Fit for a Prince: How We Celebrated a Legend's Birthday

On February 2,  musicians, skaters, close friends, acquaintances, and family all gathered at the Boar Cross'n to celebrate the life and memory of Michael Prince.  Guitars were shred, tears were shed, and heads were banged to the wild beats of San Diego's classiest rock and metal bands.  It seemed the only way to properly commemorate a man who reveled in being the life of every party and in the pulse of every drum beat he played.

We kicked off the night with the sleaziest rock n' rollers this side of San Diego County, Slut Machine.  Former Purple Church bassist Rattle Jake took the stage alongside Jonathan, James, and new drummer Scott.  The crowd was warming up with a few Jack n' Cokes while Slut Machine brought the pre-game heat with their rock star presence.

The physicality, style, and musical abilities of this glam and rock-n-roll infused band make Slut Machine very interesting and appealing.  Sleazy, edgy, and just plain fun, Slut Machine is just one of those bands that I can't wait to hear more recorded material from.  However, you could tell that tonight just wasn't a night where the band was out to edify themselves or get their name out to the masses.  They were playing in honor of a close friend who would want all of them to make sure they never lose sight of that heavy metal inspiration that brought them together in the first place.

Next up was Great Electric Quest, the self-described "working class rock n roll" band with some flared-up hints of blues and classic rock.  Despite the band having a very long set time, they captured my attention greatly, and [vocalist] Tyler's intermittent dialogue about Prince got me choked up for the first (and certainly not the last) time that night.

Finally, it was time for the band of the hour to make their appearance.  Friends and family gathered close to the stage to hear Purple Church perform for the last time in the near future, and the set did everything but disappoint.  Filling in some big shoes was the drumming machine we all know as Sean Elg (Nihilist, Deathriders, Beast).  While he is known for incredible technicality, Elg executed that Purple Church finesse that had us believing Prince could have been causing mischief behind those drums.  I know every time I looked back to the drum set, I'd have these mixed emotions of extreme pride and confounded disbelief.  You could see it in everyone's faces, even between the bouts of headbanging or polite nodding, depending on which track of the emotional roller coaster you were on.

But once "Til Death Do Us Party" blasted its way through the amplifiers on stage, the whole place seemed to erupt.  It was our last shot---for band and audience---to show Prince just exactly how steadfastly united our party spirit could be.  A collective sea of headbangers with tear-stained cheeks joined arms, shouting the lyrics up to rock n' roll heaven with Daywalker, Jeremy, Rattle, and Sean fearlessly leading the charge.

 Even as the song faded out, the cheering and chanting only grew louder.  Prince's mom and sister were brought up onto the stage, their faces weary yet glowing with eternal gratitude at our overwhelming support and love for him.  We are even more grateful; without Prince, many of us wouldn't have found the company of a man who always cherished the precious wild and crazy moments and never took any of his companions for granted.  On Prince Day 2014, every word was sung with dedication, every chord strung with passion, every heart filled with loving sadness knowing that this was goodbye.  But it's only goodbye for now.