“I don’t see much substance”: Keith Richards on the manipulative nature of Prince
There are many ways a musician can navigate the persistent pressures within the music industry. Some choose to speak up and use their platform to start meaningful discussions, while others prefer to let their music do all the talking. According to Keith Richards, however, there is a fine line between being performative and getting the balance just right.
Having rightfully earned a reputation as a true industry veteran, it’s safe to say Richards has seen all corners of the industry—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Operating against an outfit as explosive as The Beatles in the 1960s, The Rolling Stones effectively embraced all of these facets, knowing that anything else would have likely diminished their authenticity in their efforts to challenge commercialism.
However, when it comes to such honesty, Richards has always been especially forthcoming, though not in a way that pushes his views to the point where they seem to come from a place of disingenuousness. Part of what made the Stones so resonant is that they never felt like they were trying too hard to pander to anybody, and that’s something Richards embodied in other aspects of his artistry, too.
That said, this also meant that he felt he knew how to spot dishonesty in all its forms the second it presented itself. For Richards, being a true artist meant living up to the term without any pretences, which many contemporary artists failed to understand. In his view, one such act was Prince, who he believed became too focused on ruffling feathers in the industry to offer anything artistically meaningful.
In 1988, for instance, he told the LA Times he thought he was a good manipulator who knew how to work the business to his advantage: “I think he’s very clever at manipulating the music business and the entertainment business,” he said, continuing, “I think he’s more into that than making music. I don’t see much substance in anything he does.”
He also said elsewhere, “Prince has to find out what it means to be a prince.”
While it might be easy to view Prince’s outspoken manner from a position of caution, especially considering the many artists who have delivered half-baked views and opinions throughout history, reducing him to mere provocation seems to ignore his entire artistic proficiency and cultural impact. Not only did many of Prince’s songs incorporate incredible depth, but he also challenged convention when the industry needed it the most, demonstrating his intention to disrupt in authentic ways.
While some of his more far-out viewpoints may seem a little off-kilter, especially when it comes to his harshness towards cover songs, most of his expression was deeply rooted in a commitment to artistic integrity. This was especially prominent when it came to the digital age and artists adopting greater control, with Prince championing the creation of art that not only resonated globally but challenged what it meant to push the boundaries of pop.
