Prince stunned Australian fans in 2012 with a surprise cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” turning the rock anthem into a fierce live statement.
The moment mattered because Prince was not an artist who needed to borrow energy from anyone else’s catalog. He had already built one of the most original songbooks in modern music, moving effortlessly through funk, rock, soul, pop, R&B, and psychedelic guitar music. So when he chose to cover a peer, especially someone as closely tied to his influence as Lenny Kravitz, it felt less like imitation and more like a public conversation between master and student.
In front of roughly 15,000 Australian fans, Prince launched into Kravitz’s 1993 hit with explosive confidence. “Are You Gonna Go My Way” was already known as a hard-driving rock anthem, built on swagger, speed, and a riff that demanded attention. But Prince did not simply reproduce it. He attacked it. His version sharpened the song’s edges, pushed the guitar work forward, and transformed the performance into a four-minute display of command.
What made the cover so thrilling was the reversal of influence. Kravitz’s music had long carried traces of Prince’s world: the fusion of rock attitude, funk rhythm, sexual confidence, and vintage soul style. By performing one of Kravitz’s signature songs, Prince seemed to step directly into the space he had helped create. It was as if he were reminding the audience where that sound came from in the first place.
The guitar work was the center of the performance. Prince had always been underrated by casual listeners as a guitarist, despite musicians knowing better. On this cover, he gave the crowd no room to overlook him. His playing was fast, aggressive, and precise, but never empty. Every solo burst felt like it had purpose. He did not just show speed; he showed control, personality, and fire.
The performance also proved something important about Prince’s live genius. He could take a familiar song and make it feel dangerous again. In his hands, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” became less of a tribute and more of a challenge. He respected the song, but he also reshaped it, stretching its power until it sounded like it had always belonged in his own setlist.
For the Australian crowd, the shock was part of the thrill. No one expected Prince to reach for that particular anthem. But once he did, the choice made perfect sense. It was bold, theatrical, and musically fearless.
Prince did not need to prove he could dominate a rock stage. Still, that night, he did.