That one hurt. Still hurts.
Among the mournful roster of celebrity deaths in 2016—an especially cruel year for robbing us of those who creatively nourish the world—the April 21 passing of The Artist Forever Known As Prince at age 57 was particularly painful. Marking the one-year anniversary of that loss this month, as well as celebrating his legacy, the Westgate Hotel—home of Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show starring Jason Tenner—is offering specials, promotions, giveaways, and ticket discounts, even turning the resort lights a Princely purple at night. In addition, the property this month launches Purple Reign After Dark, an “afterparty” held after each Friday show. It’s free with purchase of a VIP ticket to Purple Reign.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year—even now when I think about it sometimes it chokes me up a bit,” says Tenner about the legend he portrays, who died April 21, 2016. “When I heard it I had to repeat it to believe it. Disbelief and tears.”
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Fans’ passion for His Purpleness is eternal, but are you as encyclopedic on the life of Prince as you should be? Billions of words have been scribbled, but here are some you might have missed:
• Remember what ticked off Tipper Gore enough to demand record companies print warning labels on albums with explicit lyrics? That would be Prince’s “Darling Nikki.” What a naughty boy.
“I thought he’d be like James Brown, but older. There’s not going to be another one like him.”—Tenner
• Don’t blame artistic temperament for Prince changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol—it was triggered by a dispute with Warner Bros., his record label. Actually … maybe that qualifies as artistic temperament. When their contract expired, his royal moniker re-emerged.
“There’s nothing that he did that I can’t do, though it isn’t move for move. But I can do the triple pirouettes and toe touches.”
• And yes, he really was named Prince—after his dad’s jazz combo, the Prince Rogers Jazz Trio. That wasn’t all, though, as he had nicknames and aliases galore, including: “The Purple Purv,” “Alexander Nevermind,” “The Minneapolis Midget” and—when he was a child—“Skipper.”
“I was 10 or 11 when I saw ‘Purple Rain’ and the only thing I remembered was that Apollonia jumped in the lake.”
• Kinky-sexy stylishness notwithstanding, Prince was a Jehovah’s Witness—who even went door-to-door (in a little red Corvette?) spreading the word.
“When I started to learn the music and really listen to him—and he had produced most of it—that’s when I became a Prince fan.”
• Creative motivation takes many forms—including lust. Such was the drive behind Prince contributing to the soundtrack of director Tim Burton’s Batman: He was crushin’ on co-star Kim Basinger. There are worse reasons for taking a gig. After the flick finished, they dated—so there are worse job benefits too.
“I’m stunned and I’m still stunned at how creative he is, not just for himself but he wrote for other people. That one person did all that is amazing.”
• Defining the concept of “struggling artist,” Prince was so cash-strapped early on that he loitered outside a McDonalds so at least his nostrils could enjoy a Big Mac. Even after he conquered the universe, his tastes remained solidly middle-class. Favorite meal? Spaghetti and orange juice.
“The rest of (the persona), the androgyny character, that’s cool to play with, but for me it’s the music.”
• Despite all the adoring adjectives showered on Prince over the decades, “prescient” couldn’t be among them. In 2010, he declared: “The Internet is over.” Hmmm. Might have misread the zeitgeist on that one. However he did indulge in social media, dubbing his Instagram account “Princetagram.” And Prince-o-philes created a Wikipedia spinoff named “Princepedia.”
“For years, (Purple Reign audiences) would get overwhelmed in the moment. Now it’s more intensified since he passed. They get pent-up, it’s an emotional release, and they release it on me.”
• In a potential Battle Royale of Royals with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s “Bad” was originally conceived as a duet with Prince, who balked at the lyric, “Your butt is mine,” reportedly quipping: “Who’s singing that to whom—because you sure aren’t singing that to me.” No deal—no butts about it.
“For people it’s cathartic now. The (post-show) meet-and-greets are a lot more emotional. People say to me, ‘I loved his music and I never got to see him in concert but now I have.’”
• As much as fans swooned over Prince, that’s how much he swooned over folk-pop-rocker Joni Mitchell, who has said she saw 15-year-old Prince in the front row at a concert, and wrote her fan mail. Nice to know idols idolize their own idols.
“We’ve (the show ensemble) gotten more emotional too. We’ve gone back and scrutinized everything we’re doing. People want to see it and hear it the way they remember.”
• “Funk Machine”—that’s the title of the first song Prince ever wrote. At age 7. That kiddie composer eventually penned more tunes than The Beatles. You say you want a revolution? Prince was it. And always will be.
Westgate Las Vegas, 9 p.m. Wed.-Sat., $49-$69 VIP plus fee, $89 Purple Velvet Package, 18+. 800.222.5361
