According to IMDb, this was his first national TV appearance. I think he did American Bandstand shortly afterwards, and a little over a year later he was co-musical guest (with Todd Rundgren!) on the notorious episode of SNL where Charles Rocket said "Fuck" on-air (supposedly Rocket said he only did so because we thought it was okay since --he believed-- Prince had already just done so in his performance of "Partyup").
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 18:59 (two weeks ago) link
I have an incredible pro-shot single-cam video (torrent) of:
PRINCE LIVE DIRTY MIND TOURNEW YORKTHE RITZMARCH 21 1981
but have never seen any other early stuff out there
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 19:04 (two weeks ago) link
Wolfgang's Vault has a whole show from the end of the Controversy tour - they may have taken down the complete show and left up a selection of clips, but other channels have uploaded a copy of the complete show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdUPjdEciqA
Also, from the tail end of the Dirty Mind tour (basically the European leg), this show from Théâtre Le Palace, Paris, France (June 4, 1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2THFyyy24
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 14 May 2024 20:08 (two weeks ago) link
assless chaps or GTFO ;)
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 20:09 (two weeks ago) link
Should mention, the first show is from January 30, 1982 at the Capitol Theatre.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 14 May 2024 20:09 (two weeks ago) link
Prince on American Bandstand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEXzOEsP9I
DICK CLARK MADE HIM WEAR PANTS
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 20:29 (two weeks ago) link
The further we get from it the more 80s Prince feels like a miracle, an impossible thing
― Humanitarian Pause (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 21:16 (two weeks ago) link
Here's the "Partyup" from SNL, which is actually live, unlike the Midnight Special and Bandstand performances.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/TdDTtEYLRZd42znK/?mibextid=oFDknk
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 21:26 (two weeks ago) link
ah here's the Ritz show, assless chaps start at 17:44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x1P84W5fa8
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 21:58 (two weeks ago) link
Technically, all chaps are assless
― Millennium Falco (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 14 May 2024 23:45 (two weeks ago) link
pedantry
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 15 May 2024 00:20 (two weeks ago) link
That guitar solo at 42:30 is worth a few minutes of your time.
― enochroot, Wednesday, 15 May 2024 01:53 (two weeks ago) link
wow at that Ritz video!
― Bertold Brak (bendy), Wednesday, 15 May 2024 13:26 (two weeks ago) link
holy shit i don't think wow quite covers it but yes wow at that ritz video!
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 16 May 2024 13:40 (two weeks ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGm-2UTjacY
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 25 May 2024 04:38 (six days ago) link
Late to the above convo but the New Orleans show from that tour from that era bootlegged as jack u off is INCREDIBLEThe way they were doing Annie Christian live holy shit
― realistic pillow (Jon not Jon), Tuesday, 28 May 2024 02:19 (three days ago) link