John Prine and his personality is that of a soft-hearted and sweet-talking man. Never has Prine come across as a brash and snarky individual who let his anger and sharp tongue get the best of him. However, like everybody, Prine also had the capacity to fly off the handle a little bit. Matter of fact, this off-brand Prine behavior actually helped him score a singing gig at an undisclosed nightclub.
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Recently, John Prine’s Instagram page shared a video of Prine singing his classic tragedy, “Sam Stone.” Additionally, they also shared a lengthy personal anecdote by Prine in the comment section. The story is fairly general and doesn’t disclose specific details of the comment. Regardless, it’s still a tale that comes straight from the source.
John Prine Was Never a Heckler
Prine starts his story by stating, “I wasn’t the type to heckle, but I’d had a few beers and wasn’t really impressed with what I was hearing” and “said so under my breath.” Subsequently, Prine was called out on his comment by another patron who said, “Well if it’s so easy, why don’t you get up and do it?” Prine responded, “Well, maybe I will.”
Following the accepted challenge, Prine went up on stage and showed the world “Sam Stone.” “I got up and sang ‘Sam Stone’ and the audience just sat there” and “They looked at me, looked at each other, looked at me again… seemed like an eternity and, finally, they started applauding,” added Prine.
Following his performance, Prine received an offer that would forever change his life. Now, it was not a six-figure record deal or anything that lucrative. Nonetheless, it was an opportunity to play music and get paid for it, as the owner of the club offered Prine a gig right after the show.
Prince concluded his story by saying, “The owner of the club came up afterwards and offered me a job singing there. I couldn’t believe it.” “The thing I really remember was that I was more comfortable than I’d ever felt” and “I just felt like that’s where I belonged,” said Prine.
The Lack of Detail…
No other specific details about the night are publicly known. Not when it happened, where it happened, or who was with him. Despite the lack of details, this likely was one of the first instances that launched John Prine into his illustrious career. So, thank goodness for John Prine’s sharp tongue, and thank goodness for that club owner. Without the two, who knows what would have come of John Prine’s lyrical truths?
John Prine tunes-up backstage at The Tulagi in Boulder Colorado per Getty Images
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