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Biography
Redirect|New Power Generation|the Prince song|New Power Generation (song)Infobox musical artist | name = The New Power Generation| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota , United States|USA | genre = Rock music|Rock , Pop music|pop , Rhythm and blues|R& B , Soul music|soul , funk , funk rock , funk metal , New Wave music|New Wave , Dance music|dance , Psychedelic music|psychedelic rock , Hip hop music|hip hop | years_active = 1990–present| label =| associated_acts = Madhouse (band)|Madhouse , Nick Jonas and the Administration | website =| current_members = Prince (musician)|Prince Morris Hayes Cora Dunham Josh Dunham Shelby J Frederic Yonnet Cassandra O'Neal| past_members = Michael Bland Tommy Barbarella Sonny T. Rosie Gaines Tony M. Kirk Johnson Damon Dickson Levi Seacer, Jr. Mayte Garcia Rhonda Smith Kat Dyson Mike Scott Renato Neto ... The New Power Generation , also known as The NPG , was the backing group of musician Prince (musician)|Prince from 1990 to 2009.
History
The phrase "Welcome to the New Power Generation" was mentioned on the opening track of 1988's Lovesexy . New Power Generation was used for the first time as a band name in the 1990 film Graffiti Bridge (film)|Graffiti Bridge , and a song entitled " New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation " appeared on the Graffiti Bridge (album)|accompanying soundtrack album .
The New Power Generation debuted live during the Nude Tour in 1990 and on record on the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls . The band consisted of holdovers from the Nude Tour Michael Bland (drums), Levi Seacer, Jr. (guitar), Rosie Gaines (keyboards and backing vocals), Tony M. (lead raps and dancing), Kirk Johnson (percussion and dancing) and Damon Dickson (dancing), along with two new members Tommy Barbarella (keyboards) and Sonny T. (bass). Rosie Gaines left the band after the Diamonds and Pearls Tour and was replaced by keyboardist Morris Hayes.
When Prince began his formal dispute with Warner Bros. and changed his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993, the NPG became a side-project for Prince, allowing him to release music outside of his contract. The NPG was intended to appeal to a more Urban contemporary|urban audience than Prince's mainstream material.Citation needed|date=January 2009 The NPG's debut album , Goldnigga , featured Tony M. as lead vocalist/ Rapping|rapper . The album relied heavily on rap, while the music itself was reminiscent of 1970s funk . Prince participated heavily in writing and performing the music, while Tony wrote and performed raps. Prince provided co-lead vocals on two songs, "Black M.F. in the House" and "Johnny", and the two were often performed by him in his own concerts and aftershows.
A reduced NPG returned to the Prince fold when he began performing under the symbolic moniker in early 1994, backing him on The Gold Experience . The rappers and dancers were let go, and Levi Seacer left the band as well. Given an expanded role in the band was dancer Mayte Garcia who provided backing and Spanish vocals. This incarnation released Exodus (The New Power Generation album)|Exodus in 1995. Prince again took a role behind the scenes, adopting the guise of the masked "Tora Tora" and performing lead vocals on several tracks, sometimes with an altered voice. His participation in this version of the NPG was much more apparent. Although several raps were recorded for the album, they were left out of the final release, and the focus was more on funk.
In 1996, longstanding members Michael Bland, Tommy Barbarella and Sonny T. were fired and a new band was formed for touring. Guitarists Kat Dyson and Mike Scott, along with bassist Rhonda Smith joined Morris Hayes and Kirk Johnson, who re-joined the band to play drums. In 1998, another NPG album was released titled Newpower Soul (modifying a song title from Exodus ). In fact, a spoken outtake from Exodus mentions the upcoming album, indicating its planning stages. Prince features prominently on the cover and liner notes and provides lead vocals on all songs. Unlike the two previous releases, the album relies heavily on drum programming by Kirk Johnson and features input from Larry Graham and Doug E. Fresh .
A fourth album, Peace , due to be released in 2001, never materialized, although a few songs have been made public through limited-release singles at concerts or through Prince's former official website, NPG Music Club .
The band since then has been a "revolving door" of musicians, who usual stay for a couple years before being replaced. It's often nebulous who's actually an 'official' member. The best method would be to check Prince's current touring band.
In 2010, three former members of the original New Power Generation, drummer Michael Bland , keyboardist Tommy Barbarella and bass player Sonny T. , became members of Nick Jonas and the Administration (a side project of Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers ). http://www.oceanup.com/2009/11/17/nick-jonas-on-the-administration-album Oceanup.com
Discography
This is the discography of The New Power Generation, credited as a separate entity from Prince.
Albums
Year
Album
US
UK cite book
Worldwide sales (when available)
Additional information
1990
Graffiti Bridge (album)
6
1
2.0 million
Unnamed New Power Generation members provided backing vocals on the song "New Power Generation".
" Days of Wild " by Prince and The New Power Generation
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2004
" Controversy (song)#Live in Hawaii
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See also
List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
References
Reflist Prince DEFAULTSORT:New Power Generation, The Category:The New Power Generation Category:Prince (musician) Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups Category:American rock music groups Category:American funk musical groups
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