27 Jun Prince & Michael Jackson Were Friends?
Prince & Michael Jackson. Photo: MSN.Com
Prince and Michael Jackson were friendly rivals? Seriously? According to former band members of the Purple One, it’s true.
A report in the Startribune, Bobby Z., Prince’s drummer for the Revolution, remembers watching the 1984 Grammys with Prince as Michael Jackson swept the Grammys.
“We were watching rough cuts of [the movie] ‘Purple Rain,’ and we knew that’s where Prince wanted to be the next year,” Z said Thursday.
Michael Jackson even showed up to 2 Purple Rain shows backstage. Although Michael Jackson did want to work with Prince a few years later, Prince declined due to lyrical differences.
Michael Bland insisted they got along fine. “They’d shoot hoops at Paisley Park,” Prince’s studio/home in Chanhassen. “We used to get packages from MJJ Productions [with] footage of Sly Stone performing in Europe. Prince would pop it in the VCR, and we’d watch it.”
Prince even defended Michael at a press conference in 2000 where he said something along the lines of “we don’t really know what is going on with him and maybe we need to chill on that.” (I can’t find the original transcript so paraphrasing people.)
Personally speaking, I did see Michael Jackson attend one of Prince’s shows at 3121 Las Vegas in 2006 with Wil I Am of the Black Eyed Peas and Chris Tucker. Michael did not make the after show as planned where he was to be seated with Michael Jordan.
Recently, Prince has been performing Michael Jackson songs in his sets, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” and recently “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5
It’s nice to know my favorite artist Prince had an interesting connection with Michael that many of us did not know, beating him in hoops I am sure. -Dr.FB
Modernaire
Posted at 00:28h, 30 MarchAnd to add, I used to defend MJ up the hooternanners against all kinds of accusations way before his passing.
MJ & Prince 4-ever!
Modernaire
Posted at 00:26h, 30 MarchDude, I’ve always felt since the 80’s that the competition, not rivalry, was just two guys battling it out, on friendly terms on record and on stage. If it weren’t for that friendly rivalry, we wouldn’t have gotten such amazing work and concerts especially from both.
I certainly feel the competition was at its best during the ’87-’88 era’s of both Prince’s SOTT/Lovesexy periods and MJ’s Bad era. You could see it! I was being floored by Prince’s SOTT movie and then I’d tune in on cable music video shows and see Michae’s Another Part of Me and I was like oh yeah! I loved them both! You could tell they were battling it out and we as fans were benefiting from it!
As for PRince’s press conference in 2000, that was when he was announcing going back to “Prince” and he did defend MJ when he was asked about what he thought about those accusations. Its in any audio and video footage out there of it. Prince was also asked who would win in a fist fight! And Prince jokenly said something like “now you’ve got to remember – Micheal’s a lover not a fighter…!” Thought that was hilarious, but it was not said in an angry way.
As for Prince fans who hate MJ, shit, just log into any European Prince fam/fan site, post something about MJ and watch all the hatred spew. I don’t get it. I think they don’t get it. They divided, I didnt and I know many Old Schoolers up in here didnt back in the day. They both loved MJ and Prince, it was all good. But yeah, some of those hateful Prince fans even go so far as to say Michael was not a musician, that he just hummed tunes. I think they know NOTHING about music. Idiots.
Anyway, shamone.
prince&michaeljacksonlover
Posted at 20:20h, 06 MarchPrince and Michael Jackson are sexy, have great bodys and will always be kings on earth to me!!!!!!
prince&michaeljacksonlover
Posted at 20:19h, 06 Marchprince and michael jackson are both fine, sexy boys i have ever seen on earth and always will no matter what.
Lizzy Lane
Posted at 23:59h, 05 MarchLove them both but how can Prince have denied MJ on BAD, based on the lyric “Your butt is mine”.. it’s street talk, it’s not sexual.
What about Prince tunes such as “Jack U Off”?!
Bromance: Prince « La Cienega Just Smiles
Posted at 21:38h, 13 February[…] June 27th, Prince and Michael Jackson were friendly rivals? Seriously? According to former band members of the … […]
haley
Posted at 19:06h, 02 Februaryprince is sexy but michael gots the moves that prince will never have but prince does look sexy on stage and so does michael but michael jackson got it all prince got looks and a voice
alexis
Posted at 23:55h, 27 JanuaryMichael Jackson and Prince were two genious..and both very very talented just 2 different music styles..they were alot alike but very different..and thats ok…
eddy
Posted at 21:06h, 27 JanuaryI love them both because, they inspire me so much and are great entertainer
quel hates tabloids
Posted at 18:08h, 26 Januaryput your stupid nose where it’s needed
stupids……….
it’s not your problem
Michael now is resting, this wouldn’t be appening if you weren’t to unnesesary
Lizzy
Posted at 17:54h, 23 JanuaryWow, could you imagine Bad a duet with MJ and Prince???
That would be out of this world but I prefer to ignore that and appreciate Bad for the fantastic amazingness that it is. MJ and Prince are true kings amoung men. Love them both xxx
Brittney Loves The KING!
Posted at 02:15h, 15 JanuaryMichael SEXY Jackson will FOREVER Be THE KING… MJ was a Prince when he was a Kid singing and Dancing at the age of 10-19 then around his Early 20s Michael became THE KING… & Swept away the Grammys in 1994 while Prince and his Friend sat at Home & watched MJ taking over the World and the whole Damm T.V Yeah… MJ has also sold wayyyyyyyyy more Albums… Prince will Always Live in MJs SHADOW! Michael had GOD-GIVEN Talent.. Prince just Played Instruments which anyone can Learn! even MJ Learned to Play Piano by Ear cause he sad if his Friend Stevie wonder could do it… so could he… & He did.. MJ even SOLD OUT 50 ARENAS in London o2 in HOURS! NO ONE has EVER CAME CLOSE! when Prince had his Concerts there… he Only Sold Out 20 Arenas! & MJ was even CROWNED THE KING IN AFRICA! MJ had wayyyy More ADULATION from Fans… They Worshipped him.. They Cried,Fainted,Screamed,etc.. even Adult men would Faint when they would see MJ in concert cause he CREATED MAGIC & MESMERIZED FANS WITH HIS PERFORMANCES! Like Many Legends have said Including James Brown,Madonna,Fred Astaire,Frank Sinatra,Gene Kelly,Sammy Davis Jr,Liz Taylor,Gladys Knight,Stevie Wonder,Berry Gordy, etc.. MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER THAT EVER LIVED! & HE WILL FOREVER BE THE KING!!!! 🙂
s
Posted at 02:17h, 16 Decembermichael tried to save us … &we crucified him.
He lived his entire life for us; dedicated every decade of his life to make us better & make us happy. He died for us too. 🙁
Idol Worship
Posted at 01:13h, 05 NovemberPrince did not get a nose job. I have his old albums from 20 years ago and his nose is the exact same, then and now. As a matter of fact, his nose bridge looked straighter and smaller when he was younger. So, the post that says Prince had a nose job is totally making it up.
Idol Worship
Posted at 01:09h, 05 NovemberI luv both Prince and Michael. They both are considered greats in entertainment. Michael dazzled us with his smooth vocals and spify dance moves and Prince hypnotized us with his sultry base guitar and sexy antics. i truly hope they took the opportunity to know each other and respect each other while Michael was alive. God bless them both. Long live the Kings. It will be years before another come around, there is nothing good out there right now.
Lorinda
Posted at 05:18h, 31 OctoberI loved them both but differently. For me, it would be like choosing a favourite child when you have two children. Impossible to do so I wouldn’t even try. I simply celebrate them both, cherish their uniqueness and enjoy their music. Quite easy really.
Goldee Heart
Posted at 15:12h, 15 OctoberI’m speechless. Seems I learned to walk with Michael. The latter I could relate to Prince more. As a musician the inspiration of both immeasurable.
R.I.P. Mike
Goldee Heart
Toni
Posted at 13:06h, 29 SeptemberMichael could dance his ass off, no competition! Prince can play his (sexy) ass off (no competition)! One of the coolest pieces I ever saw was Prince’s induction into the Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame with legends playing “My Guitar Gently Weeps”, and Prince starts out slow near the middle of the song, then hits the solo and just owns it! He is sexy, cocky, funny and damn he knows it. My guy forever……….
Lynn
Posted at 13:04h, 29 SeptemberIt goes waaaay back. Look on youtube for a video of a James Brown concert with Michael & Prince coming onstage. Michael was the King of Pop and Prince is Prince, the highest compliment you can pay any musician. He’s a musical genius & a very interesting person. My interest in him hasn’t waned one bit. He holds a part of my heart and we’re at 31 years and counting!
xavier
Posted at 03:10h, 25 SeptemberMJ was a legend no question, but i honestly don’t think any thing other than “Off The Wall’, “Thriller”, and some “Bad” was any good. MJ was definitely the better dancer and just a bit better singer, as Prince had like 50 different singing voices. But Prince was without a doubt better overall. He could crossover into any genre: R&B, Funk, Pop, Dance, Rock, and every thing in between. He also wrote, composed, produced, and played the guitar or some other instrument on almost ALL of his songs. I think it’s just what you prefer as the guys are similair but still totally different. But it’s cool that they were friends but they should have did a collaboration together that would have been awesome:).
Esther
Posted at 21:21h, 22 SeptemberI still miss Michael Jackson. I’m so gonna buy that O2 DVD. Madonna I don’t care about, but I hope Prince won’t die for a while.
bigvinamac
Posted at 02:08h, 18 Septemberi love both michael and prince and it’s nice that they were friends but to me michael will always be the greatest in everything. no other artist made an impact like him and there will never be another michael jackson. although i wish prince did work with him but he does come off as arrogant. michael had a stage presence that no one has ever seen. prince maybe known as a musician but so was michael. i don’t care what people have to say about michael because he was king and always will be, regardless if he wasn’t prince or not.
PrinceLover
Posted at 17:46h, 17 September“favorite artist”? That’s wonderful 2 hear!! Thanx 4 writing that…it really makes me happy 2 hear others say that…4 Prince is desrvant of it.
aqwerty
Posted at 07:11h, 07 SeptemberThe first comment by “maddladd” is funny…grow up man..
MRX
Posted at 08:32h, 19 AugustBoth Prince & Michael Hav Created A Shockwave in the industry. They each brought something different to the stage. I’ve always wanted to see them together at least one time on stage. But I personally think they had a mutual respect for each others talent. Prince couldn’t deny that Michael had an explosive performance. Michael couldn’t deny that Prince had the Charm that shook his fans up. That fact of the matter is, they both made theirs… It’s inspiring as a black man nyself. It tells me that We can RISE to the top.. They’ve paved the Way For Our First BLACK President. Take a second… Think about our history…. (((((((think)))))))))