Prince (May 19, 1981) “With his high-heel boots, thigh-high stockings and black knickers…” – Evening Standard (UK)

Provocative pre-show promotional piece in London’s Evening Standard highlighting Prince’s outrageous image ahead of his first-ever British concert at the Lyceum Ballroom on June 2, 1981.

PUBLICATION:

Date: May 19, 1981

Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Page 14 Title: Promotional feature on Prince

THE STORY

The Evening Standard ran this eye-catching advertorial featuring a striking full-length photo of Prince in his signature Dirty Mind stage outfit: high-heeled boots, thigh-high stockings, and black knickers. The text plays up his controversial, androgynous image while noting his commercial success in the US, stating he had recorded three successive platinum albums and earned rave reviews across America.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published two weeks before the show, this piece was part of the publicity drive for Prince’s historic UK debut. It perfectly captures the mix of shock, fascination, and intrigue that greeted Prince’s arrival in Britain. The provocative styling was typical of the Dirty Mind era and helped generate buzz (and some controversy) ahead of the Lyceum performance.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: Dirty Mind (1981)

Tone: Sensational, tongue-in-cheek, provocative

Photography: Bold full-page image of Prince in full stage regalia against a patterned backdrop

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Black-and-white newspaper clipping from the Evening Standard with a large photo of Prince and accompanying text promoting his upcoming Lyceum Ballroom date on June 2.

RELATED MATERIAL

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

• Prince (June 2, 1981) Original UK Concert Advert & Press Release

• Prince (June 6, 1981) “Half a million dirty minds can’t be wrong about this man” – NME Cover Story

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

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All newspaper 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.