I'm sure that everyone who attended The Rolling Stones performance at the L.A. Coliseum on October 11, 1981 now claims that the greeted the band's opener with open arms as he tried to give the crowd a little taste of the same movs that would later place him in rock's upper echelons in just a matter of a few years.But the truth was anything but: the face is that most of the crowd were fairly brutal to Prince, supporting his latest album, Controversy.
Fans of the Rolling Stones can be a fairly picky bunch, but it is somewhat understandable that a few in attendance didn't "get"what he was all about. From what I remember of his wardrobe from that era (bikini underwear, trenchcoat, etc.), that feeling of uncomfortableness was probably well intentioned and, as evidenced by the negative reaction, part of the marketing.
The Stones are fairly renowned for being generous with up-and-comers for their opening slots but, when you think about it, does anyone really want to be up there, opening for the greatest rock and roll band in the world?
Apparently, Prince did and he's probably the only one out of all of the band's support act that may have had the talent to actually give the veterans a run for their money.
4 comments:
My ex-husband was at that show and he said they all booed him off the stage and when the Stones brought Prince back on and told the audience to give him a chance, he played, "Jack You Off" and left. Nice.
Good story. I remember Living Color opening up for the Stones one time when I saw them. There was no booing, but there was the required amibivalence as there should be for any band that features a lead singer wearing a bright yellow bike suit.
Hey, Living Colour fucking rocked. And that bike suit worked for its time, esp. with those wicked dreadlocks Corey Glover was sporting. It's kinda funny (and sad) on the Living Colour video that they showed the crowd reaction when they were opening for the Stones; unfortunately, Stones fans didn't give a shit about Living Colour. At least if they're booing you off, they're paying some sort of attention.
I just remember thinking that I was supposed to like Living Color and then realizing, right at the moment they were playing, that I really didn't like them. I mean, "Cult Of Personality" was ok, but they weren't like these rock saviors like Rolling Stone or whoever was always making them out to be. Bad Brains I Against I totally demolished Living Color's Vivid, IMO.
I do remember a heavier Living Color effort from the early 90's that I thought wasn't too bad.
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