Prince News
New single plus 3rd Eye Girl names the new Prince album
Donna Gratis, guitarist of Prince's 3rd Eye Girl backing trio, who begin their Live Out Loud Tour on 14 April, has broken the news that the new Prince album on which they have been working in conjunction with the Live Out Loud tour rehearsals, will be titled (albeit tentatively) Plectrum Electrum and is due for release with the new and artist-friendly outfit, Kobalt Music Group, the latter half of 2013. Existing more as a mutual partnership than traditional arrangement, Kobalt whom was established just 18 months ago, said in their press statement on May 20 that they will assist both with the digital and physical releases of Prince's new album in an agreement which also permits their artists to self-release music under their own label, NPG Records.
For updates on the shows drop by our dedicated Live Out Loud Tour page. The launch party for the tour also greeted the iTunes release of a new single FixUrLifeUp the first single from the upcoming album, boasting songs co-written with Prince and his 3rd Eye Girls.
3rd Eye Girl Tour - Live Out Loud in US theatres and European festivals
The promotion for the 3rd Eye Girl project is set to kick off with an appearance and performance on the Jimmy Fallon show on 1 March. Expanding now into a US tour called Live Out Loud, Prince is also set for a to return to the European festival circuit. He will be playing all three nights at the Montreux Jazz Festival from 13th to 15 July at the Auditorium Stravinsky, Montreux, Switzerland. Then in August headlining the Stockholm Music & Arts Festival on the 4th, and on the 7th the Skanderborg Festival in Denmark. There is not confirmation yet if this will evolve into a full scale 3rd Eye Girl European tour also, but it is doubtless that the project is developing. If it is, or there are any new dates to mention they will be shared with you right here.
Speaking of 3rd Eye Girl, the website has a new song out for download, Live Out Loud, the title of the new tour, plus a demo called Boyfriend. Stay tuned for more details and dates of the 3rd Eye Girl tour Live Out Loud.
3rd Eye Girl website launched with new music and video
Prince has kept his promise for the prospect of an exciting 2013 and after shutting down his last website in 2010, vowing never to return, this year he has now launched two in the space of a fortnight. The new website 3rdeyegirl.com is releasing downloads, currently four: two brand new songs, Screwdriver (plus remix) and Breakfast Can Wait, and his remix (titled number 7) of Rock And Roll Love Affair - his answer to the mediocre set put out by Jamie Lewis last December. Songs are $0.88c per download so stay tuned for more releases to come (Screwdriver - Live, 8 minute video $1.77) which is hoped will all form a later album, in that Screwdriver is clearly in line as first single.
New official website 20pr1nc3.com launched!
Prince has finally returned to the internet. After a long absence having declared it 'dead' he has launched his website first since closing lotusflow3r.com in March 2010. Playing on the theme of 2013 the new website, 20pr1nc3.com, will contain previews of future tracks, live performances and DVD's to come, and will be updating with all manner of surprises over 2013. Unlike previous sites no membership is required. 'Stay tuned'.
3rd Eye Girl Twitter tease gets fans in a hot sweat for a steaming 2013!
2013 got off fast and furious with much intrigue of the excitement expected to come. A Twitter account named @3rdeyegirl started sharing 'stolen' bootlegs, of songs and videos each uploaded just for 4 days. The Twitter account, using artwork by Stella Blu as it's avatar, prompted much speculation of the identity of the 3rd Eye Girl and the authenticity of it as an 'official' source. It is imagined that the account is official and with the purpose to use social media to generate buzz by 'leaking' studio recordings of songs that will be contained on a forthcoming album expected later in the year. So far the 3rd Eye Girl has leaked new songs Same Page Different Book, an extended version of Laydown, and an unreleased version of Rock And Roll Love Affair. His new female band members too (drummer Hannah Ford, guitarist Donna Grantis and bassist Ida Nielsen, all established artists in their own right, recruited from the strength of their YouTube videos) have also confirmed a new song, Screwdriver, which is also expected to appear on the possible new album. The three will be joining Prince on tour, for which Prince is inducting them into the regular band though six open rehearsals at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis over 16, 17, 18 January 18. The shows sold out on 1 hour. News regarding the new album and tour will be announced here and on our tour page.
'Icon' Prince to receive honour at 2013 Billboard Music Awards
Prince will receive the Icon Award at this year's Billboard Music Awards ceremony, to be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 19 May. He will be playing a set. Last year's recipient of the award was none other than Stevie Wonder. It follows a year of adulation expected for Prince, who is soon to be the subject of a tribute concert which will be held at New York's Carnegie Hall on 7 March. Prince is the seventh artist to be honoured in what has become an annual event of tribute shows that has previously celebrated the music of among others, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Neil Young. The line-up of acts to be performing at the concert will be announced shortly. [Prince performed Let's Go Crazy at the ceremony.]