Prince O(+> (March 15, 1995) Sex Symbol or Slave? Prince Tells All – Time Out London (UK)

A powerful and provocative Time Out London cover featuring the giant Love Symbol with an anchor tattoo, questioning Prince’s identity crisis during his battle with Warner Bros. and the “SLAVE” protest.

PUBLICATION

Publication: Time Out London Date: March 15–22, 1995 (Issue No. 1282) Country: United Kingdom

Section / Pages: Front Cover

Title: Sex Symbol or Slave? Prince Tells All

THE STORY

This striking black-and-white cover is dominated by a massive white Love Symbol (O(+>) against a black background, with a small anchor tattoo placed above it. The bold red and white text asks “Sex symbol or slave?” and promises “Prince tells all.” The issue contains a major interview and feature with Prince (then known as O(+> ), exploring his name change, his fight against Warner Bros., and his decision to write “SLAVE” on his cheek.

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Published in mid-March 1995 during the height of Prince’s public protest against Warner Bros., this cover captures one of the most symbolically charged moments of his career. The anchor on the symbol adds an extra layer of meaning — perhaps suggesting being weighed down or anchored by the label. It directly ties into his Wembley Arena concerts and the unreleased (at the time) The Gold Experience album.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Event: Cover story + in-depth interview Era: Mid-1990s / Symbol Era / Warner Bros. dispute

Tone: Confrontational, symbolic, provocative

Photography: Minimalist, high-impact graphic design

Audience: London cultural and music scene readers

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

The full front cover of Time Out London magazine with the enormous Love Symbol, anchor detail, and bold headline “Sex symbol or slave? Prince tells all.” Clean, stark design typical of Time Out’s 1990s aesthetic.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Prince (November 19, 1996) Emancipation: Words and Pictures – Book Cover (US)

• Prince (November 1996) Emancipation – Advert (UK)

• Prince (April 17, 1996) The Artist Formerly Known As Prince – Musica (Italy)

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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.