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Prince
Prince has a signed a new deal with Warner Bros Records after 18 years.
Prince and Warner Bros split was so acrimonious that the singer called himself a slave and changed his stage name to a symbol.
Now he says the new deal will see a release of his classic album Purple Rain in time for its 30th anniversary.
Prince will also regain ownership of master recordings made during his previous deal with Warner Bros.
“A brand-new studio album is on the way and both Warner Bros Records and Eye (sic) are quite pleased with the results of the negotiations and look forward to a fruitful working relationship,” Prince said in a statement.
The Purple Rain album was released in 1984, as was the cult film of the same name.
Prince and Warner Bros split was so acrimonious that the singer called himself a slave and changed his stage name to a symbol (photo AP)
The album will be given a “deluxe reissue” to coincide with its milestone. More of his classic albums are expected to get the same treatment.
“Everyone at Warner Bros Records is delighted to be working with Prince once again; he is one of the world’s biggest stars and a truly unique talent,” said Warner Bros Records chairman and CEO, Cameron Strang.
Prince signed to Warner Brothers Records in 1977 and they released the biggest albums of his career – among them Purple Rain, Sign O The Times and the soundtrack to Tim Burton’s Batman movie in 1989.
But by the time of 1991’s Diamonds and Pearls, the relationship had soured.
“He didn’t want to be told what to do any more,” Prince’s publicist Chris Poole told his biographer, Matt Thorne.
Specifically, Prince wanted to be able to release more music, more often. Furthermore, he felt he should own the original master tapes for his hit albums.
When Warner Bros disagreed, on both counts, Prince began appearing in public with the word “Slave” written across his face, and changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol – leading the press to christen him The Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
“People think I’m a crazy fool for writing <<slave>> on my face,” Prince told Rolling Stone magazine in 1996.
“But if I can’t do what I want to do, what am I? When you stop a man from dreaming, he becomes a slave.
“That’s where I was. I don’t own Prince’s music. If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you.”
Prince eventually fulfilled his contract by delivering Warner Bros a series of albums packed with off-cuts and lacklustre material – including Chaos and Disorder and Old Friends 4 Sale.
Although they contained an occasional gem – such as 1996’s playful Dinner With Delores – the records damaged his reputation with casual fans, who were confused and disinterested by what amounted to an employment dispute.
By the time Prince released his first post-Warners album – the pointedly-titled Emancipation.
Prince’s latest album, PlectrumElectrum, was recorded with his all-female band 3rdEyeGirl.
Prince has decided to drop a $22 million legal action against fans accused of posting bootleg footage of his concerts online.
Prince wanted $1 million each from 22 internet users but, according to TMZ which has obtained court documents, he has now decided not to pursue the case.
In a statement, Prince’s lawyer told TMZ that the illegal downloads had been removed.
Fans had reacted angrily to the news of the legal action.
Prince has decided to drop a $22 million legal action against fans accused of posting bootleg footage of his concerts online
Prince, 55, had intended to take legal action against 22 internet users who allegedly posted copies of his live performances on Facebook and on blogs.
“Because of recent pressure, the bootleggers have now taken down the illegal downloads and are no longer engaging in piracy,” his lawyer said.
“We recognize the fans craving for as much material as possible, but we’d prefer they get it from us directly than from third parties who are scalpers rather than real fans of our work,” the statement read.
Prince has often used legal battles to crack down on unauthorized distribution of his music.
Bootleg recordings are a bone of contention within Prince’s fan base, with many frustrated that the material has not been made commercially available.
Prince has taken a $22 million legal action against 22 people for posting copies of live performances online.
Court documents list the individuals said to have distributed bootleg recordings using Facebook and blogs.
One fan on a major Prince fan forum wrote: “Doing things like this is making him lose more and more fans.”
However, other fans rushed to defend the singer’s right to protect his vast back catalogue of material.
The action, filed earlier this month, reads: “The defendants in this case engage in massive infringement and bootlegging of Prince’s material.
Prince has taken a $22 million legal action against 22 people for posting copies of live performances online
“For example, in just one of the many takedown notices sent to Google with respect to Doe 2 (aka DaBang319), Prince identified 363 separate infringing links to file-sharing services, with each link often containing copies of bootlegged performances of multiple separate musical compositions.”
The documents go on to outline a range of blog sites and Facebook profiles where live renditions of classic Prince’s tracks such as Purple Rain and Little Red Corvette could be downloaded, or where links to such material could be found.
Fans on the long-established Prince.org forum suggested that although the action was surprising, it was not out of character for Prince. The 55-year-old has often used legal battles to crack down on unauthorized distribution of his music.
Prince has announced a number of concerts in London for next month.
The musician will play a number of “iconic venues in and around London”, after arriving on February 3, according to a statement.
Details will be announced in a press conference, set to be held in the flat of UK soul singer Lianne LaHavas.
The dates are in support of a new album, PlectrumElectrum, recorded with his all-female band, 3rdEyeGirl.
“Details about the event are very hush-hush at this time but as we find out more, you will be the 2nd ones to know,” said a press release.
Lianne LaHavas won a Mercury Prize nomination for her debut album Is Your Love Big Enough?.
Prince has announced a number of concerts in London for next month
“This 24-year-old singer-songwriter met Prince last year during LaHavas’ tour of America,” the press release explained.
“They jammed together at Prince’s Paisley Park Studio in Minneapolis and have kept in touch ever since.
“When Prince told Lianne he was coming to London to launch his new project, Ms LaHavas jokingly offered her flat as the location for the press conference.”
Prince, 55, has a habit of playing “hit and run” shows, often announced just days in advance.
Recent gigs have focused on his guitar-playing, backed by the powerhouse 3rdEyeGirl – three women he found online or through recommendations, and started playing with last January.
Guitarist Donna Grantis, drummer Hannah Ford and bassist Ida Neilsen have pushed harder tracks like Bambi and I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man to the front of his set-list.
Poppier moments, such as She’s Always In My Hair, have been retro-fitted with blazing guitar solos in the style of Jimi Hendrix and Santana.
However, it is not yet known what material will make the final cut of the PlectrumElectrum album.
Prince will make a guest appearance on the comedy New Girl at Fox’s post-Super Bowl party.
In an episode of New Girl that will air directly after the big game next month, Zooey Deschanel’s character is invited to a mansion party hosted by Prince – a party her friends are determined to crash.
Prince will make a guest appearance on the comedy New Girl at Fox’s post-Super Bowl party
Fox will also air an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that night after New Girl, with the show fresh off its Golden Globe award for best comedy.
The Super Bowl is traditionally the most-watched TV event of the year, so the time slots after it are considered prime real estate.
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Prince fans, who paid $150 to attend an early morning after show event in Connecticut on December 30, have been offered refunds after their hero failed to perform.
They hoped Prince had something special planned for them after three successive nights at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, which ended with performances from Doug E. Fresh and Janelle Monae on Sunday night, but it was not to be.
Prince disappointed Connecticut fans at aftershow party in Uncasville
Instead, Prince, who was not billed to perform at the Mohegan Sun resort bash, appeared briefly in the DJ’s mixing desk to prompt the playing of a new track and then his backing band The NPG took the stage shortly after 4 a.m. and played for just 20 minutes. Fans booed when it became clear the show was over.
In a new interview with V Magazine, legendary Prince hints that he does not have a cell phone.
When asked whether he owned a highly coveted iPhone, Prince scoffed.
“Are you serious? Hell, no,” Prince, 54, says, before mimicking a high-voiced woman.
“Where is my phone? Can you call my phone? Oh, I can’t find it.”
In fact Prince reveals that he hardly communicates with others much at all, just a select few in his team.
“This organization is different than most, in the sense that we don’t take directions from the outside world,” the singer explains.
“It’s like a galaxy. The sun is in the center giving off energy, and everything revolves around it … Nobody really talks to me. Nobody talks to me a lot.”
Prince says he mostly communicates directly with his devoted assistant Ramadan.
“I talk to her. She talks to you. She talks to Richard. And so on and so forth. If I trust her, then you can trust her,” the singer explains.
In his interview, featured in the August edition of V Magazine, Prince also slams lip-synching, telling the publication that he would not dare to cheat his fans like that.
In a new interview with V Magazine, legendary Prince hints that he does not have a cell phone
“People come to see us fifty times. Well, that’s not just going to see a concert – that’s some other mess going on,” he explains.
“This music changes you. These people are not being satisfied elsewhere by musicians, you feel what I’m saying?
“It’s no disrespect to anyone else, because we’re not checking for them. But we don’t lip synch. We ain’t got time for it. Ain’t no tape up there.”
And when it comes to his large catalog of hits, Prince says he does not have a favorite, referring to his songs as “babies”.
“Which one of your children do you like the best?” he says.
“Music comes from the same source. It’s all the same thing.”
In his photo shoot for the magazine, Prince, who has had a hit-making career spanning over three decades, sports a large Afro that compliments his retro look.
Prince is dressed like a 1970’s super-villain with a wild silver and tapestry-style jacket.
Adorning his eyes is his signature guy-liner along with a coating of makeup.
Prince, who’s produced 10 platinum albums and 30 Top 40 singles, has altered his look many times over the years – while always maintaining a gender neutral theme.
Prince’s androgynous look and “Minnesota sound” has been inspired by soul stars and rockers like James Brown, Little Richard, and Jimi Hendrix.
“You learn from the best,” Prince has said of both his musical and fashion influences.
V Magazine’s August issue hits newsstands on July 18th.
Prince has turned the tables on Capital Asset Protection, filing a lawsuit against the Calabasas-based company for allegedly taking more than $100,000 from his bank account.
CAP was collecting the money for a lawsuit Prince, 54, previously lost over a music production contract, according to TMZ.
According to the suit, Capital Asset Protection made two withdrawals from Prince’s bank accounts in June, to the tune of $105,949.14 and $10,278.94.
In documents filed on Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, lawyers for Prince say a judge vacated that original judgement in October, 2011, thereby erasing his debt to the production company.
Prince is suing to get back his $116,228.12 plus interest.
The singer had an estimated net worth of between $100 million and $250 million in 2011, according to USA Today.
He was listed in TIME Magazine’s 2010 annual ranking of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”.
Prince has been in a relationship with protégée Bria Valente since 2007.
[googlead tip=”patrat_mediu” aliniat=”stanga”]Warrant former lead-singer, Jani Lane was found dead Thursday in a Woodland Hills hotel, Los Angeles.
The lead singer of Warrant, the Hollywood metal rock band, Jani Lane, 47, was found dead in a Woodland Hills hotel on Thursday evening, according to the officer Sara Faden. She added there was no immediate information on the cause or circumstances of Jani Lane’s death.
With his long blond hair and tight leather outfits, Jani Lane embodied the excess of 1980s “hair metal” rock bands.
Warrant former lead-singer, Jani Lane was found dead Thursday in a Woodland Hills hotel, Los Angeles.
Jani Lane, born John Kennedy Oswald in Akron, Ohio on February 1, 1964, adopted his stage name in the early ’80s before he moved to LA and joining Warrant.
Jani Lane joined Warrant in 1984 and created the Warrant’s biggest hits “Heaven”, “Down Boys”, “Cherry Pie” and “Sometimes She Cries”,which displayed the yin and yang of teenage desire.
In the “Cherry Pie”, Warrant celebrates the woman describing her as a “cherry pie” and the result was a scream-along anthem tailor-made for testosterone-fueled pop metal heads and the women who loved them.
However, as a self-respecting metal band, Warrant and the bleached-blond Lane had a softer side, that could be seen on full display in the video for “Heaven,” a love ballad with the slow motion images of Jani Lane and the band enjoying their rock-star lives. We can see Lane showing off his tattoo, swinging around on a band member’s back, performing at massive outdoor concerts, dancing in the back of a limousine, signing ecstatic fans’ T-shirts and twirling in front of the mike stand, his perfectly coiffed hair shining like a lion’s mane.
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[googlead tip=”vertical_mic”] The albums Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989) and Cherry Pie (1990) went double platinum.
Warrant and Jani Lane rose on the Sunset Strip circuit in the mid 80’s alongside kindred spirits Guns N’ Roses, but, ironically, one of their early fans was funk singer Prince, who tried to sign with the band to his Paisley Park imprint. Warrant eventually signed with Columbia Records.
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Their wave of success lasted until early 90’s. Jani Lane had an on-and-off relationship with the band, leaving it in 1992 before returning and quitting again several times. At that time, grunge had replaced metal on the rock charts and the band’s hits stopped coming
[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”stanga”]Eventually he left the band to pursue a solo career. In 2005 Lane joined VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. He rejoined Warrant in 2008 only to leave it again months later, for good.
Jani Lane had a history of alcohol-related issues, and was arrested twice on DUI charges.
According to TMZ, Lane had a history of alcohol-related issues, and was arrested twice on DUI charges.
Celebrities reacted to former Warrant singer death on Twitter: Dane Cook said, “RIP Jani Lane your music was my youth.”
From glam rock contemporary Bret Michaels: “We’d like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Jani Lane regarding their loss,” wrote the Poison singer.
Jani Lane is survived by two daughters from two previous marriages.
