Description
Book SynopsisThe newest, most updated book on Prince available today—now updated with information about the afterlife of his work following his untimely death.
Famously reticent and perennially controversial, Prince was one of the few music superstars who remained, largely, an enigma—even up to his premature death on April 21, 2016. A fixture of the pop canon, Prince is widely held to be the greatest musician of his generation and will undoubtedly remain an inspiring and singular influence throughout our culture.
This revised and updated second edition of this meticulously researched biography is the most comprehensive work on Prince yet published. Unlike other Prince books, this one eschews speculation into the artist's highly guarded private life and instead focuses deep and sustained attention exactly where it should be: on his work. Acclaimed British novelist and critic Matt Thorne draws on years of research and dozens of interviews with Prince's intimate associates (many of whom have never spoken on record before) to examine every phase of the musician's 35-year career, including nearly every song—released and unreleased—that Prince has recorded. Originally released in the UK in 2012, this revised and updated second US edition of Prince includes updated content regarding work released and made available after the artist’s death..
This astonishingly rich, almost encyclopedic biography is a must-have for any serious fan of Prince.
Trade ReviewPraise for Prince: The Man and His Music by Matt Thorne:
"Matt Thorne's Prince is the definitive work on the man; I am listening again to every piece of his music with renewed enthusiasm." —Alexis Taylor, Hot Chip
"[Thorne] brings an enthusiasm, intelligence, and maverick spirit to the 562 pages covering the 35-year career of Prince Rogers Nelson. . . It's to Thorne's credit that through painstaking research and interviews he manages to paint a picture of what the man, rather than the myth, is actually like. A must for the legions of Prince fans out there." —Doug Johnstone, Big Issue
"Thorne brings an exhaustive knowledge and attention to detail to the task. . . if you're as much of a fan as Thorne, you'll be in heaven." —Mick Brown, Daily Telegraph
"The final word on the mad genius known as Prince Rogers Nelson. There is now quite literally nothing more to say about Prince or his music. It's all here—dance, sex, romance, and above all, the music. Downright orgasmic." —Current magazine
"If you've ever craved the empurpled equivalent of Paul Williams' Bob Dylan: Performing Artist. . . you are well served." —Danny Eccleston, Mojo
"Impishly encyclopaedic, brings alert senses to bear. . . in stripping back the purple finery." —Ben Thompson, Independent on Sunday Music Books of the Year
"Thorne is a good stylist and a deep thinker but primarily he's a fan. . . . Thorne is a compelling, emotional narrator." —Kate Mossman, New Statesman
"Highly engaging." —Mark Ellen, Observer
"Everything I love in a book."
—Nemone, BBC Radio 6 MusicTable of ContentsList of Illustrations
Prologue: Come 2 My House (Part 1)
1 Justifications from a Mamma-Jamma
2 The Business of Music
3 Wouldn’t You Love to Love Me?
4 Still Waiting
5 Creating Uptown
6 Gigolos Get Lonely Too (Part 1) 73 7 Royal Jewels
8 Nikki’s Castle
9 There Aren’t Any Rules
10 New Position
11 Roadhouse Garden and Songs for Susannah
12 The Story of a Man I Am Not
13 Rebirth of the Flesh
14 Crystal Ball . . .
15 . . . Or Sign o’ the Times?
16 For Those of U on Valium . . .
17 Spooky and All That He Crawls for . . .
18 Cross the Line
19 Dance with the Devil
20 What’s Wrong with Graffiti Bridge?
21 Gigolos Get Lonely Too (Part 2)
22 Playing Strip Pool with Vanessa
23 The Chains of Turin
24 Part I: Introducing the Friction Years
25 Part 2: ‘It Was Just About Needing to Get It
Done . . .’
26 Part 3: ‘All I Gotta Do Is Sell a Million and I Can
Quit . . .’
27 Wasted Kisses . . .
28 . . . And Missed Opportunities
29 Join My Club
30 New Directions in Music
31 True Funk Soldier
32 Come 2 My House (Part 2)
33 21 Nights in London: A Fan’s Notes
34 Gigolos Get Lonely Too (Part 3)
35 An Entirely New Galaxy Awaits . . .
36 Ending Endlessly
Epilogue: Living Out Loud
Afterword to the American Edition
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Notes
Illustration Credits
General Index
Index of Works by Prince
About the Author
