John Blackwell was a beast on the drums. RIP

RIP JOHN. The drummer was my favorite of his drummers. He passed away.

Factoid: Prince performed in the round in 1988. Sixteen years later, he toured again in the round, and said that the energy coming at him from all angles was so crazy, he vowed to always tour in the round. He kept that promise until his last tour in which he performed solo with only a piano.

Ha..love it...imagine David Gilmour or Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck doing this...standing still as a statue, stoic and looking BORED TO DEATH...only Prince covered this kind of real estate and played this damn good.

Nobody has more talent than Prince

He is all over the guitar, hands glide and he makes it look so easy. He is fluid.

Yes Prince is absolutely incredible!! I was lucky enough to go to his Coming to America concert @ Madison Square Garden twice. It was like going to two completely different shows!! These shows were back to back. Prince has soo many hits that he did different songs each night. I remember watching an interview with members in Prince's band. This is before I attended his concerts.They said you have to be on your toes to work with Prince. He picks the song in an instant during his live concerts. So you never know what song he wants to sing or in what order until the last minute. How impressive is that!!!! Unbelievable!!!! What other performer does that. I witness it first hand.

Also this was after the concert. After many encores no doubt. Hours of performing then he keeps playing for the dedicated fans who know to stay until the very end. I have watched this about 100 times. It never gets old.

Prince live performance awesomeness is just endless. It's the great thing about him. Live he's better. And he's already awesome.

Imagine being there feeling the vibration around the space. He was music and channeled it through him. Such talent will not come again and he would always improvise during solos because he could so readily. He was said to have got the best out of his musicians, in fact they were themselves amazed as what they could achieve.

I just saw a Reaction to Prince doing ‘ nothing compares 2U’ live in 1994. He was playing the piano like he does his guitar, that is magic to see. Worth looking up that live performance to see the talent that man had.

He’s something isn’t he! Prince and John (drummer) have left the earth plain … but appreciation of their art like you are showing here keeps them here with us! ☺️ I’ve seen at least 10 reviews of this performance… but I’m really enjoying yours! Thank you (Prince fanatic of over 47 years) 💜

He made everything seem so easy and with negligible effort, so much so, we didn’t appreciate the talent until we compared him qto others. His music took you along with it and transformed his audience.

This was the encore - if you watch carefully, the band has no idea what song they are about to perform... The backing singer (Shelby J) doesn't know what they are doing until he plays the intro, you can see her reaction... John Blackwell didn't have snare on because he didn't know what was coming... That's a well drilled band. Real music by real musicians.

Prince does a cover of Creep live at Coachella it is a must see!!

Prince the best artist ever 💜

Prince played all his music LOUD. In his car, his Studio, on his stage at PP and when playing live. We lost the best ever.

That is the best and correct description of the talent in Princes guitar playing. “ He is so articulate in his guitar 14:57 playing”.You know when he is playing because no other person is as musical with their playing. I love how he has no need to concentrate or look at how he is playing like others do. He is enjoying being involved in the music. This is why people don’t really see the full magic in his playing because he makes it look so easy.

OMG..im not even 5 mins in and had to pause to say that this is the best reaction I've watched to one of the best pieces of live Prince footage floating around the internet. Like many others, I've been a frequent flyer on this funky purple experience. Those faces and swag never get boring 🤩

Sooo enjoyed your reaction!! The Purple Yoda from Minnesota shows out once again. This man has enough swag for us all. His band is so tight and he definitely has some of the best musicians because everyone wants to be a "part of". Prince has complete control and makes it all just look to easy! RIP John and Prince 🎶💜☂️

I have been watching reactions for years but your breakdown of every musical instrument , every vocal, has made me appreciate the whole experience with new eyes. I have never subscribed before and at the age of 74 yrs. old I thank you .

Ida is a beast on BASS. The drummer is John Blackwell. He passed away from a brain tumor. May he rest in peace. The keyboardist is RENATO NETO. He has his own band when he wasn't playing with Prince. That was the 3rd of 4 encores. If you want to see an action packed video plus Prince playing the drums watch It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night by Prince. But please enjoy and stop stopping so much

Awesome reaction man, loved your enthusiasm and musical knowledge, the things you notice ... and with Prince there is so much to discover and learn! You should do more reactions to Prince, to me and many others including his peers he is the best live performer the world has ever seen!

I was glad to hear you say that if you are going to play in Prince’s band, you have to be able to meet a high standard. All his musicians say he got them playing better than when they came to him. He was a teacher and a leader by example.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation Prince was a performer, way ahead of his time. A singer, writer, producer, composer, choreographer, and a multi-talented musician who was probably the most underrated guitar player of his time and in my opinion the most creative guitar player since Hendrix . As a tribute to this genius, please find link below for another live performance highlighting the showmanship, the ease with which he slips into his role as the guitar player, blending in perfectly with a galaxy of performing stars yet maintaining his personality as a showman on stage. RIP the Master kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mr2CdtKgq7HPY5c.html

Great insight my friend...long live the Purple one of ⭐PRINCE⭐ 🕊

It's cool to see a reaction from someone with so much technical knowledge on the setups, instruments, etc.

I think I read that this was another encore after three or so and many of the audience had left for home, definitely regretting it after hearing about his many encores. Prince just loved to play music wherever.

Prince had the best musicians available at the time and they stayed for years with him. He was a tough band leader and rehearsals went for hours. After live shows Prince would find a club and after showers and freshening up, they would play another 3 to 4 hours. They were recorded also and all this is stored in his vaults with unreleased albums and 8000 singles, videos etc. Everything he did, even jams with other musicians, was recorded. His Estate says there is enough unreleased music for 100 years. You need to understand that the industry tried to keep him down because he broke down and changed the control of the record companies that had over Artists. One crucial change was that the Masters are no longer owned by the record companies. He fought the industry and won but he paid the price. See the Slave Trade - Prince Documentary. The Prince Encyclopedia. He changed the industry.

He was such a small statue and yet on stage he was 10 feet tall.

I watch this performance at least once a week. It’s crazy that this was like the 4th encore of the night. Can you react to his cover of Creep at Coachella and his live performance of Empty Room. And if you want to see more of John Blackwell going nuts you should watch them play shhh live.

This is one of the most authentic reactions I've seen.

Man, I worked for a music distributor for many years and I have to say I really enjoyed your technical breakdowns and intricacies of the instruments of the various instruments from a musician's point of view....props to you my man

Prince covered a Funk Masterpiece and killed it..

Imagine what is still to come out of the vaults? He recorded everything.

yes Prince Drummer John Blackwell Jr. was a fantastic drummer. A big loss when he died in 2017.

Love your enthusiasm! Gotta take a deep dive now into more of his greatest performances...I know your analysis could really make it enjoyable for all of us! Thanks!

Wonderful reaction to most impressive artist I‘ve seen and will see. I miss him…

Dude, that's the late John Blackwell on drums. He was a freakin' beast!

Prince - Backstage Pass : The making of “Purple Rain” the Movie. (Iconic music) is a live show that you may be interested in, in 1982. He would have been 25 years old. In my personal opinion he was always this good. He wrote so many hit songs for people such as Manic Monday, Celine Dion, Cindy Lauper, The Silver Fox, Sinead O’Connor, Joe Cocker and others.

Prince being the stellar multi-instrumentalist that he was (and perfectionist) had some the best musicians in his bands. The keyboardist is Renaldo Netto.

You should React to any of Prince's 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival Live performances. In particular, Prince's "All The Critics Love You In Montreux"(NY) performance. Just a thought.

Love watching Prince videos with others 💜

It may already be pointed out in the comments… but the guitar is NOT a Fender Telecaster. It’s Hohner Madcat. Different pickups/configuration from a Fender Tele as well.

I love your reaction and such appreciation.

John Blackwell is my favorite Prince drummer and he's had some really good ones. John Blackwell just hits different with me. Anywho, here's a little smtg smtg for you. If you do a reaction ill be sure to watch and see what you think. Notification on. Prince - Shhh (Musicology Tour, Live in Detroit, 2004)

You have fantastic reaction vids. Thank you!

bruno mars and d angelo could never even measure 20 percent of what prince did and they never will ....Strange but True... JUSTFACTS#

Prince's fur boots were custom made by Andre #1 on Hollywod Boulevard, LA, just like all his shoes. And they also have 3 inch heels. You're right about John Blackwell (RIP). He was an animal (Muppet Show pun intended and assumed). Prince's guitar isn't exactly a Fender Telecaster but a HS Anderson & Hohner MadCat Tele with a more rigid neck and Kinman Broadcaster microphones. Yep, playing multiple instruments, moving, singing and conducting his band with smooth AF transitions between the songs (with modified lyrics for the situation) while being in the pocket and funky as hell is bonkers. All of this with an unique swag and attitude. The standard for playing keyboards with His Royal Badness was being able to reproduce Dr Fink's synth solo in "Head". And also being able to perform a jazz set like in Montreux Jazz Festival. Renato is really up to the gig. "Prince plays some bass." That's an understatement : check out "Lady Cab Driver" or Vanity 6 "If a Girl Answers Don't Hang up" where he really meant business. No offense but your mic and music level is a bit low compared to your intro music and other videos on YT. 3 dB increase might do the trick. Love your enthusiasm and the way you're transmitting it through the screen. Bon Mardi-Gras à toi aussi from France.

Ida Nielson, aka Ida Funkhouser, from Denmark on bass.

SUBSCRIBED!!! I really enjoyed your analysis of everything!!!

Prince never had a better all-round drummer than JB imo, and I love Michael Bland.

That wild bass player is the Danish Ida Nielsen!

You should listen to "Shhh " live from I think the forum 2004. John Blackwell is sick on the drums, and you know Prince...

Have you ever seen the Prince superbowl performance?

I just knew you would get into it! Big smiles over here!

beyonce ed shiren and gary clark? Notice the small caps. You did not just mention those people and prince in the same sentence:(

as far as drummers go you should watch Neil Peart especially on live in Frankfurt where he does 15 min or more drum solo

I feel ya man, Prince was the best

20:17 haha, I never heard that called "the Seinfeld tone" before, but it makes sense, and i like it. :)

I love watching your enjoyment……..

He has played that same guitar since the beginning of his career. He may have replaced it but always the same guitar. Others he designed like the Bass you will see in this clip, his Symbol guitar and the Cloud guitar. This one looks pretty battered when you see it up close.💜

Force of nature

If you like the drummer that much (john blackwell), there are some Vids out there that showcase his skill: "Sign of the times live 2004 Rock n Roll Hall of fame" or "Prince - Shhh.mp4", second one is sadly of bad quality.

Two and four funks the one and three.

#Prince can do GREAT cover songs. "My guitar gently weeps" cover at the R&R hall of fame was Unmatched. #Prince IS the singularly most talented/prolific musician ever. HIS bands were always tight. #PRINCE mastered 27 instruments. If you do a DEEP DIVE into him you will understand. Prince can do covers but #Prince covers cannot be done correctly. #PrinceISMusic.

"Prince plays base too". Oh really? He only recorded his first two albums 46 years ago playing all of the instruments himself. Little late to the party buddy. Listen to him drumming "Lady Cab Driver" and playing the base in "Let's Work". Dude, he was amazing at all instruments. "He was self-taught and played many instruments, but the bass was his favorite. He was known for his unique style and his ability to make the bass sound like a lead instrument. He was a pioneer in the use of synth bass and his style influenced many other bassists. Oct 29, 2022"

If you’re a guitarist watch “Santana medley” by Prince

Because of you I went on a KZfaq deep dive of bass players. Right now I’m checking out a lot of Drake’s dad.

Prince did the whole 1989 Batman soundtrack. React to this link of the live performance of one of the tracks m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iLCGa9WmvtOvlJ8.html

Please react to Prince Shhh live

John Blackwell is my favourite Prince drummer - like Prince, gone too soon. Check out John on "Shhh" kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fLp4mqZyt9Gxj2w.html

:: Ida Nielsen on bass, Tommy Barbarella on keys (I think), the Twins Maya and Nandy McClean..

John Blackwell was left handed. That's why.

love the sound of your own voice huh!!

Really appreciate ya BREAKING it down! All the way down to hand habits! It’s okay to b a pretentious feller when it’s FOR THE PERFECT FUCKING GROOVE!!!!

I heard John was an open handed drummer. Yep

It’s not a telecaster. It’s a mad cat tele

Please do prince while my guitar weeps

I would like you to react in your next video to aretla franklin (you make me feel like) (live kennedy center)

Nice shirt. I like the inside of the collar

Not a Tele dude, its its a Hohner Mad Cat :)

Nice reaction, that’s not a Tele though it’s a Hohner guitar.

Blablablablablablabla 🤪

Please react to L.A.B - Proud Man. A New Zealand band. Brilliant live sessions.

I would like you to react in your next video to aretla franklin (you make me feel like) (live kennedy center) 🙏🏻🙏🏻 is magic

Can you react to Bruno mars prince tribute rehearsal

React to Miley Cyrus cover I'm your man(leonard cohen) and I'm a woman(peggy lee)!!! she sang both songs together kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ic-AndSmuLCZf3U.html

I had to stop you just paused way to much and spoilt it, still got a like though 🎉

You compared the MASTER to several much lesser artists. Pssssshhh.

You are, definitely too much pause dude I know it's a reaction but dayummm smh 👎

You talk too much.

dude talks to much did not injoy

You talk too much and pause too often. If the hat playing doesn't bother you, why stop to tell us that it doesn't bother you?

I have been watching reactions for years but your breakdown of every musical instrument , every vocal, has made me appreciate the whole experience with new eyes. I have never subscribed before and at the age of 74 yrs. old I thank you .