Legendary Drummer Prairie Prince Announces Debut Solo Album “Colours and Passions”
“COLOURS AND PASSIONS” – A DECADE IN THE MAKING TRIBUTE TO KEN NORDINE’S “COLORS” — RELEASE DATE MARCH 20, 2026
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10 years, 50 musicians, 20 drums, 14 tracks, Colours and Passions, the debut solo album by acclaimed drummer Prairie Prince takes up where the original record by spoken word legend Ken Nordine left off.
DENVER, CO / SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 2, 2026 – After a lifetime behind the drums for some of rock’s most iconic acts, Prairie Prince steps into the spotlight with his debut solo album, “Colours and Passions,” releasing March 20, 2026, on Label 51 Recordings. The ambitious project—ten years in the making and featuring 50 musicians across 14 tracks—pays homage to spoken word legend Ken Nordine’s landmark 1966 album “Colors.”
Recorded at the historic site of Wally Heider’s Studios in San Francisco, where Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young captured their classic sounds, “Colours and Passions” represents an imaginative fusion of percussion artistry and collaborative improvisation. Each track explores a specific color and its emotional resonance, creating what Prince describes as an almost Jungian journey through the collective subconscious.
“I started off with drum tracks and then added different percussion,” Prince explains. “I would have other people put some bass or some guitar and tried to follow whatever melodies they made up on top, trying to make songs you could actually sing. Chords and keys I don’t know much about—I’m a drummer.”
THE JOURNEY FROM WORD JAZZ TO COLOURS AND PASSIONS
Prairie Prince first encountered Ken Nordine’s work as a youth through his older sisters, who introduced him to the Chicago voiceover artist’s beatnik-era spoken word albums “Word Jazz” and “Son of Word Jazz.” Nordine’s original “Colors” featured thirty-four individual tracks, each devoted to a specific color. Prince’s “Colours and Passions” concentrates on fourteen shades that spoke directly to the drummer’s imagination and experience.
The recording process, interrupted by the pandemic, unfolded organically over more than a decade. Much of the album was improvised on the spot, with Prince’s percussion work serving as the foundation for contributions from an extraordinary roster of collaborators including Todd Rundgren, Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Ross Valory (Journey), Chris von Sneidern (The Flamin’ Groovies), members of The Tubes, and gonzo guitarist Buckethead.
The album will be accompanied by drawings of the drums used on each track, created by Prince himself—a visual artist as accomplished as he is a musician.
A LEGENDARY CAREER BEHIND THE KIT
Prairie Prince’s résumé reads like a who’s who of rock history. Beyond his work with The Tubes and the Todd Rundgren band, he was the original drummer in Journey and belonged to Jefferson Starship for several years. As one of Northern California’s most sought-after session drummers, he has recorded with Chris Isaak, Tom Waits, George Harrison, Dick Dale, and countless others.
With his creative partner Michael Cotten of The Tubes, Prince has designed and built stage sets for Bette Midler, Billy Joel, and NSYNC. The duo worked with choreographer Kenny Ortega on the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Super Bowl XXX halftime show with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” show, and numerous Las Vegas spectacles. Their mural of flying record albums hovered over the A&M Records lot in Hollywood for many years.
SINGLES ROLLING OUT TO ALBUM RELEASE
Label 51 Recordings has been rolling out singles from “Colours and Passions” in advance of the March 2026 album release:
- “BLACK HORROR” (Released September 2025)
- “TRASHWHITE ANGER” (Released November 2025)
- “ORANGE JOY” (Released December 2025)
- “FLESH TERROR” (Released January 2026)
The fourth single, “FLESH TERROR,” tackles themes of racial violence and segregation with a tempo that gradually accelerates from largo through presto, climaxing with a musical implosion. The track features Chris von Sneidern on samples, Bobby Strickland on flute, and Buckethead on acoustic and electric guitar, with comedian Neil Hamburger making a surprise appearance.
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PRAIRIE PRINCE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Original drummer for Journey
- Member of The Tubes (1972-present)
- Todd Rundgren band member
- Jefferson Starship member
- Session work with George Harrison, Tom Waits, Chris Isaak, Dick Dale
- Stage designer for Bette Midler, Billy Joel, NSYNC, 1996 Olympics, Super Bowl XXX
- Visual artist with work displayed throughout the music industry