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Prince: People don’t understand musicians


Prince thinks people don’t understand "real musicians" any more.

The ‘Purple Rain’ hitmaker, who continues to excite fans with his guerilla-style gigs in the UK with rock quartet 3RDEYEGIRL, feels artists like Jack White and Lianne La Havas aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.

In an exclusive interview in the new edition of MOJO magazine, he said: "People don’t understand real musicians anymore. Jack White is great, he’s the real thing, but he isn’t having hits. Why aren’t Vintage Trouble or Lianne La Havas having hits?"

MOJO were also given an exclusive premiere of his latest album, PLECTRUM ELECTRUM, which includes new track TICTACTOE, recorded in London.

Prince said: "We recorded it in Bryan Ferry’s studio in London, after a night of partying for which the Cocteau Twins was the soundtrack. You can’t understand the words of Cocteau Twins songs but their harmonies put you in a dreamlike state."

Talking about his new band 3RDEYEGIRL, he said: "To get in this world you’ve got to be good. We ain’t no punks. These girls have got to put up with me 24/7, which is not an easy job."

The 55-year-old singer started his run of London shows last month with a surprise ‘sound-check’ at Camden’s Electric Ballroom and he has since performed a second show at the venue, as well as sets at Koko in Camden, Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Kings Place in King’s Cross, with more shows to be announced, including a show in Manchester.

MOJO’s in-depth cover article spans 16 pages of the new issue, on sale in the UK from next Tuesday (25.02.14).