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Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Reclusive star hailed 'next Prince' vanished from spotlight and changed name
Terence Trent D'Arby shot to fame in the 1980s after releasing his debut studio album, but after just a few years, his music career came to an abrupt halt and he disappeared from the limelight The 1980s was a decade that produced some iconic music legends, including Prince, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston. However, one name that was once mentioned alongside these stars has largely faded into obscurity. Terence Trent D'Arby exploded onto the scene in 1987, following a whirlwind of publicity surrounding his music. Just a few years prior, he had been an amateur boxer and a soldier in the US army. His debut studio album, Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, generated significant buzz after he claimed it was as groundbreaking as The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Although his bold statements about his work earned him a reputation, the album proved to be a hit, featuring some of his most popular tracks, including If You Let Me Stay, Sign Your Name, and Dance Little Sister. Critics praised the album, which won him a Grammy and a BRIT award, drawing comparisons to music legends like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Sam Cooke. Reflecting on that time and his provocative statement, the singer told The Guardian: "I said a lot of s***, but Muhammad Ali was one of my heroes, and I similarly realised that if you say outrageous things, it gets attention. "As a young artist, you've got to get your work heard and to a degree, I hypnotised myself into believing I was a genius. It worked like a charm, but I didn't understand the degree I'd have to pay for that." However, just as he gained momentum, his commercial success abruptly ended with the release of his second album Neither Fish nor Flesh in 1989. The album's different sound failed to resonate with fans and critics, halting his promising career. Four years later, after moving to Los Angeles, D'Arby released his third album, Symphony or Damn, which showed promise but couldn't match his original hits. He then became a recluse, rarely leaving his California mansion, as per the Mirror US. In 2001, he made headlines again by changing his name to Sananda Maitreya, stating: "Terence Trent D'Arby was dead... he watched his suffering as he died a noble death. After intense pain, I meditated for a new spirit, a new will, a new identity." Maitreya released new music under his new name, without big-label backing, and left Los Angeles for a quieter life. He moved to Munich, then Milan in 2002, and married Italian architect and television host Francesca Francone the following year. From Italy, he continued to release new music, uploading it to his website.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Music icon hailed as 'next Prince' changed his name after ditching fame
Terence Trent D'Arby was a huge name in the late 1980s with his debut album earning him critical acclaim and a host of awards but his career would take a very different path The 1980s was a decade graced by music legends such as Prince, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston, but one contemporary star has since faded into obscurity. Terence Trent D'Arby made a splash in the music world in 1987 following an intense publicity campaign for his tunes. Previously an amateur boxer and a US army soldier, he catapulted to fame with the release of his debut album Introducing The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, making headlines by claiming it rivalled The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in importance. Despite gaining notoriety for his audacious remarks about his music, there's truth in the adage that all publicity is beneficial, and the album featured some of his most memorable songs like If You Let Me Stay, Sign Your Name, and Dance Little Sister, achieving success. The album was a hit with critics, securing him a Grammy and a BRIT award, and drawing comparisons to greats from Prince to Michael Jackson to Sam Cooke, reports the Mirror US. Reflecting on that era and his provocative claim, the singer confessed to The Guardian: "I said a lot of s***, but Muhammad Ali was one of my heroes, and I similarly realised that if you say outrageous things, it gets attention. "As a young artist, you've got to get your work heard and to a degree, I hypnotised myself into believing I was a genius. It worked like a charm, but I didn't understand the degree I'd have to pay for that." Yet just as he was gaining traction, his burgeoning commercial career abruptly crashed to a halt in 1989 with the release of his outlier second album Neither Fish nor Flesh, which diverged starkly from his debut. Failing to resonate with fans or critics, it stunted what had appeared to be a rising trajectory. A move to LA and a new start awaited him, and in 1993, D'Arby brought out his third album Symphony or Damn. Displaying potential, it unfortunately didn't ascend to the success levels of his initial chart-toppers. Over the ensuing period, the singer kept a low profile, cloistered away in his California mansion and steering clear of the public eye. 2001 witnessed D'Arby's return to the limelight when he declared his transformation into Sananda Maitreya, stating: "Terence Trent D'Arby was dead... he watched his suffering as he died a noble death. After intense pain, I meditated for a new spirit, a new will, a new identity." Under his reborn persona, Maitreya offered fresh musical works, albeit without the clout of major record labels, and chose to leave the hustle of LA behind for a more serene existence. His journey took him first to Munich, Germany, before he eventually took root in Milan in 2002; the following year saw him tie the knot with Italian architect and television host Francesca Francone. Continuing on his musical path from Italy, he consistently published new material directly via his website.
