Purple Reign

If you ask any child of the 80s which one artist summed up the decade's decadence, excess and bristling sexuality there's a good chance that they would say Prince.The pint-sized pop icon was effectively an orgasm on two legs; a 5' 2" ball of lust with a dirty mouth that would sweet talk his way into your pants through your stereo.After what seems like a lifetime after he released classics like 'When Doves Cry', 'Alphabet Street' and 'Purple Rain', Prince is back. and he's still horny.For many, his first step on the comeback trail was his barnstorming performance at the Brit Awards.He kicked the show off with medley of hits and new material - giving the world a dose of memories and a sniff of what's to come.His new album - '3121' - has been welcomed by some critics and cautiously received by others. For anyone expecting '7', disappointed looms. For fans with their fingers crossed hoping for a mature and less commercial hybrid of 'Diamonds and Pearls' and 'Glam Slam', they'll think Christmas has come early.Despite him turning his back on the commercial scene, Prince isn't blind to the extreme power of hype.

He's turned the marketing machine up to 11, giving fans the chance to see such the spectacle of a live performance in the privacy of his own home. The singer is hiding a small number of 'Willy Wonka' style purple tickets in copies of his new album and single 'Black Sweat'.

Fans who buy the lucky CDs will win an "Evening with Prince" - a trip to the reclusive singer's Minneapolis mansion to see the one-off performance.

A source from Universal, Prince's record label, said: "This is another great marketing stunt." Even if the praise for his latest project is slow in coming, Prince is no stranger to delayed reactions as far as his musical masterpieces are concerned.

He burst on the scene at the end of the 1970s, but it wasn't until 1984 that he started to receive the widespread acclaim that he so richly deserved. It was 'Purple Rain' - released in that year - that turned him into an international superstar. The album - which coincided with a movie of the musician's life - sold a massive ten million copies and spent 24 weeks at number one.

By the mid 1980's Prince embodied something so exciting and unique that within five years he'd all but turned pop on its head. The singer was - and still is - a true individualist. Not only did he release a series of groundbreaking albums, he toured frequently, produced albums and wrote songs for many other artists. With each album he has released, Prince has constantly experimented, tying together pop, funk and rock.

The singer became known as an eccentric genius - he dressed in glitzy outfits and high heels, which caused the press and public to constantly speculate about his sexuality. But, as well as being an enigma, Prince was also so multitalented he played all the instruments on his albums himself.

His live performances are legendary and many who have seen the star talk of his energy and presence on stage. His 2004 'Musicality' tour helped Prince become the highest grossing pop star in the world, earning a staggering £35 million. In the same year the enduring celebrity was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2006 he is still hugely popular - although will never again be a mainstay of radio play lists and 'Top Of The Pops' - and still as strange.

One example of his famous eccentricity is the singer's recent vow to never again perform some of his biggest hits.

Prince - who is now a Jehovah's Witness - takes his religion so seriously that he refuses to perform over 50 of his own songs because he hates the swearing in them. He recently said: "You can't push the envelope any further than I pushed it. So stop. What's the point? So much of what we see on TV and hear on the radio is debased. I will not add to that."

Prince's religious transformation began with the tragic loss of his child, Gregory, who died in October 1996 from a rare skull disease called Pfieffer's Syndrome. Prince's marriage to the child's mother, dancer Mayte Garcia, ended at the end of the decade and the star struck up a friendship with Jehovah's Witness, Larry Graham.

By 2001 Prince had himself converted to the strict religion. The star allegedly even refused a much-needed hip replacement operation - because the faith does not allow blood transfusions. He was reportedly advised to have the operation after years of dancing in high heels. The years of performing wild routines and strutting on stage had apparently taken a toll on his joints.

A source revealed: "Prince used to wear high-heeled boots everyday and doctors told him that may have contributed to his condition. He has been warned that only a full hip replacement will take away the pain and until he has surgery his condition will worsen. Over the years he has battered his body so much that his joints, especially his hips, are causing him a lot of discomfort."

However, judging by his recent performances, it seems the aging pop sensation still has what it takes to rock any music venue.

His screaming guitar licks and toe-curlingly erotic falsetto will arouse millions - of both sexes - for years to come.