Vault Clippings: Press & Stories

On March 25, 1985, Prince accepted the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for Purple Rain at the 57th Oscars in Los Angeles. Dressed in a sequined cloak and flanked by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, he delivered a brief, heartfelt speech — then disappeared backstage, skipping the press room entirely. The moment was shown once, never repeated, and never forgotten.

A holiday concert becomes a lightning rod for moral debate, revealing the cultural power — and provocation — of Prince at the height of the Purple Rain era.

A concise but powerful snapshot of the Purple Rain Tour’s humanitarian reach, as Prince’s fans help push a nationwide food drive toward record‑breaking territory.

A sharp, stylish debut that proves the Minneapolis Sound was never a one‑man universe — Jesse Johnson steps forward with authority.

A quiet announcement with seismic implications — Prince prepares to leave Purple Rain behind and step into a new, kaleidoscopic world.

A superstar under fire and in full bloom — Prince’s 1985 headlines reveal an artist balancing controversy, creativity, and the weight of global fame.

Best Magazine Cover & Seven-Page Feature January 1, 1985

Kerrang Cover and Four-Page Feature "there was that time when we stuck Prince on the cover of KERRANG! and everyone and their fuckin’ dog in the metal/rock world had a hairy baby in disgust and outrage, and I sat at my desk/drawing board chuckling into my bottle of Mescal, cunningly disguised as a bottle of Perrier water, as I had been one of the gang who persuaded the powers that be to go with it, and I still stand proud with my head held high that I did! For fucks sake Prin

This entry in The Anabas Look Book Series presents a compact, visually driven portrait of Prince during the early phase of his ascent. Written by Roger St. Pierre and Bob Killbourn, the book blends photography with accessible commentary, offering readers a snapshot of Prince’s style, persona, and artistic identity at a time when he was rapidly becoming one of the most compelling figures in modern music.

Ebony Magazine Cover & One-Page Feature November 1, 1984