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Prince Opens 'Musicology' Tour in L.A.

By TIM MOLLOY, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES, CA - March 30. 2004 - Every school should be this much fun. 

Prince is billing his "Musicology" tour as a way to educate audiences accustomed to computer-generated hits about the joys of live music. He made good on that promise Monday at the tour's opener at Staples Center. But who was he kidding? This show is really about the history of Prince, especially given his pledge that this tour will be the last time he plays his hits live. 

As he started the night with the title track of the upcoming album "Musicology," followed in quick succession by "Let's Go Crazy," "I Would Die 4 U" and "When Doves Cry," audience members had to wonder how long he could keep up the momentum — until they realized he could go all night. 

He's Prince: he has a 25-year back catalogue of hits. And he blasted through it Monday with more panache, whimsy and skill than anyone in music today. He knew it, too. The 45-year-old recent addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took playful digs at today's teen-pop creations and his aging contemporaries alike. "We do not believe in lip-syncing," he yelled during "Controversy." Later, he called out, "I ain't never had my nose done!" 

Prince has spent much of the last decade in a sort of self-imposed exile from the top of the charts, preferring to focus on jazz- and funk-infused compositions with his formidable backing band, the New Power Generation. But on Monday, he grabbed as much well-deserved glory as possible, doing anything it took to keep the audience eating out of his hand through old and new songs alike. 

His in-the-round style speech and constant interplay with the audience gave him and the band room to shine, with saxophonist Candy Dulfer playing comedic foil to his flirtations, the way Wendy and Lisa did in The Revolution. 

Prince pulled out several surprises from his catalogue, but may have dug too deep at times. When he went into "I Feel For You," a song he wrote that was a hit for Chaka Khan in 1984, he teasingly chided audience members who didn't initially recognize it. "Y'all don't know my music!" he cried. 

He also showed he could make do without gimmicks, taking the stage at one point with only an acoustic guitar to prove his mettle as a bluesman — albeit, a charmingly dirty-minded one. That was followed by a moving a solo version of "Little Red Corvette." 

At one point during the two-and-a-half-hour show, Prince brought several fans on stage and released so much confetti it felt like being trapped in a snow globe. 

Fans at the solidly packed Stapes Center saw no opening act. Instead, the show kicked off with a video featuring Alicia Keys speech inducting Prince into the rock Hall of Fame. As she spoke, images appeared chronicling his musical career, his fights with his record company and his constantly evolving facial hair. 

Prince also referred frequently to the name he once changed into an unpronounceable symbol, asking the audience again and again, "What's my name?" 

It's rare that a singer of Prince's artistry and career span is still alive to walk an audience through his musical career. The opportunity makes this show a must-see for any fan of pop music — a lesson not to be missed. 

Never one to underdo things, Prince made the first official night of the tour a multimedia celebration of his 25 years in pop music. A big-screen simulcast of the show was presented in digital sound at several New York movie theaters, with audience members receiving free copies of the album "Musicology," which won't be in stores until April 20. Ticket-holders at every stop of the tour will also get a copy of the disc. 

The opening of the tour also corresponded with the start of Prince's new "Musicology Download Store" on his Web site - www.npgmusicclub.com. The program allows fans to download many of his songs for 99 cents each (and 77 cents for NPG Music Club members). 

Prince added several dates to the tour after a round of initial sellouts; he's currently scheduled for 48 dates nationwide through the end of August.

PRINCE “MUSICOLOGY” TOUR HITS UNITED STATES - 
“SCHOOL’S IN”

PRINCE CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF “PURPLE RAIN” 
WITH NEW CD “MUSICOLOGY” AND CONCERT TOUR 
PERFORMING SOME OF HIS MOST WELL KNOWN HITS FOR THE LAST TIME

Los Angeles, CA—February 24, 2004---For the first time in six years, pop star Prince and the New Power Generation band are embarking on a coast-to-coast concert tour of the United States. These concerts will feature Prince performing some of his most well known hits live for the last time. 

The tour comes on the heels of Prince’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his heart-stopping Grammy opening performance with multiple-award-winner Beyonce. The launch of the tour also coincides with the release of Prince’s new CD, “Musicology.” 

Prince has sold more than 100 million records and is regarded by fans and critics alike as a monumental force and influence in popular culture. During the '80s, Prince emerged as one of the most singular talents in the history of music, releasing a series of groundbreaking albums that both defined and captured the spirit of the times. With each successive album, Prince has shown remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity, constantly experimenting with different sounds, topics and genres. Few artists have created a body of work as rich and varied. 

The tour launches in Los Angeles on March 29th and continues throughout the spring and summer, hitting more than 38 cities. The concert will be set up in the round, with a center stage, allowing for many more great seats in each venue. Tickets and information are available on Prince’s web site at www.npgmc.com and Ticketmaster and Tickets.com. 

Each show will be one long dance party with Prince supplying the music! The production lives within the players themselves...no gimmicks, no pre-recorded music and no prisoners taken! Performing with Prince are New Power Generation band members John Blackwell (drums), Greg Boyer (trombone), Candy Dulfer (saxophone), Chance Howard (keyboards), Renato Neto (piano and synthesizers), Maceo Parker (saxophone), RAD. (vocals and keyboards), and Rhonda Smith (bass). 

The concert itinerary with additional dates possibly added. 

March 27 Reno, NV - Lawlor Events Center
March 29 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
March 30 Bakersfield, CA - Centennial Gardens
March 31 Phoenix, AZ - Glendale Arena
April 2 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
April 6 Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center
April 7 Omaha, NB - Qwest Center
April 8 Ames, IA - Hilton Coliseum
April 10 Champaign, IL - Assembly Hall
April 12 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
April 13 Cincinnati, OH - US Bank Arena
April 14 Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
April 16 Columbus, OH - Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center
April 17 Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena
April 18 University Park, PA - Bryce Jordan Center
April 21 Columbia, SC - Colonial Center
April 22 Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
April 23 Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
April 25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Office Depot Center
April 26 Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
April 27 Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena
April 29 Birmingham, AL - BJCC Arena
April 30 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
May 1 Biloxi, MI - Mississippi Coast Coliseum
May 4 Kansas City, MO - Kemper Arena
May 5 St. Louis, MO - Savvis Center
May 6 Nashville, TN - Gaylord Entertainment Center
May 24 Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead Pond
May 26 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
May 28 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
May 29 Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
May 30 Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
June 1 San Jose, CA - HP Pavillion at San Jose
June 2 San Jose, CA - HP Pavillion at San Jose
June 3 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
June 5 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
June 9 San Antonio, TX - SBC Center
June 11 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
June 12 Bossier City, LA - CenturyTel Center
June 14 Memphis, TN - The Pyramid
June 16 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Center
June 17 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Center
June 18 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Center
June 20 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
June 21 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
June 24 Milwaukee, WI - Marcus Amphitheater
June 25 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
June 26 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena - RESCHEDULED Aug 3
June 28 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena - RESCHEDULED July 22
June 29 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena - RESCHEDULED July 23
June 30 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena - RESCHEDULED July 24
July 12 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
July 13 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
July 14 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
July 16 East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
July 17 Hartford, CT - Hartford Civic Center
July 18 East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
July 20 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
July 22 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
July 23 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
July 24 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
July 27 Toronto, ONT - Air Canada Centre
July 28 Toronto, ONT - Air Canada Centre
July 30 Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
July 31 Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
August 1 Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
August 3 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
August 6 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
August 7 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
August 9 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
August 10 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
August 12 Washington, D.C. - MCI Center
August 13 Washington, D.C. - MCI Center
August 14 Washington, D.C. - MCI Center
August 17 Boston, MA - Fleet Center
August 18 Boston, MA - Fleet Center
August 19 Boston, MA - Fleet Center
August 22 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
August 23 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
August 24 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
August 27 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
August 28 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
August 30 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
August 31 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
September 1 Portland, OR - Rose Garden
September 3 Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
September 4 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Arena
September 5 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
September 7 Salt Lake City, UH - Usana Amphitheater
September 9 Oakland, CA - Oakland Coliseum
September 10 San Jose, CA - HP Pavillion at San Jose
September 11 San Jose, CA - HP Pavillion at San Jose

In addition, all concert goers will receive the new "Musicology" CD free!

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