21 Nights [Hardcover]

21 Nights--a first book by Prince and celebrated photographer Randee St. Nicholas is a stunning multimedia volume offering a rare glimpse into the life, lyrics and mystique of one of the most notable and prolific musicians of our time. This beautifully designed photographic essay flows from Prince's sensational, unprecedented, record-breaking, sold-out 21 concerts in 21 Nights at London's 02 Arena in 2007. Giving insight into his dueling worlds of performance and solitude, 21 Nights incorporates Prince's evocative poetry and lyrics to new songs and other selections, and 124 full-color, sumptuous never-before-published images by Randee St. Nicholas. As part of the multi-dimensional experience, it will also include "Indigo Night," a CD--available only with the book--capturing Prince's after-hours, live after-show sessions--rare and profound moments of musical genius.

21 Nights takes the reader from the passenger seat of a limousine zipping through the streets of London to his sleeping quarters in a luxury hotel. In between we see him and his phenomenal band of musicians, singers and dancers backstage in the make up room to onstage, bathed in purple lights and a fog of gray smoke. Like a movie-in-a-book, readers are taken on his journey from London to Prague, in a style that takes glam rock to a new level.

Then there is poetry and lyrics that reveal the heart and soul of Prince--in addition to his incomparable talent. Going beyond the catchy hook, he expresses himself on everything from the destructive forces of war, greed and superficiality the life giving energy of love, beauty, and--of course--music.

As one of the greatest American Pop Music icons, Prince has won numerous awards including an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Brit Award, and several Grammy Awards throughout his highly successful career. Prince’s super stardom took off with his album Purple Rain (concurrent with the film of the same name in the 80s. Most recently, in 2004 with the release of his album Musicology, Pollstar named Prince the top concert draw among musicians in America. Prince's Musicology Tour was the most profitable tour in the music industry that year. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and into the UK Hall of Fame in 2006.

Those who have spent the most time with him are both frustrated and inspired. To know him is to know that you probably will never really know him and to question that is a waste of time...wasting time is something one should never do...and something Prince holds in high disregard. He is passionate and funny and smarter than any of you will probably ever believe...he stretches everyone around him and I'm not sure he even understands why...and those who get it without trying to understand soar and grow creatively in a way they probably could not find on their own...it is not a manipulation for control's sake as it is often judged...it is a way of being...a way of constantly stirring things up...a conduit to achieve creative exhaustion...so that you just do whatever it is you do, free of the limits of how you think you should do it...you are simply forced to trust yourself and to trust him...and in the end it is a gift, one that you have worked very hard for and there is great satisfaction in that. Now that you know this 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,
From the Introduction