When Prince changed his stage name to - People called him "The artist formerly known as Prince". Prince stated himself, he preferred people just to shorted that to "The Artist".

I always thought that was one of the most pretentious and ridiculous things Prince ever did, calling himself "The Artist"

Doesn't Prince comment on that somewhere on the slaughterhouse ??

I always thought that Prince said none of those things he was being called were his name.

The entire thing was waaaaay self-loving.

What angered me is that prior to the release of "The Most Beautiful Girl in The World" or "The Beautiful Experience-Maxi Single" , everything said "May U live 2 see The Dawn"

Post all of that it was "Welcome 2 THe Dan"

He ushered in once flacid fucking Dawn.

I never called him "The Artist", but I also didn't call him "Prince" 4 almost 7 years. My friends and I only refered 2 Prince as "Him". This became a very amusing game in front of strangers.

It was a totally self-indulgent move in some ways, but I'm surprised 2 hear people here echo that sentiment. What with most everybody here knowing the whole story behind it and all.

I think that name "the artist formerly known as Prince" came from a sticker on the "Most beautiful girl..." CD single saying " - The artist formerly known as Prince". As no one knew how to pronounce that Symbol name, the media started to call him "The artist formerly known as Prince" and some poeple then did the same.

So, as Prince/ never came up with the TAFKAP version of his name, it was consequent for him to dislike it (as that name still contained "Prince"), but, I agree, shortening it to "The Artist" is a really strange thing (I think I never used it).

Besides that, I never thought the whole name change thing to be as weird as many people did/do, I think I even partly understand why he did it. What I don't understand is that he signed a huge 6-album record deal in 1992 and then, in 1993, changes his mind - "I'm tired of my multi-million dollar record deal, I want my freedom, I want to start over, so I'm gonna change my name to and then these Warner guys can ... me."

That was the most stupid thing he ever did. If he had made up is mind in 1992, he could have a much easier job in 1993-1996, as Prince, , TAFKAP, Victor or whatever, having his freedom, doing his own thing.

Well maybe since Prince was still under contract at WB its possible that they may have told him to abandon that name all together for contractual purposes.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I'm talkin' Emancipation era upto Rave.

NouveauDance said:


But in the Oprah interview in 1996, he said she should call him "friend" - didn't mention "The Artist". When exactly did he tell others to use that name for him?

NouveauDance said:

The Warner Bros. Contract expired at the end of Dec. 1999, post Rave. Don't you remember his name reclaiming press conference in May of 2000? I sure as hell do, I was watching from my hotel room in Cozumel, Mexico... A lot of the things could not be discussed in public because Prince was still under contractual obligation to Warners. Major corporations do not let you speak openly about certain things when you get out of a contract until it expires.
[Edited 1/14/05 14:54pm]

Prince said that? I thought us fans were the first ones to start shortening it to "The Artist" -- I think Prince just dug it (and probably knew it'd happen anyway). I called him "The Artist" as a nod of respect -- who's a more complete artist than he?

edit: if u dig up A.M.P. posts, you could probably find which fan was the first to call him just "The Artist" ...hmm.
[Edited 1/14/05 16:33pm]

AsianBoi777 said:

meltwithu's signature: "If U Die before the Dawn...oh well."

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

UR right, Warner Brothers owned his musis, his whole catatlog, publishing AND his name. If he put out music under that name, then W.B. would have profitted much more than him. He couldn't use Prince, produce music and retain all profit.
That's why he started writing "slave" on his face. W. B. owned him lock, stock and barrel. Also, if U remeber, the same thing happened with Musiq Soulchild. he wanted out of his contract with the label he signed with. He now only goes by Musiq.

I agree but it is Prince we are talking about Whenever he does stupid stuff like this I feel so embarressed for him I start laughing. Oh P always good 4 a laugh.

Krystal666 said:

*giggles*

True, true!

That's what it said above the entrance to Brixton Academy in 98, 'The Artist'. Sure, it's big-headed, but what do you expect? that's king-sized noggin Prince for you!

I thought it was pretty cool.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

Who is that woman in your avatar? She's beautiful!

1sexymf said:

I did not know this!I thought he just changed it to shorten it