The Artist Leaves Them Disappointed at Party

Exercising his royal prerogative, the Artist Formerly Known as Prince attended but did not perform at his after-show party Saturday night at the Sunset Strip club Billboard Live. The semantic difference between “attending” and “performing” is critical because nothing more than Prince’s physical attendance was promised.

However, what many fans expected is another matter.

“This sucks,” said Angela Horinek of Redondo Beach, who with about 250 others paid $25 expecting to see Prince perform and ended up watching a light show and a pair of go-go dancers (one woman, one transvestite) for several hours. “I was, like, his No. 1 fan. I had 17 posters of him in my room when I was a kid. I don’t have words to express what I feel.”

Expressions used by other attendees: “ripped off,” “false advertising,” “the only reason I came was to see Prince” and colorful variations on “I want my money back.”

The Artist’s after-show parties are legendary. When he played New York in July he performed at Tramps with D’Angelo. In Atlanta he was onstage at Club Esso. In Memphis, he played at the New Daisy with 80-year-old R&B; legend Rufus Thomas.

Longtime fans know, however, that the Artist sometimes chooses not to perform at these functions.

“You never know if he’s going to perform,” said his spokeswoman, Frances Pennington. “It’s a spontaneous thing. People come because they would love it to happen. People come to just party.”

The Artist did attend the club. He arrived from the Hollywood Bowl around midnight and sat in “The Nest,” a roped-off section of the crowded upstairs VIP area. The musician was seen speaking with guests Fran Drescher, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey and John Singleton. Other celebrities on hand included Dwight Yoakam, Sinbad and Keenen Ivory Wayans. The Artist left through a back door just before 2 a.m.

Billboard Live representatives said they had “no control over the production.” Eve Crawford White, the club’s vice president, said the Artist’s company rented the club for the night. All box-office revenues went directly to the Artist’s charity, Love4-oneanother. White said she was “surprised and upset” by the lack of a performance. She said the club kept only bar sales, paid for extra Sheriff’s Department security and lost money on the event.