Photographer Steve Parke recounts the story behind his iconic 1999 photo shoot of Prince for Notorious magazine. The singer rejected the magazine's initial concept of painting "1999" on his stomach, instead insisting on the word "Free" to reflect his ongoing battle for artistic freedom from record labels. Parke, who was Prince's in-house art director, ended up painting the word on the singer's stomach himself with gold paint, causing Prince to laugh like a child from the cold sensation.
The photograph is a significant artifact from a pivotal period in Prince's career, symbolizing his fight for creative independence. Parke's intimate access and long-term collaboration from 1988 to 1996 provided a unique visual record of the artist, and this specific image captures a playful, spontaneous moment that contrasts with Prince's carefully controlled public persona, offering a rare glimpse into their working relationship.