So sue me
This is a picture of Prince. Apparently, I am breaking the law by putting it on my website. Now, I don't even like Prince. Outside of perhaps Sign O'The Times and 1999 I think he's shit. Creepy and deluded and self-important and totally lacking in a quality filter. This is not a Prince fansite. I'm just printing his picture to draw attention to his lastest act of idiocy, which is to have his lawyers send cease and desist orders to three of his most loyal fansites, telling them they risk being taken to court if the don't take down all images of Prince, including his album sleeves and lyrics and anything linked to his freakish face, from their sites. The legal letter asked the fansites to provide "substantive details of the means by which you propose to compensate our clients [Paisley Park Entertainment Group, NPG Records and AEG] for damages." That's damages. We are talking about precisely the sort of website that helps perpetuate Prince's stock, encouraging interest in him and his records. We are also talking about an artist whose latest album was given away for free with the Mail On Sunday. If I was a fan of Prince, I'd be tearing up my membership card, wouldn't you?
A coalition of fans, Prince Fans United, representing housequake.com, princefans.com and prince.org, has been formed by the website organisers to fight back. (Apparenlty the legal ruling went as far as calling for the removal of pictures taken by fans of their Prince tattoos. We must assume he'll be going after these people personally next, and asking them to remove their skin, or propose to compensate Paisley Park Entertainment Group.)
Of course, it's possible that Prince has nothing to do with all this, but he must have the power to stop it. It's also possible that he's gone a bit mental in the nut, in which case we should be sympathetic. I stole the above picture from his official website, which, unless I'm very much mistaken, has been rebranded to help sell Prince perfume, called 3121. It smells of money, with a hint of self-delusion and moustache.
Come on then, Prince's lawyers. I'm ready for you.*
*In that, if they tell me to, I'll take down the whole blog entry, including the link to his stinking perfume advert.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 4:34 PM
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33 Comments:
I love Prince. Up to a point.
I saw him a the O2 arena and he was totally amazing. I only saw him the once, but would've gone again if I could've got tickets, my gf saw him 3 times and I know one good friend who saw him 15 times during his residency. And he isn't even that obsessive a fan!
I think his output in the 80's was outstanding. I rate most of his work from that period, including a lot of his hard to find stuff like The Black Album and the Vanity 6 project. And of course all the songs he wrote for other artists. Prolific is not the word.
He's obviously gone off the boil and you can probably count the number of good songs he's done since 1994 on one hand. And I agree that he has lost any quality control that he once had.
He's complained about being a slave to record companies and has forged new ways f distributing his work for a few years now, culminating in the Daily Mail and O2 giveaways - 8 copies of his last record in our house! (never listened to it though - it's shit!)
So I find this whole debacle about photos huegly disappointing and hypocritical. At the live shows there wer stories of people being ejected because they were videophoning.
And the fact that it's fansites makes it even more ridiculous. I can just about understand MTV demading that Youtube takes footage of it's programmes down. But Prince demanding compensation from fansites because they've put up a picture of the Purple Rain sleeve?!
I don't know what Jehovah would make of it!
That was very long and a bit scattershot. Sorry Andrew! Basically I agree with you about everything except the bit about him being shit.
That's better
I think it's called biting the hand that feeds.
I liked him in his paisley period the best, then it all went sour when it became clear what a berk he was.
A friend of mine who did his recently PR when he launched his 21 nights tour told me that when they told him they were doing the press launch at a London venue called The Hospital, which to those that may know is a club that was once, many, many moons ago an actual hospital, he said he couldn't do it because being a Jehovah's Witness forbade it. She had to then explain the history of the place and that it was okay now. And all this on the morning of the actual launch.
So not only a miniature twat but a prima donna too boot. As if we'd expect anything less.
Good one Andrew, you nearly had me there, until the bit about the tattoos. Bit early for April 1st 2008 though.
I think you're on safe, abuse-free ground here, with every chance of a (non-fawning) consensus that he's a prick.
Interesting moment to do it, though. You'd have thought the time for rampant megalomania and control-freakery would be when you were on the top of your game, not when you're giving your "art" away alongside DVDs of Heartbeat or Last of the Summer Wine.
Always thought he was a bit overated-quality filter and all that.I thought the whole TAFKAP made him look ridiculous.This latest action is a bit bizarrely cruel.
What a tosser. You tell it like it is Andrew.
It's strange, I know people whose 'alternative' (for want of a better word) musical tastes overlap with mine quite considerably and they love him.
Me I just don't get it... in that I think it's mostly a squeaky-voiced load if old shite.
I know I'm missing the point (as usual) but I just admire the fact that a man with your muso backround has had the guts to say that Prince is shit.
He probably isn't shit really but it made me laugh.
Never really "got" Prince.
I reckon he's put all his dosh in sub-prime investments and is needing to refinance pdq before he goes the way of Jacko. Odd way to go about it though. What next? Madonna sues the Catholic church for breach of crucifix copyright?
You tell him, Andrew!
I couldn't agree more with your critical evaluation of Prince. He was good for about 5 minutes in the 80s and it's been diminishing returns ever since.
John
I think Prince is great (do you really prefer Girls Aloud?!) but agree that his behaviour here is terrible. Good to see you back blogging Andrew.
I feel a bit bad for saying he's shit. I think I'll open my show with Prince tonight. No, really, I think I will.
If I had the time and energy I would list all the very splendid songs Prince has recorded down the years, as proof of his "not-shitness"
There's also the possibility that this nonsense is not his work but that of some over zealous legal type at his management company. I know of a website that was threatened with legal action for using the phrase "let's get ready to rumble!"
Apparently it's the legally copyrighted property of th WWF/WWE.
And as to the "giveaway" stunt, he earned more from that (approx. £ 200,000) than he would have done in royalties if it had been released via the more traditional routes.
Not every issue is black or white.
Hey, Bill, it's easy to see why Prince would want his new album distributed in the hundreds of thousands by a popular newspaper (plus the attendant publicity) - I just think it's a shame when a major artist is reduced to having his new record "released" and on the same day copies of it would literally have been binned by Mail readers who couldn't give a monkey's about him. That strikes me as culturally sad, whatever you think of his music.
I fear that the whole Prince debacle (whether directly orchestrated by the little one himself or not) reflects how music/musicians tends to disappear up their own proverbial when they reaches overwhelming commercial levels.
I contrast this with bands that have scraped along for years still making music for its own worth.
Last week, for example, I learned through a friend of the band that the Trashcan Sinatra's last album (after years of post bankruptcy doldrums) has shifted a healthy number of units in the states. Due to unscrupulous state side distributors, however, they are unlikely to see a penny from it. Undeterred they're off to the states this month to begin on the follow up.
The Trahcans are the ultimate example of the power of the fan, however, as their lean years were made slightly fatter by a fan run website that sold live/outtake bootleg CDs and GAVE THE MONEY MADE BACK TO THE BAND.
Prince crosses the divide between genuine fan and downloading parasite at his peril!
ps Great to hear the Ian Hunter live stuff on the show tonight.
I also admire your bravery in saying you think a seminal artist is 'shit'. I think The Jam are shit, and everything Paul Weller's ever touched. We're all allowed to think a handful of supposedly great artists are poo, it's natural and fun.
You are wrong though, let's get that straight. Loads of his other stuff you didn't mention is good. Alphabet Street is a work of genius.
Other than that - wholeheartedly agree - the man Prince been an idiot for over a decade.
Interesting though, how many music magazines are around when all music discussion boils down to is this:
I like this band.
I don't.
You are wrong.
Other than that it's all one- upmanship on who can spot the influences.
You've backtracked and now my comment is redundant.
Curses!
In terms of whether Prince himself is behind this or not - the NME are reporting that he has released a song dealing with this issue (I'm amazed he hasn't put out a triple album about it!). It's called "PFUnk" and the lyrics read "I love y'all but don't you ever mess with me no more". If I was one of his fans, I would be refusing to buy his next album!
Oh right.
I used to have great fun in the late 90s when I ran a photo library that specialised in popstars. Any band trying to make it at that time would beg our photographers to shoot their concerts/appearances/portraits - no restrictions, no contracts, no agreements.
Then, of course, when they arrived in the big time all hell would break loose. Suddenly their image and 'brand' were tightly controlled; you couldn't wave a camera at them without signing a form surrendering your copyright and you couldn't sell a single image to any publication that wasn't officially sanctioned by their management.
Unless, of course, you had a filing cabinet full of pictures taken before these restrictions came in. We took great joy in happily supplying these pictures to any 'unofficial' publication or poster company that came calling.
The Spice Girls were the worst/best. I used to get a letter a week from the nice people at Bartle Bogle Hegarty informing me that the girls owned the rights to all images ever taken of them and threatening us with fire and brimstone if we continued to sell them.
This was total bollocks of course and we responded with the cunning legal argument of ignoring them completely. Nothing ever happened. And I bet it won't in the Prince case either if they keep their nerve.
I have some sympathy with musicians trying to protect the intellectual property of their music; but controlling their image is evidence of spectacular self-importance.
And doing so at the expense of your own fans...well, words fail me (not before time).
See also satirical photoshopping site b3ta which in response to this has been running an image challenge, with people creatively re-imagining Prince in all kinds of situations.
Needless to say the ridiculously titled "Web Sherrifs" are attempting to stop this:
http://www.b3ta.com/board/7783272
Oh, and incidentally the "let's get ready to rumble" phrase is a jelously guarded trademark of boxing announcer Michael Buffer who has an army of lawyers who prevent any "unauthorised" use of the phrase.
Hence the old PJ and Duncan hit was called "Let's Get Ready To Rhumble" to avoid him suing. Trufax.
Andrew, er, in fairness I think you should amend your original comment to "Mostly shit". This would be an accurate reflection of someone who has produced about four reasonable songs (IMHO) and spend the rest of his time being a total dickhead.
AnonoNick
How can one still remain a fan of a nitwit like that? If I was running one of the sites in question, I'd shut it immediately and replace it with a sign reading 'Thanks for nothing, you ungrateful little twit. PS Thanks for all the good stuff like I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (but not the rambling 12" mix)
Andrew, I love the fact that you stopped blogging because of random abuse and then come back with a very contentious, sparky piece bound to ruffle feathers - good to have you back!
Debs
(PS: Just for the record, I can take or leave Prince.)
I think I’m pretty much shitting on the fence with regard to Prince’s shitness. Solely because of Sign O’ the Times, although even that is overrated. But if he is shit (don’t think I’ve ever written something with so much shit in it) it did get me thinking where that would place the majority of newish artists this side of the Atlantic?
If Prince is shit, just how shit (sorry) does that make: The Kooks; Hard-Fi; Mika; Kate Nash; The Feeling; The Editors; The Shit Detectives; Bens Shit Brother; The View; Razorshite; Blunt... the list is endless. It’s mainly anything on the daytime Radio 2 playlist really.
I don't particularly like Prince either. There has been the odd song I like, but most of his recent stuff isn't good.
I don't particularly care too much about Prince either because he comes across as a bit of an idiot.
I don't understand why we hear his rubbish music on the radio. Is it just because it is his song that they play it? Why don't they assess whether it is any good first and then not play it. Just like they wouldn't play it if it was by an unknown artist.
Saying that it may not be directly Prince who has brought this new rule in is irrelevant. If it was me and my management company wanted to do something like this, I wouldn't allow it.
Someone once referred to Prince as a 'dwarf dipped in pubic hair, the kind of guy you'd flick around in bars…’
I didn’t have an opinion on him until lately as his music isn’t to my taste, but the fact that he distributed his music free via the Daily effing Mail puts him firmly in the ‘berk’ category.
Wow, such latent hostility towards the little Purple geezer. I am somewhat baffled by the claim that it is 'bold' to say Prince is 'shit'. Where have you been? To say anything is 'shit' these days ranks alongside saying X is a bit rubbish. Look at the Word site (is James Blunt shit?) or that rubbish book, Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Just Shit? (clue: yes it is just you).
And proclaiming that he hasn't produced a decent record since Diamonds and Pearls doesn't count as incisive commentary either: even Prince hardcore fans debate if any of his albums since then are any good.
I was at 2 of the shows in the summer. Whatever you think of him, his live show is extraordinary. The band are disciplined and well drilled, so that Prince can pick and choose not only his back catalogue, which is pretty good actually, but any number of funk, soul, rock and pop tunes. At the drop of a hat they can segue into a James Brown tune, a Beatles song (Come Together), Stones, Joni Mitchell, Sly Stone etc. As a result, most of the 21 shows were quite different, not to mention the aftershows. I haven't seen anybody fill an arena show so confidently and so thrillingly. So I was delighted to see he can still cut it live, and show a level of musicianship beyond most of his contemporaries.
So I am as disillusioned as anyone else about this stupid move of his. One thing for sure, it can't be to protect his merchandising, because for an act of his stature, the merchandising on sale was some of the tackiest, second-rate tat I have ever seen. And since he has gone without a deal, the internet fanbase has been his biggest cheerleader and support base. So kicking them in the teeth seems remarkable idiotic, given that he was one of the first to try using it as an outlet for his music. And the timing could hardly be worse, just as he regained a lot of his fanbase and his reputation as a killer live performer.
Prince has always been contrary and perverse, which was part of the attraction. Although in this case, if you read his fan sites, he has managed to alienate even them. I can't help thinking it is some sort of unholy alliance between him and AEG, but he would do well to read his own fans' reactions.
But those of you who never liked him anyway seem to be just using it as an excuse to demonstrate your prejudices, in a 'told you so' kind of way.
AC doesn’t need me to defend him and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if came on here and agreed with you that saying Prince was shit wasn’t actually ‘brave’ in the scheme of things. In fact he already did really. However, as one of those who accused him of having ‘guts’ by saying it I will respond.
Okay AC isn’t brave for saying Prince is shit. In the grand scheme of brave things if you compare saying Prince is shit to, let’s say, going over the top at the battle of The Somme, it doesn’t even register. So I’m happy to retract.
But it still made me laugh. Coming from someone who normally seems to be at pains to explain his position on things at great length it was unusually unreasonable. Great let’s have more of that.
Let's not dissect this too much but a) I didn't actually say he was shit - I said, "I think he's shit," which, when your job as a critic is to justify every opinion is great fun to write, and b) I came at this blog entry from a position of dismay, having read about his legal action upon people who categorically don't think he's shit, which I why I decided to make the distinction. Oh, and c) I wasn't planning on blogging this week, due to my sensitive underbelly, but I suddenly developed a head of steam. It felt good.
Go on, you can say The Fall are shit. As long as you say you think The Fall are shit. There's no arguing with that. And I still do think Prince is shit. There's no arguing with that, either.
QED. Case Closed. Nil Desperandum. good night.
Argh!
Don't bring The Fall into this or, so help me god, I'll get my indie snob head on again...
It was bad enough when Paul Morley was calling anyone who appreciates melody "rockist", and anyone who likes Joy Division and Gang of Four 'smart'. It is all subjective isn't it? I happen to think Radio 2 is the broadest of the mainstream radio stations (with the possible exception of Smooth which actually plays some classics not readily heard on other stations). Of course 6music is the broadest of them all, but it's on DAB.
I've never got the New York Dolls, I find Joy Division boring, only heard cheeseburger and damaged good from gang of four and felt they went nowhere (but it's clear they're the blueprint for modern indie), but think the NWOBHM bands deserve more credit despite being unpopular in the music media and according to these Hall of Fame shows that keep running.
Going back to Prince, I think he is very hit and miss as a composer. With Wendy and Lisa were there, and he was dating Susannah (wendy's sister) he was at his creative and professional peak. He's clearly a talented musician, but recent years have seen him phoning it in I think. Then again, would you be bothered to try when the world loves that over-rated musical magpie Kanye West!!
machine levine
You seem a bit sensitive about your sensitive underbelly AC.
I'm over-sensitive too but only because everybody hates me... oh no that's the punchline to the 'I'm paranoid' joke isn't it?
ha ha ha...i forgot how funny you was reading nme all those years ago, and thanks for reminding me what a dick prince has always been too!
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