Source: Los Angeles Times, 'The Renegade Prince' by Robert Hilburn
Date published: 21 November, 1982

… I like danger…. That’s what is missing from pop music today,” says the man who is challenging social and sexual norms in the tradition of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger and David Bowie.

Robert Hillburn

Prince seemed to cringe as the door swung open at his West Hollywood hotel room. On stage, he’s a boldly aggressive performer whose teasingly sensual stance challenges sexual and social norms in the classic pop-rock manner of Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie. Is frequently X-rated themes include incest and masturbation. But away from the spotlight he can be painfully shy.

As an aide from Prince’s management company ushered a reporter into the room, the young singers doleful eyes suggested the sad resignation of a fugitive cornered after a long chase. It was Prince’s first interview in more than a year and—as it turned out—perhaps is only one for another year.

Prince, 23, had reluctantly agreed to do four interviews to promote his new Warner Bros. album. After this first interview, however, he canceled the others, rushing home to Minneapolis where he feels most comfortable in the isolation of a recording studio. Using other musicians only on stage, Prince writes, produces, sings and plays all the instruments on his albums. He doesn’t even permit an engineer in the studio with him.

Sitting on the floor in the semi dark hotel room, Prince was giving one- or two-word answers. He didn’t exhibit a trace of his performance passion until the discussion wound around to his earliest memories of wanting to be on stage. Then he began to open up.

Lifting his gaze from the floor, he said, “My dad was in a jazz band, and I went to watch one of his gigs when I was about 5. We were supposed to stay in the car, but I snuck out and went into the bar. He was up on stage and it was amazing. I remembered thinking, ’These people think my dad is great.’ I wanted to be part of that. “

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