CHANHASSEN, MN – Surprise guest George Clinton kicked off the festivities at the first annual Celebration at Prince’s home and studio, Paisley Park. The Celebration promised to be a tribute to the iconic late musician at the studio where he lived, worked, and sadly, died, last year at the age of 57.

The four-day event includes panel discussions, performances and unseen video footage of Prince’s bandmates and collaborators including The Revolution, The NPG Bands and other collaborators. Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister was in attendance as the event kicked off on Thursday, the day before the anniversary of his untimely death on April 21st last year.

Clinton, who once recorded for Prince’s Paisley Park Records, is still in fine funk form at the age of 75. His all-ages band included rappers and a regrouped Brides Of Funkenstein or something similar. While there was no mothership or diapers worn on stage, a loc’ed brother in an outfit that could only be described as fluffy pimpwear, gyrated on stage.

Clinton ran through stock Parliament/Funkadelic hits like “Atomic Dog” “We Want The Funk” “Knee Deep” “Flashlight” and more with his crack P-Funk band, who also did a few energetic hip-hop songs. (They likely had Prince cringing from above as he famously outlawed swearing at Paisley.)

Model Damaris Lewis, Prince’s friend, collaborator and muse, hosted, opening the event up with a 45-minute film from Prince’s 2014 Amsterdam concert with his last band, the all-female rock band 3rd EyeGirl. She said she still hears Prince’s voice in her head saying ‘No cell phones’ (phones and photography are not permitted at Paisley Park) were and that the audience and fans are just as significant to his keeping his legacy alive as any of his collaborators.

Those collaborators included the different incarnations of the New Power Generation band. The first day included a panel with members from 1989-2000 – rapper Tony M., guitarist/bassist Levi Seacer, keyboardist Morris Hayes and Game Boyz dancer Damon Dickson. Each shared hilarious stories of their time in the band.

For more information go to http://www.blackamericaweb.com