Editing New Power Generation

{{short description|American rhythm and blues band}}
{{For|the Prince song|New Power Generation (song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name             = New Power Generation
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| image_size       = 
| background       = group_or_band
| origin           = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States]]
| genre            = <!-- Do not change ANY genres without consensus. Discuss on the talk page first. Do not just summarize genres to suit your opinion. -->{{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Rock music|rock]]|[[funk]]|[[Contemporary rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]|[[Dance music|dance]]|[[psychedelic music|psychedelia]]}}
| years_active     = 1990–2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
| label            = 
| website          = 
| current_members  = Morris Hayes<br />[[Tommy Barbarella]]<br />Damon Dickson<br />[[Levi Seacer, Jr.]]<br />[[Tony M.]]<br />[[Michael Bland]]<br />Kirk Johnson<br />[[Sonny T.]]<br />[[Andy Allo]]
| past_members     = Chance Howard<br/ > [[Liv Warfield]]<br/ > Josh Dunham<br />[[John Blackwell (musician)|John Blackwell]]<br /> Cora Coleman Dunham<br />[[Rosie Gaines]]<br/>[[Elisa Fiorillo]]<br /> [[Mayte Garcia]]<br />[[Rhonda Smith]]<br />Kat Dyson<br />Mike Scott<br />Renato Neto<br />[[Frederic Yonnet]]<br />[[Shelby J.]]<br />[[Ida Kristine Nielsen|Ida Nielsen]]<br />[[Donna Grantis]]<br />[[Cassandra O'Neal]]<br />[[Prince (musician)|Prince]]<br />[[Andrew Gouche]]
}}

The '''New Power Generation''', also known as the '''NPG''', was the backing band of musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] from 1990 to 2013. They were replaced by [[3rdeyegirl]] as his backing band in 2013. In 2015, the New Power Generation reunited as Prince's backing band for his final studio album before his death, ''[[Hit n Run Phase Two]]''. They reunited once again in 2017 for a US and European tour.

==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>

==Discography==
This is the discography of the New Power Generation, credited as a separate entity from Prince.

===Albums credited to Prince and the New Power Generation===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="B200">{{cite magazine | url =https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/tlp/ | title = Prince Chart History: Billboard 200| magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date = December 17, 2022}}</ref>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 439}}</ref>
|-
|align="left"|1991
|align="left"|''[[Diamonds and Pearls]]''
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|
* [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: 2× Platinum<ref>{{cite web |title=Prince & the New Power Generation - Diamonds and Pearls |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/1788-2130-2 |website=bpi.co.uk |access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref>
|-
|align="left"|1992
|align="left"|''[[Love Symbol Album]]''
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|2002
|align="left"|''[[One Nite Alone... Live!]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|2003
|align="left"|''[[C-Note (album)|C-Note]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|
|-
|align="left"|2007
|align="left"|''[[Planet Earth (Prince album)|Planet Earth]]''
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|
|-
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

===Albums credited to the New Power Generation===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Additional information
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="B200"/>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2"/>
|-
|align="left"|1993
|align="left"|''[[Gold Nigga]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|Tony M. performs lead vocals.
|-
|align="left"|1995
|align="left"|''[[Exodus (New Power Generation album)|Exodus]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|11
|align="left"|Sonny T. performs lead vocals.
|-
|align="left"|1998
|align="left"|''[[Newpower Soul]]''
|align="center"|22
|align="center"|38
|align="left"|Prince performs lead vocals. Prince's symbol (stylized) and portrait is on the front cover.
|}

==Albums credited to the NPG Orchestra==
Band Members:
*Prince
*The NPG
*[[Clare Fischer]] Orchestra<ref>{{cite web | url=https://princevault.com/index.php?title=The_NPG_Orchestra | title=The NPG Orchestra - Prince Vault }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:33px;"| Year
! style="width:700px;"| Album details
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
|align="left"|''[[Crystal Ball (box set)#Kamasutra|Kamasutra]]'' 
*Released: February 14, 1997 <small>(limited edition cassette)</small><ref>Uptown, 2004, p. 203</ref>
*Label: NPG
|}

===Albums with contributions by the New Power Generation===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Additional information
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref name="B200"/>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2"/>
|-
|align="left"|1990
|align="left"|''[[Graffiti Bridge (album)|Graffiti Bridge]]''
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|1
|align="left"|Unnamed New Power Generation members provided backing vocals on the song "New Power Generation".
|-
|align="left" rowspan="1"|1994
|align="left"|''[[Blankman]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|Includes "Super Hero", credited to the New Power Generation and the Steeles.
|-
|align="left" rowspan="1"|1995
|align="left"|''[[The Gold Experience]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|Produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with the New Power Generation.
|-
|align="left"|1996
|align="left"|''[[Girl 6 (album)|Girl 6]]''
|align="center"|75
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|Includes "Count the Days", from ''Exodus'' and title track is credited to the New Power Generation, with Prince on lead vox.
|-
|align="left" rowspan="2"|2004
|align="left"|''[[The Chocolate Invasion]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|The New Power Generation is credited for the track "Gamillah".
|-
|align="left"|''[[The Slaughterhouse]]''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|The New Power Generation is credited for the tracks "Peace", "2045: Radical Man", and "The Daisy Chain".
|-
|align="left"|2006
|align="left"|''[[3121 (album)|3121]]''
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|9
|align="left"|The New Power Generation is credited for "shouts" on the song "Lolita".
|}

===Singles credited to Prince and the New Power Generation===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="US Hot 100">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Prince Chart History: Hot 100 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>
!align="center" width="40"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br><ref name="US R&B/HH">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/bsi/ |title=Prince Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>
!align="center" width="40"|[[Hot Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]<br><ref name="DCS">{{cite magazine | url =https://www.billboard.com/artist/prince/chart-history/dsi/ | title = Prince Chart History: Dance Club Songs| magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date = December 17, 2022}}</ref>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 392}}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2"/>
|-
|align="center" rowspan="3"|1991
|align="left"|"[[Gett Off]]" 
|align="center"|21
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|4
|align="left" rowspan="6"|''Diamonds and Pearls''
|-
|align="left"|"[[Cream (Prince song)|Cream]]" 
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|15
|-
|align="left"|"[[Diamonds and Pearls (song)|Diamonds and Pearls]]" <br> 
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|25
|-
|align="center" rowspan="9"|1992
|align="left"|"[[Money Don't Matter 2 Night]]" <br> 
|align="center"|23
|align="center"|14
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|19
|-
|align="left"|"[[Insatiable (Prince song)|Insatiable]]" 
|align="center"|77
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|align="left"|"[[Thunder (Prince song)|Thunder]]" 
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|28
|-
|align="left"|"[[Sexy MF|Sexy MF"/"Strollin']]"
|align="center"|66
|align="center"|76
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|4
|align="left"|''Love Symbol Album''/''Diamonds and Pearls''
|-
|align="left"|"[[My Name Is Prince]]" <br>
|align="center"|36
|align="center"|25
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|7
|align="left"|''Love Symbol Album''
|-
|align="left"|"My Name Is Prince" ([[remix]]es) <br> 
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|51
|align="left"|N/A
|-
|align="left"|"[[7 (Prince song)|7]]"
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|61
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|27
|align="left" rowspan="3"|''Love Symbol Album''
|-
|align="left"|"[[The Morning Papers]]" <br> 
|align="center"|44
|align="center"|68
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|52
|-
|align="left"|"[[Damn U]]" 
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|align="center"|1993
|align="left"|"[[Nothing Compares 2 U]]" 
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|62
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''The Hits/The B-Sides''; B-side to "Peach"
|-
|align="center"|2002
|align="left"|"[[Days of Wild]]"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left" rowspan=2|N/A
|-
|align="center"|2004
|align="left"|"[[Controversy (song)#Live in Hawaii|Controversy (Live in Hawaii)]]" 
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

==Singles credited to the New Power Generation==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br><ref name="US R&B/HH"/>
!align="center" width="40"|[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]<br><ref>{{cite web|title=New Power Generation - The Good Life - Australian Charts|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+New+Power+Generation&titel=The+Good+Life&cat=s|website=Australiancharts.com|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2"/>
|-
|align="center"|1993
|align="left"|"2gether"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''Gold Nigga''
|-
|align="center" rowspan="3"|1994
|align="left"|"[[Get Wild]]"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|19
|align="left" rowspan="2"|''Exodus''
|-
|align="left"|"Count the Days"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|align="left"|"Super Hero" ''featuring the Steeles''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''[[Blankman]]: Music from the Motion Picture''
|-
|align="center"|1995
|align="left"|"The Good Life"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|29
|align="left"|''Exodus''
|-
|align="center"|1996
|align="left"|"Girl 6"
|align="center"|78
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''Girl 6''
|-
|align="center"|1997
|align="left"|"The Good Life" ''(re-issue)''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|15
|align="left"|''Exodus''
|-
|align="center" rowspan="3"|1998
|align="left"|"[[The War (The New Power Generation song)|The War]]"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|N/A
|-
|align="left"|"The One"
|align="center"|44
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left" rowspan="2"|''Newpower Soul''
|-
|align="left"|"[[Come On (The New Power Generation song)|Come On]]"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|65
|-
|align="center" rowspan="2"|2001
|align="left"|"Peace"/"2045: Radical Man"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''The Slaughterhouse''
|-
|align="left"|"The Daisy Chain"/"Gamillah"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|align="left"|''The Slaughterhouse''/''The Chocolate Invasion''
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|}

===Singles with contributions by the New Power Generation===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Additional information
|-
!align="center" width="40"|[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="US Hot 100"/>
!align="center" width="40"|[[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]<br><ref name="US R&B/HH"/>
!align="center" width="40"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2"/>
|-
|align="center"|1990
|align="left"|"[[New Power Generation (song)|New Power Generation]]" 
|align="center"|64
|align="center"|27
|align="center"|26
|align="left"|''Graffiti Bridge''
|align="left"|''The New Power Generation provides backing vox''
|-
|align="center"|1995
|align="left"|"[[Purple Medley]]" 
|align="center"|84
|align="center"|74
|align="center"|33
|align="left"|N/A
|align="left"|''The New Power Generation contributes additional music''
|}

==See also==
* [[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart]]
* [[The Revolution (band)|The Revolution]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Prince}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Power Generation, The}}
[[Category:New Power Generation| ]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Minnesota]]
[[Category:American funk musical groups]]
[[Category:Prince (musician)]]
[[Category:Musical groups from the Twin Cities]]
[[Category:Musical backing groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Minneapolis]]