March 1, 1995. A stretch black limousine is purring gently N a London car park. 2 young men stand nearby, pressing their faces against a high steel fence that is dwarfed by the neighboring twin towers of Wembley Stadium. They talk N quick voices, check their watches & anxiously wait 4 a glimpse of their hero.

As the limousine door opens. they pull harder on the railings but then a large hand reaches down. " thinx it's time both of U left now," booms a deep voice. They turn around & stare in2 the of the security man. Momentarily, they R confused. Then they hear the thud of the limousine door. They spin around, their hearts sink when they realize it's 2 late. The man they were waiting 2 see has gone. Beyond the gates lie a connection of executive cars, a swish coach with tinted-glass windows & an open door that leads 2 the belly of Wembley Arena 4 people venture past the door, step over miles of black cable, past the naked mannequin which lies on top of a flight case & walk 2wards a dimly-lit corridor blocked by 2 sharp suited guards.

Suddenly a small man appears from behind a grey door. He is wearing a long velvet coat & eating bread wrapped N a pink napkin. As the 4some step a little closer, they recognize the wire thin moustache, immaculate black hair, huge brown & elegant gold jewelry.

Who R these the diminutive star demands, glimpsing the people who have crossed his no-go threshold. His publicist explains they R journalists. The superstar nods approval & then climbs a set of stairs 2 the Wembley Arena stage.

"'ll C U N a minute," he says, & then disappears from view.

Rewind 2 December 1994. The Artist Formerly Known As Prince is locked N conversation with his publicist. He is talking about his on-going battle with his record company, Warner Bros. Music, his new, unreleased album, The Gold Experience', & his 4thcoming world tour.

He is asking what people think of him. What people xpect of a multimillion $$ megastar who is preparing 4 an unequaled 4-year world tour. Do the public want him 2 break his legendary silence? 2 talk about his music, dispel the myths & explain why he killed the artist known as Prince?

"Do U thinx should do interviews again?" he asks, though N his mind he has decided the answer is yes. His publicist says he should talk, explaining that being remote is an '80's thing & the public expect 2 hear from their heroes. "Even Michael Jackson has done a TV interview," the publicist adds. think U should." Fast forward 2 February 20, 1995, & Prince & his publicist R sharing a table at the UK Brit Awards. Their $350-a-head seats R just a few feet from the official Warner Bros. table, which both men snub, and TAFKAP/ has written 'SLAVE' on his right cheek. The word is an apparent protest at his record company's refusal 2 issue a backlog of albums which he has made. Eventually he leaves his table & makes his way 2 the stage 2 receive his award as best international male artist. Once there he makes a typically elliptical speech: "Prince best, Gold experience better. Get Wild. N concert free. On record slave. Peace."

The assembled guests quietly mock him, wondering how a man who signed a $100 million record deal could consider himself a 'slave'. Worse still Dave Rowntree of Blur, has scribbled the word 'Dave' on his cheek, and it is Dave, not , who'll make the morning headlines.

"'ll talk," says as the night wears on. "'ll talk be4 the tour."

2 days be4 the tour & is rehearsing his band N2 the ground. Wembley Arena has been fitted with his $250,000 'Endorphinmachine' - a stage set mimicking the human endorphin glands which produce morphine like hormones - and has been working his band until 2am each night, by which time he is 2 tired 2 continue. He has been N London 4 a week practicing, partying & watching Eric Clapton at the Albert Hall & fake lesbian group Fem 2 Fem at the London Astoria.

2day, though, his thoughts center on the launch of his gargantuan tour. It'll end in New York In 1998," he says later. "We've already booked Madison Square Garden 4 the final date. We're bringing all our friends. It will B special."

's entourage is vast. There R 5 bodyguards stationed outside his dressing room door; all of them well dressed & wearing small brown earphones that link them 2 a production room. 1 sports a 6-inch scar from his ear 2 his chin, another drips with expensive jewelry a 3rd has a skinhead crop, immaculately pressed suit & piercing that say "Don't even thinx about it." Outside the dressing room is a long corridor with white walls & a blue rubberized floor. It leads to 6 rooms where his dancers and backing band R busying themselves N make-up rooms.

His room is surprisingly small; the size of an average front room N a terraced house. Against 1 wall there is a vast mirror & a table top which holds oranges, bread, china cups & saucers, an ordinary electric kettle & an abundance of candles. There R 2 sprawling house pants N the corners of the room, a medium-sized table N the center and 2 large leather sofas which R covered N purple, red & green velvet drapes.

Inevitably, there is a huge TV/stereo N 1 corner, with 2 large speakers on the floor. & built N2 1 wall R 2 sliding double doors which lead into 's personal changing room; a space bedecked with mirrors & innumerable hair sprays, moisturizers, restless of makeup & bottles of cologne.

is sitting N the center of the 1 of the sofas with the word 'Slave' written on his left cheek. He is dressed N a blue all-N-1 which is cut 2 the waist revealing his taut, lean physique. He wears blue suede ankle boots, chunky black wraparound shades & a gold necklace with coin-like circles that hang N2 his chest. His publicist leaves the room, the boom of the rehearsal disappears as the door closes and relaxes N2 his seat. Finally, it's time 2 talk...

The BIG issue for is his recording contract with Warner Bros. It demands 4 new albums at a rate of no more than 1 a year. The record company, ideally, would like 2 release 1 LP every 2 or 3 years 2 ensure maximum sales. With 's cooperation, it would release a single, an album, & then further singles & watch as the records reached the 10-million-+ sales of 'Purple Rain'.

, however would like 2 release 1 LP every 6 months 2 keep up with his prolific songwriting & recording output, or mayB even more. He sits on the board of WB and the 2 sides have tried many times 2 reach an agreement. But on every occasion the talks breaks down. Now he wants out.

There's a brilliant Prince & the NPG album waiting 2 B released, he says, but WB won't release it. "See, if they give me control & let me release this (holds up the GE) then Madonna would B straight N wanting the same."

"'d like 2 put out 700,000 copies of some blues guitar music with a guitar magazine but WB don't let me. 'd give away a single with just the A-side & tell people 2 come back next year & buy the b-side. Record companies R run by men who thinx they run America. They thinx they're the smartest but they're not. They don't no what's going on N my mind."

says he can release music on the Internet. When it's suggested that most people cannot get access 2 the Internet he says "we'll fix it."

"Once the Internet is a reality the music business is finished. There won't B any need 4 record companies. If can send U my music direct. what's point of having a music business?"

His main bugbear with Warners is that they don't understand. He repeats he doesn't mind the situation & says the problem has had no effect on his ability 2 write & record.

N simple terms, it's not something that gets him down.

"They don't understand me. understand them. 'll just give their 1 album every year 4 the next 4 years. 'm not going 2 take them 2 court & the stories saying will have just been made up. won't do that. could give them 4 albums 2morrow but they don't want that."

& what will U do while U're waiting 4 your contract 2 expire N 1998?

"'m going 2 say on the road until the contract ends. 've already booked a show for Madison Square Garden N 1998. We're going 2 get loads of people down there. can keep touring until then. love being on stage, love touring & 'm strong enough. never get tired."

says 1 of his reasons 4 breaking his silence is 2 make sure young musicians don't ever experience the contract war he has become embroiled N. " want 2 help young musicians. don't want people 2 B N the same position. 've been doing this 4 16 years now, know how it works. A manager knows thinx when U start out that he ain't gonna tell U because it isn't N his interests. He's only gonna tell U the things he wants U 2 know. U understand what 'm saying?

"But 'm not bitter. 'm not angry. Mo Austin (Warners boss) gave me the Most Beautiful Girl N The World' 2 release as . & will love that man 4ever because of that. don't have a problem with Warners. 'm content with them."

So why do U scrawl that slogan across Ure face?

"Because am a slave 2 the truth. It's there 2 remind myself. 'm not a slave 2 Warner Brothers. It's not there 2 embarrass Warners - why would do that? U gotta understand that. don't need 2. It's not about that. 'm not angry with them. It's just there as a reminder."

is animated when he talks about his contract. He sits 4ward on the edge of his sofa, his hands wave about N the air, he is imploring the world 2 listen. He also nos that there is no quick legal fix 2 beat Warner. American contract law is far more stringent than that N the UK & he has seen what happened 2 George Michael: a costly legal battle which ended N defeat & which could now take up 2 5 years 2 resolve. (If Michael is 2 overturn his judgement tying him 2 Sony Music, his only hope is a victory N the European Courts. But be4 that he would face probable & costly legal defeats N the Court Of Appeal & the House of Lords.)

"'ve seen what happened with that case," adds. "& don't want 2 go down the George Michael road."

Face 2 face, is far removed from the unworldly public image built around him steadily since his recording career began N 1978. It is difficult 2 equate the man sitting on the sofa with the pop star who apparently dreams of reincarnation as a dolphin, who inspires national radio polls N Australia - where the nation wants 2 name him 'Davo' (an affectionate, if unimaginative, colloquial nickname 4 people called, er, Dave & who mumbles 'Thanx U, God' acceptance speeches at major awards. His dressing room is essentially a slightly tacky boudoir with a cheap-looking rug that could have been bought from IKEA for $35.

So does it worry U that people thinx U R mad?

"No," he laughs, crumpling N2 the sofa N a heap. " don't care. If people thinx 'm insane, fine. want people 2 thinx 'm insane. But 'm N control. It was different be4 became this (points to the on the cover of 'The Gold Experience'). didn't have control. didn't no what was happening beyond the next 2 albums. But now no xactly what the next 2 albums will B. 'm not playing any1 else's game. 'm N control. don't care if people say 'm mad. It don't matter." But if Ure sanity is Ntact, Y did U change Ure name from Prince 2
?

" got a whole new mindset when I became . can't explain how feel now compared 2 then. don't want 2 destroy the mystique by revealing everything. & if people come 2 C me just 2 hear 'Purple Rain' then 'm sorry. 'm playing these () songs now. 'll play Prince songs occasionally. just want people 2 understand who am. C, U could go away & tell people am stupid. just want U 2 help me I want people 2 understand The only thing care about is Ure journalistic ability. Ure ability 2 articulate."

But if U're so keen 2 let people understand U, Y won't U let journalists take notes or record their interviews with U?

"U don't need 2 do that. The mind is perfect."

The mind isn't perfect!

"U will only remember the things that R important."

There is a knock on the door.

The 20 minutes is nearly up & there is an abundance of questions still unasked. But is happy, he's jovial, falling about on the sofa & making the points he wants 2 make. His publicist stands at the door & is motioned away by the small 1's left hand. "A few more minutes," he says. & again we R alone.

So tell me about Ure vices.

"What's a vice?"

A habit that can B self-destructive.

" don't no about those."

Well how about Ure obsession with sex?

The mood stiffens and slaps his boot N apparent agitation He refuses 2 say whether he slept with Kylie Minogue (as it was rumored) or his dancer Mayte Garcia.

" won't use the word 'sex' & won't use the word 'beauty'. Those R 2 can't use because people have different tastes & they ask U what kind of sex U have." Again, falls over N the chair laughing & clapping his hands 2gether.

What about drugs? Do U take drugs?

"'m interested N all experiences."

Can take that as a ?

" didn't say that. don't thinx people R interested. 'm not interested if U take drugs. thinx we'd better chill it there."

But U're an icon.

stops laughing.

"What did U say?"

said, a lot of people C U as an icon. There's only a handful of people N the world N Ure position.

" don't C myself as an icon. don't C that. Do people care if take drugs? People aren't interested N me. didn't put myself on a pedestal. If 'm on a pedestal it's because other people have put me there."

Do U feel anything 4 a person like Michael Jackson?

" could talk 2 U about Michael Jackson but would just B doing the job that a journalist does so there's no point. met Michael, if other people talked then he'd say something that would tear the house down from what every1 else would say anyway."

Throughout the interview has been wearing shades. ask him 2 take them off, trying 2 reason they R defensive & they make it easy 4 him 2 hide.

"OK," he says, and lowers them 2 the bridge of his nose. "'m only wearing them because 'm tired. My R red. It's because we've been rehearsing. It's just 2 protect my eyes," & then he puts them back on.

Do U ever relax?

"No."

Do U wish U could?

"Yes."

How do U try?

& suddenly 's veneer dissolves. He no longer appears as the invincible round-the-clock superstar. He lowers his voice, sits upright at the front of his sofa & looks 2 the floor. He Is suddenly fallible.

"The only time U can get tranquil is when U R at 1. & the only time that happens is when U R with God do that sometimes. When 'm like that 'm not happy. He tells me 2 carry on doing what 'm doing, which is my music. 'm always happy 'm never sad never slow down. 'm constantly occupied with music."

& what about...?

"Look, they're calling me. 've got 2 get back 2 rehearsal."

The interview over, refuses a direct request 4 a follow-up conversation 2morrow - 5 journalists huddle around a table N a room marked 'Catering'.

They chain smoke each other's cigarettes, desperately scanning their memories trying 2 recall every quote from their individual interviews.

1 talks about how strange & detached from reality the whole situation was "It's difficult 2 remember everything. was just sitting there thinxing. ''ll have 2 remember this', & impossible!"

Across a table, a group of American roadies R talking 2 their 2 English counterparts about bubbly beer, the strongest coffee N the world and the number of drive-by shootings N the USA. A member of 's crew walks N, scans the room, exclaims, "Oh s**t," & walks out. N the dressing rooms & wardrobe areas 5 people walk by dressed as devils or N skimpy dresses.

& then the journalists R returned to 's now-empty dressing room 2 listen 2 'The Gold Experience' LP N the company of his bodyguard. 2 women walk N & head straight 4 his changing room 2 re-stock the cosmetics & his publicist returns, sits on the floor & shakes his head N awe of the new album.

As we leave, is still rehearsing on the vast Wembley stage & we leave with impressions of a control freak who has banished really from his life N his quest 4 invincibility. A man with a paranoia so deep-seated that he killed his own identity and refuses 2 recognize the name - Prince Rogers Nelson with which he was born.

& a man who is a creative & commercial colossus who considers himself no more than a slave.

Princebonics are like, SO cool.

Great One > Thanx
But Nothing change > He's slave of himself
No new official vocal studio Album since TRC
It's Sad!

akashic said:

A link to this NME article from
March 11, 1995 written by Andy Richardson (My Name Isn't Prince And I Am Flunky), as copied here, but without the princebonics -

http://princetext.tripod....nme95.html

akashic said:

That figures if you have to write in stupid princebonics all the time.

Ugh I hate the princebonics, it's so needless.

It's like, we get it Prince, you're a true individual, no need to prove it with the way the language is written.

I don't mind the Princebonics on the liner notes - that's his style, just like he changes his font and haircut every album, it comes with the guy.

But the Princebonics on the NPGMC website and in the emails are tiresome - they only add to the impression that an effort is being made to make the message sound cryptic and mystical when all people are asking for is some straight talking.

But it's when people imitate that I think the world's gone crazy! And the above article was not written in Princebonics - some saddo has added them!

langebleu said:

Is your avatar really a pic of yourself?

akashic, Princebonics are a little difficult to read, but if that's how you want to post, then so be it.

The points I'd like to make, however, are;

"..., however would like 2 release 1 LP every 6 months 2 keep up with his prolific songwriting & recording output, or mayB even more. He sits on the board of WB and the 2 sides have tried many times 2 reach an agreement. But on every occasion the talks breaks down. Now he wants out..."

"...'d like 2 put out 700,000 copies of some blues guitar music with a guitar magazine but WB don't let me. 'd give away a single with just the A-side & tell people 2 come back next year & buy the b-side..."

"...Once the Internet is a reality the music business is finished. There won't B any need 4 record companies. If can send U my music direct, what's the point of having a music business?..."

Prince, you've had many chances to give away music or to release an album or more every six months and the internet is a reality.

We're waiting...

why are all those eyes staring at me???