Morris Day and Prince are two iconic figures in the music industry, known for their contributions to funk and R&B.

Their relationship, however, has been marked by rivalry, creativity, and tension.

This article explores the tumultuous history between Morris Day and Prince, focusing on the formation of The Time, their conflicts, and the lasting impact of their partnership.

In 1981, Prince formed The Time as a funk and R&B band, with Morris Day as the lead singer.

The group quickly gained popularity with hits like “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.

” However, behind the scenes, Prince maintained strict control over the band’s creative direction.

He wrote the songs, produced the albums, and often recorded the music himself, leaving the other band members feeling more like employees than collaborators.

 

Morris Day described Prince as a “control freak,” emphasizing the power dynamics within the band.

While Day brought charisma and energy to the stage, he felt frustrated by his lack of control over the music.

This frustration was compounded when other members, like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, sought to branch out and produce their own music, only to face Prince’s disapproval.

 

As The Time toured with Prince’s band, The Revolution, a rivalry developed.

The Time wanted to prove their worth, resulting in fierce performances that sometimes overshadowed Prince’s group.

This competition intensified during concerts, where both bands aimed to impress the audience, creating a battle for supremacy.

In 1982, the tension reached a boiling point when Jam and Lewis missed a concert due to a snowstorm.

Prince, known for his high expectations, was furious.

Shortly after, he called a meeting and fired them, a decision that shocked the band members present, including Morris Day.

Day later reflected that even as the lead singer, he had no real power to influence such decisions.

 

Following the departures, The Time continued to produce music but struggled to regain the same energy.

Morris Day renamed the group “Morris Day and The Time” for touring purposes, although he faced legal challenges regarding the band’s name.

Meanwhile, Jam and Lewis went on to become successful producers, crafting hits for major artists like Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.

 

Despite their conflicts, Day and Prince shared a complicated bond.

They grew up in Minneapolis, sharing a passion for music that initially united them.

However, as their careers evolved, so did their rivalry.

Day wanted independence, while Prince sought to maintain control over his creations.

Over the years, Day and Prince reunited several times, including for the 1990 album “Pandemonium.

” However, their relationship remained fraught with tension.

After Prince’s death in 2016, Day expressed gratitude for their shared history, acknowledging the impact Prince had on his career.

 

In the years following Prince’s passing, Morris Day faced challenges regarding the use of The Time’s name.

Prince’s estate restricted Day from using the name, which he felt was unfair given his long-standing association with the band.

This legal battle highlighted the ongoing complexities of their relationship, even after Prince’s death.

 

Both Morris Day and Prince left an indelible mark on the music industry.

The Time’s unique style and energetic performances contributed significantly to the funk genre.

Day’s flamboyant stage presence and Prince’s innovative sound created a legacy that continues to influence artists today.

 

The relationship between Morris Day and Prince is a testament to the complexities of artistic collaboration.

Their rivalry fueled creativity and pushed both artists to excel, but it also created significant challenges.

As they navigated their careers, their story serves as a reminder of the fine line between collaboration and competition in the world of music.

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i’m just cool [Applause] terry and Jimmy come in i had no idea what he had in his mind so uh me and Jesse Johnson and Prince sitting in the studio and Terry and Jimmy come in and he’s uh you guys are fired prince assembled the time as a band in an agreement with Warner Brothers but according to rumors allegedly confirmed by Morris Day behind the scenes he was locked in a secret feud with the group from collaborating on memorable songs like Jungle Love understand why see how it’s done to growing so far apart that Morrison

00:45
Day called him a control freak this dude is was such a control freak that um I thought that you know because I renamed the group it used to be the time when I started touring I changed it to Morris Day and the Time it appears this was not even so much a secret feud at least not with how openly Morris Day has discussed it so far let’s get into it prince formed the Time in 1981 as a funk and R&B band personality it looked like a real band but Prince controlled everything he wrote the songs produced the albums and recorded most of

01:28
the music himself the band members did not have much say sometimes Prince used fake names like Jaime Star so people wouldn’t know he was behind the music morris Day was the lead singer but he and the other members felt like they were just employees they played the songs and performed live but Prince made all the big decisions the time became popular with songs like Jungle Love [Music] and The Bird [Music] people loved their music and energy but the band members were not happy they felt they did not get enough credit or

02:14
money jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis two members of the band wanted to create their own music but Prince did not allow it they felt frustrated because their names were on the albums but they had little control over the music back in the day he didn’t want us to produce other groups and we actually produced uh the SOS band um and it was a song called Just Be Good to Me and literally the same night that we were supposed to mix the SOS band we had gotten called to the studio by Prince i mean I knew uh Terry and Jimmy were Moonlighting and um I I

02:48
was like awesome because I really wanted to do the same thing in 1982 The Time went on tour with Prince and his band The Revolution a rivalry started between the two groups the Time wanted to prove they were just as good so they gave their best performances every night prince did not like that during another tour the Time had to play behind a curtain as the backup band for another group Vanity 6 the band did not mind because they got paid extra for it terry Lewis once joked that it was easy money but problems

03:24
continued [Music] so Prince was on tour with his band The Time they were part of the 1999 Triple Threat Tour which also featured Vanity 6 another group Prince had created the Time was full of talented musicians the band played funky energetic music and fans loved their live performances two members of the time Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were not only great musicians but also skilled producers they had started working on music for other artists they helped make hits for groups like the SOS Band and Climax their work was getting

04:08
noticed and they were becoming very busy with outside projects i mean I knew uh Terry and Jimmy were Moonlight and um I I was like “Awesome.” Because I really wanted to do the same thing one night something unexpected happened jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had traveled to another city to work on a production project they would have gotten away with it you know but this particular show we had in Atlanta they got snowed in somewhere they missed the show and that was pretty much the beginning of the end while they were there a snowstorm hit

04:43
the bad weather made it impossible for them to return in time for a concert they missed the show and Prince was not happy about it prince had high expectations he wanted his band members to be fully committed missing a concert was a serious issue in his eyes he expected loyalty and dedication above everything else back in the day he didn’t want us to produce other groups and we actually produced uh the SOS band um and it was a song called Just Be Good to Me and literally the same night that we were supposed to mix the SOS band we

05:18
had gotten called to the studio by Brook a few days later Prince called a meeting the band was in the studio working on their next album Ice Cream Castle prince was in control of everything related to the band he watched over every detail from the music to the performances he wanted to make sure his musicians were focused only on his projects when Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis arrived at the meeting Prince didn’t waste any time he looked at them and said “You guys are fired.