Brief Summary
This Funkatopia Live pre-show features hosts Mr. Christopher and Mr. Michael Bland, who discuss the upcoming Celebration week in Minneapolis, including performances by The Family, Jesse Johnson, and The Time. They also discuss Pepe Willie's passing, and promote Patreon for exclusive content like Prince's music in chronological order and access to a third radio station on the Funkt Up app. The hosts then interview the band "The Family" about their upcoming performance at Paisley Park, new music, and memories of their early days.
- Celebration week in Minneapolis
- Interview with the band "The Family"
- Promotion of Patreon for exclusive content
Pre-Show Welcome and Celebration Week Overview
Mr. Christopher and Mr. Michael Bland welcome viewers to the Funktopia Live pre-show, setting the stage for a special episode featuring the band "The Family." They acknowledge the unexpected nature of this week's show and express excitement for the upcoming Celebration week in Minneapolis. Mr. Christopher shares his travel plans to Minneapolis, including his tradition of visiting Paisley Park and filming the walk from Lake Park. They encourage viewers attending the celebration or simply visiting Minneapolis to share their plans in the chat.
Support Funktopia and Exclusive Content
The hosts promote Funktopia's Patreon, highlighting benefits like early access to information and files, as well as special events. They announce an exclusive event for Patreon supporters: a chronological playing of Prince's entire discography starting Wednesday at noon, which will take four and a half days to complete. They also promote the free Funkt Up app, which offers two ASCAP-licensed radio stations (funk and Prince), with a third "Uptown Plus" station available for Patreon supporters. The hosts also acknowledge the recent passing of Pepe Willie, a key figure in Prince's early music career, and encourage listeners to pay homage during the Prince music event.
Tribute to The Family and a Clip from First Avenue
The hosts express their excitement for the evening's show, which will feature all five members of The Family. They introduce the band as an iconic act from the Paisley Park era, whose 1985 album set a high standard for other purple bands. Before bringing in The Family, they play a clip from a First Avenue show to give viewers a taste of the music.
Interview with The Family: Celebration Plans and Memories
Mr. Christopher welcomes St. Paul Peterson, Jelly Bean Johnson, Eric Leeds, Jerome Benton, and Susannah Melvoin of The Family to the show. The band discusses their upcoming performance at the Celebration, noting that their set will be shorter due to the number of acts performing. They plan to focus on hits from The Family album, as well as original music from F Deluxe. The band members share memories of seeing The Family album in stores for the first time in 1985, with Jerome recalling seeing it at Paisley Park and Susannah expressing her excitement at seeing herself on the cover.
The Family Name, New Music, and European Tour
The group discusses the return to using "The Family" name, with members expressing that it felt like the right time and that the estate is supportive. Susannah mentions that she is actively writing new music, which will be released under The Family name. Jellybean shares highlights from their recent European tour, mentioning that Candy Dulfer's drummer filled in and that the audiences were enthusiastic.
Band Lineup for Celebration and Technical Difficulties with Eric Leeds
The band discusses the lineup for the Celebration performance, which includes Big Rose, Eric Leeds, Jerome Benton, Susannah Melvoin, St. Paul Peterson, Oliver Leiber, Kirk Johnson, and Jason Peterson Delair. St. Paul recounts a rehearsal being cut short by a blown transformer. The hosts then try to ask Eric Leeds about his saxophone solos, but technical difficulties prevent him from answering.
Susannah Melvoin's Musical Background and New Music
Mr. Christopher welcomes Susannah Melvoin, who is making her first appearance on Funktopia Live. Susannah expresses her excitement about performing with The Family again, emphasizing their chemistry and the joy of making music with people she loves. She shares details about new music she's writing with Paul, emphasizing the importance of the song itself and trusting each other's musical instincts. Susannah also shares exciting news about her daughter, L, who was recently signed to Warner Brothers and is working with producer Tony Berg.
Digital Painting and Merchandise
Paul shows off a digital painting by Steve Park of The Family, which the band will autograph and make available as a limited edition print. They also promote other merchandise, including a 40th anniversary t-shirt and a reissued Gaslight CD, available at fdlux.com/store. Susannah and Steve discuss their collaboration on the t-shirt design, and Susannah shares the story of how Horst, at age 92, shot the cover photo for The Family album.
Celebration Lineup and Pepe Willie Tribute
The band confirms their position in the Celebration lineup, performing third out of five acts. Jellybean mentions he will also be performing with The Time. The group then pays tribute to Pepe Willie, acknowledging his influence on Prince's early career. Jerome shares his plans for the Minneapolis Sound Museum, aiming to highlight the contributions of lesser-known musicians from the North Side.
Jerome Benton, Susannah Melvoin, and Minneapolis Sound Museum
Jerome shares his gratitude for being chosen by Prince and emphasizes the importance of protecting their legacy. Susannah discusses her current focus on writing music and promotes her daughter's recent signing with Warner Brothers. Jerome promotes his Minneapolis Sound Museum, aiming to preserve the history of North Side musicians.
Morris Hayes and Tony M Join the Show: Anecdotes and Upcoming Projects
Morris Hayes and Tony M join the show, sharing stories and anecdotes from their time working with Prince. Morris recounts Whitney Houston's admiration for Michael Bland and a humorous encounter with Ray Charles. Tony shares stories about Bobby Brown's antics and a tense moment at a club in London. Morris promotes an upcoming MPG show at First Avenue on July 10th, emphasizing the importance of supporting fellow musicians and honoring Prince's legacy.
Celebration Week Events and Parking Information
The hosts discuss the availability of single-day tickets for the Celebration concert and speculate on the reasons why tickets are still available. They provide information about parking options for those attending the concert, including parking at Lake Anne Park and walking to Paisley Park. They also highlight other events happening in Minneapolis during Celebration week, including the launch party at First Avenue and a Purple Rain screening at the Parkway Theater.
Show Wrap-up and Final Thoughts
The hosts thank their guests and viewers for tuning in, recapping the highlights of the show, including the appearance of The Family, Morris Hayes, and Tony M. They remind viewers about the upcoming "In Honor of Prince" event on Patreon and encourage them to download the Funkt Up app. Mr. Christopher shares his plans to travel to Minneapolis for Celebration week and expresses his excitement for the events to come.
