Interviewed by True Prince Stories
Q & A With Tony Mosley (aka Tony M)
May 26, 2006
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: Well, I’m married with 2 beautiful children, a boy and girl ages 4 & 6, so needless to say that they keep me very busy. I’m also an Account Manager at a marketing firm.
Q: How did you hook up with Prince?
A: I was an extra on the set of Purple Rain. During one of the lighting changes, he caught us doing some dance routines and he asked Alan Leeds to give us a tape of 7 songs, then he asked if we would be ready to film the next day. So we worked until around 1AM and had to be on the set at 6:30AM, we were exhausted, but it was our 1st break and we didn’t want to blow it.
Q: What is your favorite Prince album?
A: Black Album, Sign of the Times
Q: Have you heard Prince’s 3121 album, and what do you think of it?
A: Creative, he’s gone back to doing what he does best, being an innovator.
Q: Best Prince Drummer?
A: Without a doubt Michael Bland, but I’m partial with Sheila E running a close 2nd, because she was blowing up at that time and even though we were just dancers, she always treated us nicely and I respect her for that.
Q: How and when did you get in the music business?
A: It all started while performing in dance contests at First Avenue and kind of blossomed from there. I remember that I couldn’t make up my mind to either re-enlist in the Marine Corps for another 4 years or give the music business a chance. Needless to say, I chose the music industry.
Q: Favorite TV Show?
A: Currently it’s 24, I love that show!!!!
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Being a husband and father to my wife/kids and never looking back after I left the band. I’ve been asked so many times, where have you been, how come you don’t attend any of the party’s/events. Really, the bottom line is that I needed some time away from the scene and decompress, when you’re in the business, you tend to lose perspective on what’s really important in life (family, friends) because you’re so focused on your career and being successful. When I left, I found out who my real friends were and it gave me an opportunity to narrow my circle of influence and concentrate on what I wanted to do in life and not on what everyone else thought that I should do.
I’ve always been an individual who really didn’t care about what others thought, I pretty much did my own thing and others followed. I began finding my self absorbed in what others thought of my work and found myself constantly frustrated trying to please others, so I think stepping back actually help me find myself again.
Q: Favorite tour and why?
A: Diamonds and Pearls, because it was my 1st US tour. I enjoyed the Nude tour, but that was in Europe and my family and friends were not able to see that one.
Q: Best Prince Moment?
A: I have a few, but I’ll save those for my next installment. Stay tuned!!!
Thank you, Tony
Q & A With Tony Mosley (aka Tony M)
May 26, 2006
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: Well, I’m married with 2 beautiful children, a boy and girl ages 4 & 6, so needless to say that they keep me very busy. I’m also an Account Manager at a marketing firm.
Q: How did you hook up with Prince?
A: I was an extra on the set of Purple Rain. During one of the lighting changes, he caught us doing some dance routines and he asked Alan Leeds to give us a tape of 7 songs, then he asked if we would be ready to film the next day. So we worked until around 1AM and had to be on the set at 6:30AM, we were exhausted, but it was our 1st break and we didn’t want to blow it.
Q: What is your favorite Prince album?
A: Black Album, Sign of the Times
Q: Have you heard Prince’s 3121 album, and what do you think of it?
A: Creative, he’s gone back to doing what he does best, being an innovator.
Q: Best Prince Drummer?
A: Without a doubt Michael Bland, but I’m partial with Sheila E running a close 2nd, because she was blowing up at that time and even though we were just dancers, she always treated us nicely and I respect her for that.
Q: How and when did you get in the music business?
A: It all started while performing in dance contests at First Avenue and kind of blossomed from there. I remember that I couldn’t make up my mind to either re-enlist in the Marine Corps for another 4 years or give the music business a chance. Needless to say, I chose the music industry.
Q: Favorite TV Show?
A: Currently it’s 24, I love that show!!!!
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Being a husband and father to my wife/kids and never looking back after I left the band. I’ve been asked so many times, where have you been, how come you don’t attend any of the party’s/events. Really, the bottom line is that I needed some time away from the scene and decompress, when you’re in the business, you tend to lose perspective on what’s really important in life (family, friends) because you’re so focused on your career and being successful. When I left, I found out who my real friends were and it gave me an opportunity to narrow my circle of influence and concentrate on what I wanted to do in life and not on what everyone else thought that I should do.
I’ve always been an individual who really didn’t care about what others thought, I pretty much did my own thing and others followed. I began finding my self absorbed in what others thought of my work and found myself constantly frustrated trying to please others, so I think stepping back actually help me find myself again.
Q: Favorite tour and why?
A: Diamonds and Pearls, because it was my 1st US tour. I enjoyed the Nude tour, but that was in Europe and my family and friends were not able to see that one.
Q: Best Prince Moment?
A: I have a few, but I’ll save those for my next installment. Stay tuned!!!
Thank you, Tony
(not that you'll ever read this)
