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Prince: The Essential Reading List

Though he granted few interviews over the course of his three-decade-long career, those he did allow were coveted. Here, a look at a few of his best journalistic moments.


Prince

Club, 3121 Two decades after his heyday, here’s what going to a Prince concert is really like. The musician occupied the Rio Club in Las Vegas for a residency that turned the whole place into a club named after his lesser-known 2006 album 3121.

Last Days There had been a concert at Paisley Park and bike rides around a local Office Max and no apparent signs of ill health.

Lovesexy The 1988 Prince tour at the center of Hilton Als’s Harper’s essay, a memoir and exploration of Prince and performance.

Mind, Dirty A look back at the making of Prince’s breakthrough 1982 record.

Park, Paisley A week in Prince’s inner circle, just ahead of the Diamonds and Pearls release. Between 1984 and 1991, Prince answer questions publicly just five times. This is one of those times.

Prince, Revealed The musician breaks a three-year silence in a hybrid profile and interview for Rolling Stone — and it reveals a Prince at the peak of his craft, and his fame.

Questlove The Roots bandleader is full of excellent Prince anecdotes — so much so, that in 2013, he led a Prince tribute at Carnegie Hall.

Rain, Purple In the desert. With Tuareg rock stars. The Artist Formerly Known As Prince’s reach was far and wide.

Rain, Purple (Addendum) The real deal. This oral history of the making of the famed soundtrack to Prince’s screen debut features interviews with members of the Revolution, his band at the time, as well as the filmmakers and Questlove.

3RDEYEGIRL A second act for the legendary musician, who joined forces with a new band — 3RDEYEGIRL — in 2014. Vanessa Grigoriadis got the scoop for V Magazine.

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A Look Back at Prince’s Incomparable Style

Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum, 1985. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.

Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum, 1985. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.

Prince performs on stage wearing ‘Slave’ tattoo, on ‘The Ultimate Live Experience’ tour at Wembley Arena in London, 1994. Photo by Peter Still/Redferns.

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince reclaims his name ‘Prince’ and announces public tours during a press conference in New York City. Photo by Evan Agostini/ImageDirect.

Prince presents the award for ‘Favorite Leading Lady’ at the People’s Choice Awards in 2005. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince at the 2014 French Open in Paris. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince on stage in California, 1997. Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images.

Prince in concert at Earl’s Court, London, 1992. Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images.

Prince at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards after party. Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage.

Prince performs onstage during the 2015 American Music Awards. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince perfroms onstage during the “Welcome 2 America” Tour at The Forum, 2011. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince performing at Wembley Arena in London, 1986. Photo by David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives.

Prince performs onstage at the Palladium, 1981. Photo by Waring Abbott/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.

Prince performs during his “Welcome 2 America” tour at Madison Square Garden, 2011. Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.

Prince on stage wearing high-waisted white pants, circa 1990. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.

Prince onstage during The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2015. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince attends the ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ Gala Fashion Show with his wife in London. Photo by Justin GoffUK Press via Getty Images.

Prince performing in a black and white polka-dot outfit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1988. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.

Prince on tour in 1997. Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images.

Prince performs onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, 2012. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince plays guitar on stage during a concert, 1985. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.

Prince performs onstage for the ‘Pruple Rain Tour’ in Los Angeles, 1985. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince performs at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images.

Prince onstage during the 2010 BET Awards. Photo by Getty Images.

Prince onstage at the 2014 BRIT Awards. Photo by Getty Images.

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