Publication: The Sun [UK]
Date: November 14, 1996
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Title: "Showbiz Shock Of the Year: AFKAP Talks Sense"
Interviewed By: Sean Hoare

The Artist Forermly Known as Barking Mad has stunned the showbiz world - by being normal!

AFKAP was expected to behave in his ususal weird and wacky way at a Press conference held at his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis.

Instead he arrived on time, politely answered reporters' questions and - for the first time ever - talked some sense.

He also appears to have developed a sense of humour.

Asked what was behind his new-found openness, AFKAP replied: "Because I've got a record to sell, of course."

The 38-year-old Purple One also talked about his new child - reported to have been born with a rare skull disorder and whose name remains a secret.

And he spoke of his marriage to singer Mayte, 23.

Sporting a goatee beard and without a single word scrawled on his cheek, AFKAP said: "Fatherood is what my life is all about now and I've never been happier. I even had a playground built here before the birth.

"Mayte is enjoying being a mum. She propably won't join me on my next tour because she won't want to be apart from our child."

He added: "Marrige has changed me. Mayte has never showed me any malice. She is everything to me and I feel complete."

AFKAP even broke his golden rule and performed old hits including Purple Rain and If I Was Your Girlfriend as well as material from his new EMI album Emancipation.

What on earth next? AFKAP invites Hello! magazine into his sumptuous home?