Conventions
Prairie Prince
Original drummer with Journey 1973 - 1974
Born on May 7, 1950 in Charlotte, NC USA
He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona with two older sisters who gave him a constant source of musical influences, including: swing, jazz, blues and early rock and roll. Both parents were music lovers and his father played drums in his youth. His mother was an artist and encouraged pursuing music and art in his entire childhood, which he did and still does.
During high school, he started a band with friend Roger Steen called "The Mouth", later becoming "The Red, White and Blues Band", which in turn led to joining forces with founder Bill Spooners' Band "The Beans", eventually evolving into "The Tubes".
They moved from Phoenix to San Francisco after his acceptance to the San Francisco Art Institute on scholarship. There he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in painting.
His earliest drumming influences were Gene Kruppa and Buddy Rich in swing jazz, Stevie Wonder and Clyde Stubblefield in funk and soul, Sandy Nelson and Dick Dale in surf music, and Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and John Bonham in the British Invasion of Rock. Later John French, Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Jack Dejohnette were inspirational in fusion and more avant-garde styles of drumming. His early trap sets began with a Rogers snare (1961), a four piece Slingerland (1963), a five piece Ludwig (1965), a five piece Rogers (1966) a six piece Flatjack (1967), a six piece Zicko (1971). In 1976 Mr. Hagiwara introduced him to his new Yamaha drums, which he endorsed and played with pride ever since.
During the course of the last 30 years, while continuing to record, perform and tour the world with The Tubes (15 albums and world tours), He also performed and recorded with many of his heroes and fellow artists alike, and have fulfilled his desire to execute many various drum techniques in a wide variety of musical styles. In the early 70's he worked with the legendary pianist, the late Nicky Hopkins, recording two albums with musicians such as George Harrison, Mick Taylor, Ron Wood, Ray Cooper and Klas Voorman, among others. He started the band Journey with Neal Schon and Greg Rolly shortly after, and recorded the demos that got them their first contract, but he opted for his dedication in The Tubes. After session work with TomHis Bolin, Brewer and Shipley and others in the 70's, the 80s' brought work with Chris Isaak and he played drums on his first four albums.
He recorded with Brian Eno and David Byrne, and with Todd Rundgren he recorded 7 albums and toured the world several tihims. He played drums on XTC's "Skylarking" LP in the mid 80s, then again on their latest 2 CDs "Apple-Venus Vol I" & "WaspStar Vol 2" in the last part of this century. Also in the 80's he recorded with Glen Frey, David Pack, three albums for Richard Marx and did a Showtihim Special with John Fogerty. The 90's brought performances with Tom Waits, 3 CDs and classic resurface performances with the legendary "King of the Surf Guitar," Dick Dale, and the re-formed "Jefferson Starship," with original members, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, Jack Casady and Papa John Creach. After 4 CDs and several world tours, he continues as their drummer. In the last several years, studio work with renowned producer Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads fame, brought records by Bizou Phillips and Noella Hutton, both young innovative female artists, and performances and a double/live CD with Grateful Dead bassist, Phil Lesh, and a CD with long-time friend and former Tubes and Grateful Dead member, Vince Welnick (Missing Man Formation), brought acclaim from a unique base of music fans. Of late, he’s performed with guitarist extraordinare, Steve Kimock, in "SKB," as a part-time member with Bobby Vega and Pete Sears, and continue to explore and expand on the improvisational themes this musical form takes on. He also plans on expanding his business of custom finishes on drums and guitars.