The 44 Most Quintessential Photos Of Prince

Published June 19, 2017
Updated September 29, 2017
Prince Photos White Sleeve

Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty ImagesPrince performs in the Netherlands. 1995.

Prince could do everything.

A drummer, singer, songwriter, prolific guitar player, keyboardist, producer, sex symbol, pop artist, rocker, funk master, and style icon — his life would forever shape the music industry and popular culture.

“Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent,” President Obama said in a statement after the artist’s unexpected 2016 death. “He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer. ‘A strong spirit transcends rules,’ Prince once said — and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative.”

Prince created most of his music without anyone else’s help — playing every instrument, singing background vocals, composing and producing, and finally performing.

Much like David Bowie, Prince stretched the boundaries of sexuality and masculinity — adopting a sparkly, androgynous look filled with bell bottoms, sequins, flowing sleeves, and eyeliner.

“I am the latest fashion,” one of Prince’s lyrics says. Here are the photos to prove it:

Best Prince Photos Underwear
Performing in Detroit, Michigan. 1980.Leni Sinclair/Getty Images

Prince Stripes
Prince in the Netherlands. 1981.Virginia Turbett/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Tongue Guitar
1981Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Hand In Hair
At New York's Ritz Carlton during his Dirty Mind tour. 1981. Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Purple Rain
Prince embraces Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the film Purple Rain. 1984. Warner Brothers/Getty Images

Old Prince Pics
Prince celebrating his birthday and the release of Purple Rain. 1984.Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty Images

Best Prince Pics Special Pants
Prince performs at The Ritz in New York during the Purple Rain Tour. 1984. Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Gloves
1985 Michel Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Piggy Back
Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum. 1985. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Best Prince Photos
1985Brian Rasic/Getty Images

Prince Style
Performing in Inglewood, California. 1985.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Pink Boa
1985 Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Blue Two
London. 1986. Michael Putland/Getty Images

Best Old Prince Photos Pushup
Hit N Run-Parade Tour. 1986. Michael Putland/Getty Images

Prince Abs
Onstage in London. 1986. David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Best Photos Of Prince Belly Shirt
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1986. Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Splits
London. 1986. Michael Putland/Getty Images

Prince Paprazzi
Joking around with the media. 1986Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Dance Moves
1986 Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Photos Eyes
Stockholm, Sweden. 1987. Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Photos Hat
Prince arriving at the BBC Radio 1 studios in London. 1987. Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Best Prince Photos Fly
Stockholm, Sweden. 1987. Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images

Best Old Prince Photos
Stockholm, Sweden. 1987.Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Bed
Lovesexy tour. 1988.Peter Still/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Style Photos
Minneapolis. 1990. Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Prince Photos Flowers
Circa 1990. Kypros/Getty Images

Prince Outfits
1990Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Prince Orange Suit
1991 MTV Video Music Awards.Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Prince High Kick
The Netherlands. 1992. Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images

Best Photos Of Prince Red
1993Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Prince Photos Lollipop
First Annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party. 1994.Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images

Prince Guitar
1995 Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Slave Face
1995 Ian Dickson/Redferns/Getty Images

Prince Fashion Photos
1997Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Prince With Prince
Prince with the Prince of Wales at a Versace/De Beers charity event in London. 1999.Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

Prince And Beyonce
Prince and Beyonce perform a medley of his hits during The 46th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. 2004.M. Caulfield/WireImage/Getty Images

Prince Wife
Prince and his wife, Manuela Testolini. 2004.Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Prince Teal
Prince performs at Super Bowl XLI. 2007.Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Prince Ludacris
Rapper Ludacris, Prince, and actor Dave Chappelle attend the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Prince Gold Sparkly
Misty Copeland and Prince perform during his Welcome 2 America tour at New York's Madison Square Garden. 2011. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

Prince Photos Fringe
Performing in the Netherlands. 2011. Brian Ach/WireImage for NPG Records 2011/Getty Images

Prince Photos Glasses
Prince performs with Mary J. Blige during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel

Prince Photos Orange Sparkle
At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. 2015. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Best Prince Photos Glasses
Prince speaks during the 2015 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Kevin Mazur/AMA2015/WireImage/Getty Images

Want more Prince? Watch these videos paying tribute to the sorely missed singer:


After viewing these Prince photos, check out these 50 David Bowie photos guaranteed to make you miss him all over again. Then, see the rock and roll groupies who changed music history.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.