“This is the fate of geniuses: a handful of fans, specialists, exegetes spy on their every move. The latest example: the purple dwarf arrives in Las Vegas, our funk doctor too.”

The article opens with a satirical recreation of an SNL sketch: “EEEEEEEEEEEERRRRE’S PRINCEY!!!!!” Fred Armisen plays Prince in a black turban and purple jacket, barely speaking, communicating through Beyoncé (Maya Rudolph), while Steve Martin appears as his French chef complaining about burned pancakes. Prince gazes into a mirror with an ostrich‑feathered eye‑mask as Beyoncé intones: “Prince is gazing into the mirror of reflection.”

“Hallelujah! In praise of Ray Charles” “Napster vs. iTunes: Which one is the best?” “Plus the best‑looking rock stars ever” These headlines surround Prince’s portrait — a bold red outfit, a direct point to camera — situating him among legends, debates, and pop‑culture flashpoints.

“Funk & Finesse — Rhonda Smith gets down with Prince.”

“Whenever I come to the drums, I always play from my heart, I always play from my soul.” Blackwell speaks openly about faith, emotion, and the deep musical intuition that shaped his work with Prince — from The Rainbow Children to the One Nite Alone era and beyond.

“Has life begun again for the artist formerly known as over?”

“Has life begun again for the artist formerly known as over?”

“New Power Generation — Vendredi 21 Août — Paris Zénith — 20h Guest: Larry Graham”

This Times Magazine feature stands as one of the most visually striking and thematically resonant portraits of Prince in the late ’90s — a moment when transformation wasn’t just an artistic choice but a defining principle.

• “Learn to play your guitar like the experts” • “PRINCE! Right royal rhythm” • “GTCD 43 — April 98” • “Workshops in blues, jazz, pop, country & classical”