I was introduced to Nicky by his new wife Linda, who was a friend of mine in San Francisco. It was 1972, and I was asked to join Nicky and his recording company of elite English musician friends, including George Harrison, Klas Voormann, Mick Taylor, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, Chris Spedding, Ray Cooper, Andy Fraser, and Harry Nilsson.
As a session player Nicky had played on all of their records over the years. We recorded at Apple studios on Saville Row in London for a couple of months, and then at Mick Jaggers’ home, Stargroves, in the English countryside. It was an experience of a lifetime and the memories are never lost when hearing the music. Nicky was a kind and loving friend who took me under his wing and showed me the true value of being a professional musician and recording artist early in my career. He is a legend in the annals of rock history, recording keyboards for so many of the great musical artists of our time. — Prairie Prince
The Session Man, a 90-minute documentary feature film, tells the story of Nicky Hopkins, the highly gifted and prolific session pianist, and unsung hero. The Session Man will be released in North America on November 5, 2024 on TVOD/PPV on Amazon Prime and on additional major platforms.It will also be available on DVD in late 2024.
Nicky not only played with The Kinks, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, he also played on solo albums of all four members of the Beatles in the early part of a stellar career that spanned over 30 years. During that time, he contributed to over 250 albums and a vast number of single releases.
Nicky’s legendary piano riffs and wonderful musical motifs helped ordinary tracks become extraordinary and iconic. So many of them remain popular today. The generations that followed the Golden Era of Rock And Roll soon discover those iconic tracks that made Nicky Hopkins a legend amongst his peers – tracks like Revolution by The Beatles, Like A Rainbow, Sympathy For The Devil and Angie by the Rolling Stones, Jealous Guy by John Lennon from his Imagine album and You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker.
Nicky’s story is told in the film by Albert Lee, Antonia Cipollina, Arthur Rochester, Benmont Tench, Bill Wyman, Billy Nicholls, Bro Paul Brown, Chris Kimsey, Chris Welch, Chuck Leavell, Dave Davies, Glyn Johns, Graham Parker, Gray Levett, Greg Phillinganes, Harry Shearer, Helen O’Hara, Jack Casady, Jim Keltner, Joe Tansin, John Goddard, Jorma Kaukonen, Julian Dawson (Nicky’s biographer – author of And on Piano… Nicky Hopkins), Keith Richards, Merrell Fankhauser, Mick Jagger, Mike Hurst, Mike McCartney, Moira Hopkins (Nicky’s widow), Morgan Fisher, Nils Lofgren, Paddy Milner, Pete Edmonds, Pete Sears, Pete Townshend, Peter Frampton, PP Arnold, Rory Kaplan, Sarah Sleet (CEO of Crohn’s & Colitis UK), Shel Talmy, Slim Jim Phantom, Terry Reid and Tom Speight.
The Session Man’s narrator, Bob Harris, former presenter of the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test, had no hesitation at the end of the film in confirming that, “Nicky Hopkins’ contributions made him rock and roll’s greatest session man.”
As the day approaches for America to hold on to our democracy and do the best and most positive action for this country of ours, I urge everyone to STAND up and VOTE, and SHOUT for our rights to be real Americans and good human beings! Thank you for caring.
peace and love,
Prairie
Phil Lesh, (rest in peace), was a friend who I joined up with in the mid 90s’ to play and record a “Phil and Friends” show called “Love will see you through.” It was recorded live from The Warfield is San Francisco. A great spirit and innovator of Jam music, Phil and I had a true and respectful relationship for a good period of time. He and his improvisational ways will be forever influential for generations to come. Stay tuned for some special Phil Lesh tribute art coming from me and our MOONALICE family of poster artists.
After a successful inaugural outing All You Need Is Love will once again bring the music of The Beatles to venues in the U.S. and Canada. The acclaimed tribute act will embark on a three-week tour spanning January 11 through February 2, 2025. Tickets on sale now.
Led by vocalist/bassist/guitarist Kasim Sulton (Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Blue Oyster Cult), All You Need Is Love also features guitarist Steve Kimock (Zero, Oteil & Friends, Jazz Is Dead), drummer Prairie Prince (The Tubes, Journey, Todd Rundgren), vocalist/guitarist/banjoist Bobby Lee Rodgers (Jazz is Dead, The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton, Vassar Clements), vocalist/keyboardist Gil Assayas (Kasim Sulton’s Utopia, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia), guitarist Mark Rashotte (Jake Clemons, Creed, Photograph) and vocals/theatrics from Andy Forgie (Creed, Photograph). Once again, Michael Des Barres will narrate each concert.
Tour Dates:
1.11.25 The Empire – Belleville, ON
1.12.25 The Empire – Belleville, ON
1.14.25 The Wilbur – Boston, MA
1.15.25 The Wellmont – Montclair, NJ
1.16.25 Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA
1.17.25 Patchogue Theatre – Patchogue, NY
1.19.25 Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe, PA
1.21.25 The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
1.22.25 Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA
1.26.25 Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA
1.28.25 Memorial Hall OTR – Cincinnati, OH
1.29.25 The Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
1.30.25 The Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
2.1.25 Des Plaines Theatre – Des Plaines, IL
2.2.25 Arcada Theatre – St Charles, IL
Todd Rundgren Me/We Tour 2024 heads back on the road for dates across the U.S. in September – October 2024.
The band features Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, Bobby Strickland, Gil Assayas, and Bruce McDaniel.
Sept 19, Thu – Chicago, IL – Copernicus Center – 7:30 PM
Sept 21, Sat – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park – 8 PM
Sept 22, Sun – Hammondsport, NY – Point Of Bluff – 3:30 PM
Sept 24, Tue – Ft. Wayne, IN – The Clyde – 8 PM
Sept 25, Wed – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace – 8 PM
Sept 27, Fri – Newkirk, OK – 7 Clans First Council Casino & Resort– 8 PM
Sept 29, Sun – St. Louis, MO : Forest Park – Evolution Festival
Oct 1, Tue – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater – 8 PM Rescheduled From Original June 6 Date
Oct 4, Fri – Memphis, TN – Graceland Soundstage – 7:30 PM
Oct 5, Sat – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mars Music Hall – 7:30 PM
Oct 7, Mon – Chattanooga, TN – The Walker Theater – 7:30 PM
Oct 8, Tue – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center
Oct 10, Thu – Durham, NC – Carolina Theater – 8 PM
Oct 11, Thu – Bristol, TN – Paramount – 8 PM
Oct 13, Sun – York, PA – Appell Center for the Performing Arts – 7:30 PM
Oct 14, Mon – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse – 7:30 PM
Oct 16, Wed – Nashua, NH – Nashua Center For The Arts – 7:30 PM
Oct 17, Thu – Salisbury, MA – Blue Ocean Music Hall – 8 PM
Oct 19, Sat – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium – 8 PM
Oct 20, Sun – New York, NY – Town Hall – 8 PM
Oct 22, Tue – Bearsville, NY – Bearsville Theater – 8 PM
Oct 23, Wed – Bearsville, NY – Bearsville Theater – 8 PM
Oct 25, Fri – Portland, ME – Aura – 9 PM
Oct 26, Sat – Woonsocket, RI – Stadium Theater – 8 PM
All linked theaters take you to the venue’s event page or can be purchased via Live Nation Ticketmaster.
SAN FRANCISCO – September 1, 2024 – After a lifetime in the music business, drummer extraordinaire Prairie Prince will release his debut solo album in 2025, “Colours and Passions,” a tribute to the landmark 1966 album “Colors” by Chicago voiceover artist Ken Nordine.
Prairie was introduced to Ken Nordine at an early age by older sisters who knew Nordine from his beatnik-era spoken word albums “Word Jazz” and “Son of Word Jazz.” As a youth, Prairie was captivated by the wry, whimsical world of Nordine’s vivid imagination and his slow, deep delivery. Nordine’s original “Colors” album featured thirty-four individual tracks, each devoted to a specific color. Prairie’s Colours and Passions concentrates on fourteen shades that spoke directly to the drummer.
An imaginative pastiche of percussion by Prairie Prince and musical contributions from his collaborators, much of the record was improvised on the spot. Each track focuses on a specific color and the emotions that the color evokes, an almost Jungian approach to lyrics drawn from the collective subconscious.
Recorded scrupulously over more than ten years – interrupted by the pandemic – at the historic site of Wally Heider’s Studios in San Francisco where Creedence, Santana, CSNY, and others cut classic records, the album features contributions from members of the Tubes and the Rundgren band – including bandleader Todd Rundgren himself – along with other musical associates such as Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys, Ross Valory from Journey, and Chris von Sneidern of The Flamin’ Groovies. Gonzo guitarist Buckethead plays bass on one track. The music will be accompanied by drawings of the drums he used, done by Prairie, who is as accomplished a visual artist as he is a musician.
“I started off with drum tracks and then added different percussion,” Prairie said. “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.”
In addition to his work with the Tubes and Rundgren, Prairie was the original drummer in Journey, belonged to Jefferson Starship for several years and, as one of Northern California’s top freelance drummers, has recorded with a vast array of accomplished peers including Chris Isaak, Tom Waits, George Harrison, Dick Dale, and many others. With his creative partner Michael Cotten of the Tubes, Prairie and Cotten have designed and built stage sets for Bette Midler, Billy Joel, NSYNC, and others. They worked with choreographer Kenny Ortega on the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Super Bowl XXX halftime show with Diana Ross, Michael Jackon’s “This Is It” show, and a number of lavish Las Vegas spectacles. Their mural of flying record albums hovered over the A&M Records lot in Hollywood for many years.
Prairie Prince Colours and Passions will usher in a new era in his illustrious musical career as recording artist.
Prince-Rodgers Grateful Jazz, featuring Prairie Prince, Bobby Lee Rodgers, and Ella Rodgers, blend rhythmic and improvisational traditions of jazz with the music of the Grateful Dead. They debut at the Chestertown Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
Bobby Lee Rodgers, guitarist, singer, and songwriter, has a background in many musical styles including jazz. He was a young instructor of Jazz Studies at Berklee College of Music, and he enjoys fusing jazz with rock, funk, and blues as well as performing with tribute bands: (All You Need is Love – The Beatles; Jazz is Dead with Steve Kimock; and others.) He is known for his unique interpretations of musical greats such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Wes Montgomery.
Bobby Lee’s latest musical endeavor is a collaboration with his 17-year-old daughter Ella Rodgers, incorporating her exploration of her favorite musical styles of the singers and musicians of ragtime, boogie-woogie, and hot jazz of an earlier era.
Prairie Prince also has a foundation in jazz, counting Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich as his earliest drum influencers, from enjoying listening to his sisters’ record collection of the 1950’s jazz giants. Known for his powerful drumming in the rock-world (The Tubes, Journey, Todd Rundgren, Phil Lesh, XTC) Prairie is looking forward to this collaboration with Bobby Lee and Ella Rodgers to develop a unique jazz sound.
The 28th Chestertown Jazz Festival will be held September 6-7, 2024 in Chestertown, MD. more
“It’s like a well-oiled machine at this point.
33 shows down, 33 to go.
The MeWe Machine! Thanks to all the fans for your support!”
— PP
Todd Rundgren – ME/WE 2024 Tour
Todd Rundgren, Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, Bobby Strickland, Gil Assayas, Bruce McDaniel
Tickets >
Photos by Mark Steinberg and snapz
The BAND: Todd Rundgren, Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, Bobby Strickland, Gil Assayas, Bruce McDaniel!
April 17, Wed – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater – 7 PM
April 18, Thu – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater – 8 PM
April 20, Sat – Des Plaines, IL – Rivers Casino – 8 PM
April 21, Sun – Detroit, MI – Soundboard at Motor City Casino Hotel – 7:30 PM
April 23, Tue – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Center – 8 PM
April 24, Wed – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center – 8 PM
April 26, Wed – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater – 7:30 PM
April 27, Sat – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak – 8 PM
April 29, Mon – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theater – 7 PM
April 30, Tue – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theater – 7:30 PM
May 2, Thu – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center – 7 PM
May 3, Fri – Atlantic City, NJ – Harrah’s Resort – 9 PM
May 5, Sun – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theater – 8 PM
May 6, Mon – Providence, RI – The Strand – 8 PM
May 8, Wed – Boston, MA – The Wilbur – 8 PM
May 9, Thu – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater – 8 PM
May 11, Sat – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theater For the Performing Arts – 8 PM
May 12, Sun – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theater – 8PM
May 14, Tue – Washington, DC – Warner Theater – 8 PM
May 15, Wed – Morgantown, WV – Metropolitan Theater – 8 PM
May 17, Fri – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater – 8 PM
May 18, Sat – Charleston, NC – Charleston Music Hall – 8 PM
May 20, Mon – Nashville, TN – The Ryman – 7:30 PM
May 22, Wed – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker – 8 PM
May 24, Fri – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live – 8 PM
May 25, Sat – Clearwater, FL – Capitol Theater – 8 PM
May 26, Sun – Clearwater, FL – Capitol Theater – 8 PM
June 6, Thu – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater – 8 PM
June 8, Sat – San Antonio, TX – Empire Theater – 8 PM
June 16, Sun – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre – 8 PM
June 14, Fri – Tulsa, (Catoosa) OK – Hard Rock Live – 8 PM
June 19, Wed – Phoenix, AZ- Celebrity Theater – 7:30 PM
June 20, Thu – Beverly Hills, CA – Saban Theater – 8 PM
June 22, Sat – Coachella, CA – Spotlight 29 Casino – 8 PM
June 23, Sun – Ojai, CA – The Libby Bowl – 7 PM
June 25, Tue – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia – 7 PM
June 26, Wed – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theater – 8 PM
July 3, Wed – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall – 8 PM
All linked theaters take you to the venue’s event page or can be purchased via Live Nation Ticketmaster.
Kasim Sulton, Steve Kimock, Prairie Prince, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Gil Assayas, Mark Rashotte and Andy Forgie honor the Fab Four in back-to-back shows in Phoenix and Denver on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Each show will feature performances of beloved hits and hidden gems from the Fab Four’s extensive discography accompanied by state-of-the-art production and visuals.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
8:00 PM
Celebrity Theatre
Phoenix, AZ
TICKETS
Sunday, March 24, 2024
7:30 PM
Paramount Theatre
Denver, CO
TICKETS
The BAND: Prairie Prince, Kasim Sulton, Bobby Strickland, Gil Assayas, Bruce McDaniel!
Fan Pre-Sale 1/17 10am EST
Password: VICTORY24
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TOUR DATES and TICKETS >
April 17, Wed – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater – 7 PM
April 18, Thu – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater – 8 PM
April 20, Sat – Des Plaines, IL – Rivers Casino – 8 PM
April 21, Sun – Detroit, MI – Soundboard at Motor City Casino Hotel – 7:30 PM
April 23, Tue – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Center – 8 PM
April 24, Wed – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center – 8 PM
April 26, Wed – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater – 7:30 PM
April 27, Sat – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak – 8 PM
April 29, Mon – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theater – 7 PM
April 30, Tue – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theater – 7:30 PM
May 2, Thu – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center – 7 PM
May 3, Fri – Atlantic City, NJ – Harrah’s Resort – 9 PM
May 5, Sun – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theater – 8 PM
May 6, Mon – Providence, RI – The Strand – 8 PM
May 8, Wed – Boston, MA – The Wilbur – 8 PM
May 9, Thu – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater – 8 PM
May 11, Sat – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theater For the Performing Arts – 8 PM
May 12, Sun – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theater – 8PM
May 14, Tue – Washington, DC – Warner Theater – 8 PM
May 15, Wed – Morgantown, WV – Metropolitan Theater – 8 PM
May 17, Fri – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater – 8 PM
May 18, Sat – Charleston, NC – Charleston Music Hall – 8 PM
May 20, Mon – Nashville, TN – The Ryman – 7:30 PM
May 22, Wed – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker – 8 PM
May 24, Fri – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live – 8 PM
May 25, Sat – Clearwater, FL – Capitol Theater – 8 PM
May 26, Sun – Clearwater, FL – Capitol Theater – 8 PM
June 6, Thu – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater – 8 PM
June 8, Sat – San Antonio, TX – Empire Theater – 8 PM
June 16, Sun – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre – 8 PM
June 14, Fri – Tulsa, (Catoosa) OK – Hard Rock Live – 8 PM
June 19, Wed – Phoenix, AZ- Celebrity Theater – 7:30 PM
June 20, Thu – Beverly Hills, CA – Saban Theater – 8 PM
June 22, Sat – Coachella, CA – Spotlight 29 Casino – 8 PM
June 23, Sun – Ojai, CA – The Libby Bowl – 7 PM
June 25, Tue – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia – 7 PM
June 26, Wed – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theater – 8 PM
July 3, Wed – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall – 8 PM
All linked theaters take you to the venue’s event page or can be purchased via Live Nation Ticketmaster.
New and Unusual Entertainment
March 7 – Menlo Park, CA
March 8 – San Juan Capistrano, CA
March 9 – Agoura Hills, CA
TICKETS >
