Read Act 1
Recently, we were discussing how the effect of a national television broadcast catapulted a talented rock band like the Beatles into the upper stratosphere of fame and fortune. In that discussion, I asked my favorite question: What if? What if it was someone else instead of the Beatles that night? What if…it were Prince instead?
NOTE: Some of the following story is true. The rest of it could have been.
Act 2: Confrontation
Deepening Conflict:
In an unpublished interview shortly before he died in 1997, Prince reflected on the push and pull of those early rehearsals. Prince smiled, his eyes twinkling with the wisdom of years.
PRINCE: “Alright, we were in the thick of '80s funk and soul when the universe decided to pull a fast one. With a flicker that would've made old Houdini jealous, we found ourselves slingshotted back to '64. Just like that, the Fab Four took a backseat, and yours truly, along with the band, got bumped up to first class on "The Ed Sullivan Show." You could say we brought a bit too much color to the black-and-white TV era.
“Now, Ed, he's a pro, but you could tell he wasn't ready for the likes of us. There he was, juggling his cue cards like hot potatoes, eyeing my paisley pants and the band's getup. He's probably thinking, ‘Did the circus come to town?’ And here I am, trying not to laugh because we might as well have been aliens landing in the middle of Times Square.
“So Ed comes up to me, all furrowed brows and half-smiles, asking if our act can maybe play a softer tune, something that wouldn't scare the daylights out of the good folks at home. I looked him square in the eye and said, ‘Ed, the music we got doesn't have a volume knob. It's all or nothing, and we came too far for nothing.’ He chewed on that, looking like he swallowed a sour note.
Rehearsal was a trip. The band’s jamming like we're back home, and the stagehands are scratching their heads, wondering if their mics can handle our sound. Sullivan’s pacing like a caged lion, probably wondering if we're about to end his career or make it. We're just riding the wave, tunes cranked to eleven, hearts pounding like drum solos. It's electric, chaotic, and downright cosmic.”
As Prince rehearses for the show, he encounters resistance from traditionalists but finds unexpected allies among forward-thinkers and the youth, captivated by his androgynous appeal and genre-blending music. Tensions rise as debates about his impact on society and culture intensify, mirroring broader societal tensions of the era.
JAMES BALDWIN: “In those rehearsals, filled with echoes of future sounds, Prince faced a wall of resistance. Yet, among the faces of doubt, there were glimmers of understanding—those who saw in him the promise of a new dawn. It was a battle not just of music, but of identity, of being seen and heard in full.”
BOB PRECHT (Producer): “During rehearsals, it quickly became clear that Prince and his band weren't just playing new tunes; they were beaming it in from another galaxy. As they belted out the soul-rock fusion that would become their signature, it split the room like a lightning bolt.”
MARLO LEWIS (Exec. Producer): One well-known music critic from those days had approached Prince with a stern warning, “Son, your music is... complex, but it's not what the people want.” But before Prince could respond, a young intern interrupted him with an intensity I hadn’t seen before on the show. ‘Don't listen to him! Your sound—it's like nothing we've ever heard. It's incredible!’ Her words, brave and unexpected, cut through the tension.”
NORMAN MAILER: “The tension was palpable, like the build-up before a heavyweight fight. In his corner, Prince was ready to dance, fight, and prove that the future belonged to those who dared to dream it into existence.”
GEORGE PLIMPTON: “Observing the skirmishes during rehearsal was like watching an elite athlete warming up—there was a sense of inevitability about Prince's triumph. The friction between the expectations of the past and the freedom of the future was a spectacle in its own right.”
GLORIA STEINEM: “The resistance Prince met was a familiar tune to any woman fighting to be heard. His allies found strength in his resolve, seeing in his challenges a parallel to their own. It was a reminder that progress often comes hand-in-hand with conflict.”
TRUMAN CAPOTE: “Prince was clearly dancing on a knife's edge during those initial rehearsals. Traditionalists balked at his audacity, yet there was something undeniably captivating about him. It was like watching a bird, aware it's caged, yet singing defiantly. Prince knew the bars were there, but his music promised freedom. ‘To watch him,’ I thought, ‘is to see the very essence of hope and defiance. He’s not just rehearsing; he's preaching a gospel of the future.’”
CHESTER FELDMAN (Producer): “Not everyone was charmed. One network exec, in his grey suit with his grey hair and gray necktie, pulled Mr. Sullivan aside and waved his hands towards the band. “This isn't what we agreed on, Ed. It's too risky.” He was annoyed, or maybe he was scared. And Ed was caught in the middle. He knew what the stakes were.”
JIMMY BRESLIN: “You could see the old guards bristling as Prince ran through his setlist. They didn't know whether to be scared or excited, but you could tell they knew this was something big. Something was changing, and Prince was the one changing it.’
SUSAN SONTAG: “Amidst the resistance, there was a profound dialogue being had, not just between Prince and his detractors, but within the establishment itself. His music, and the panic and excitement it sparked, were a testament to its transformative power.”
PRINCE: “Back then, I felt like I was standing at the edge of two worlds. On one side, the comfort of the known, and on the other, the allure of the unknown. The resistance was fierce, and it was as if every note I played was a question they weren't ready to answer. But the beautiful thing about music is that it doesn't ask for permission. It was a test, sure, but one I was ready for. I learned early on that if you're going to make waves, you might as well dive in headfirst.”
He had felt the resistance but also the surging undercurrent of support. It fortified his resolve, knowing that for every detractor, there was a young face lit up with the promise of what was to come. He was ready to be the vanguard of that promise, giving them a performance and a new direction.
The hours and the minutes counted down until it was time for the show to begin.
The anticipation for Prince's debut on CBS was unprecedented, with a staggering 50,000 ticket requests flooding in for the mere 728 seats available at the Studio 50 Theater, a figure that dwarfed the 7,000 requests garnered by Elvis Presley's 1957 appearance. Notable among the attendees were noted Civil Rights activist John Lewis, actresses Patty Duke, Nichelle Nichols, and Mia Farrow, Julie and Tricia Nixon, and boxer Muhammad Ali.
In the moments leading up to the live broadcast, Terry McDermott, who had recently clinched a gold medal in speed skating at the Olympics and who worked part-time as a barber, was photographed in a playful moment with Prince and his band, playfully faking a haircut for Prince. The scene, which included the other band members and Ed Sullivan, was marked by mock horror for the assembled press photographers.
And then, finally, it was time.
RALPH PAUL (Announcer): “Good evening, America, and welcome to another unforgettable night with The Ed Sullivan Show! Tonight, we're bringing you an eclectic mix of talent that promises to dazzle and entertain, from the mesmerizing dance routines of Broadway sensations to the heart-stopping illusions of our very own magic maestro. And for those of you who love laughter, get ready for comedy that will have you rolling in the aisles! So, without further ado, our MC, Ed Sullivan!”
The camera cut to Sullivan standing stiffly before the camera with his shoulders slightly hunched, projecting a somewhat reserved and formal demeanor. His movements were minimal, with subtle gestures like a slight tilt of the head or a modest hand movement to introduce acts.
ED SULLIVAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight on our stage, we have a truly exceptional show for you. We have a surprise guest whose appearance is as unexpected as it is spectacular.
”Direct from the future—or so it seems—we're proud to present a young man and his band who are set to redefine the boundaries of music right before your very eyes. He’s a visionary, a trailblazer whose sound transcends the here and now, weaving together the threads of rock and soul into a vibrant tapestry of rhythm and melody.
“Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your seats, open your minds, and prepare for a musical journey unlike any you've experienced. Please give a warm welcome to the incredible, the incomparable Prince and The Revolution!”
The Performance:
PRINCE: “Show night comes around, and the air's so thick with nerves you could cut it with a guitar pick. I step out, and for a heartbeat, it's just me and the lights. Then we let loose, and it's like watching a supernova up close. We're giving ‘em a taste of tomorrow, today. And when the dust settles, Ed's grinning ear to ear, the audience is on their feet, and we're all thinking the same thing: we didn't just rock the house, we rocked the clock. And that's how you play time travel, folks—with a whole lot of soul and a wink at the cosmos.
JAMES BALDWIN: “When Prince took the stage, it was more than a performance; it was an assertion of identity. In his music, you could hear the whispers of futures not yet imagined, a call to recognize the beauty in our differences.”
NORMAN MAILER: “The performance was a battle royale, with Prince delivering each note like a seasoned pugilist. The air crackled with electricity, the audience on the edge of their seats as history was written in real-time.”
GEORGE PLIMPTON: “Watching Prince perform, one couldn't help but feel they were witnessing an epochal event. The music was a revelation, challenging, confounding, and ultimately captivating the audience in a spellbinding display of artistry.”
TRUMAN CAPOTE: “When Prince finally took the stage, it was akin to witnessing a masterpiece painting unveiled in real-time. The drama, the sheer spectacle of his artistry, was breathtaking. ‘Here,’ I mused, ‘is a performance that does more than entertain; it mesmerizes, it transforms.’ The air was thick with electricity, each note a stroke of genius, each movement a defiance of the ordinary. It was as if the room, no, the world, had been dipped into a pool of colors previously unseen.”
GLORIA STEINEM: “On that stage, Prince shattered the constraints of gender, race, and genre. Each song was a declaration, an invitation to envision a world unbound by past prejudices.”
JIMMY BRESLIN: “The guy tore through his set like a hurricane, upending everything we thought we knew about music. It was raw, real, and unlike anything that stage had ever seen.”
DOROTHY PARKER: “His performance was a dazzling array of light and sound, a feast for the senses. In his element, Prince proved that true talent cannot be confined by time or tradition.”
TOM WOLFE: “This was no mere musical act; this was a sonic boom across the cultural landscape. Prince’s performance was an audacious foray into uncharted territories, blending genres with the ease of a maestro.”
SUSAN SONTAG: “In that performance, Prince articulated a vision of the future that was both radical and deeply human. His music transcended the barriers of language, offering instead a universal message of hope and unity.”
JOHN LEWIS: “Watching Prince perform, I saw more than a musician; I saw a movement personified. His energy was infectious, a blend of defiance and joy that filled the theater. It was as if he was marching through Selma all over again, but this time armed with a guitar and an unyielding spirit. I thought to myself, ‘This is what freedom sounds like.’ His performance was not just for the audience in that theater; it was a message sent across time, a declaration that change was not only possible but imminent.”
The performance was a moment of high drama, blending spectacular musical artistry with a visual presentation far ahead of its time. It was electric, divisive, and utterly unforgettable, sparking a cultural flashpoint.
PRINCE: “That show was something else. Stepping onto that stage, I could feel the weight of the moment—like history itself was holding its breath. The energy was electric, a current that ran both ways between us and the audience. We weren't just playing music; we were casting spells, weaving dreams into the fabric of reality. It was a declaration of independence, a proclamation of our arrival. Looking back, it was more than a performance; it was a pivotal point for everyone watching, not just for us. We brought the future to them, gift-wrapped in melody and rhythm.”
Climax:
In the days and weeks that followed (including two additional performances on Sullivan’s show) the public was polarized, but also overwhelmingly fascinated by Prince.
TRUMAN CAPOTE: “The aftermath of Prince's performance was like the quiet that follows a storm. There we were, society at large, polarized yet undeniably fascinated. The music industry found itself at a crossroads, confronted by a future it was unprepared for but could no longer ignore. ‘Prince,’ I reflected, ‘has not merely performed. He has sown the seeds of a revolution, and whether we like it or not, we’re all caught in the whirlwind of his making. To attempt to categorize it is to miss the point entirely. He's rewritten the script, and we're merely players in his narrative now.’”
JAMES BALDWIN: “In the aftermath, society found itself at a crossroads, confronted with a vision of the future that was both exhilarating and daunting. Prince's music had opened a door, and there was no closing it.”
NORMAN MAILER: “The fallout was a melee of opinions, a cacophony where every voice sought to be heard. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was a clear signal: change was not only coming; it had arrived, with Prince leading the charge.”
GEORGE PLIMPTON: “The cultural shockwaves sent by Prince's performance didn't just ripple; they roared. It was as if society itself was caught in the wake of his music, forced to reckon with a future it had barely begun to imagine.”
JOHN LEWIS: “The aftermath of Prince's performance felt like the calm after a storm. The debates it ignited, the divisions it laid bare, were reminiscent of the conversations we had been having for decades in the civil rights movement. Yet, amidst the polarization, there was a unifying fascination, a collective acknowledgment that we had witnessed something transformative. Prince had not just crossed a bridge into a new era; he had built that bridge. And on the other side? A world where the music of freedom rings louder and clearer than ever before.”
GLORIA STEINEM: “The public's reaction was a mirror to the times—torn between fascination and fear, yet overwhelmingly captivated by Prince. His boldness in embracing his identity and artistry resonated deeply, pushing conversations about gender, race, and creativity into new, unexplored territories.”
JIMMY BRESLIN: “After that night, the music industry couldn't help but sit up and take notice. Prince wasn't just a flash in the pan; he was a blazing comet, rewriting the rules and forcing everyone to pay attention to what music could be.”
DOROTHY PARKER: “The aftermath was a deliciously mixed bag of adulation and confusion. Prince, with his daring performance, had not just entertained; he had challenged, provoked, and ultimately, enchanted a divided society.”
Some have speculated that Prince faced a pivotal choice: attempt to return to his own time or embrace his unexpected role in this new era. But, just as he had no effect over the random temporal anomaly that cast him backward into 1964, he didn’t have a say in returning to 1980.
TOM WOLFE: “Prince's decision to stay and embrace his unexpected role in this new era was the ultimate act of defiance and creativity. He didn't just visit the ‘60s; he transformed them, leaving a legacy that would echo through the annals of music and cultural history.”
SUSAN SONTAG: "Prince became a bridge to the future by choosing to remain in the past. His impact went beyond music, touching the very core of societal norms and expectations. He challenged us to see beyond our present to a future where art and identity are boundless and free."
PRINCE: “In the aftermath, I felt a kaleidoscope of emotions—amazement, confusion, even fear. But underneath it all, there was this undeniable current of fascination. We had cracked open the door to the future, and people couldn't help but peek in. The industry was forced to rethink its boundaries and its definitions. And me? I found myself at a crossroads, torn between two times. In the end, the choice was clear. The past was a canvas, but the future? The future was a mural waiting to be painted. We chose to stay and paint it with every color we had. That decision, that moment, was more than a climax; it was the beginning of a new chapter, written in the key of revolution.”
In their musings, these witnesses to history articulate the profound impact of Prince's temporal journey. Through their eyes, we see the deepening conflict, the electrifying performance, and the climactic aftermath of a moment that transcended time, challenging and changing society in ways that continue to resonate. Through their words, the oral history of this extraordinary event is preserved, a testament to the power of music, identity, and change.
MONDAY: Act 3 of 3
Acceptance, Legacy, and Reflection