We talk to Steve Parke, who for 13 years was Prince's Art Director at Paisley Park. Fulfilling all of his boyhood dreams required tenacity, imagination and always thinking on his feet.

How can U just leave me standing? ...in search of Prince Rogers Nelson.

INTRO

2mins30secs - how do you get from being a teenager on the school bus with your friends, with dreams of rock stars, to actually being at Paisley Park working as Art Director for Prince?

7mins - Coming up with a set design in 3 hours!

9mins30s - Coming full circle with Prince's best friend at High School, Andre Cymone...

11mins30s - Lovesexy t-shirt made in a hotel room - but how to get Prince's likeness...??

14mins - Three different Princes...? '...he could be tough with the musicians...'

17mins - "He expected so much more from himself..."

18mins - Being brought out to work on The Gold Experience, and 'being thrown right into the fire'

19mins - Working 120 hours a week...and being asked to move out to Minneapolis. Then saying no!

23mins - Coping mechanisms. 'I think everyone's relationship with him was different...'

25mins - ...how Prince motivated Steve, and swapping music with your idol.

33mins30s - Next assignment - being flown to Birmingham to paint Prince's eyes, having no passport in London and Graffiti Bridge...

38mins - Re-doing the artwork and Salvador Dali ideas...

43mins - Support networks in Paisley Park...'it was like a big family...'

How Can U Just Leave Me Standing? In Search of Prince... is produced and arranged by Sam J. Bleazard - but couldn't exist without the fabulous contribution from all of our guests!

The show also features significant original music compositions from Gavin Calder.

LINKS

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