The New Power Generation is a band assembled by Prince in late 1990 in order to back him up during his live appearances.
After disbanding The Revolution, Prince had been using a live backing band on tours from 1987 to 1990 that did not have a name as such. Following the 1990 Nude Tour, Prince first started referring to his band as "The New Power Generation", a term first used in the song No. The abbreviation, NPG, was also featured on the back of at least one of the band member’s wardrobe during the 1988 Lovesexy Tour.
On the 1990 soundtrack album Graffiti Bridge there is also a song dubbed New Power Generation, but at the time it is not attributed to Prince’s backing band per se. Like he did with The Revolution previously, Prince coupled his name with "The New Power Generation" on his two next albums.
The 90’s
During the early nineties the band evolved from a backing band to an entity of its own, for which Prince composed material and produced a number of albums, like he had done for The Time previously. Members were encouraged to actively participate in the music creation process, for Prince’s album as well as "The New Power Generation (shortened to The NPG) albums projects and other Prince’s productions for protégé(e)s or related artists.
In 1996, Prince disbanded "The NPG" and all its members were taken off the retainer. He then began to form a new band, keeping only the "NPG" moniker. Although not being as prominent as in the former "NPG" concept, the band members kept an influential role during studio sessions and live performances. The third "NPG" album, Newpower Soul, reflected these changes: Prince was now openly a member of the band, and its lead singer.
The 00’s
The first half of the new millennium saw "The NPG" line-up evolve almost every year. The band released two singles in 2001, but after that no other studio project stamped "The NPG" surfaced. Meanwhile Prince kept giving each member space to express their own skills on stage.
After disbanding "The NPG" once more, following the Musicology Tour, Prince assembled a new band in order to back up his new protégée, Támar Davis. When he went back to touring as a main act, Prince retained the Támar Davis band musicians to form his own backing band. Nevertheless the autonomy and part of creativity that Prince allowed "The NPG" in the nineties were less prominent: The band seemed to have been delegated to serve merely as a backing band for live shows. It should be notated that between 2004 and 2012 the band wasn’t usually referred to as The NPG on tickets or when advertising shows.
The 10’s
The numerous changes in the band over the last few years reflect Prince’s needs on stage, more than what the band would need as members when they would be their own entity. In contrast with earlier line ups, Prince does not exclusively work in studio with its members.
In spite of "The NPG"’s many changes throughout the years, and the fact that today’s line-up has little in common with the initial "NPG", Prince has kept the name of "The New Power Generation / The NPG" to define his band.
In addition, "The NPG" seems to have become a wider concept to Prince than just a band, sometimes also including the concert audiences.
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Line Up
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Original
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1990-1993 Line-up
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- After Miko Weaver leaves Prince’s band (immediately following the Nude Tour), Levi Seacer, Jr. switches from bass to guitar. Sonny Thomson, soon renamed Sonny T. is enlisted as bass player. His first public performance with The NPG is in early October 1990, backing up Tevin Campbell for his TV appearance at the Arsenio Hall Show. While rehearsals with the partially new band take place in December 1990, Tommy Elm soon re-named Tommy Barbarella is enlisted to replace Dr. Fink. In early September 1991 the name New Power Generation is first attributed to the new band line up.
- Lori Elle (Werner) (as 'Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ( as 'Pearl') are recruited as dancers for the Diamonds And Pearls Tour only. A DJ, William "Diamond J." Graves, is also with the band only for the tour. Also enrolled as a dancer on the Diamonds And Pearls Tour is Mayte Garcia. Following the 1992 Diamonds And Pearls Tour, when dancers Lori Elle (Werner) & Robia LaMorte leave, Mayte stays on as a dancer, also due to her developing romantic involvement with Prince. She will perform with The NPG until late 1995, and occasionally afterwards.
During the Diamonds And Pearls Tour The NPG is augmented with an initially nameless horn section, later dubbed the NPG Hornz, comprising Michael Nelson, Brian Gallagher, Kathy J., Dave Jensen and Steve Strand. The NPG Hornz are reinstated for the ensuing Act I and Act II Tours, replacing Brian Gallagher with Kenni Holmen by mid 1994
Rosie Gaines leaves the band in late 1992, and is replaced by Morris Hayes whom, even when he hasn’t been in the line up constantly, would become the longest serving member of the band, and eventually became its leader until he quit in September 2012. Tony Mosley, Kirk Johnson and Damon Dickson, collectively known as The Game Boyz have a prominent role in the pre-NPG live band. They are retained for the Diamonds And Pearls and Act I Tours, but are absent from the Act II Tour backing band, although they do perform with some of the support act sets The NPG did in Europe in August 1993 on the Act II Tour.
1994-1996 Line-up
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- After Levi Seacer, Jr. leaves the band to become staff producer for Paisley Park Records and finally President of NPG Records, Prince does not hire a new guitar player, instead taking over guitar duties himself. He reduces The NPG to a five-piece band (including himself), retaining only Mayte Garcia for dance and background vocals duties.
The whole band was taken off the retainer in late 1996.
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Evolution
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1997-1999 Line-up
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- Marva King joins the band in early August 1997, after having made a few guest appearances at Prince & The NPG one-off concerts in July 1997. Kat Dyson is enrolled from June until late February 1998. A second guitar player, Mike Scott is hired from December 1996 onwards, and after Kat Dyson leaves, replaces her until late December 1999.
- In 1998 Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer plays on selected shows in the US and Europe. In 1999 Larry Graham temporarily replaces Rhonda Smith on bass, while Prince takes over on guitar in replacement of Kat Dyson and Mike Scott. Kip Blackshire is hired as keyboard player and vocalist the same year.
Percussionist Estaire Godinez plays with the band at selected 1999 performances, while a condensed version of the NPG Hornz comprising Michael Nelson, Dave Jensen, and Kathy J. also plays with the NPG that year.
2000-2001 Line-up
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Starting in April 2001, a vocal quartet, Milenia featuring sisters: Mikele White, Malikah White, Niyoki White and Tia White is added to the line-up. They remain in the band until the end of the Hit N Run Tour.
Maceo Parker starts guesting with the NPG from mid April 2001, before becoming a band regular in 2002.
2002-2004 Line-up
One Nite Alone Tour additional members
World Tour 2003 additional members
Musicology Tour additional members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- From his former band line-up, Prince only retains the rhythm section (John Blackwell and Rhonda Smith) to form a quartet: Renato Neto is hired on keyboards to replace Morris Hayes, gone to tour with Maceo Parker, and trombone player Greg Boyer (from Maceo Parker’s band) for horns duties. Greg Boyer had played twice with The NPG in June 2001; he becomes a band regular starting with the One Nite Alone... Tour. This reduced NPG line-up is augmented with additional horns players and / or keyboard players, depending on stage needs.
- In 2002, Horn section members alter between Maceo Parker (present at most dates), Najee, Candy Dulfer and Eric Leeds, usually playing as a horn trio for shows. Of them Najee, who played his last concert with the band on 6 April 2002 is ’replaced' by Candy Dulfer. Therefore he never shared the stage with her or Eric Leeds who joins the band on 2 May 2002.
- In October 2003, Rose Ann Dimalanta a.k.a rad. first appears with the band. She remains in the line-up until early March 2004, after which she resigns in order to pursue a career outside the Prince camp. Chance Howard is also hired from October 2003 and stays with the band for the next tour. Candy Dulfer joins the World Tour 2003 mid December 2003 in Hawaii and remains in the line up for the Musicology Tour
- In 2004, Maceo Parker rejoins the band full time from 22 April 2004 onward. Mike Scott is added in the line-up early March 2004, while Mike Phillips augments the horn section from mid March 2004 until 20 June 2004.
The whole band was taken of the retainer in later 2004. From the Musicology Tour onward until mid 2013, the band is no longer referred to as The NPG in advertising shows or on tickets.
2006-2008 Line-up
Additional band members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- Having disbanded The NPG by the end of the Musicology Tour, Prince starts looking for new musicians in January 2005. Late 2005, he recruits Cora Coleman-Dunham (drums) and Josh Dunham (bass), to be part of a backing band for his protégée Támar Davis. NPG veteran Morris Hayes (keyboards) is incorporated in the band and Prince takes the guitar player slot. Two back-up singers/dancers Maya McClean and Nandy McClean – collectively known as The Twinz are added to back-up Támar, forming a trio of vocalists / dancers.
After the Támar Tour, by the middle of 2006, the band evolves into the "new NPG".
- Renato Neto, Mike Phillips, Greg Boyer and (on most dates) Maceo Parker are recruited in November 2006 for the Las Vegas shows. Mike Phillips reappears as member of the horns section, from 11 November 2006 onwards, and ex-NPG member, Renato Neto joins the band on 2 December 2006 (a.m.) to reinforce the keyboards section. Not available to join on a full time basis, Maceo Parker remains in The NPG from 25 November 2006 (a.m.) until 14 January 2007 (a.m.) and then plays with the band on selected dates in February and April 2007.
After noticing her in Larry Graham’s band, Prince recruits Shelby J. who first appears on stage as a background singer on 30 December 2006 (a.m.). Trumpet player Lee Hogans is hired from 20 January 2007 to add to the horn section in Maceo Parker’s absence. In order to support the background vox section in London, Marva King rejoins the NPG in the summer of 2007.
25 February 2008 (a.m.) marks the last performance of Greg Boyer, Mike Phillips, Lee Hogans, Marva King and The Twinz with the band, although the Twinz would later return for part of the Welcome 2 America Tour and for the Welcome 2 Australia Tour.
2009-2010 Line-up
Additional band members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- The "new NPG" constantly evolves during 2009 and 2010 as the horns section addition to the band is let go, and the background vocals section is gradually reinforced.
- The "new NPG" continues to evolve during 2009 and 2010 as the horns section is replaced by harmonica player Frédéric Yonnet who first appears with Prince in three performances in June and October 2008. Prince also decides to reinforce the backing vocals and thus enlists Liv Warfield (in January 2009) and former protégée Elisa Fiorillo, now by the name of Elisa Dease (in late March 2009) to support Shelby J..
Cassandra O’Neal is recruited to replace Renato Neto and first appears with the NPG in October 2009. While no longer being a full time NPG-member, Renato Neto appears on keyboards with the NPG for selected shows in the summer of 2010.
This line-up plays with Prince until the last date of the 20TEN Tour.
2010-2012 Line up
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- The NPG line-up changes once more following the 20TEN Tour, when Prince lets go the rhythm section (Cora Coleman-Dunham and Josh Dunham). For the Prince Live 2010 Tour, Prince re-enlists former NPG member John Blackwell, who had been hired for several one-off concerts in 2009, to replace Cora Coleman-Dunham. Newcomer, Ida Nielsen replaces Josh Dunham on bass. The line-up continues to be occasionally augmented with ex-NPG members in 2012 before a brand new 11-piece horn section is added in October.
- Often a guest player during the Prince Live 2010 Tour, Renato Neto is re-enlisted in 2011 to reinforce the keyboards section during the Welcome 2 America Tour. He remains in the band until May 2011.
A guest ballet dancer Misty Copeland performs for the first time with the band on 25 July 2010 in Nice, France. She also guests on some Welcome 2 America Tour shows. As she couldn’t commit on a full time basis to the band schedule, The Twinz are called-in for replacement on 18 January 2011; they are also present at the 21 Nite Stand L.A. residency part of the Welcome 2 America Tour, where Misty also performs some of the dates. The Twinz didn’t do any further touring with the band in 2011 but Prince re-enlists them for the Welcome 2 Australia Tour in May 2012.
Andy Allo joins the band in 2011 for the Welcome 2 America Euro 2011 Tour and the Welcome 2 Canada Tour.
At the NPG Festival in Copenhagen on 6 and 7 August 2011 Marva King replaces Liv Warfield, who was repatriated to the USA for medical reasons at the end of July 2011. Warfield was absent during the remainder of the tour. During Spring 2012, Prince with The NPG (minus Andy Allo) augmented with The Twinz (and newcomer Damaris Lewis) for dance duties embarks on the Welcome 2 Australia Tour.
After a four-month break, Prince re-enlists former NPG member Mike Scott on guitar for the "Welcome 2 Chicago" residency. Newcomer Andrew Gouché occasionally replaces Ida Nielsen on bass (in this case Ida Nielsen plays guitar), while Hannah Ford plays with The NPG for the first time as occasional drummer. Prince also uses the opportunity of the "Welcome 2 Chicago" residency to unveil a new 11-piece horn section.
In October 2012 Ledisi, who previously performed with The NPG a few times in 2009, replaced Shelby J. for a few performances, she was unavailable to attend.
After the Welcome 2 Chicago residency, in late 2012, Morris Hayes is let go; Mike Scott is hired by Justin Timberlake and subsequently leaves the band; Andy Allo pursues her solo career.
2013 - 2015
NPG Hornz
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- The NPG evolves into a big band as Prince fully incorporates the 11-piece into the band, dubbing them NPG Hornz. John Blackwell plays his last gig with the band in March, and is replaced by Hannah Ford from 3rdEyeGirl. Andrew Gouché replaces Ida Nielsen on bass while she changes position to play guitar and occasionally bass while Donna Grantis, newly recruited for the 3rdEyeGirl band, is given the guitar soloist duties (leaving Prince more room for stage entertainment). Morris Hayes is not replaced and all keyboard samples duties are left to Cassandra O’Neal.
- In January 2013, Prince recruits Ronald Bruner Jr. as new NPG drummer for three shows at Dakota Jazz Club, Minnepolis, MN, USA. Damaris Lewis and Joshua Welton appear occasionally as dancers (Welton also sometimes plays percussion). Rhani Krija is invited to join the band as guest in December 2013 for the 3 shows at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, USA.
Not having used the 'The NPG moniker for the band since early 2004, the name returns in 2013 to distinguish performances with a fuller line-up form those done with 3rdEyeGirl.
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