John McKie - Prince: A Sign o' the Times

Prince was a singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and performer whose intense creativity made him one of the most distinctive artists in modern popular music. Yet behind the public image remained a private and often contradictory figure whose personality was difficult to separate from his carefully constructed mythology.

In this extensive biography, music writer John McKie examines Prince’s life and career through the creation and legacy of Sign o’ the Times. The 1987 double album brought together funk, soul, rock, pop and spiritual themes, demonstrating the breadth of Prince’s musical imagination at a decisive point in his career.

The account draws on more than 200 interviews with people who knew or worked with Prince, including musicians, former partners, recording engineers, assistants, bodyguards and members of his creative team. Their recollections reveal his demanding working methods, restless drive to record, unconventional decisions and close attention to every aspect of his music and image.

McKie also looks beyond the recordings to explore Prince’s humour, relationships, working environment and everyday habits. The result is a detailed portrait of an artist capable of extraordinary discipline and innovation, but also marked by secrecy, contradictions and an enduring need for creative control.

Prince: A Sign o’ the Times is suitable for Prince fans as well as readers interested in music history, recording culture and the creative process behind an influential album.