Prince Releases First Live DVD

Prince Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas DVD features 2002 Concert Of Prince Classics, Covers and Recent Songs Plus Special Guests Nikka Costa, Maceo Parker, and Sheila E/

Prince live performances are the stuff of which legends are made--and the first official DVD from his own NPG Music Club, Prince Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas (NPG Music Club/Hip-O Records), released August 19, 2003, is no exception. Recorded December 15, 2002, during the Las Vegas stop on his most recent tour, the approximately 80-minute Prince Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas brings the Prince experience home.

The concert headlining Prince and the NPG (New Power Generation) also features special guests Nikka Costa, Maceo Parker and Sheila E. With Parker on sax and long-time Prince compatriot Sheila E. on percussion, Prince is backed by a band of bassist Rhonda Smith, keyboardist Renato Neto, trombonist Greg Boyer, saxman Eric Leeds and drummer John Blackwell. Brilliant musician, charismatic performer and one of pop’s most influential figures, Prince takes his blazing guitar in hand and rocks the house for several thousand fans.

Delving into his classic ‘80s era, the party is on as he performs full-blown renditions of "Gotta Broken (Heart) Again" (originally heard on 1980’s Dirty Mind), "Take Me With U" (from 1984’s Purple Rain), "Pop Life" (from 1985’s Around The World In A Day), "Sometimes It Snows In April" (from 1986’s Parade, which was also the soundtrack to Under The Cherry Moon), "Strange Relationship" (from 1987’s Sign O’ The Times) and a brief "Money Don’t Matter 2 Night" (from 1991’s Diamonds And Pearls) segues into "The Work" (from The Rainbow Children). "1+1+1=3" includes the Ohio Players’ masterpiece "Love Rollercoaster" and Prince’s own "Housequake" (from Sign O’ The Times). An excerpt from a yet-to-be-released song, "U Want Me," is attached to another Diamonds And Pearls track, "Strollin’."

Three more recent recordings get the Princely treatment as well: "Family Name" and "The Everlasting Now" from 2001’s The Rainbow Children, and a bonus clip of "The Ride" from 1998’s Crystal Ball. In addition, Costa joins him on "Push And Pull" from her 2001 U.S. debut Everybody Got Their Something. Prince and crew also cover "Pass The Peas," the vintage number from The JB’s, James Brown’s backing band which included Parker, and Led Zeppelin’s psychedelic rocker "Whole Lotta Love."

Prince Live At The Aladdin Las Vegas follows the June release via the NPG Music Club of his latest album, N.E.W.S., which contains only four songs, "North," "East," "West" and "South," each clocking in at 14 minutes. N.E.W.S. is Prince’s first album of new material since The Rainbow Children, another concept album originally released through his npgmusicclub.com Web site.