Editing New Power Generation (section)

==History==
The phrase "Welcome to the New Power Generation" was mentioned on the opening track of 1988's ''[[Lovesexy]]''. New Power Generation was used for the first time as a band name in the 1990 film ''[[Graffiti Bridge (film)|Graffiti Bridge]]'', and a song entitled "[[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]" appeared on the [[Graffiti Bridge (album)|accompanying soundtrack album]].<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Kellman |first1=Andy |title=Prince & the New Power Generation Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/prince-the-new-power-generation-mn0000305080/biography |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref>

The New Power Generation debuted live during the [[Nude Tour]] in 1990 and on record on the 1991 album ''[[Diamonds and Pearls]]''. The band consisted of holdovers from the Nude Tour: [[Michael Bland]] (drums), [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] (guitar), [[Rosie Gaines]] (keyboards and backing vocals), [[Tony M.]] (lead raps and dancing), Kirk Johnson (percussion and dancing), and Damon Dickson (dancing), along with two new members [[Tommy Barbarella]] (keyboards) and [[Sonny T.]] (bass). Rosie Gaines left the band after the [[Diamonds and Pearls Tour]] and was replaced by keyboardist Morris Hayes.

When Prince began his formal dispute with [[Warner Bros.]] and changed his [[stage name]] to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993, the NPG became a side-project for Prince, allowing him to release music outside of his contract. 

The NPG's debut album, ''[[Goldnigga]]'', featured [[Tony M.]] as lead vocalist/[[Rapping|rapper]].<ref name="AllMusic"/> The album relied heavily on rap, while the music itself was reminiscent of the 1970s [[funk]]. Prince participated heavily in writing and performing the music, while Tony wrote and performed raps. Prince provided co-lead vocals on two songs, "Black M.F. in the House" and "Johnny", and the two were often performed by him in his own concerts and after shows.

A reduced NPG returned to the Prince fold when he began performing under the symbolic moniker in early 1994, backing him on ''[[The Gold Experience]]''. The rappers and dancers were let go, and Levi Seacer left the band as well. Given an expanded role in the band was dancer [[Mayte Garcia]] who provided backing and Spanish vocals. This incarnation released ''[[Exodus (New Power Generation album)|Exodus]]'' in 1995. Prince again took a role behind the scenes, adopting the guise of the masked "Tora Tora" and performing lead vocals on several tracks, sometimes with an altered voice. His participation in this version of the NPG was much more apparent. Although several raps were recorded for the album, they were left out of the final release, and the focus was more on funk.

In 1996, longstanding members Michael Bland, Tommy Barbarella, and Sonny T. were fired and a new band was formed for touring. Guitarists Kat Dyson and Mike Scott, along with bassist Rhonda Smith joined Morris Hayes and Kirk Johnson, who re-joined the band to play drums.

In 1998, another NPG album was released titled ''[[Newpower Soul]]'' (modifying a song title from ''Exodus''). In fact, a spoken outtake from ''Exodus'' mentions the upcoming album, indicating its planning stages. Prince features prominently on the cover and liner notes and provides lead vocals on all songs. Unlike the two previous releases, the album relies heavily on drum programming by Kirk Johnson and features input from [[Larry Graham]] and [[Doug E. Fresh]].

A fourth album, ''Peace'', due to be released in 2001, never materialized and although a few songs have been made public through limited-release singles at concerts ("Peace" / "2045: Radical Man" and "The Daisy Chain" / "Gamillah") and through Prince's former official website, [[NPG Music Club]]. The songs were later included on the Prince albums ''[[The Slaughterhouse]]'' and ''[[The Chocolate Invasion]]''.

The band since has been a "revolving door" of musicians, who usually stay for a couple years before being replaced. It is often nebulous as to who is actually an 'official' member.

In 2010, three former members of the original New Power Generation, drummer [[Michael Bland]], keyboardist [[Tommy Barbarella]] and bass player [[Sonny T.]], became members of [[Nick Jonas and the Administration]] (a side project of [[Nick Jonas]] of the [[Jonas Brothers]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oceanup.com/2009/11/17/nick-jonas-on-the-administration-album|website=Oceanup.com|title=Nick Jonas On The Administration ALBUM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120140428/http://www.oceanup.com/2009/11/17/nick-jonas-on-the-administration-album|archive-date=November 20, 2009}}</ref>

In 2013, NPG singer [[Elisa Fiorillo]] (Dease) formed a duo with Nashville-based guitarist Tyler Reese, called the Dease & Reese Project, and in 2014 released the album ''Life in 20'' (REMU Records). Fiorillo continued to perform with Prince.

The NPG collaborated with Prince once more in 2015 on what would be his last studio album, ''[[Hit n Run Phase Two]]''.

After Prince's untimely death in 2016, the band reunited in 2017 and 2019 for a US and European Prince tribute tour.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7727868/new-power-generation-reunion-2017-tour-prince-handwritten-letter|title = Prince's New Power Generation Reunites for 2017 Tour, Singer's Handwritten Note Praising NPG Released: Exclusive|magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=2019-11-26 |title=Interview with Prince's musical director Morris Hayes |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/interview-morris-hayes-prince-new-power-generation/ |access-date=2021-11-21 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>