Prince has revealed why he has stopped using swear words in his lyrics, saying that Mohammed Ali had no need for cursing either.

The singer was famed for explicit songs such as Pussy Control and Erotic City, but recent albums have eschewed bad language.

Referring to recent guests on his songs, Prince told Essence: “Marsha Ambrosius, Lianne La Havas and Janelle Monae are all my sisters. We shouldn’t curse at them. We need to treat them, and all people, like royalty. Did you ever hear Mohammed Ali curse? Would you curse in front of your kids or to your mother?”

Prince also attacked major record labels, despite signing a recent deal with Warner Music to release previously unheard songs and a 30th anniversary edition of his landmark album ‘Purple Rain’. “Every time I talk to the heads of large companies, they’re always at the beach,” he said. “Middle of the afternoon. ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Oh, I’m at the beach with my kids.’ So we’re working to send their kids to college. And to the beach. We’re not supposed to accept that.”

Prince’s band 3RDEYEGIRL start a UK arena tour on May 15. They will play:

Birmingham LG Arena (May 15, 19)
Manchester Phones 4U Arena (16, 17)
Glasgow SSE Hydro (22)
Leeds First Direct Arena (23)
[NME]