ONTD

And abandons LA for Minneapolis?

Prince fans storm Montreux for rare European show



Prince fans from across Europe converged on Montreux for two shows by the American musician whose rare appearance on the continent stretched well into Sunday morning.

The 51-year-old star closed the two-week Swiss Montreux Jazz Festival with a mix of old hits including "Little Red Corvette," "Peach" and "Purple Rain" and fresh titles such as "Elixir" from his new album with singer Bria Valente.

Wearing a bright red suit, geometric gold necklace, and red and white platform shoes, the artist appeared on stage with his red guitar, bathed in his trademark purple light.

"Montreux, thank you," Prince said, as he blew a kiss to the crowd before kicking off an encore with "Insatiable."

Some 8,000 tickets for his two back-to-back concerts, priced up to $480 each, sold out in a record eight minutes when his only European booking this summer was announced just days after the death of Michael Jackson.

Prince performed a jazzy version of the song "In a Large Room With No Light" for both shows in Montreux, which organizers praised as a "groovy mix of soul, jazz and funk."

Changing into a metallic grey outfit, he closed the second show with "Purple Rain," a chart-topper marking its 25th year.

John Blackwell (drums), Rhonda Smith (bass) and Renato Neto and Morris Hayes (both on keyboards) accompanied Prince at Stravinski Auditorium.

Claude Nobs, founder of the festival in its 43rd annual edition, told fans cheering in vain for a second encore: "The jazz set he created here tonight has never been performed elsewhere."

Prince made his only other appearance at the legendary jazz festival along Lake Geneva two years ago, showing up at 3 a.m. to jam with his band at a free cafe.

Smith, his Canadian bassist and vocalist, said that the 2007 experience had convinced Prince to accept the return booking.

"It's the love of the European public. He had a great time last time. There is a lot of respect, a relaxing feel and a very high artistic level," Smith told the Swiss daily Le Matin.

"It's like nowhere else," she said.

"This was a very different show," said Patrick O'Keeffe, from Ireland. "He rarely plays with just three band members, normally it is much bigger band with brass and horns and sax."

Alessandro Rossi drove from Italy to catch the Grammy- and Academy- winner from Minneapolis. Rossi, in a purple t-shirt with "Prince" on the back, said: "Prince is always number one."







And a few blurry shots from the shows from Prince.org:







Prince returns to Minneapolis?



Say what you will about his "personal" life, his religion, and his weird stunts, but the mysterious Purple pip-squeak's thumbprint is a permanent one on Minneapolis. When Prince packed up Paisley and left for Los Angeles some years ago, our fundamental claim to fame (aside from Jesse Ventura and snow) weakened and no more did we hear rumors of crazy parties in Chanhassen and regular sightings at random Minneapolis haunts. Suffice it to say we never wanted to be your weekend lover, Prince. And so when we heard from several sources that we're getting our pop icon back, we felt oddly validated and most certainly excited.

So, here's the word.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Saturday night, Prince and a few bodyguards hit up Envy Nightclub downtown, where his former deejay, Dudley D. (a.k.a. Dustin Meyer) was spinning in the main room.

"I spoke with him. I used to DJ and tour with him for five or six years so we're cool like that," Meyer said. "He has been in town for a month or so now -- back from L.A. after pretty much living there for a few years. This is the second or third time he has been to Envy recently."

Meyer, who is a part of local R&B group, The New Congress, said Prince appeared with longtime keyboard player Morris Hayes.

"Let's just hope he cracks off a party or two at Paisley!" Meyer joked.

The Purple Rain star is likely living now at his home in Chanhassen, Meyer said, but other sources told us he'd sold that home years ago.

Another DJ at Envy, Jay "Strangelove" Tappe, said he saw Prince sitting in the VIP section of the club, where he remained for about an hour and then quietly left.

"I flashed him a peace sign and he flashed me one back," said Tappe. "He was bobbing his head by himself. Just chillin' like he always does."

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