Perfect rhythms, enlightened poetry, word paintings, visual renderings: All are found in the COLOURS and PASSIONS project created by drummer and artist, Prairie Prince.
Each musical piece features a different type of drum chosen from Prairie’s collection of percussive instruments celebrated throughout the world.
Seeking a form for a solo project with guest musicians, he reached back to the 1950’s remembering Ken Nordine’s spoken word records that were favorites of his older sisters, Leslie and Helen Prince. One “Word Jazz” recording was “Colors” produced in 1966. Prairie’s project is a new take on Nordine’s work.
TRACKLIST
Inviting collaboration from fellow musicians, each musical piece has a distinct input by friends such as:
Chris Von Sneidern – Guitars/Vocals and Engineer and Co-Producer
Michael Cotten – Synth/Samples and Keyboards
Todd Rundgren – Vocals/Synths and Production
Buckethead – Guitars/Bass
Ross Valory – Bass/Vocals
Eric Levy – Keyboards
Bobby Vega – Bass/Guitars
Atom Ellis – Bass
Ton Ayres – Guitars
David James – Guitars/Bass
Brian Compton – Bass
Jim Thomas – Guitar
Kasim Sulton – Bass/Vocals
Bobby Strickland – Sax/Flute
Tia Luminosa Raimond Jones – Cello
Ralph Carney – Sax/Fugal Horn/Vocals
Beth Custer – Bass Clarinet
Jeff Tamelier – Guitars
Gil Assayas – Keyboard/Synths
Barbara Golden – Piano/Vocals
Diana Mangano – Vocals
James Deprato – Slide Guitar
Joe Mirante – Guitar Feedback/Vocals
Cyril Jordan – Guitar
Joe Dileo – Guitar
Roger Steen – Guitar
Rick Anderson – Bass
Trey Sabatelli – Drums
Michael Holman – Vocals
Nick Taylor – Vocals
Frankie Jupiter – Vocals/Piano
Jimmy Sax Taylor – Sax/Vocals
Bruce McDaniel – Guitar
Grace Yoo – Vocals
Mia Jones – Vocals
Charlie Prince – Laughs
Steve Conte – Guitars
Neil Hamburger – Joke
Vince Welnick – Vocal
Jason Scheff – Bass/Vocals
Randy Brown – Bongos
Oink – Inspiration
John Ferenzik – guitar
Jennifer Burnes – bass
Jello Biafra – vocals
Miss Biafra – vocals
Mikel Ross – scatman and trashmouth
Gregor Huebner – violin
Hugh Cornwell – vocasl and guitar on Blue Despair
This project has slowly taken shape, and now the 14 cuts accompanied by Prairie’s artistic renderings of the various drums, have been completed and are label ready. Contact Prairie for more information about the future of this recording.
Every picture tells a story, story. Legendary columnist Herb Caen had written a glowing piece in the San Francisco Chronicle on this hot new band called The Tubes and referred to their drummer as “The one, the only Prairie Prince.” So we had this shirt made up, took a picture and sent it to Herb along with one of P.P.’s splintered sticks—which, I’m told was cherished by Herb and kept not far from his Pulitzer Prize. By the way, kindly note Prairie is wearing around his neck the pecker bone of a raccoon—an heirloom from his awesome dad, Charlie Prince.
— Edwin Heaven, writer
State-of-the-Art 60th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Fab Four’s Arrival in America.
Featuring:
Narrated by Michael Des Barres
Rick Anderson passed away on Dec. 16, 2022. He was 75.
Rick and I have played together for 50 + years. He is a wonderful soul and an incredible bass player like non other. He also can translate words backwards without hesitation.
He’s now leading the great completion backwards principle in the sky.
Play on brother.
XO Prairie
Read more about Rick Anderson’s life
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An All-Star Band explores the music of DAVID GILMOUR’s Pink Floyd. Acclaimed musicians Jeff Pevar, Kasim Sulton, Prairie Prince, Mark Karan & Scott Guberman come together for this heavy psychedelic lift of audacious & beloved songs.
Re Styles, actress/model/singer/performer, died peacefully in her sleep on April 17, 2022, in San Francisco, CA, of complications from a stroke. She was 72.
More info >>
Todd Rundgren “Clearly Human” Live Virtual Tour is roaring along. Check out BTS video, onstage photos and press.
PRESS
March 11, 2021
Something ElseTodd Rundgren’s ‘Clearly Human’ Show Reimagines the Concert Experience
March 5, 2021
SiriusXM Feel it when Todd Rundgren’s Clearly Human Virtual Tour airs exclusively on Deep Tracks
March 1, 2021
Illinois Entertainer Stage Buzz Review and Photo Gallery: Todd Rundgren Clearly Human Livestream from Chicago
February 24, 2021
WGN9 Todd Rundgren takes up residency on the South Side for a 25-date virtual tour
The Oakland Press Todd Rundgren rocks Detroit — virtually, from afar
Ultimate Classic Rock Todd Rundgren Raises Virtual-Concert Bar: Show Review
February 17, 2021
Uber Rock Todd Rundgren – ‘Clearly Human’ Virtual Tour
February 16, 2021
Variety Todd Rundgren Kicks Off Virtual Tour in Chicago… Or Is It Buffalo?: Testing a New ‘Road’ Model in Quarantine
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette What to expect when Todd Rundgren’s Clearly Human Tour hits ‘Pittsburgh’
February 12, 2021
Newcity On the Virtual Road: Todd Rundgren Plays a Multi-City Tour—Entirely from Chicago
First-ever multi-city virtual concert tour.
Legendary recording artist, producer, songwriter and tech pioneer Todd Rundgren has announced his 2021 Clearly Human virtual tour, featuring 25 performances, each geofenced and tailored to a different US city. Buy tickets here.
With each performance emanating from a Chicago venue (the most convenient time zone to allow for 8pm show times in every market), the shows will be “localized” to give both the band and the fans a sense of place (e.g. local landmarks will appear on the video wall, catering for the band and crew will feature dishes associated with each city, etc).
Single-ticket purchases within the US will be limited to fans with zip codes corresponding to that show’s greater metropolitan area. US-based fans not living in a designated tour market can also “attend” any or all dates via multi-show ticket bundles, which, like internationally based fans purchasing single-show tickets, will exempt them from geofencing restrictions. In Chicago, there will be a licensed COVID compliance officer on staff at all times, with both the band and crew testing regularly throughout the duration of the virtual tour.
Emulating a traditional routing itinerary, the Clearly Human Tour will kick off February 14 “in” Buffalo, NY, and wrap up March 22 “in” Seattle, WA. Single tickets are priced at $35, with an array of premium add-ons and multi-date bundles available.
Produced by NoCap, the live streaming company recently launched by Cisco Adler, and Panacea Entertainment chairman Eric Gardner, Todd’s long-time manager, each show will feature Rundgren and an expanded 10-piece band performing standouts from his 50-year-plus catalogue, as well as his entire 1989 classic album ‘Nearly Human’, which Warner Music Group will also be re-releasing on CD and coloured vinyl. Remote meet-and-greets with Todd will be available at every show, as will options to select viewing from multiple camera angles and to be featured on several rows of video screens that will serve as the real-time “virtual audience” for the evening.
Subject to Chicago’s COVID policy regarding public gatherings in force at the time, there will be a handful of tickets available to attend in person and sit safely distanced amongst the virtual audience, with each attendee required to show proof of a negative test within 72 hours of the event.
Todd sat down with Rolling Stone recently to discuss the origins of the Clearly Human tour and to share the world premiere of his holiday single from Cleopatra Records – his interpretation of the 1978 Christmas tune “Flappie,” originally by Dutch comedian Youp van ’t Hek. Ever the contrarian, it’s suggested that one listen/watch at one’s own risk – “Flappie – A Holiday Fable.”
“People are trying to compensate often by doing one big show and trying to get as much audience as possible,” Rundgren tells Rolling Stone. “While that does unify the audience, it doesn’t give the audience that sense of special attention when you come to their town. At the same time, we have to try to figure out ways that as performers, we don’t wind up feeling like we’re doing a residence at a hotel.”
While the concept of Clearly Human lends itself naturally to our current socially distanced world, Todd actually conceived of the idea years ago as a solution to the growing challenges of touring amidst climate change and a way to reduce his own carbon footprint.
Seeing this as “setting the gold standard” for what he predicts will become a new touring paradigm, it’s not the first time Todd has been out front with a tech-savvy new idea. he designed the first-ever graphics tablet for Apple in 1979; other “firsts” include the first-ever live interactive television concert (1978), the first live national cablecast of a rock concert (1982), the first commercial music downloads (1992), the first online direct artist subscription service, “PatroNet” (1998,) and the first full-length concert shot with multiple Virtual Reality 360º cameras (2016).
Todd’s band for the Clearly Human Tour will feature Kasim Sulton (Bass), Prairie Prince (Drums), Eliot Lewis (Keys), Gil Assayas (Synth), Bruce McDaniel (Guitar), Bobby Strickland (Sax), Steven Stanley (Trombone), plus the erstwhile “Global Girls”: Michele Rundgren, Grace Yoo, and Ashle Worrick (Background Vocals).
“CLEARLY HUMAN” MARKETS
February 14: Buffalo, NY
February 16: Albany, NY
February 17: New York City, NY
February 19: Virginia Beach, VA
February 20: Pittsburgh, PA
February 22: Cleveland, Ohio
February 23: Detroit, MI
February 25: Indianapolis, IN
February 26: Chicago, IL
February 28: Madison / Milwaukee, WI
March 1: Minneapolis, MN
March 3: Kansas City, MO
March 4: St. Louis, MO
March 6: Nashville, TN
March 7: Dallas, TX
March 9: Houston, TX
March 10: Austin, TX
March 12: Denver, CO
March 13: Salt Lake City, UT
March 15: Phoenix, AZ
March 16: San Diego, CA
March 18: Los Angeles, CA
March 19: San Francisco, CA
March 21: Portland, OR
March 22: Seattle, WA
TICKETS >
Support Doctors & Nurses and the Global Community of Health Care Workers
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! FIGHT THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.
Poster by Prairie Prince
Click for Hi-Res image of the poster to print and share.
“for those having a hard time seeing, look within”
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Love, Prairie 2020
Prairie Prince Art Show CLOSING PARTY
Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 6 PM – 10 PM PST
Original Album Art
Original Paintings
Concept Art
Posters
T-Shirts
Instruments
With Special Guest Artist: Lindsey Millikan
Free to the Public
Drinks and Refreshments will be served!
50% of all proceeds benefit Makers Paradise, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization creating opportunities of growth to underserved communities: persons with disabilities, veterans and those re-entering the workforce with our specialized programs to support artists and makers.
Drummer and artist Prairie Prince’s Art of Rock takes place at Makers Paradise in Berkeley on Friday, November 22, 2019 from 6-10pm.
The art show features Original Album Art, Posters, T-Shirts, Instruments and Paintings. Special Guest Artist Lindsey Millikan.
50% of All Proceeds benefit Makers Paradise, a nonprofit organization supporting programs for emerging artists and makers.
The Tubes are currently touring the nation performing The Completion Backward Principle in its entirety and more. Check out tour dates to see if The Tubes are coming to a city near you!
We’re hitting the road on a “Book Tour”.
April 3 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 6 – Eventim Apollo – London, UK
April 10 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
April 11 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
April 13 – State Theatre – Washington, DC
April 14 – State Theatre – Washington, DC
April 16 – Town Hall – New York, NY
April 17 – Town Hall – New York, NY
April 19 – Berklee Performance Center – Boston, MA
April 20 – Berklee Performance Center – Boston, MA
April 23 – Athenaeum Theatre – Chicago, IL
April 24 – Athenaeum Theatre – Chicago, IL
April 27 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
April 28 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
May 1 – Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA
May 2 – Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA
May 5 – Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square – Cleveland, OH
May 6 – Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square – Cleveland, OH
May 9 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
May 10 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
May 12 – Palace of Fine Arts – San Francisco, CA
May 13 – Palace of Fine Arts – San Francisco, CA
May 22 – Sumida Triphony Hall – Tokyo, Japan
May 23 – NHK Hall – Osaka, Japan
May 27 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
May 30 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
May 1– Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall
May 2 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
June 3 – Burnsville, MN – Ames Center
June 5 – Cincinnati, OH -Taft Theatre
June 6 – Marietta, OH – People’s Bank Theatre
June 7 – New Buffalo, MI – Silver Creek Event Center
June 11 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
June 12 – North Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theatre
June 14 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
June 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Palace Theatre
June 17 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore (Charlotte)
June 18 – Richmond, VA – The National
June 20 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theater on sale 3/29.
June 23 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues (Dallas)
June 24 – Austin, TX – Emo’s – Celebrity Theatre
June 26 – Phoenix, AZ
More >> 
To all of my family, friends, and fans. I wish for us all to stand and deliver in the new year. Luck and good fortune await us. Love and happiness will prevail.
The Tubes, veteran masters of rock satire, may be more relevant than ever
by Rex Rutkoski
Dispatch from Toddstock West via Billboard:
“Prairie Prince, Hawkes, and saxophonist Bobby Strickland brought a caravan of campers to Navarro Beach for a drum circle (yes, there was a beachy version of “Bang on the Drum”), Prairie feeding beachcombers smoked oysters and avocado as we watched whales spouting off shore. …”
Read the FULL ARTICLE in BILLBOARD
Photo by Zan McQuade.
Toddstock 2018 in Northern California.
Prairie Prince Presents “Tommy” at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
Prairie Prince – drums (vintage psychedelic red Ludwig from the 60s)
Chris von Sneidern – guitar, vocals
Pete Straus – bass, vocals
Tom Ayres – guitar
Marc Capelle – horn
Danny Eisenberg – keys
Drummer Prairie Prince has joined with his San Francisco friends to bring the music of The Who, with a faithful performance of the 1969 album Tommy. Sharing the stage will be singer songwriter Chris von Sneidern, a pop wizard with 13 albums to his name. Supporting them will be Tom Ayres (Persephone’s Bees, Marc and the Casuals) and Pete Straus, founding member and songwriter of The Dwarves, who also wrote some of the most beloved songs for Spongebob Squarepants.
BANJO STAGE
Sunday, October 7, 2018
11:00 – 11:45am
Golden Gate Park
Thanks to James Caraway the sister congas have reunited. Custom made in 1972 by the drum maker master Mr Caraway. Let there be drums. Happy New Year 2018
In the Treasury Museum of the Cathedral of Palermo, Sicily, is found this rare depiction of the Phoenix in its resurrection from the ashes in the form of a beautiful jewel. This Cathedral, built in 1185, holds treasures belonging to the ages. In my poster, I have chosen this image to honor the life of Dave Hunter. — Prairie Prince
Artist Dave Hunter lost his battle with brain cancer on April 30, 2017. This is one of 16 posters that were given out to everyone attending Art & Soul: A Concert in Honor of Dave Hunter with Steve Kimock & Friends and Zero at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA on May 12, 2017. Purchase this Poster for $20.
100% of the proceeds from your purchase will benefit Dave’s daughter, Jaz Hunter.
New Years Eve with The Mermen/Shitones and special guests at the PARK CHALET on Ocean Beach in San Francisco. This is the Mermen’s 20th year at the Chalet.
Tickets on sale now at: www.mermen.net
Not-To-Be-Missed.
The Tubes & Todd Rundgren
New Jersey Performing Arts Center Friday, May 27, 2016 at 8pm
The last time we played together, Todd & Utopia opened for The Tubes at Radio City Music Hall.
The new year has power and is an open book, a blank canvas, a crystal ball.
love, hope, create, and sing.
pp ’16
The Tubes are embarking on a 9-date UK tour in August 2015 to honor the 40th Anniversary of our debut album.
The tour kicks off at Bristol, The Fleece on August 3, followed by Brighton Concorde 2 (August 4), Southampton, The Brook (August 6), London Clapham Grand (August 7), Manchester Club Academy (August 8), Glasgow, The Art School (August 9), Leeds Brudenell Arts Club (August 11), Edinburgh Liquid Rooms (August 12), and Wolverhampton Robin 2 (August 13).
More info, tour dates, links to tickets and videos >>
The Jungle House — located in Noe Valley in San Francisco — has just been revised and restored.
Diana Mangano went on a photo safari with the nearly restored animals in the Jungle House.
I painted the outside of the house with the team of muralists – Amanda Lynn and Lindsey Millikan.
Metal Artist Morgan Raimond created flowers on the roof and a bamboo metal gate adorned with dragonflies.
Photography by Gerald Ferguson.
