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You can’t have a conversation about music in the 80s without bringing up both Prince and Michael Jackson. They were pivotal figures in the pop genre, shaping the era and permanently influencing the trajectory of contemporary music. 

However, their prominence also gave rise to some tension, embodying a competitive dynamic of "there can only be one" or "this town isn't big enough for both of us" between The King of Pop and The Purple One.

                                                                                  

While the rivalry between them gained momentum in the media, it is evident that both artists consistently pushed each other and harbored genuine animosity towards one another.

 

Prince and Michael Jackson are indelible figures in modern history. Regardless of the scandals and controversies surrounding them, both musicians produced exceptional music that has endured far beyond its initial release. However, it becomes apparent that Prince and Michael harbored a persistent rivalry that extended beyond their quest for pop chart supremacy. According to certain accounts, these two icons even escalated their feud to physical and occasionally dangerous levels. It seems that we cannot disregard those scandals and controversies after all.

 

Although Prince and Michael shared certain similarities, their ascent on the pop charts followed distinct paths. Prince achieved early success with a hit single, but then released a series of unique yet somewhat under-the-radar albums, setting the stage for his breakthrough masterpiece, "Purple Rain." This early pinnacle marked the beginning of a long and famously unconventional career, characterized by highs and lows in the following decades. Throughout it all, Prince remained fiercely virtuosic, exceptionally productive, and fiercely independent, demonstrating his ability to play multiple instruments and shoulder numerous production responsibilities.

 

During the MTV-fuelled era of the 1980s, both Michael Jackson and Prince became the biggest stars pop music had ever seen. Not to mention the huge strides they made for black artists within the music industry, dominating the pop charts which were very much enjoyed by white audiences. They reinvented pop music, and throughout the 1980s alone, they produced a combined 30 top ten hits between them with 13 of those songs reaching No.1.

 

The contrast between the two artists is undeniable. Michael Jackson embodied the immense power of the music industry. Starting as a child star in The Jackson 5, he achieved solo success as a young artist throughout the 1970s. However, it was his solo album "Off the Wall" in 1979 that propelled him to unparalleled stardom, thanks to iconic singles like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." While Jackson was undoubtedly a prolific songwriter, his stature afforded him ample resources in terms of time, financial support, and physical assistance, enabling him to fully realize his musical potential.

 

Conversely, Prince's journey to becoming an icon was a gradual and arduous process. He diligently worked his way up the industry ladder, patiently honing his craft before reaching the pinnacle of success. In the late 1970s, he played a pioneering role in shaping the highly regarded "Minneapolis Sound," a distinctive funk subgenre. Throughout the years, Prince released acclaimed albums like "Dirty Mind" (1980), "Controversy" (1991), and "1999" (1982), building a solid reputation. However, it was his sixth album and magnum opus, "Purple Rain," in 1984 that catapulted him into genuine superstardom.

                                 

While Jackson had been a superstar for the majority of his life, whose position was cemented by Off The Wall and its iconic successor Thriller, Prince’s success was the result of a concerted solo effort. Throughout the early stages of the 1980s, as Prince’s star began to rise, naturally, comparisons began to be drawn between him and Jackson.

 

The rivalry supposedly began at a concert.

The rivalry between Prince and Jackson is believed to have begun at a James Brown concert in Los Angeles in 1983. During the concert, Brown invited Jackson to join him on stage, where he briefly showcased his singing and dancing skills. Brown then announced to the audience, "[Jackson] insisted that I introduce Prince." Subsequently, Prince appeared on stage, playing the guitar before surprising the crowd by removing his shirt and engaging in a spirited dance performance. His energetic display culminated in him accidentally knocking over a sizable prop streetlight.

 

As mentioned in Steven Hyder's book "Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me: What Pop Music Rivalries Reveal About the Meaning of Life" (as reported by Slate), the video presents an intriguing perspective. It highlights that individuals from Prince's group firmly believed that Michael Jackson had the intention to embarrass Prince, and from their viewpoint, he indeed achieved that objective.

 

They nearly collaborated.

In the summer of 1986, Michael expressed his desire for Prince to collaborate with him on the song "Bad." To facilitate this, his producer Quincy Jones arranged a confidential meeting between the two artists.

 

Prince demonstrated evident interest in the collaboration, but considering their shared inclination for intense control, he had reservations about the project being solely attributed to Michael. He was concerned that participating in it might once again lead to a situation where Michael would overshadow him, making him appear inferior.

 

Michael shared an early demo of the song "Bad" with Prince, who subsequently re-recorded nearly every element of the track and returned it to him. Unfortunately, this gesture did not receive a favorable response.

 

Adding to the tension, Prince would intentionally refer to Michael as "Camille" directly in his presence, attempting to embarrass him in front of their peers.

 

Years later, during an interview with comedian Chris Rock, Prince playfully remarked, "The first line of that song is 'Your butt is mine.'" He continued by jokingly questioning the intended recipient of that line, emphasizing that neither of them would sing it to the other. This playful banter highlighted the underlying conflict between them.

 

Despite the collaboration between Prince and Michael Jackson not materializing, and Prince declining the opportunity to star in the music video for "Bad" (which was later given to Wesley Snipes), Prince purportedly displayed graciousness after their meeting. He reportedly turned to Jackson and his management, acknowledging, "It will be a big hit even if I'm not on it."

 

Additionally, when it came to the charity single "We Are The World," Prince declined to contribute. His decision stemmed from the fact that Michael Jackson, alongside Lionel Richie, had co-written the song.

 

Was their long-running feud heightened by the media?

In many respects, there has always been a tendency to compare and pit successful artists against each other, even if their similarities are not particularly significant - a notable example being The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

                                                                         

                             

Whenever Michael Jackson or Prince made subtle jabs at each other, the media would eagerly seize upon it. Both artists, however, were adept at leveraging publicity to their advantage.

 

Michael had a penchant for strategically leaking stories to generate attention, as he expressed to his managers, "I want my entire career to be the greatest show on earth."

 

While the rivalry between them intensified in the media, it is evident that both artists challenged one another and held genuine disdain for each other.

 

In recordings for his 1988 autobiography, "Moonwalk," Jackson openly criticized Prince, stating, "He was incredibly impolite, one of the most ill-mannered individuals I've ever encountered. He has exhibited considerable meanness and hostility toward my family."

 

Where there's smoke, there's often fire, but ultimately, it appears that both artists were burdened by significant egos that proved insurmountable.

Even as Michael's life neared its end while he was preparing for his residency at London's O2 Arena, he continued to be preoccupied with Prince, stating, "If I am not present to receive these ideas, God might bestow them upon Prince."

 

The feud continues

Prince goes full voodoo on MJ

This incident allegedly occurred during the period when Prince and Michael Jackson were still in discussions for a potential duet on the song "Bad." Quincy Jones recounts that Prince arrived at MJ's Hayvenhurst residence wearing an overcoat and carrying a large white box. The box was labeled 'Camille,' which was apparently Prince's nickname for Michael.

 

In the words of Quincy Jones: “The box had all kinds of stuff—some cuff links with Tootsie Rolls on them. Michael was scared to death—he thought there was some voodoo in there. I wanted to take it, because I knew Michael was gonna throw it away.”

 

 Prince Slaps Some Bass in MJ’s Face

Contrary to expectations, the feud between Prince and Michael Jackson was far from over by 2006. In an interview with Esquire, Rolling Stone contributing editor Steve Knopper shared an anecdote that had been relayed to him by will.i.am, the leader of the Black Eyed Peas. Knopper recounted the following:

 

“When Prince was doing his Vegas residency around late 2006, Michael was living in Vegas. Will was a guest artist at the Prince residency, but he was also friends with Michael. So Will arranged it for Michael to be a guest in the audience at Prince’s show. No one knew it really, but Prince knew it.

                             

“There was a point during the show where Prince was playing bass and he came out into the audience with this giant bass—he knew where Michael was sitting—and he walked right up to Michael and started playing bass in Michael’s face. Like aggressive slap bass.”

 

“The next morning, Will went over to Michael’s house for breakfast, and they’re talking about Prince and the show. And then Michael goes, ‘Will, why do you think Prince was playing bass in my face?’

 

“Michael was outraged. And then started going on. ‘Prince has always been a meanie. He’s just a big meanie. He’s always been not nice to me. Everybody says Prince is this great legendary Renaissance man and I’m just a song-and-dance man, but I wrote “Billie Jean” and I wrote “We Are the World” and I’m a songwriter too.'”

 

Did Michael Jackson and Prince ever bury the hatchet?

Regrettably, it appeared that Michael Jackson and Prince continued to have a strained relationship until Michael's untimely death on June 25, 2009, which coincidentally marked the 25th anniversary of "Purple Rain."

 

Following Michael's passing, there was significant interest in hearing Prince's perspective on the loss of his rival. While Prince did not release any public statements, interviewers noted that he was profoundly impacted by the news.

 

Author Tavis Smiley remembered talking to Prince "for hours… about his own mortality and what the loss of Michael Jackson really meant for him."

                                            

During an interview on French television, Prince expressed his sentiments simply by saying, "It is always sorrowful to lose someone you loved." In 2014, he declined to delve into the topic further, stating, "I don't wish to discuss it. It hits too close to home."

 

As a tribute to Michael, Prince surprised his fans during his tours by incorporating covers of Jackson's iconic song "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," leaving his audience in awe.

 

Similarly to Michael's premature death, Prince would later die in 2016 whilst in the midst of a creative rejuvenation.

 

Despite harbouring obvious animosity towards each other, Michael Jackson and Prince were, in fact, more similar than they would openly acknowledge.

 

They faced comparable challenges and accomplishments, traversing parallel paths to attain the pinnacle of success in the realm of pop music. Undoubtedly, they were both exceptional talents who left an indelible mark on their generation.