{{{http://www.canada.com/reg...D9519116C} Prince playing Regina
Gerry Krochak
Regina Leader Post

Pop music icon Prince will play the Centre of the Arts in Regina on Monday, June 3.

An announcement from Clear Channel Entertainment yesterday indicated that the most flamboyant, controversial and influential artist of the past two decades will perform in the Queen City as a part of a 10-date "cross-Canada theatre tour," which also includes a date at Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon on June 4.}}}

Best known for his 1980's output, which included landmark albums such as Purple Rain, Dirty Mind and 1999, the 44-year-old Minneapolis native was matched in star power only by Madonna, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson during his commercial peak years.

Songs such as "Little Red Corvette," "Delirious," "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "I Would Die 4 U," "Raspberry Beret," "You Got The Look," "Alphabet Street," "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" and the title cuts from Sign 'O The Times, 1999 and Purple Rain kept him "top of mind" for the better part of the so-called Decade of Excess.

One of the most prolific yet self-indulgent recording artists ever, Prince is almost as famous for his self-destructive career moves (even declaring in the 1990's a name change to an unpronounceable symbol) as for his music -- a taut, keyboard-dominated blend of rock, pop and funk coloured by blatantly sexual lyrics.

For all his sexual exhibitionism in song and on stage, however, Prince has remained painfully shy and private away from the spotlight. He has also remained one of pop music's least predictable and most mysterious performers, having granted only one print and two television interviews in his entire 24-year career.

Unlike other mega-pop-stars of the era, the depth of his talents, which include not only singing and dancing, but also composing, producing, playing some 25 different musical instruments, directing videos and -- however ineffective, acting in movies -- leaves Prince in a class of pop royalty by himself.

Getting in to this once-in-a-lifetime concert won't be cheap, mind you -- $100 across the board (plus a service charge of $6.50) is the going price for an intimate, up-close-and-personal visit from the Purple One. It promises to be the most sought-after ticket in Regina music event history.

Tickets go on sale at all CBOs at 10 a.m. sharp on Monday.

To charge by telephone, call 525-999 or 1-800-667-8497 (toll free).

Good luck.

© Copyright 2002 Regina Leader Post

Is this really all the interviews he did? It seems like there were more, not many, but a few more...