http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/ar ... loses.html

Singer Prince's website closes down
(Thursday July 13, 2006 08:39 AM)

Prince's fan website has been shut down, but a lawyer for the musician says it's not related to a recent trademark lawsuit against the site, NPGMusicClub.com.

HM Publishing Holdings, a British-based book company, filed the lawsuit on July 3 based on its own NPG, a science-book subsidiary called the Nature Publishing Group.

Prince's lawyer, David Schelzel, said Prince already has approval of the name from the US Patent and Trademark Office, and that the legal action is minor.

"Prince's use of the NPG or Paisley Park trademarks is no way in jeopardy," Schelzel said.

When asked why the site was shut down, Schelzel told the Star Tribune: "Wait and see."

Last month, New York's RED Distribution announced a deal in which it will be the "sole distributor" of all of Prince's NPG products.

Soon after that, an email was sent out to NPG members saying the site had entered "a time of great reflection and restructuring".

The online club started around 2000, and it won Prince a Webby Award in June for being an internet innovator.

"In its current 4m (form), there is a feeling that the NPGMC has gone as far as it can go," the email said.

"The future holds nothing but endless opportunity. Don't u want 2 come?"

Todd here. I tried to access the site after reading this story and all I got was a black screen. no message. no nothing.

Prince opens in Vegas tonight!! Every Friday and Saturday the Purple One will be playing in the new "3121" theater here at the Rio! I'm itching to go, but I want to hear a little about the setlist first. I don't want 16 new songs and 4 classic Prince jams.

I had dinner at the Rio last night and the "3121" Prince store is getting in shape as well.

Did I mention - I LOVE LAS VEGAS!

dan,

as soon as i saw this i told my wife and we both said we are there if we go to vegas this summer.

let me know what you hear about the show......please.

renny

I'll be sure to post anything I hear...and let me know if you come next summer!

i'll do that.

thanks.

renny

I'm psyched about this. I'm wondering if it will be a Vegas show or a Prince show (understanding that they can be pretty close now). I can imagine the show girls!
Hopefully it is pretty loose, with varying set lists...I can see hitting both nights on a weekend...

Here's a posted setlist (via a Prince forum) from the Rio show, I am not thrilled at all:

Spirituality (Sexuality)
Johnny Be Good
Lolita
Black Sweat
U Got the Look
Anotherloveholenyohead
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Shhh
Cream
Musicology
Joy in Repetition
Fury
Pink Cashmere
7
17 Days (just the band, no Prince)

Purple Rain
Let's Go Crazy
________________________________________________________
The next night he supposedly encored with another recent track INSTEAD of "Purple Rain/Let's Go Crazy".

That's not such a terrible setlist... looks like a solid 90+ minute show.

But how the heck did Prince end up in Vegas? I hadn't even heard about this before this thread was started.

just to hear him play the outo guitar solo of "pink cashmere" would probably be worth the admission price alone.

one of my favorite guitar solo's, ever.

renny

Actually I like the set list. I'd be curious about the rest of the second night's list. I'd be much more disappointed if it was a 'Greatest Hits' show - then it becomes a revue. This has the potential to be some fine jamming (there's a lot of water in that well of his).

I'm actually looking forward to going to Vegas again. I'll hit each night of the weekend, come June...

I hope he is still here in June. There seems to be a (purple) veil of secrecy over exactly how long his Vegas stay will be. I've read everything from "several weeks" to "several months". But Elton John seems to have signed on to continue his "Red Piano" show (when Celine is away) through 2008.

Prince playing Vegas reminded me of those articles and writeups he got in the early '80s for his lewd and lascivious onstage antics and the, ahem, "controversy" they generated.

I don't think anyone would have imagined back then that the Purple One would someday be headlining in Vegas.

Does this mean we can look forward to Marilyn Manson at the Sands someday...??

Here's an article I found on another message board...

Prince launches purple Vegas reign

By Jill Serjeant / Reuters
Thu Nov 9

Purple was the color and Prince was the star on Wednesday as the eccentric musician launched a nightclub venture that will see him performing twice a week in Las Vegas.

Prince, 48, the sometimes reclusive singer, composer and producer with a penchant for surprises, is taking up residence in the desert gambling resort for an indefinite period, playing at the Rio Hotel in the 3121 club -- named after his 2006 hit album.

"I like Las Vegas," said a peach-suited Prince, during a sneak peek three song set featuring his signature wailing guitar solos and the 1984 hit "Purple Rain" that made him a superstar. The regular Friday and Saturday night shows start on November 10 and tickets at $125 are already sold out for the first weekend.

Prince himself has given few clues as to why, and why now, he has chosen to set up shop in Las Vegas amidst the topless dancers, magicians, Cirque du Soleil spectaculars and crooners such as Barry Manilow and Celine Dion who have also set up semi-permanent residence on the Strip.

A rare giver of interviews, he appointed his Australian twin backup singer-dancers, known as The Twinz, as his official spokespersons on Wednesday. "He wants to bring raw, live music back to Las Vegas. He wants a more positive vibe," Maya Mcclean, one of The Twinz, told reporters.

Prince is regarded as a perfectionist who from 1993 to 2000 changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in what was thought to be a protest against the demands of his record label at the time. For a while he was dubbed "The Artist Formally Known as Prince."

But the intimate 3121 club, decked in purple and seating 900, will be under his sole artistic control. An adjacent restaurant, 3121 Jazz Cuisine, is being run by Prince's personal chef.

"This is his vision. This is his room. This is his club," said John Meglen, president of AEG Live which is backing the venture.

"The one thing about this town that Prince realizes is that if you go back to the Fifties, to the days of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Las Vegas was a place where all the world wide great musicians came out and played," Meglen said.

"There is no-one more high energy than Prince. You're not going to see any lip synching on this stage," Meglen said.

After more than 20 albums, the versatile Prince emerged from self-imposed obscurity in 2004 with a lucrative tour and performances in 2006 at the Brit awards, TV's "American Idol" and "Saturday Night Live."

He is expected to stay in Vegas for several months. Or as Twinz spokesperson Maya Mcclean said "until he figures out what he wants to do next."

It's all generational.

I'm sure the people who thought Rock music was the cause of corruption 'n communism would be shocked to learn Elvis Presley would one day be honored on a United States postage stamp.

This would be a good excuse to go to Vegas next Summer. Keep us all posted on the show and when people are planning to go.

Now, I'm getting excited!!! Everyone has to promise to see "LOVE" also!

Oh, I know. I was saying the same thing a few years back when I heard Alice Cooper was playing at Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods.

I wonder what Frank Sinatra would have to say about the shift to rock and roll performers.

Ol' Blue Eyes? The man who, whenever he performed Barry Manilow's "I Write The Songs" in concert, left out the line "and I wrote some rock and roll, so you can move?"

Presuming that the older you get, the more set in your ways you become, I'd guess a 90-year-old Frank Sinatra wouldn't like it at all.

Not one bit.

...i heard some rumours about a New Prince Album due for release around this spring 2007 or before this summer (his Future Worlwide tour will begin before this summer).....did somebody hear something about this...or have further details???????

thanx for the replies

I've not heard anything but I'd say he's due. He tends to put one out about once a year, and it's been awhile since his last one was released.

.....plus he is doing the halftime show at the Super Bowl, so that would be a heckuva way to promote a new album!

Wow......for me, this was easily the best Super Bowl halftime show of them all. Prince in all his glory playing a great set in the rain. This time they got it right. This was the Prince that I grew up seeing and he knocked me out back then and was just as incredible now. The stage and the other amazing visuals just enhanced it all.



By the way, still no announcement about Beatles remasters ......I'm beginning to think I'll see Bigfoot riding atop the Loch Ness monster before I see the Beatles remasters