EPISODE · May 30, 2026 · 54 MIN
Brazilian beaches in high heels, frenzied premieres in limousines and some general counsel for a genius. But behind the scenes, some very rare moments of vulnerability, "when the Emperor had no clothes", as Alan Leeds tells Sam Bleazard in part 2.
from How can U just leave me standing? ...in search of Prince Rogers Nelson. · host Alan Leeds, Gavin Calder, Sam Bleazard
INTRO 3mins - Persuading Prince not to go onto the beach in Rio in high heels? Easier said than done. 9mins - Prince has a rare attack of nerves approaching the Purple Rain premiere in 1984, Alan is on hand to maintain calm. 16mins - The Revolution are crestfallen at the end of the Purple Rain tour, how difficult was it for Alan at the centre of that dynamic? 24mins30s - Did Alan feel he got to know a little bit of the man along the way? 30mins30s - What was it like having a family member in his band? 35mins30s - Alan is a nervous wreck the day brother Eric comes to meet Prince for the first time... 39mins - Alan and Sam discuss the Hit n Run tour 44mins - Was Prince trying too hard to prove a point with Crystal Ball? 50mins - The Black Album: dark night of the soul, or trying to bridge to hip-hop? How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests! The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder. LINKS Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook if you'd like to interact with the show on social media. Email me at: [email protected] if you have any ideas for future episodes, or if you'd like to share any feedback on the show. #prince4ever #love4oneanother
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What this episode covers
Born in Jackson Heights, New York, Alan Leeds is an American music industry legend, as a tour manager and production manager, he is best known for his work organising performances and concert tours for artists such as James Brown, Prince, KISS, Cameo, D'Angelo and Chris Rock. In addition to his career in artist management, he is recognised as an award-winning writer and music archivist, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Album Notes in 1992 for his work on the James Brown compilation Star Time. Alan also penned the liner notes for the 1993 Prince box set The Hits/The B-Sides, and co-wrote The James Brown Reader with Nelson George. His music career began as a DJ, before he became involved with James Brown as his publicity director in 1969, and worked as Brown's tour manager from 1970 to 1973. Beginning in 1983, Alan managed tours for Prince during the peak of his commercial and artistic success, notably during the Purple Rain Tour. His work with Prince culminated in him being named as president of Prince's label Paisley Park Records in 1989. Alan's career as a tour manager continued with D'Angelo, managing the successful Voodoo Tour in 2000. This was followed by stints with a variety of other artists, including Raphael Saadiq and The Roots. He has also been involved in the curation of the James Brown: The Singles collections, and has spoken at events commemorating Brown's career and accomplishments. In his personal life Alan has a wife, Gwen, and a son, Tristan. His brother is saxophonist Eric Leeds. In 2020, Leeds released the biographical book, "There Was a Time: James Brown, The Chitlin' Circuit, and Me." We were delighted to welcome him as our guest on the show. This is part two of our interview.
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Brazilian beaches in high heels, frenzied premieres in limousines and some general counsel for a genius. But behind the scenes, some very rare moments of vulnerability, "when the Emperor had no clothes", as Alan Leeds tells Sam Bleazard in part 2.
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