More about: Prince
Purple Fever looks set to grip London once again, with Prince strongly rumoured to be playing a surprise gig at Koko in Camden tonight (Monday 2 February, 2015).
UPDATE: The gig did indeed happen - read our full report here
His Royal Badness is known for his love of a good impromptu gig, and sent the UK into a frenzy last February with a string of epic, last-minute shows in London and Manchester.
Now, word on the street (well, mainly Twitter) is that the 'Purple Rain' icon will be hitting up Koko in Camden tonight for the Autism Rocks charity and is due on stage around 10pm. If true, ticket details will be announced shortly.
Check back at Gigwise for the latest Prince updates, meanwhile, here's what Twitter has to say:
I will arise and go now. To Camden Town. For Prince has arrived. And he done brought the Funk. #autismrocks pic.twitter.com/EAMK8Q37w6
— trevor beattie (@trevorbmbagency) February 2, 2015
Off to a gig at Koko tonight. Small chap. American. Writes a lot of songs, plays a lot of instruments. Popular in the 80s.
— Simon Price (@simon_price01) February 2, 2015
4 those of U attending Koko in London 2night, have fun, stay safe! #PrinceArmy #AutismRocks #PrinceWatch True... http://t.co/IF0GJhcmNc
— The Prince Army (@ThePrinceArmy) February 2, 2015
Anyone lucky enough to get tickets to see Prince at KOKO tonight? #secretgig
— Matt Frost (@Globocop) February 2, 2015
So, Prince @KOKOLondon tonight #autismrocks? What's going on? invite only?????? #wheresmyinvite?
— Jo Jo (@Jojo_WBrown) February 2, 2015
Mega gigs in Camden tonight #1 Prince worst-kept-secret @Koko for Autism Rocks, #2 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds @ Tufnell Park Dome
— roisin gadelrab (@roisingadelrab) February 2, 2015
It's going to be EPIC: His Royal Badness is renowned for his gigs lasting upwards on three hours long, often until the sun rises - so much so that at a recent show for fans at his Paisley Park home, he told guests to come in their pyjamas and expect breakfast to be served. What a guy.
Prepare to party: During his last UK gig at Hop Farm festival, the Purple One effortlessly slipped in glorious renditions of songs by Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Wild Cherry, Sly and the Family Stone and The Beatles. He embodies all that is truly great about the best of everything in pop, rock, soul, funk, gospel and more - and makes every gig feel like the best wedding disco EVER. A celebration of REAL music.
It could be very intimate: Last year, a source told The Sun newspaper: "Prince has gone back to basics this year, playing in front of 300 people at the SXSW festival in Texas. He’s now on a US tour of small club shows and wants to do something similar in the UK later in the new year. It’s still to be decided if he’ll stay at one small venue and play 20 or more gigs or split his time between a few places around the country. Prince has asked his team to find unusual venues his fans wouldn't expect him to play."
Expect some new material: Yup, he's dropping his upcoming 36th (THIRTY SIXTH!) album Plectrum Electrum later this year.
It's going to rock: His new band 3rdEyeGirl have injected the Kiss star with a hard rush of adrenaline, making his new material like 'Screwdriver', 'Fixurlifeup' and 'Da Bourgeoisie' much rockier and with a filthy funk vibe. We wouldn't have it any other way.
ANTHEM AFTER ANTHEM AFTER ANTHEM: Who else boasts a catalogue with as many stone-cold feel-good classics as Prince? No one, that's who. He's got 'Kiss', 'Raspberry Beret', 'Gold', 'Little Red Corvette', 'Purple Rain', 'Let's Go Crazy'....we could go on. Hell, he may even crack out 'Pussy Control'.
Prepare to lose your voice: "Dearly beloved - we are gathered here today to get through this thing called 'life'. Electric word 'life', it means forever and that's a mighty long time but I'm here to tell you, there's something else..."
The man has exquisite banter: It's true, there are few finer showmen in the business. Coming from the James Brown old school of how to work a crowd properly, Mr Prince Rogers Nelson has the catty chat to go with his feline moves.
He's a bloody icon: Bowie won't tour, Jacko has sadly departed this Earth, Sir Paul McCartney plays everywhere all the time and Madonna just wants to shake her bits into old aged embarrassment. Prince however, is the living, breathing embodiment of pop music. He's a hero, so make sure you give him a hero's welcome when he touches down in London.
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More about: Prince