3rd Eye Art

I was more than a little excited to get a package in the mail last week.  It was the first ever package I had received from the UK but that was not why I was excited.  It was a package from Spencer Derry who is a wonderfully talented artist from the UK.  Now for a brief backstory, Spencer was also known online for a while as 3rdEyeBoy and his art was used on many occasions by Prince and 3rdEyeGirl. Needless to say, I was excited to find that Spencer was selling/auctioning some of the fabulous artwork that he had designed for Prince but that may have not been used or chosen.  I actually participated in a couple of auctions and managed to win one and lose one but the one that I did win was a drawing of 3rdEyeGirl. That brings us to the package I received in the mail. So I carefully opened the package and removed the precious artwork inside.  As I looked at it, all I could think was that it was even more amazing in person than it appeared in the pictures. I happily shared my new prize with my purple family on Twitter and Instagram so I thought I should share it here as well.  So without further ado, here it is:

Amazing, isn't it? I think so! I have three more of his artworks being shipped as I write this and they should be here in a few days.  Whenever I get them, I will share them here also. If you are interested in any of Spencer's art, you can start by checking here. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.  

I just can’t believe all the things people say

I just can’t believe all the things people say

Controversy

So who was the real Prince? That's the question it seems that Billy Jack Bitch keeps asking every day on the latest edition of the Menda City News. Go to the market and all you see is trash mags promising you a look inside the secret world of Prince.  But what do they know? Not a damn thing! Their articles are filled with sensational suppositions and half-thought out conspiracy theories. He was a pill-popping drug addict! He was dying of cancer! He was dying of AIDS! He was murdered because he fought for his master tapes! He was a funkified alien who was recalled to the Mothership by Dr. Funkenstein! All these reasons for his death have been reported by the so-called media since that fateful day in April.  Well, maybe not the Dr. Funkenstein recall to the Mothership.  I just threw that in there but it's just as plausible as any of the mind-numbing pabulum spewed by these sound-bite social-media-swilling journalists.  So I repeat my initial question, who was the real Prince?

How did I get in this predicament?
How did I get in this jam?
The person that they accuse me of being of
That's not the one I really am

Prince was many things to all of us.  He was not just a musician, producer, writer, composer, performer and singer.  He was the Partyman.  He was Camille, Joey Coco, Alexander Nevermind and Spooky Electric.  He was Jamie Starr! He was funk, rock, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues and pop! He was a showman like none of us had ever seen.  You could not go to a Prince show and walk away feeling cheated.  No. You walked away exhausted, exhilarated, ecstatic, and overwhelmed.  You walked away knowing that you just witnessed the greatest show you had ever seen (at least until your next Prince show). When you went to a Prince show, you saw the New Power Generation come alive.  You became part of the Rainbow Children. You were a member of the Purple Army. There were no blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians or any other ethnicities at a Prince concert.  There was just the human race colored purple and we came together for at least one night to party like it was 1999!!!! I have met so many wonderful people over the years through the Prince community on line and at concerts all because of our love for Prince.  But where do we go from here?

Surrender all ye sad of heart

Today hold back no tears

The past is gone when we can

Start conquering our fears

I know some of you are still having a hard time accepting that Prince is gone and I understand that.  We are all sort of lost now.  We are all like the Strays of the World and it's okay to let the tears flow but eventually we must move on to the next chapter of our lives. That doesn't mean we forget Prince.  How could anyone forget him? It just means that we take him forward with us.  The memories he gave us.  The music, oh man, the music! There is so much music and since his death, I have opened the minds of several new fans to musical genius that was Prince.  No....the musical genius that IS Prince! For as long as he lives in our hearts and minds, he is still alive! He merely transformed! He transcended to a higher plane of existence!

Using a special code he accessed his mind

In search of the reason why

In passion and fashion he began travelin’ time

3rd eye, 3rd eye, 3rd eye

On Twitter, I have seen many people keep saying that they hope that this is all just a dream. Maybe it all is just a dream.  Maybe Prince was just a dream.  I mean, how could one man be that talented and that prolific and not be a dream.  But, I know it's not a dream. That's why I am thankful I have these great friends and purple family to lean on to help me get through this. By talking to them, I am able to sort through all the crazy stories and remember that those wild accusations are not who the real Prince was! Quite simply he was.......PRINCE!!!!

Hollyrock ain’t all it seems

Don’t get too serious,

it’s just a dream

Don’t forget your friends,

they’re all you’ve got

Listen to the story of a man

I am not

Sorry for rambling but I needed to say some of this to get it off my chest! Thanks for listening.... uh ...reading. 

 

Another Purple Gift?

Prince & 3rdEyeGirl just delivered another little treat for all the good little purple boys & girls over on Soundcloud.  Back on May 2nd, Paisley Park was opened to the masses for a Dance Rally 4 Peace.  

According to the Prince Vault, after a DJ set from DJ Dudley D, Prince & 3EG took the stage and performed the following set list:

• Chaos and Disorder
• Dreamer
• Crimson and Clover
• Guitar
• Plectrumelectrum
• The Whole of the Moon

Now, fresh off the soundboard live stream of part of the Rally 4 Peace concert in Baltimore, we have been given an edited soundboard of the Paisley Park performance from May 2nd.  I say edited since Crimson and Clover is left off the recording.  But even without C&C, we still have 41 minutes of Prince & 3EG jamming out.  This performance of Dreamer is out of this world and, for me at least, it brings back memories of People Without (from Small Club) and The War.  So head over here and listen (or grab) this gem while you can.  After all, we all know that Prince giveth and he taketh away.

!!!!!!!!!CrANK iT: https://t.co/YMqOFN4gWy !!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YVOnsAWHMt

— Prince3EG (@Prince3EG) May 13, 2015

So do as they say and go crank it here!!!!!!! 

Rally 4 Peace

It all went down Sunday night when Prince with special guest 3rdEyeGirl lead the Rally 4 Peace and gave the fans of Baltimore a night they will never forget.  The first hour of the show was streamed live on Jay Z's music streaming service TIDAL allowing us to experience part of this night to remember.  Starting with Hannah's now typical speech, the live stream ended an hour later just as the opening chords of I Would Die 4 U started playing.  In between, we had Let's Go Crazy (Reloaded), Take Me With U, Raspberry Beret, U Got the Look, Controversy and Nothing Compares 2 U.  We were also treated to a live version of Baltimore which was written by Prince in light of the recent riots and problems in Baltimore and Ferguson.  But for me, the highlight of the stream was the inclusion of The Question of U/The One to include Electric Man.  Yes, he pulled out Electric Man for this show and the crowd lost their damn minds.  I would have given anything if TIDAL could have streamed the entire show. Maybe Prince should stream his shows more often and we could donate to whatever local charity he is supporting in that particular city.  I know, it's just a pipe dream but hey, it is my dream and and my blog.  Anyway, I digress, as I usually do, so it is time to get back on track.  All in all, good show, great for the city of Baltimore and great for us purple people.

Here are some pics I found floating on Tumblr, Twitter and other social media.  I claim no ownership over these pics and all credit should go to the original photographer.

Great pic from Questlove

NPG Hornz in da house!!!!!!!

Too funky!!!!!

Now before I get out of here, I need to ask this question.  What's up with Prince and the girls?  It used to be Prince & 3rdEyeGirl.  Now it is Prince with special guest 3rdEyeGirl.  What's up with that?  Is this the end of P&3EG? I guess only Prince knows and we will have to wait and see.  But at least they are back on Twitter and you can follow them for the latest info at @Prince3EG.

Until next time, peace!