We talk to Steve Parke, who for 13 years was Prince's Art Director at Paisley Park. Fulfilling all of his boyhood dreams required tenacity, imagination and always thinking on his feet.
12/14/24 • 47 min
INTRO
2mins30secs - how do you get from being a teenager on the school bus with your friends, with dreams of rock stars, to actually being at Paisley Park working as Art Director for Prince?
7mins - Coming up with a set design in 3 hours!
9mins30s - Coming full circle with Prince's best friend at High School, Andre Cymone...
11mins30s - Lovesexy t-shirt made in a hotel room - but how to get Prince's likeness...??
14mins - Three different Princes...? '...he could be tough with the musicians...'
17mins - "He expected so much more from himself..."
18mins - Being brought out to work on The Gold Experience, and 'being thrown right into the fire'
19mins - Working 120 hours a week...and being asked to move out to Minneapolis. Then saying no!
23mins - Coping mechanisms. 'I think everyone's relationship with him was different...'
25mins - ...how Prince motivated Steve, and swapping music with your idol.
33mins30s - Next assignment - being flown to Birmingham to paint Prince's eyes, having no passport in London and Graffiti Bridge...
38mins - Re-doing the artwork and Salvador Dali ideas...
43mins - Support networks in Paisley Park...'it was like a big family...'
How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!
The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.
LINKS
Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media.
Email me at: [email protected] if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show.
#prince4ever #love4oneanother
INTRO
2mins30secs - how do you get from being a teenager on the school bus with your friends, with dreams of rock stars, to actually being at Paisley Park working as Art Director for Prince?
7mins - Coming up with a set design in 3 hours!
9mins30s - Coming full circle with Prince's best friend at High School, Andre Cymone...
11mins30s - Lovesexy t-shirt made in a hotel room - but how to get Prince's likeness...??
14mins - Three different Princes...? '...he could be tough with the musicians...'
17mins - "He expected so much more from himself..."
18mins - Being brought out to work on The Gold Experience, and 'being thrown right into the fire'
19mins - Working 120 hours a week...and being asked to move out to Minneapolis. Then saying no!
23mins - Coping mechanisms. 'I think everyone's relationship with him was different...'
25mins - ...how Prince motivated Steve, and swapping music with your idol.
33mins30s - Next assignment - being flown to Birmingham to paint Prince's eyes, having no passport in London and Graffiti Bridge...
38mins - Re-doing the artwork and Salvador Dali ideas...
43mins - Support networks in Paisley Park...'it was like a big family...'
How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!
The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.
LINKS
Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media.
Email me at: [email protected] if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show.
#prince4ever #love4oneanother
Previous Episode
In part 2 we talk to Omar about the ownership of his work and masters, his many creative outlets, the resurgence of vinyl, being a vessel for music, spirituality and carrying the torch for a new generation.
In part 2 - we talk to Omar about the ownership of his work and masters, his many creative outlets, the resurgence of vinyl, being a vessel for music, spirituality and carrying the torch for a new generation.
2mins - Ownership of master tapes and adapting to the music industry as is now
5mins - Playing smaller venues, and keeping connected to communities... "where Prince was doing his after parties - that was where I was doing my gigs..."
7mins - Dabbling in acting, starring in BBC1s EastEnders and additional creative outlets
8mins30s - Writing for other people... Should've Known Better by Mica Paris
9mins - Collaborations with other artists - Leon Ware; Lamont Dozier; Syreeta Wright; Common; Erykah Badu; Kele Le Roc; Terri Walker; Angie Stone
9mins45s - Working with his brother Scratch Professor
11mins - Re-releasing earlier albums on vinyl?
13mins - Other things Omar wants to achieve, and live vs the studio
15mins30s - Favourite Stevie Wonder moments musically...Venue Fly Trap and The Bug
16mins30s - New album on limited vinyl - with monthly releases in 2025
18mins30s - Back in the US on tour for the first time in many years...but also seeing precious family members
20mins - Being a vessel for music...as a spiritual thing?
22mins - Testing songs out on the radio, Little Boy?
23mins - Re-recording an anthem...There's Nothing Like This...
26mins - Making parents proud and emerging talents on the scene...
28mins - Surviving the lockdown, earning money, and a new relationship with social media
29mins30s - Streaming live performances, and working on various projects
30mins30s - Passing the artistic baton on...
How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!
The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.
LINKS
Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media.
Email me at: [email protected] if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show.
#prince4ever #love4oneanother
Next Episode
In part 2 of our interview with former Art Director Steve Parke, we discuss the first Paisley Park Celebration in 2000, magic moments and opportunities beyond his wildest dreams, but also a parting of the ways after 13 years. Essential listening.
PART 2
2mins30s - The Paisley Park studios summer music festival 'Celebration' in 2000
7mins - Prince having extraordinary vision, and being the hardest working person in the building.
10mins - Prince asks Steve very personal Qs, on naming his son and his spirituality...
13mins30s - A Jeep or a BMW??
14mins - A very magical moment with Prince...
18mins30s - Acoustic Prince
19mins45s - The recording of One Nite Alone, hearing the grand piano...and doves in the atrium...
22mins - Photographing Prince in the open air and countryside of Minneapolis
26mins - A moment of realisation, and a parting of the ways after 13 years...
34mins - The human toll of a long career... Steve's observations.
38mins - Celebration #1: family members stop by at a dance party at Paisley Park...?
39mins30s - Jellybean Johnson being supportive...and being inspired by a cousin's hairstyle...
42mins30s - Prince: ICON photo exhibition and book, how it all came together
48mins30s - What does Steve think Prince's lasting legacy will be?
50mins - Having a unique segment of time, that wasn't purely about 'the music'...and opportunities beyond your wildest dreams.
52mins - 'He believed in people and pushed you beyond what you thought you could do for yourself...'
53mins30s - Cancel culture and public figures. 'Having a perspective on someone's entire life is important...'
58mins - The Prince Estate - projects past and present...
How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!
The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.
LINKS
Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media.
Email me at: [email protected] if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show.
#prince4ever #love4oneanother
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