Prince says “gett off” the phone!
Nowadays, people are way too reliant on their cell phones to begin with, but until last weekend, concert goers probably never knew how much trouble they could actually cause as they rapidly snagged photos, texted friends, or dare I say, hold up cell phones during that certain favorite song. To be more specific, a strange interference almost canceled Prince’s exclusive, “top-secret show for rich people” over the weekend in New York City because of these annoying little buggers.
You’d think for the $1,000 cost per ticket, the surprise show (not really!), which served half charity concert, half release party for Prince’s new photographic essay, 21 Nights, things would run pretty smoothly. But according to the New York Post, the cell phone usage on the roof of Gansevoort Hotel somehow interfered with Prince’s equipment, completely frying his pricey, hi-tech sound system! While Prince and Co. sought to resolve the situation with an announcement that the show would be canceled if the audience didn’t turn off 
cell phones, many fans were unwilling to adhere to the Artists’ wishes. One fan was reported saying, “It was so obnoxious. To think a bunch of idiots can’t exist without their precious cells for an hour.”
Eventually, things were sorted out and Prince was able to perform two sets on the cramped rooftop. Set #2 was highlighted by a number of covers, including ruckus renditions of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” and Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done For Me Lately” - all to the delight of Dave Chapell, who made an impromptu set midway through Prince’s performance.
So let this be a lesson. Next time someone tells you to turn off your cell phone, whether in a movie theater or airplane, you might want to remember this phrase: “What would Prince do?” Now taking bets as to how long before a “no cell phone” policy joins the purple pop rockers’ ever-growing list of rules.
Setlist: (via)
Show One:
New Song
“1999?
“I Feel For You”
“Controversy”
“Sexy Dancer/Le Freak”
“Miss You”
“Satisfied”
“Beggin’ Woman Blues”
“Purple Rain”
“A Love Bizarre”
“What Is Hip”
“Stratus”
“Cream”
“U Got the Look”
“Nothing Compares 2 U”
Show Two
“Crimson and Clover”/”Wild Thing” (Tommie James/Troggs)
“Let’s Go” (Cars)
“7?
“Come Together” (Beatles)
“1999?
“Controversy”
“Sexy Dancer/Le Freak” (Chic)
“Long Train Running” (Doobie Brothers)
“Shhh”
“Musicology”/Prince & The Band
“3121?
“Girls & Boys”
“Honky Tonk Woman” (Rolling Stones)
“Stratus” (Billy Cobham)
“Miss You” (Rolling Stones)
“Red House” (Jimi Hendrix)
“Purple Rain”
Encore:
Dave Chappelle set
“Brown Skin” (India.Arie) (sung by Shelby)
“In The Morning” (Sung by Shelby)
“You Can’t Hide Love” (Earth Wind & Fire)
“Love’s Taken Over” (Chante Moore) Sung by Marva King
“I Want To Be Free” (Ohio Players)
“Cream”
“U Got The Look”
“What Have You Done For Me Lately?” (Janet Jackson)
“Partyman”
“It’s Alright” (Graham Central Station)
“Alphabet St.”
“The Bird”
“Jungle Love”
“The Glamorous Life”
“Love Bizarre” (w/Housequake)
Dec 20th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
[...] now, we haven’t had much news on the Prince front since all those rich guys were talking on their cellphones on that roof. But now it seems like the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince has [...]