It wasn't the artist the world formerly knew as Prince. It wasn't even the one who now calls himself The Artist. Not exactly. And that seemed to be the point Tuesday.

Wearing dark Versace glasses and a black jacket, The Artist Formerly Known

as Prince strolled into the conference room in New York's Millenium Hotel to speak with reporters and appear before cameras. He wore a gold ring, a gold necklace and some more gold on his ear. He had a counsel at his side. But compared to his early days when paparazzi were lucky to spot the Purple One in disguise, his wardrobe was subdued and relatively unremarkable.

It didn't sound like The Artist either.

"Hi, thanks for coming," he said casually to the audience upon entering the room, his manner more fitting to a host meeting guests than a weirded-out rock icon about to speak to the press about his upcoming tour.

In contrast to the famously colorful, over-the-top shows he is renowned for, this "unplugged" tour will not feature the expansive sets, colorful lighting or towering props, he said. "I've been known to have some spectacles," The Artist added, smiling, "but I wanted to do a tour that just features me, that's just a jam session with musicians."

There was no flamboyance, no purple-coated extravagance about The Artist, nor to the press conference held, appropriately enough, just a block east of the newly refurbished Times Square. Rather than refer questions to his counsel Londell McMillian, The Artist fielded many himself.

His voice low, strong, articulate -- not the whispering enigma who has eluded reporters for several decades -- he started off the conference

by listing bands scheduled to appear on his "Jam of The Year Tour" which

kicked off last night in Pine Knob, Mich. Among them will be Lenny Kravitz, Carlos Santana, George Clinton and Chaka Khan. Then came the biggest surprise: No Doubt.

The announcement prompted questions as to why The Artist chose MTV's newest darlings to join him. "I heard them on the radio," he said, "and then I found out

they were fans of mine, and eventually it got back to them that I liked

their music. Gwen (Stefani) is an original."

While few dates have been set yet for the tour, The Artist said that the

venues are going to be on the smaller side, along the lines of 20,000 seats. And like his new image, they will be more basic, relying less on pomp than on performance. The other night's show at Pine Knob was an indication of The Artist's revamped attitude as he played a large selection of his older hits,

including "Little Red Corvette," "Raspberry Beret," and "Take Me With You." But while future concert-goers will be treated to much of his older work, he said he would also throw new pieces into the mix.

Responding to questions about why he had departed from his usual glitzy style for a more pared-down concert, The Artist said, "To contrast what is out there."

While not openly critical of what is currently on the charts, he had a few words to say about artists who've covered his music. Asked about TLC's interpretation of "If I Was Your Girlfriend," The Artist paused, then answered rhetorically, "You wouldn't want me to sing 'Waterfalls.' "

The Artist got most critical, however, when talking about record labels

and what determines a successful artist, in particular charts, awards, or

sales. "I don't like the idea of 'platinum records,' "he said. "I'm not cool

with the idea of better or best."

Speaking more from experience than anything else, he added " I have problems with any sort of business that is going to dictate what is going to be successful."

This is why The Artist developed his own label, he said, naming Ani DiFranco and her label, Righteous Babe Records as his business models. He's even considered releasing his upcoming album, The Truth on Righteous Babe, he said.

As the press conference drew to a close, a woman with long braided hair

sitting on the left side of the room asked The Artist why he seemed to be trying to shake his notoriously reclusive image in favor of a more talkative, more introspective character.

"Well, it goes back to this awareness I have found," he said, without a bit of drama or pretension. "Like the movie Contact (earlier in the conference The Artist had mentioned he liked the film because it dealt with a quest for answers) and how the characters in it are searching, I guess I'm much more aware of trying to find out why people are on the earth. Why I'm on the earth."

Then things got weird, if only for a moment.

There was a slight pause, whispers and some fidgeting in the room. "Do you believe in UFO's?" someone shouted from the back, trying to ride The Artist's train of thought.

The Artist just laughed like few have ever heard him. "It would take about an hour to answer that question," he said.