Prince/Tokyo, Japan 11.15.2002

This was the first day of Prince's Japan tour as part of the ONA tour, an additional performance on November 15, 2002, at the International Forum in Tokyo. This was his first visit to Japan in nearly seven years since the Gold Experience tour, and while the audience was anxiously wondering if he was really coming or if it was a lie, Prince delivered a spirited and amazing show from day one! He was accompanied by top-notch musicians like funk preacher Maceo Parker and John Blackwell, the greatest drummer in Prince's history! From a Prince drum solo to the jazzy Rainbow Children, the long-winded performance never bored, was enough to bring tears to your eyes! Then, right off the bat, he launched into the intro to Pop Life, a song everyone had been waiting to hear, and it was already here, so moving! Prince then quipped, "This is what you wanted to hear, wasn't it?" The piano intro to Purple Rain was then played, accompanied by the purple guitar, Habibi, and delivered a stunning performance, not just a full-length, but one of the most emotional guitar solos I've ever heard! This is sure to have you in tears! On funky tracks like "The Work," "1+1+1=3," and "Pass the Peas," Maceo's incredible blowing and the unified band dynamics of John and Rhonda are enough to send goosebumps flying! The bluesy "When You Were Mine" is also fantastic, but then the bluesy guitar continues, leaving you wondering what song it is, only to discover it's "Sign O the Time"! It's only when Prince starts singing that you realize how thrilling it is! Don't miss the full-length live versions of the classics "Take Me With U" and "Raspberry Beret"! And on "The Everlasting Now," the funkiest track on this album, Prince cues the band to transform freely, creating a delightful betrayal that's a total funk fest! The encore features a piano set, one of the highlights of this tour! It's the classic "Sometimes Snows in April," a performance so full of emotion it's hard to believe! After singing along to the amazing verses of "The Ladder," he played a ton of classics, including "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" and the rare "Empty Room"! The set ended with "Anna Stesia"... This is Prince and his band at the height of their power! Prince was in top form and performing a fantastic live show at the height of his career! A truly historic, super live performance that elicits applause! This is a must-listen item for anyone interested in Prince. Kokusai Forum Hall A Tokyo Japan Nov 15, 2001 Disc 1 Drum Solo The Rainbow Children Pop Life Purple Rain The Work Pt.1 Mellow 1+1+1=3 The Other Side Of The Pillow Strange Relationship Pass The Peas When You Were Mine Disc 2 Sign Of The Times Take Me With U Raspberry Beret The Everlasting Now Adore Starfish And Coffee Girls & Boys Condition of The Heart Sometimes It Snows In April Nothing Compares 2 UbThe Ladder [Incl. Speech] How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? Empty Room Anna Stesia