him really perform. Just some videos. You had an inkling. So I get that what Mr. Leeds conveyed about the performances in the movie. Great Podcast.
Much Gratitude
Love this! Love it when people who really knew what was up, keep it 100%! 👍🏽
Just noticed that the photo of Alan and Prince is inside an elevator. A lot of pics were taken at Paisley Park...I hope that this wasn't inside elevator that he died in...that would be too much irony. Loved hearing Mr. Leeds perspective...he is a legend in his own right.
For sure a total treasure to the game,
He has an insight like no other.. one thing I have to disagree with though is IMO.. Prince wasn't trying to be gangsta by having a mic/gun. I thought of the exact opposite, that he was trying to say the mic can by like a gun/weapon for peace, justice and the truth and that's they only weapon any one truly needs.. Like the pen the mic is mightier than the sword or gun.
Making Kiss salads? wow.. he really went to great lengths to keep them happy. I imagine he would even get them "Space Heaters" too... if they asked. ;)
Proof of a dedicated team player.
Happy to check back in with the Prince Podcast crew .
When he talked about Prince's transition. It was sad. It made me feel like he was ready to go.
This interview put a finger on what it was that got me lost on Prince for a bit in the 90's. It felt like he was trying to be someone he wasn't, whereas before and after it felt like he was being more genuine to his true self. He grabbed my attention again when I heard the song Gold and also when I saw the One Night Alone box set on display in the front of Tower Records. His eyes on that cover photo literally drew me in & I spent more money and bought the only box set I've ever owned. Even though the Love Symbol album sold and had some big hits with Most Beautiful & 7, it's not in my top of his. Same goes with the NPG, I love Mr. Hayes and obviously Sonny T & Michael Bland are musical beasts, but I wasn't feeling the whole Kirk, Tony M, Damon or the rest of it. Although I love what The NPG has been doing lately after he passed by trying to keep the music alive.
Alan Leeds talks D'Angelo 2:20
Nailed this one Guys 💫☮️💫
i had wondered why lovesexy was the only prince album that when you request a song from that album on alexa you have to listen to the whole album to hear one song
Prince's prank from 1987 is still fooling the most advanced 2020 technology :D
@@erictenbensel6590 Hmm, I don't think it was meant as a prank.
I bought the CD & still remember this very well in '88. We Prince fans rolled with it but I had a feeling others might not. There were also the Alphabet St. & I Wish You Heaven singles & their B-sides.
yeah you right it was one whole song, no cuts. i was pissed. i didnt like it anyway so i recorded it on cassette and only jammed Alphabet st
They Dropped the Ball on that JIll Jones album,Mazaratti, Family Tony LeMans,Taja Seville and Dale Bozzio
Jill Jones & The Family albums were very good & should’ve been promoted & pushed better.
@KrisX Agree 100%
@@xman333 I completely agree! I adore those albums.
Ingrid Chavez's debut is a classic too. ❤️
@@danavixen6274 True
Wonderful Thank You:)
DEARLY BELOVED ...
LOVE hearing the behind the scenes business.
Prince{r.i.p} lived & breathed MUZIQ. ☮️[+}
Ah, but sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Now I'm in my 50s, the more gutted I am to realise this is a frickin' thing! I'm currently suffering from golfer's elbow from something as simple as a few days of digging the garden back in summertime. So I suspect Prince, playing guitar and piano every day and night, probably had chronic tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, something like that... I noticed he'd always be wearing some kind of wristbands on stage in his latter years. And as a man who hardly slept and worked really hard all his life, it started to catch up on him. And I'm not surprised he was hitting the painkillers for it rather than stop and rest. Our idols are fragile and human like we are, and not magic, after all. Sniffle.
@@ElBeeEss And he had hip problems too, from dancing and jumping off risers doing the splits wearing high heels. I agree I'm sure he was taking meds for pain don't see what the big deal is.
This was good.
Excellent point about Prince chasing "blackness" in the 90s and being lost. He could've, and should've, been black as a multi-millionaire from Minneapolis, same way Obama was black, educated and cool. When Prince tried to be gangsta and hood he lost the plot.
Agreed
Form an image perspective, probably. But the music and performances were still still bomb imo. 91-95 was his funkiest live band by far.
I Agree also..
Prince was black. Why would he have to chase blackness? As an artist, he was free to explore many styles of music.
a black man doesnt have to chase blackness yall looking at it from yall eyes instead of a looking at it from an artist maybe he was bored and wanting to mess around with rap he doesnt become the first to start selling music off the internet being a dummy he knew he coulda made a hit song and just like that people would be kissing his example right after the love symbol album everybody said he fell off then what does he do comes with " The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" he did what he wanted to do and not what everybody thought he should do i love prince because he didnt try to repeat purple rain he tried new things that fed his soul
And Micheal Jackson had gained mad Momentum on the Bad Tour That prior year with the BAD tour starting in Japan September of 1987
Man that bad tour! Mike was on fire!! That 85 to 88 run for mj was crazy, the Bad movement with Moonwalker, MTV covered the Bad tour and premiered Smooth Criminal which was his most beautifully shot video. My god, hell of a time man!
@@niqulusviii987 that concert was ethereal, the night I saw the Bad tour, Prince was there,,,,,,,,,,,,
@@ubself holy hell! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@ 50:23 y'all know who y'all are! Living through Purple Rain but can't appreciate the music
I don't quite get that reaction. They appreciated the PR album and with ATWIAD being so different, I can't really blame them. The money they put down for the album & movie tickets financially liberated Prince for several years & I bet he was grateful for that.
This "you have to love everything & forever" rule you're stipulating here doesn't exist.
Well, it's more many people dismissed Prince when ATWIAD dropped due to expectation. That's a disrespect. You don't dismiss because you don't like the album.
@Tony looking at his statement from a place of context, it's not about "blame". It's separating the wheat from the tear, those that couldn't understand where prince was as an artist during Parade musically didn't move forward with him (film aside). Parade was very mature musically where as PR feels like a youthful spirited effort. Just like Stand vs Small Talk.
@@spinalcrackerbox I'm saying that at all, that's unnatural and impossible and unfair to hold anyone to that standard. I'm saying that there was a definite change in listeners when that album came out. Plus it was a sink or swim time for a lot of music/artist in that year. Out of the number of listeners that bought purple rain, it's safe to say that 30% less of them bought parade because it was pretty left of center to what he'd carved out for PR and some may have felt abandoned in a way. This isn't a "Parade failed because his fans suck and lack taste" thing, it's a "artist grows, listeners change" things. Very natural and most artist aren't ready for that reality.
Love this interview! Always nice hearing from those “behind the scenes” . I agree with a lot of what Leeds says, but I totally disagree with the saying, “he’s done everything”. Prince was probably slowly tapering from the music gig but he was moving along to the book realm. He definitely had a talent for writing, and from reading his unfinished memoir (unfinished rough draft!), in my opinion, it was above average. So much better than any of his colleague’s tell all’s. Many musicians like Elton John and Lenny Kravitz wrote books that are selling well. Also Prince told his editor that he planned to write fiction and maybe teaching books. Prince definitely had other career options. How much was his book deal?
I agree. Prince was nowhere near showing us all of who he was as an artist. Because his imagination & creativity in writing were limitless !
@@godzchild3445 yes! And Prince was planning on having a reality show at Paisley. I suspect that’s why he was reaching out to his former protégés. He was going to have the behind the scenes people on the show too, and Prince would make occasional cameos. Prince had lots of other creative plans.
@@sunnypie2 I never heard Prince say he was planning on having a reality show!?🤔 is this a fact or rumour!? However after he passed i heard that his siblings or Tyka were thinking of a reality show but it never happened not sure if it was even true.
@@B.Jewels yes, Prince was actually negotiating with Netflix. You can look it up ! Prince had so many plans. He was also preparing for Paisley to be a museum. He was a busy body.
@@sunnypie2 Yes i was aware about his plans to make PP to be a museum and i looked it up and it said Prince had discussions about a reality show, but he was not going to be in it though.
When are those tapes with 10.000 songs 🎵 ideas 💡 intros, guitar/piano music 🎸 licks, and many more FFUNK is coming out?? I WANT IT!!
That track mentioning D'Angelo and Questlove was Undisputed off Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.
Another headbuster. There were some moments I stopped it and backtracked. Did he just say that 😳 lol?
The interesting thing about prince is that on r&b radio, he was the king of the radio. From 80-96, his singles were in heavy rotation on our radio stations. After purple rain, his hands were on the pulse. His sound ruled black radio. Janet had a prince sound for example. The problem was his records. Black people do buy records but we need at least 4 good singles to buy