Publication: San Jose Mercury News [US]
Date: April 3, 1997
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Title: "A Royal Surprise: Ex-Prince To Play"
Written By: Brad Kava

This may be the San Jose show of the year.

The artist formerly known as Prince Rogers Nelson, then as Prince, then as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince and now as the Artist (spelled with an unpronounceable symbol), is dropping by San Jose State University for a hastily scheduled show at 8 p.m. April 12.

Tickets for the general admission performance go on sale Monday.

He's playing the city for the first time, appearing at the 7,000-capacity Events Center, for the whopping price of $50 -- which probably won't bother fans who shelled out almost as much for his new three-album set. Promoters expect the show to last more than two hours; there will be no opening act.

The show has been talked about between the artist and promoter Bill Graham Presents for months, according to BGP booker Lee Smith. It was on again and off again and finally was confirmed Tuesday.

Prince will appear in San Jose the day after he appears on the April 11 VH1 awards, to be broadcast from Southern California.

He's calling the show the ``Double Platinum Affair,'' a reference to the fact that his newest album, ``Emancipation,'' has been certified as selling 2 million copies.

Still, it is an accomplishment, given that Prince has done little touring and relatively little of the publicity-seeking that pushes up album sales.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED
Tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at the Event Center box office, 7th and San Carlos streets, San Jose. The center does not take phone orders. Details are available via recording at (408) 924-6333. BASS ticket outlets also will begin sales at 10 a.m. Monday.