Conversations with Max & Zan
We grew up in the 70s. Came of age in the
80s.
It was rad. So rad, we often talk about
how rad it all was.
So you know, we edit, but never censor. Not language or ideas or emotion.
In this edition:
Prince: expression, equality, & censorship
Zan: Prince
dies…so sad.
Max: It’s
horrible.
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| prince, 19, robert whitman photography |
Max: Only 57,
wonder what happened.
Zan: Four days
ago he had to land his plane to be treated for the flu. He performed the next
night and said he was okay. Then he went home to Minnesota. When they found
him, he was unresponsive in an elevator in his house. He couldn’t be revived
and died at home. Elevator equals interesting…ascending to the Great Perhaps?
Also, it’s raining in Minneapolis today. Purple rain?
Max: And if the
elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor.
Zan: Oh shit.
Max: You know
the song Darling Nikki is what made Tipper Gore start her movement to put
warning labels on tapes and CDs.
Zan: I remember.
I guess she was a square. Did you buy the Purple Rain album in ‘84?
Max: Of course!
Fucking loved it. Still do.
Zan: Me too.
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| purple rain, released july 1984, amazon |
Max: Remember
how just looking at the cover, opening the tape, and reading the stuff inside
made us feel? The hours we spent listening to it, reading every word of the
insides. The way it smelled even. How awesome was it when they had the lyrics?
Zan: I fucking
loved having the lyrics. It was like a book. And with the Purple Rain cover, it
said so much about what we were about to find in the music. It was badass,
sexy, and I loved the feminine elements. Not just the flower border, but how he
was embracing his femininity. It blew me away.
Max: Yes! His
music wasn’t like anything at the time. Not for us, anyway. Girls in the
Midwest. My favorite song is DMSR. So good. On Purple Rain, I’d have to say
Computer Blue. Although, The Beautiful Ones is so intense.
Zan: All solid tunes. Hey, speaking of not being like anything we’d seen before… What
about Boy George? He’s touring with Culture Club again. He was a judge on Project
Runway. I love him. Love how he plays around with that gender-neutrality thing
too. The fashion of Prince and Boy George? I was a part time tomboy and needed
these artists. I mean, I didn’t know that then, but I felt it. It’s like they
were saying, “Forget gender, just be who you are.”
Max: I’m not
your woman. I’m not your man. I am something that you’ll never understand.
Zan: Exactly.
Max: Okay, since
we’re on the subject. Other greats. The Cure.
Zan: Duh.
Max: Howard
Jones.
Zan: Saw him
live in ninth grade. Awesome.
Max: Did you go
to Simple Minds back then? I swear I remember you telling me about it.
Zan: I wish I’d seen Simple Minds. I found Jim
Kerr so fascinating.
Max: And Prince?
In three words.
Zan: Inspiring,
sexy, smart.
Max:
Androgynous, eclectic, unique. But I prefer the definition of unique: unlike anything else.
Zan: Oh that’s
good. Favorite outfit? Favorite hair?
Max: I like him
shirtless in the bathtub. Never thought I’d say that, but… I love his hair when
he was on American Bandstand.
Zan: I like the
black crop top and tight pants in the Kiss video.
Max: I’m
sticking with shirtless. Because even without all those shiny clothes and
ruffles, he’s still so cool.
Zan: Right?
Max: Google his American Bandstand appearance.
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| prince with dick clark, 1979, prince.org |
Zan: Oh shit.
The feathered hair is amazing. I’d forgotten about it. How did you remember
this?
Max: I loved
American Bandstand. Until Solid Gold stole my heart.
Zan: He’s 19 in
this performance!
Max: Oh yeah. He
was still looking for representation then.
Zan: Your memory is amazing. PS: I LOVED SOLID GOLD. But… was it sexist?
Max: Of course. How
about this? Nasty Girl, Prince wrote it, and it was the first time I ever heard
a woman sing about sex. Not love or heartache, but straight up sex. Prince was
a feminist.
Zan: Right. Sex,
equality were spiritual things for him. So, here’s a question: Would you rather
be a Solid Gold dancer or the baggage handler on Prince’s tour bus?
Max: Easy.
Baggage handler. But I’d get fired for stealing.
Zan: What would
you steal? I’d steal a pair of pants. The man had awesome pants. I love pants.
Max: Slacks.
Zan: Right. Slacks.
Max: And I’d
steal whatever was sparklyist. Yes, sparklyist is a word.
Zan: Right.
Sparklyist slacks.
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| welcome 2 america tour, 2011, getty images |
Zan: Well, I
gotta go.
Max: Me too.
Zan: Have a good
night.
Max: Dream
purple dreams.