I just got this book in the mail from eBay today. It was written by Per Nilsen. It's 312 pages. I'm a rather quick reader, and I just finished it. What do ya'll think about this book? It's one of the most in-depth biographies I've ever read. Very interesting. For those of you who have read a wide variety of Prince biographies, how relevant is this one? To me, it was pretty good and informative. Reading about his early years as a child and teenager is very exiciting. This passage was rather comical in Chapter 2:

"He had his share of nicknames, including Princess and Butcher Dog, because the kids thought his face resembled a German Shepherd's. 'I went through a lot when I was a boy,' Prince later said. 'They called me sissy, punk, freak and faggot. See the girls loved you, but the boys hated you.'"
Pretty sad, but cute. "Butcher dog." The bastards. Look at him now.

Here's another funny passage from Chapter 10:

"[1985] While working at the Samuel Goldwyn Soundstage, Prince received a visit from Michael Jackson, whom he promptly challenged to a game of table tennis, using a table that had been set up in the middle of the soundstage room. 'Michael said, "I don't know how to play ping-pong!!"', [Susan] Rogers remembers. 'But Prince took one pad and gave Michael the other, and they started very politely volleying the ball back and forth. Suddenly, Prince said, "C'mon, Michael, get into it," and he slammed the ball into Michael's crotch. I was rolling my eyes! "Oh God, he's embarrassing himself." But Michael knows how to handle himself and he didn't seem to care. Then Michael started flirting with Sherilyn Fenn who was visiting Prince in the studio. Prince was pacing, but he wasn't going to get [Fenn] into the game of flirting back. They said hasty goodbyes.'"
I knew they were homeboys from 'round the way.

Anyway....I'd like to see some reviews about this biography. I give it 4 stars out of 5. It is an excellent resource if you want to learn about his musical quest during the first ten years of his career. From For You to Sign 'O' The Times, each album is broken down and Prince's processes to make them are discussed. What do ya'll think?
[Edited 1/4/05 1:58am]

This book is excellent! I was hoping that Per would write a "sequel",since this book concludes in 1988 (the Lovesexy era).

WaterInYourBath said:

yeah,that story is funny.Prince and Michael Jackson playing a friendly game of ping-pong...lol...who would have thought?

Yay I just ordered this. Thanks! Did P have a thing with Sherylin Fenn?

It's a brilliant book, and you know it's gonna be a treat to read since it comes from Per Nilsen of the Uptown camp.

I've said it before, I'll say it again - there has been NO-ONE else who has given so much factual information about Prince's recording career as they have.

They put every single official source of info to a pitiful shame.

I agree that the 1988-1998 should be published very soon - it will be interesting to read about the slow fall from grace and "wilderness" period.

then moving on to the 3rd volume (1998-2008) which will start to bring him out of the duldrums and into the new millenium with his new fresh direction.

kinda like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy/Star Wars trilogy. (WHAT?!)

TheMonkofFunk said:

Yeah 1978-1988 the Glory period

1988-1998 the Scary period or WTF period

1998-present the Rebirth period

Someone should get on this right away!