Prince shows sell out in minutes!

[unique]

Prince shows sell out in minutes

http://www.thedawnexperience.co.uk/images/O2.jpg
Demand causes internet booking site to crash

Prince (http://www.nme.com/artists/prince) caused an internet booking site to crash after it took just 20 minutes for more than 140,000 tickets to be snapped up by fans.

Tickets for the first seven shows of his 21 date O2 Arena residency went on sale at 9AM this morning (May 11).

Within an hour, many fans were selling the £31.21 priced tickets, capped by Prince (http://www.nme.com/artists/prince) himself, at five times the asking price on Ebay.

Organisers immediately added a further eight concerts at the arena, which are expected to sell out just as quickly.

The new dates will take place on August 17, 18, 28, 31 and September 1, 9, 12 and 13.



http://www.nme.com/news/prince/28295

[unique]

Prince Adds Eight New O2 Arena Shows

After first seven sell out…

Prince has added eight new shows to his 02 Arena residency in London, after tickets for the first seven shows were all snapped up this morning.
Tickets for the seven night extravaganza – which is part of a twenty-one date string of gigs in the capital – went on sale at 9am this morning. However, eagerly keen fans, all desperate to see the superstar take to the stage for what will be his final greatest hits showcase, soon snapped up the tickets, priced at £31.21.
Desperate for his fans to see him perform however, Prince has now added another eight 02 Arena dates.

Besides the £31.21 tickets – which come with a free copy of Prince’s latest album - there are also VIP Gold Circle tickets available for all the dates, priced at £235 each.
Today’s Prince hysteria, which will now see the legend extend his captial stay into September, comes after the singer performed a surprise gig at London’s KOKO last night (May 10th). For a synopsis of the gig click here (http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=31526).
Tickets for the new shows are on sale now.
Prince’s new tour dates are as follows:
London O2 Arena -
August - 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, 17*, 18*, 28*, 31*
September - 01*, 09*, 12*, 13*
* - Denotes new show




http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=31541

[unique]

Prince £31-a-ticket shows sell out in minutes

By ALEXA BARACAIA and ANDRE PAINE -

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/princeG1105_228x554.jpg
Prince: The artist formerly known as towel

More than 140,000 tickets for Prince’s London concerts this summer sold out within 20 minutes, causing the internet booking site to crash.
Organisers immediately added a further six concerts at the O2 Arena - the former Millennium Dome - and these were also expected to sell fast.

Within an hour some fans were selling £31.21 tickets - capped by Prince in a ground-breaking move to make them affordable to everyone - on eBay at five times the asking price.

A tour insider said: “It sold out even quicker than we could have anticipated. Prince is in London meeting his promoters to discuss what dates could be organised next.”

In all, he will play 21 dates in London.

An audience of 1,500 lucky fans were able to see the US star at an extraordinary secret two-hour performance at Koko.


Little Britain star David Walliams, singers Mika and Will Young and DJ Chris Moyles were among the audience.


At 48, Prince remains untouchable as a musician and performer.


But this was also a reminder that while he was happy to walk among the people, he is evidently not of the people.


As such, his zealous bouncers ensured he was never actually touched by the crowd.

His late arrival - around 11.45pm - was to be expected.


That came after his - admittedly brilliant - band had launched into a funk workout that included a tedious trombone solo in the first song.


When he strolled on stage in a furry white hat and started yelping and sliding around during Satisfied, the audience reaction was noisily ecstatic.

But the mercurial singer decided to tease us, leaving the stage to his band again, before returning to say mockingly: "So many hits, so little time!"
After that, it should have been easy. But rather than the hits he teased us with, there was material from last year's merely adequate 3121 album, and plenty of playful showing off.
It was often incredible to watch, especially when Kiss got a welcome airing.
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/princePLANET1105_468x509.jpgPrince rocks: The purple one takes to the stage for a warm-up gig prior to a 21-date residency in London in August


http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/snowdonG1105_468x693.jpgLegs eleven: TV presenter Lisa Snowdon and Abi Titmuss both turned out to rock with the pint-sized purple one

But a bizarre incident halfway through nearly scuppered the evening. Several fans were pulled on stage to dance and, amid a party atmosphere, one girl gave him a peck on the cheek.
Apparently joking, Prince fell to the floor, but a bouncer appeared and removed the fan from the stage.

Prince disappeared and then returned with his head wrapped in a towel, muttering darkly about being kissed by a stranger.
Suddenly, the atmosphere sagged noticeably. That made his recovery all the more remarkable with a simply awesome 40-minute finale.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/peachesPA1105_468x454.jpgPeaches Geldof and friend, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor with musician husband Richard Jones who plays in band The Feeling

There were great covers performed with vocalist Shelby J, including Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and Amy Winehouse's Love Is A Losing Game. ("Respect to Amy," said Prince.)
Then we got hits, including U Got the Look, followed by encores of Nothing Compares 2 U and Let's Go Crazy, adorned with Prince's squealing guitar.
He returned to the stage for one final speech in praise of the London crowd - and a promise that the 02 shows will be his greatest gigs yet.

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/04_03/davidwalliamBIG1105_468x400.jpgDavid Walliams with favourite gal pal Lisa Snowdon and Fearne Cotton with a male pal


Singer Prince sung the praises of British singer Amy Winehouse at his surprise gig.

The pint-sized purple one, who has expressed a desire to work with Winehouse, declared onstage: "Respect to Amy Winehouse, respect! What a voice!".

And in honour of his musical crush, one of his backing vocalists took the lead on Amy's song 'Love Is A Losing Game' from her hit album Back to Black, a song he's said to be keen to perform with her during his residency in London in a few months time.

Although Amy did not attend the show, due to performing commitments in New York, according to The Star, the singer said she would "drop everything" for the opportunity to work with the Minneapolis native.

She said: "I hope I can do the gigs. I'd do it with bells on - all day long."
The new dates are on 17,18, 28 and 31 August and 1 and 9 September, call 08719840002 for tickets.




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=454090&in_page_id=1773

[Lolita]

I WAS THERE AT KOKO!!!! IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! MY FIRST TIME SEEING PRINCE LIVE!! I CANT EVEN PUT INTO WORDS HOW GREAT IT WAS!

ps. the girl was dragged off stage for straddling and 'Humping' on Prince when he mock-fainted on the floor. it was soooooo funny! she must be so embarrased! (but chuffed at the same time