PRINCE
21 NIGHTS
(OCTOBER 2008)
by Prince
“He is passionate and funny and smarter than any of you will probably ever believe…now you will see him as I have seen him over these few weeks during the summer of 2007 in a city we hold synonymous with royalty…fitting for a Prince…a man…a musician…an artist who is truly like no other.” - Randee St. Nicholas
Prince—masterful composer, multi-faceted musician, international megastar and cultural icon, a megawatt performer, known for his legendary after shows—powerful, intoxicating, raw, live sessions of pure unadulterated jams.
An Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award winner, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, in his first year of eligibility. His most recent song, when made available via iTunes, garnered 40,000 downloads in the first two weeks. His last four albums have averaged more than 4 million copies worldwide-—without a traditional label deal.
Now, Prince presents his first book, 21 NIGHTS (Atria Books; September 30, 2008; $50.00), a stunning multi-media volume offering a rare glimpse into the life, lyrics, and mystique of one of the most notable and prolific performers of our time. For the first time in 21 NIGHTS, Prince is seen behind the scenes, onstage, backstage, and in his sleeping quarters.
This beautifully designed photographic essay flows from Prince’s sensational, unprecedented, record-breaking, sold-out 21 concerts in 21 nights at London’s O2 Arena in 2007. Juxtaposing his dueling worlds of music and solitude, it incorporates his evocative poetry and lyrics to new songs and other selections, and 124 full-color and black and white, sumptuous, never-before-published images by celebrated photographer Randee St. Nicholas.
21 NIGHTS also features “Indigo Nights,” a bold new CD that will not be available in any other format. It captures Prince’s speak-easy, after-hours, after-show sessions, unstructured and uninhibited, reminiscent of juke joints, revealing a tireless passion and spontaneity that is an amalgamation of jazz, blues, funk, and searing extended guitar solos in which Prince re-invents a favorite cover or one of his own tunes. “Indigo Nights,” includes 14 selections—the live version of “3121,” “Misty Blue” and “Baby Love” featuring Shelby J., “Rock Steady” featuring Beverly Knight, “Beggin’ Woman Blues,” “Delirious,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Satisfied,” and more.
Artist/photographer Randee St. Nicholas has photographed artists and celebrities including as Prince, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger, Drew Barrymore, Tom Cruise, Nicholas Cage, Gabriel Byrne, Martha Stewart and countless others. Her work has been seen in Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Arena, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Giant, Vibe, and Flaunt, to name a few.
Together, Prince and Randee St. Nicholas have created a lush and visually rich multi-media project that captures the spirit and voluptuous sound of Prince’s brilliant 21-night residency at the O2 concert hall in London. I look forward to speaking with you about the incredible music and using some of the images from 21 NIGHTS in a piece on Prince’s intimate and unforgettable debut book.