Prince plays 21 shows in London in August
Binaural
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http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003582237
May 08, 2007, 10:30 AM ET
Lars Brandle, London
Prince has committed to a blockbuster, 21-date stretch performing in London this summer. The Earth Tour will kick off Aug. 1 with seven dates at the new 17,000-plus capacity venue O2 Arena, which will open its doors for the first time the previous month.
Continuing with the concept tested with his 2004 U.S. Musicology tour, a free copy of the artist's forthcoming album will be distributed with each ticket purchased. Details were not revealed about that project; a spokesperson for Universal in North America, which released Prince's most recent album, "3121," says it does not have a new album from the artist on its schedule.
Tickets will be capped at £31.21 ($62.24), with booking, CD postage and packaging fees bringing the total to £37.21 ($74.21). In the context of U.K. ticket prices for superstars, the fee for Prince's performances represents excellent value. In comparison, the best seats for Barbra Streisand's upcoming British shows cost £600.
The legendary artist look part in a press gathering in central London today (May 8) to unveil the three-week stint, which will be his only European dates this year.
"Last time I was here, a lot of people didn't get to see me, so we're trying to make it affordable," he explained. "That's why we're doing an extended stay. I got used to this while working in Las Vegas. I also have a wide fanbase, which come to multiple shows all the time."
During his stretch at the 3121 venue in Las Vegas, the artist and his band performed a slew of unusual material, including a version of Beatles classic "The Long And Winding Road," Amy Winehouse tracks and "a lot of jazz."
Gig-goers in London should expect the unexpected, he declared today. "Because there's going to be so many nights here, we're going to change the show every night. We've learned about 150 songs, and it'll be a lot of fun." Prince did not address the claim in a press release that he would be "performing his greatest hits for the very last time," a statement that seems to be whispered every time he returns to the road.
When asked if this was the last time he would play London, he admitted, "for a while. Which is another reason why we are staying so long." When pressed, he added, "We just need to take some time off to study and travel." And what is he studying? "The Bible."
A spokesperson said "eclectic and surprising supports from around the world" would open for the star. "I hope that [Winehouse] is going to show up," Prince said. "I'm a big fan."
Prince's hugely successful Musicology tour was built on similar principles -- ticket prices were kept low, and the "Musicology" CD came free with purchase. The tour drew nearly 1.5 million people, more than any tour on the road that year, and generated $90.2 million in gross ticket sales, ranking second only to Madonna on the year-end Billboard Boxscore chart.
The inclusion of the CD for the London dates was down to "direct marketing," Prince said today, adding "I don't have to be in the speculation business. The record industry is going through tumultuous times at the moments."
I am definately catching a show or two
May 08, 2007, 10:30 AM ET
Lars Brandle, London
Prince has committed to a blockbuster, 21-date stretch performing in London this summer. The Earth Tour will kick off Aug. 1 with seven dates at the new 17,000-plus capacity venue O2 Arena, which will open its doors for the first time the previous month.
Continuing with the concept tested with his 2004 U.S. Musicology tour, a free copy of the artist's forthcoming album will be distributed with each ticket purchased. Details were not revealed about that project; a spokesperson for Universal in North America, which released Prince's most recent album, "3121," says it does not have a new album from the artist on its schedule.
Tickets will be capped at £31.21 ($62.24), with booking, CD postage and packaging fees bringing the total to £37.21 ($74.21). In the context of U.K. ticket prices for superstars, the fee for Prince's performances represents excellent value. In comparison, the best seats for Barbra Streisand's upcoming British shows cost £600.
The legendary artist look part in a press gathering in central London today (May 8) to unveil the three-week stint, which will be his only European dates this year.
"Last time I was here, a lot of people didn't get to see me, so we're trying to make it affordable," he explained. "That's why we're doing an extended stay. I got used to this while working in Las Vegas. I also have a wide fanbase, which come to multiple shows all the time."
During his stretch at the 3121 venue in Las Vegas, the artist and his band performed a slew of unusual material, including a version of Beatles classic "The Long And Winding Road," Amy Winehouse tracks and "a lot of jazz."
Gig-goers in London should expect the unexpected, he declared today. "Because there's going to be so many nights here, we're going to change the show every night. We've learned about 150 songs, and it'll be a lot of fun." Prince did not address the claim in a press release that he would be "performing his greatest hits for the very last time," a statement that seems to be whispered every time he returns to the road.
When asked if this was the last time he would play London, he admitted, "for a while. Which is another reason why we are staying so long." When pressed, he added, "We just need to take some time off to study and travel." And what is he studying? "The Bible."
A spokesperson said "eclectic and surprising supports from around the world" would open for the star. "I hope that [Winehouse] is going to show up," Prince said. "I'm a big fan."
Prince's hugely successful Musicology tour was built on similar principles -- ticket prices were kept low, and the "Musicology" CD came free with purchase. The tour drew nearly 1.5 million people, more than any tour on the road that year, and generated $90.2 million in gross ticket sales, ranking second only to Madonna on the year-end Billboard Boxscore chart.
The inclusion of the CD for the London dates was down to "direct marketing," Prince said today, adding "I don't have to be in the speculation business. The record industry is going through tumultuous times at the moments."
I am definately catching a show or two
~*~*~*~*PROUD EVENFLOW PSYCHO #0026~*~*~*~*
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^RED MOSQUITO #2^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Dublin 08/06
Katowice 06/07 London 06/07 Dusseldorf 06/07 Nijgemen 06/07
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^RED MOSQUITO #2^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Dublin 08/06
Katowice 06/07 London 06/07 Dusseldorf 06/07 Nijgemen 06/07
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Got my tickets for the opening night in the 02, should be great, I hope he uses the same stage as he did for the Superbowl halftime show, man that was awesome.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^RED MOSQUITO #2^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Dublin 08/06
Katowice 06/07 London 06/07 Dusseldorf 06/07 Nijgemen 06/07
Got my tickets for the 4th. Got 2 thinking there's bound to be some friend who wants to go, but everyone is either busy or doesn't want to go! Looks like I'll be doing a lot of phoning about over the next few days
'06 - London, Dublin, Reading
'07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
'09 - London, Manchester, London
'12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
http://media.ticketmaster.co.uk/en-gb/tmimages/venue/maps/uk1/11423s.gif
Works out pretty well really, means no one is that far from the stage, although I'm guessing it's better to be near the O part than the arrow part for views sake.
'06 - London, Dublin, Reading
'07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
'09 - London, Manchester, London
'12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
should hopefully be going to its grand opening in june but the music side of that night needs a lot to be desired- kaiser chiefs, tom jomes and basement jaxx........
free bar though, i believe
This guy is phenomenal, if you get a chance to see, don't hesitate, I'm gonna be asking the wife if she wants to go as she's never seen him before and she's a fan as well.
He'll put on an amazing show guaranteed, just wish he could pull another Purple Rain or even another Sign O Times out the bag again, I'm sure he's capable of blowing us away again on record.
damn yes..should try to get tickets for teh 4trh.
it's one of my cousin's birthday that day and he's a big fan.. but lives overseas, so I'm not sure he'd be coming.
oh well, we'll see...if anyone has a good spare, let me know.
'06 - London, Dublin, Reading
'07 - Katowice, Wembley, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
'09 - London, Manchester, London
'12 - Manchester, Manchester, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen
didn't manage to get anything. Upper Tier is out of the question anyway.
if anyone has 2 floor or lower tiers tickets spare, face value..preferably the 4th but would consider other dates...think of me
I'm holding off buying any more tickets until he announces more gig like the one in the Koko
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^RED MOSQUITO #2^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Dublin 08/06
Katowice 06/07 London 06/07 Dusseldorf 06/07 Nijgemen 06/07
I wanna go see Prince too.
well, you people enjoy!
and carry onnnn.. - now.
but the Dome is too far, and my cousin leaves in Paris so..
maybe will have more luck with Koko or other smaller venues..you never know..
Tickets are up in the gods though, but will still be an excellent night!
God im mental!
2007 ░▒▓ London, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Nijmegen
2009 ░▒▓ Manchester, London
2010 ░▒▓ Hyde Park
*§* Music is all the juice i'll need *§*