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The New Power Generation, frequently abbreviated to The NPG, is the name given to the band (of a variety of line ups) assembled by Prince in late 1990 and onward, 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 was not attributed to Prince’s backing band per se. As he done with The Revolution previously, Prince coupled his name with "The New Power Generation" on his next two 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 relegated to serve merely as a backing band for live shows. It should be noted 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 reflected 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 did not exclusively work in the 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 increasingly become applied by Prince beyond just his 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 left Prince’s band (immediately following the Nude Tour), Levi Seacer, Jr. switched from bass to guitar. Sonny Thomson, soon renamed Sonny T. was enlisted as bass player. His first public performance with The NPG was in early October 1990, backing up Tevin Campbell for his TV appearance at the Arsenio Hall Show. While rehearsals with the partially new band took place in December 1990, Tommy Elm soon re-named Tommy Barbarella was enlisted to replace Dr. Fink. In early September 1991 the name, New Power Generation, was first attributed to the new band line up.
- Lori Elle (Werner) (as 'Diamond') and Robia LaMorte ( as 'Pearl') were recruited as dancers for the Diamonds And Pearls Tour only. A DJ, William "Diamond J." Graves, was also with the band only for the tour. Also enrolled as a dancer on the Diamonds And Pearls Tour was Mayte Garcia. Following the 1992 Diamonds And Pearls Tour, when dancers Lori Elle (Werner) and Robia LaMorte left, Mayte stayed on as a dancer, also due to her developing romantic involvement with Prince. She performed with The NPG until late 1995, and occasionally afterwards.
During the Diamonds And Pearls Tour The NPG was 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 were reinstated for the ensuing Act I and Act II Tours, replacing Brian Gallagher with Kenni Holmen by mid 1994
Rosie Gaines left the band in late 1992, and was replaced by Morris Hayes who, although not featuring 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 had a prominent role in the pre-NPG live band. They were retained for the Diamonds And Pearls and Act I Tours, but were absent from the Act II Tour backing band, although they did perform with some of The NPG support act sets The NPG in Europe in August 1993 on the Act II Tour.
1994-1996 Line-up
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- After Levi Seacer, Jr. left the band to become staff producer for Paisley Park Records and finally President of NPG Records, Prince did not hire a new guitar player, instead taking over guitar duties himself. He reduced The NPG to a five-piece band (including himself), retaining only Mayte Garcia for dance and background vocal 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 joined 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 was enrolled from June until late February 1998. A second guitar player, Mike Scott was hired from December 1996 onwards, and after Kat Dyson left, replaces her until late December 1999.
- In 1998 Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer played on selected shows in the US and Europe. In 1999 Larry Graham temporarily replaced Rhonda Smith on bass, while Prince took over on guitar in replacement of Kat Dyson and Mike Scott. Kip Blackshire was hired as keyboard player and vocalist the same year.
Percussionist Estaire Godinez played with the band at selected 1999 performances, while a condensed version of the NPG Hornz comprising Michael Nelson, Dave Jensen, and Kathy J. also played 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 was added to the line-up. They remained in the band until the end of the Hit N Run Tour.
Maceo Parker started 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 retained the rhythm section of (John Blackwell and Rhonda Smith) to form a quartet: Renato Neto was hired on keyboards to replace Morris Hayes (who had gone to tour with Maceo Parker); and trombone player Greg Boyer (from Maceo Parker’s band) was hired for horn duties. Greg Boyer had played twice with The NPG in June 2001; he became a band regular starting with the One Nite Alone... Tour. This reduced NPG line-up was augmented with additional horn and / or keyboard players, depending on stage needs.
- In 2002, horn section members alternated 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 was ’replaced' by Candy Dulfer. Therefore he never shared the stage with her or Eric Leeds who joined the band on 2 May 2002.
- In October 2003, Rose Ann Dimalanta a.k.a rad. first appeared with the band. She remained in the line-up until early March 2004, after which she resigned in order to pursue a career outside the Prince camp. Chance Howard was also hired from October 2003 and stayed with the band for the next tour. Candy Dulfer joined the World Tour 2003 mid December 2003 in Hawaii and remained in the line up for the Musicology Tour
- In 2004, Maceo Parker rejoined the band full time from 22 April 2004 onward. Mike Scott was added to the line-up early March 2004, while Mike Phillips augmented 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 was 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 recruited 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) was incorporated in the band and Prince took the guitar player slot. Two back-up singers/dancers Maya McClean and Nandy McClean, collectively known as The Twinz, were added to back-up Támar, forming a trio of vocalists / dancers.
After the Támar Tour, by the middle of 2006, the band evolved into the "new NPG".
- Renato Neto, Mike Phillips, Greg Boyer and (on most dates) Maceo Parker were recruited in November 2006 for the Las Vegas shows. Mike Phillips reappeared as a member of the horn section, from 11 November 2006 onward, and ex-NPG member, Renato Neto joined the band on 2 December 2006 (a.m.) to reinforce the keyboards section. Not available to join on a full time basis, Maceo Parker remained in The NPG from 25 November 2006 (a.m.) until 14 January 2007 (a.m.) and then played with the band on selected dates in February and April 2007.
After noticing her in Larry Graham’s band, Prince recruited Shelby J. who first appeared on stage as a background singer on 30 December 2006 (a.m.). Trumpet player Lee Hogans was 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 rejoined The NPG in the summer of 2007.
25 February 2008 (a.m.) marked 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 evolved during 2009 and 2010 as the horn section addition to the band was let go, and the background vocals section was gradually reinforced.
- The "new NPG" continued to evolve during 2009 and 2010. The horn section was replaced by harmonica player Frédéric Yonnet who first appeared with Prince in three performances in June and October 2008. Prince also decided to reinforce the backing vocals, enlisting Liv Warfield (in January 2009) and former protégée Elisa Fiorillo, now known by the name of Elisa Dease, (in late March 2009) to support Shelby J..
Cassandra O’Neal was recruited to replace Renato Neto and first appeared with The NPG in October 2009. While no longer being a full time NPG-member, Renato Neto appeared on keyboards with The NPG for selected shows in the summer of 2010.
This line-up played 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 changed once more following the 20TEN Tour, when Prince let go the rhythm section (Cora Coleman-Dunham and Josh Dunham). For the Prince Live 2010 Tour, Prince re-enlisted former NPG member John Blackwell, who had been hired for several one-off concerts in 2009, to replace Cora Coleman-Dunham. Newcomer, Ida Nielsen replaced Josh Dunham on bass. The line-up continued to be occasionally augmented with ex-NPG members in 2012 before a brand new 11-piece horn section was added in October.
- Often a guest player during the Prince Live 2010 Tour, Renato Neto was re-enlisted in 2011 to reinforce the keyboards section during the Welcome 2 America Tour. He remained in the band until May 2011.
A guest ballet dancer, Misty Copeland performed for the first time with the band on 25 July 2010 in Nice, France. She also guested on some Welcome 2 America Tour shows. As she couldn’t commit on a full time basis to the band schedule, The Twinz were called-in for replacement on 18 January 2011; they were also present at the 21 Nite Stand L.A. residency part of the Welcome 2 America Tour, where Misty also performed some of the dates. The Twinz didn’t do any further touring with the band in 2011 but Prince re-enlisted them for the Welcome 2 Australia Tour in May 2012.
Andy Allo joined 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 replaced 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 embarked on the Welcome 2 Australia Tour.
After a four-month break, Prince re-enlisted former NPG member Mike Scott on guitar for the "Welcome 2 Chicago" residency. Newcomer Andrew Gouché occasionally replaced Ida Nielsen on bass (on which occasions Ida Nielsen played guitar), while Hannah Ford played with The NPG for the first time as occasional drummer. Prince also used the opportunity of the "Welcome 2 Chicago" residency to unveil a new 11-piece horn section.
In October 2012 Ledisi, who had previously performed with The NPG a few times in 2009, replaced Shelby J. for the few performances that she was unavailable to attend.
After the Welcome 2 Chicago residency, in late 2012, Morris Hayes was let go; Mike Scott was hired by Justin Timberlake and subsequently left the band; Andy Allo pursued her solo career.
2013 - 2015
NPG Hornz
Additional Band Members
Personnel
- Making of original line-up
- The NPG evolved into a big band as Prince fully incorporated the 11-piece horn section into the band, dubbing them NPG Hornz. John Blackwell played his last gig with the band in March, and was replaced by Hannah Ford from 3rdEyeGirl. Andrew Gouché replaced Ida Nielsen on bass while she changed position to play guitar and occasionally bass while Donna Grantis, newly recruited for the 3rdEyeGirl band, was given the guitar soloist duties (leaving Prince more room for stage entertainment). Morris Hayes was not replaced and all keyboard sample duties were left to Cassandra O’Neal.
- In January 2013, Prince recruited Ronald Bruner Jr. as the new NPG drummer for three shows at Dakota Jazz Club, Minnepolis, MN, USA. Damaris Lewis and Joshua Welton appeared occasionally as dancers (Welton also sometimes played percussion). Rhani Krija was 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 returned in 2013 to distinguish performances with a fuller line-up from those done with 3rdEyeGirl.
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