He won't be playing St. Paul, but Prince does have plans for some Midwest gigs in September. Live Nation just issued details of a Sept. 24 date at the United Center in Chicago. It is apparently the first of multiple dates planned as a "Welcome 2 Chicago" residency. Tickets ($49.50-$149.50) go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Prince is partnering on the show with Rebuild the Dream, a California-based mobilization organization pledging assistance for the mortgage crisis, student loan bubble and other areas of economic troubles.

Details on future Chicago gigs are still under wraps, but they're as much a certainty as seeing Prince take the stage in heels. He wound up playing a dozen shows at the Forum in his "Welcome 2 Los Angeles" residency last year, and four at Madison Square Garden for "Welcome 2 New York."

Don't feel too left out, Twin Cities fans: He hasn't played Chi-Town since 2004. The rumored St. Paul gig, which would have been his first big local show since 2007, would have been the weekend before the Chicago date. Maybe he's making Chicago the warm-up city instead and will hit us when he's back at the top of his game? We can only dream.