New Power Generation

New Power Generation
Name	New Power Generation
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Years active	1990–present
Associated acts	Prince; The Revolution; The Time; Apollonia 6; Wendy & Lisa
Past members	see article

New Power Generation New Power Generation was the backing band, production collective, and musical vehicle for the artist Prince during the 1990s and early 2000s. Formed in Minneapolis, the group served as a creative nexus connecting members of The Revolution, The Time, Morris Day’s circle, and collaborators from Paisley Park; they participated in studio albums, concert residencies, soundtrack projects, and multimedia ventures tied to Prince, Warner Bros. Records, and independent releases.

Background and Formation

The ensemble emerged after the dissolution of The Revolution and the later reconfiguration of ensembles around Prince during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Key figures drawn from regional and national scenes included musicians who had worked with artists such as Sheila E., George Clinton, Andre Cymone, and producers linked to Jam & Lewis and Jimmy Jam. Management and production ties ran through Paisley Park Studios, with business arrangements intersecting Warner Bros. Records contracts and negotiations that involved executives from Time Warner and industry agents connected to Live Nation and AEG Live. The group’s early lineup related to projects with performers from Apollonia 6, Vanity 6, and session players who had credits on releases by Sheila E. and Mazarati.

Musical Style and Influences

The band synthesized funk traditions traceable to James Brown, Sly Stone, and Parliament-Funkadelic with the contemporary street sensibilities of Prince’s Minneapolis sound, which also drew upon Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and Joni Mitchell for harmonic and melodic approaches. Electronic and hip hop inflections referenced artists and producers such as Kraftwerk, Afrika Bambaataa, Dr. Dre, and Public Enemy, while pop and R&B elements echoed work by Michael Jackson, Madonna, and songwriting techniques associated with Diane Warren and Babyface. The ensemble’s arrangements reflected influences from studio innovators like Quincy Jones and Trevor Horn, and they incorporated improvisational elements linked to Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Career and Releases

NPG participated on a sequence of studio albums, film soundtracks, and single releases connected to Prince, appearing across projects credited to Prince and affiliated acts. Notable albums featuring the band included efforts released during the era of Diamonds and Pearls and releases tied to promotional campaigns run through Warner Bros. Records. Singles issued under the collective’s branding entered charts monitored by organizations like Billboard and received airplay on outlets such as MTV, VH1, and national radio syndicates. Collaborations brought in songwriters and producers who had worked with Rod Temperton, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Shep Pettibone, and Babyface, and remix culture connected the group to DJs associated with David Guetta, Sasha (DJ), and Masters at Work remixes.

Live Performances and Tours

Touring activity for the ensemble included residencies and world tours linked to Prince’s itineraries, with performances staged at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium, Staples Center, and festival appearances at events like Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, and Montreux Jazz Festival. The band’s stagecraft referenced production designers who had worked on tours for Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Madonna, and lighting and choreography were influenced by practitioners associated with Bob Fosse-inspired movement and stage direction from teams who collaborated with Cirque du Soleil. Live lineups often featured guest appearances from artists including Sheila E., Morris Day, Andre Cymone, and members of The Time.

Collaborations and Side Projects

Members of the collective pursued parallel projects and studio work for a range of artists. Individual players recorded with acts such as Sheila E., Chaka Khan, Macy Gray, Chaka Demus, and contributed to sessions for film composers linked to Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman. Production credits branched into collaborations with songwriters and producers from Motown Records alumni, ties to Def Jam Recordings artists, and remix projects associated with labels like XL Recordings and Rhino Records. Side projects included studio bands, soundtrack contributions to films involving Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, and John Singleton, and work for television series produced by HBO and Netflix.

Legacy and Impact

The ensemble’s legacy persists through its influence on funk, R&B, and pop production practices, affecting artists and producers across generations including Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and The Weeknd. Their fusion of live instrumentation with electronic production contributed to trends adopted by labels such as RCA Records and Columbia Records, and impacted curricula at institutions like Berklee College of Music and programs at New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. The band’s role in Prince’s artistic evolution is recognized in retrospectives by cultural institutions including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibitions, museum shows at The Smithsonian Institution, and academic studies published by scholars affiliated with Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.

Category:American funk musical groups Category:Prince (musician) related musical groups