Prince (April 24, 1986) Rolling Stone Magazine Cover – Prince’s Women
Updated: May 22
One of the most iconic and memorable Rolling Stone covers of the 1980s, featuring Prince with Wendy & Lisa during the Parade era.
SOURCE DETAILS
Publication: Rolling Stone Date: April 24, 1986 (Issue No. 472)
Country: United States Section / Pages: Front Cover
THE STORY This vibrant and stylish cover features Prince flanked by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of The Revolution, under the bold headline “Wendy and Lisa PRINCE’S WOMEN”. The image perfectly captures the playful, glamorous, and androgynous aesthetic of Prince’s mid-80s peak, promoting both the Parade album and the film Under the Cherry Moon.
SOURCE DETAILS
Publication: Rolling Stone
Date: April 24, 1986 (Issue No. 472) Country: United States
Section / Pages: Front Cover
Wendy, Lisa and Prince: a musical love affair
By Neal Karlen
Sheila E. will begin pounding her magical drumsticks for 6,200 howling fans inside the Universal Amphitheatre. Though showtime is imminent, the backstage greenroom at this Universal City concert hall remains packed elbow to elbow with assorted kings, queens, and court jesters of the Los Angeles music kingdom. Rock & roll Annies, pressed between the walls and their escorts, nurse their complimentary drinks and grind out Gitanes at their painted competition's feet. Funkified Barbie, Ken, and Mr. T dolls fight for space and each other, while a quickly panicking backstage guard shields the door with her body and announces, "No more, no room, no air, nobody else!" Though few working the greenroom seem to know it, Prince is standing in a hallway not five feet away. After Sheila's final encore, he and the Revolution—now twelve Revolution members strong—are scheduled to sign in for a still undetermined number of songs.
THE STORY This vibrant and stylish cover features Prince flanked by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of The Revolution, under the bold headline “Wendy and Lisa PRINCE’S WOMEN”. The image perfectly captures the playful, glamorous, and androgynous aesthetic of Prince’s mid-80s peak, promoting both the Parade album and the film Under the Cherry Moon.
CONTEXT & NOTES Published at the height of Prince’s global dominance following Purple Rain, this cover highlighted the important creative role of Wendy & Lisa within The Revolution. It reflects the strong visual identity and gender-fluid style that defined Prince’s work in 1986, while also tying into the broader cultural conversation around his inner circle and artistic collaborators.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Iconic front cover featuring Prince with Wendy & Lisa Era: 1986 – Parade / Under the Cherry Moon period Tone: Bold, glamorous and playful Photography: Striking full-colour studio portrait Audience: Music fans and Rolling Stone readers worldwide
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS A classic Rolling Stone cover dominated by a vibrant photograph of Prince in a patterned blue outfit, smiling between Wendy and Lisa. Bold typography announces “PRINCE’S WOMEN” alongside other cover lines including the Payola Scandal, Heart, Mr. Mister, and Yoko Ono.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE All magazine artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
LADIES WAITING
Wendy, Lisa and Prince: a musical love affair
By Neal Karlen
Sheila E. will begin pounding her magical drumsticks for 6,200 howling fans inside the Universal Amphitheatre. Though showtime is imminent, the backstage greenroom at this Universal City concert hall remains packed elbow to elbow with assorted kings, queens, and court jesters of the Los Angeles music kingdom. Rock & roll Annies, pressed between the walls and their escorts, nurse their complimentary drinks and grind out Gitanes at their painted competition's feet. Funkified Barbie, Ken, and Mr. T dolls fight for space and each other, while a quickly panicking backstage guard shields the door with her body and announces, "No more, no room, no air, nobody else!" Though few working the greenroom seem to know it, Prince is standing in a hallway not five feet away. After Sheila's final encore, he and the Revolution—now twelve Revolution members strong—are scheduled to sign in for a still undetermined number of songs.
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