Prince (April 11, 1981) “Downtown posing pouch chic” – Feature & Live Review The Ritz March 22, 1981

Vivid 1981 Sounds magazine feature reviewing Prince’s explosive performance at The Ritz in New York, capturing the raw energy, provocative stage image, and cultural impact of his Dirty Mind era shows

PUBLICATION:

Date: April 11, 1981

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Feature / Live Review Title: Downtown posing pouch chic

THE STORY

Sounds writer Tim Sommer delivers a colorful, detailed review of Prince’s show at The Ritz nightclub in New York. The piece describes Prince’s charismatic, androgynous stage presence — wearing a revealing outfit with high heels, stockings, and bikini briefs — and praises his ability to blend funk, punk, and rock elements. The article highlights the diverse audience (black, white, punks, college students) and Prince’s masterful showmanship, comparing him to icons like Hendrix, Bowie, and Johnny Thunders.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

This review was published shortly after Prince’s now-legendary Ritz residency in March 1981, just weeks before his first European tour. It reflects the growing buzz in the UK music press about Prince as a boundary-pushing new star. The provocative photo of Prince performing shirtless with a leopard-print guitar strap became one of the defining images of the Dirty Mind era.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: Dirty Mind (1981)

Tone: Visceral, enthusiastic, slightly shocked

Photography: Striking black-and-white live shot of Prince performing intensely at The Ritz

 “Downtown posing pouch chic”

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

Full-page feature from Sounds magazine with a large live photo of Prince on stage and extensive text by Tim Sommer, capturing the excitement and controversy surrounding his early New York club shows.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Prince (March 1981) The Ritz, New York – Live Performances

• Prince (March 29, 1981) “Prince is Partying Up to the gold & platinum” – Daily News (New York)

• Prince (May–June 1981) Dirty Mind European Mini-Tour

• Prince (June 2, 1981) Lyceum Ballroom, London – First UK Show

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All magazine scans, photographs 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.

NME Review – The Ritz, New York (March 1981)

In a detailed review for NME, Richard Grabel captured Prince’s explosive show at The Ritz, describing it as a dazzling, sold-out spectacle full of flash and attitude. He noted the diverse crowd — young Black girls at the front, old white hipsters at the back — and praised Prince’s magnetic stage presence, sharp band, and mix of funk, rock, and theatrical sexuality.

Grabel highlighted Prince’s outrageous outfit (black satin jock strap, thigh-high leg warmers, fringed shirt, and bandana) and his ability to switch from high-energy band numbers to intimate solo piano encores. He concluded that Prince was “the leading candidate to be king of the real sex music” and a serious artist worth watching closely.