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, and a song entitled "
New Power Generation" appeared on the
accompanying soundtrack album. 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/
rapper. 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. In February 2026, it was officially announced that the band was changing its name to "the Minneapolis Sound All Star Band". The switch is happening because NPG’s ability to use the trademarked name has expired and Global Music Rights, the performing rights organization that handles administration of Prince’s songs, no longer permits tribute acts to perform sets of his material (though NPG considers itself a “legacy group”). ==Discography==