MUSIC: THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOT

HE HAS A NEW NAME, LIFE AND TRIPLE CD. CAN HE STILL MAKE MUSIC THAT MATTERS?

Paisley Park, a lavishly weird recording complex just west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is exactly the kind of place you'd expect to be owned and operated by a lavishly weird recording star like Prince. The wildly talented singer-songwriter doesn't go by the name of Prince anymore, of course; in 1993 he changed his name to the unpronounceable glyph [symbol for the artist formerly known as Prince], and now most people call him either "the artist formerly known as Prince" or, more familiarly, "the Artist."

The latter, one quickly learns, is correct usage among employees at Paisley Park, a workplace that seems to...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!