Breaking: Prince Dead at 57

 

Via the NYT:

Prince, the singularly flamboyant and prolific songwriter and performer whose decades of music transcended and remade genres like funk, rock and R&B, died on Thursday at his Paisley Park studio and estate in Minnesota, according to The Associated Press. He was 57. Across a career of more than 35 years, Prince released 39 albums while being lauded not only for his songs, but their visual presentation both onstage and on camera. His 1984 film “Purple Rain” is widely considered one of the best and most influential music films ever, while its accompanying soundtrack spawned the No. 1 hits “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

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  1. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Meh.

    • #1
  2. Ross C Inactive
    Ross C
    @RossC

    RIP to a talented and eccentric artist

    • #2
  3. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    2016 is just the worst.

    • #3
  4. KC Mulville Inactive
    KC Mulville
    @KCMulville

    He was one of those guys who was just flat-out weird … but he was interesting, and I liked his music. Of course, whether I liked his music or not, I can spare a moment to pray for his soul.

    Rest in peace.

    • #4
  5. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Ridiculous talent. It will be years before his contribution is understood.

    • #5
  6. Brad2971 Member
    Brad2971
    @

    Jamie Lockett:2016 is just the worst.

    Lots of…endings. Lots of departures from the scene. RIP to one of the greats.

    • #6
  7. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    BrentB67:Ridiculous talent. It will be years before his contribution is understood.

    Agreed. Everyone should google his performance in While My Guitar Gently Weeps from the Concert for George Harrison. He just shreds the solo.

    • #7
  8. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Here you go:

    • #8
  9. Salvatore Padula Inactive
    Salvatore Padula
    @SalvatorePadula

    So now he’s permanently back to being the artist formerly known as Prince?

    • #9
  10. Chris Member
    Chris
    @Chris

    Sometimes it snows in April…

    • #10
  11. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    I was never a fan.  He ruined Sheena Easton.  She was a great singer until she started doing crap like Sugar Walls.

    • #11
  12. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Salvatore Padula:So now he’s permanently back to being the artist formerly known as Prince?

    I laughed, but too soon….

    • #12
  13. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Miffed White Male:I was never a fan. He ruined Sheena Easton. She was a great singer until she started doing crap like Sugar Walls.

    Nothing can ruin Sheena Easton. Sigh….

    • #13
  14. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    I posted this elsewhere, but worth posting again.

    • #14
  15. Grosseteste Thatcher
    Grosseteste
    @Grosseteste

    I have nothing to add, except that as bad a year as this has has been for musicians, this is the one that has left me reeling.

    Amazing talent, and a unique presence.  RIP.

    • #15
  16. GKC Inactive
    GKC
    @GKC

    Whenever I thought of him, the DAVE Chappelle comedy sketch about playing pick-up hoops with Prince always came to mind, following by open laughter.  Apparently the story was based on truth, that he loved to play pickup with celebs and friends visiting his home.

    First album ever bought by these hands — Prince Purple Rain.

    RIP.

    • #16
  17. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    If a Beatle or member of Led Zeppelin dies this year I’m going on vacation till 2017.

    • #17
  18. Herbert Member
    Herbert
    @Herbert

    Jamie Lockett:Here you go:

    never was a fan, but think the above video is great,  maybe i’ll give him a second look.   BTW  he throws the guitar up in that air at the end,  what happened to it?

    • #18
  19. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    Jamie Lockett:If a Beatle or member of Led Zeppelin dies this year I’m going on vacation till 2017.

    You could do a dead pool, but I don’t even know what to know who goes next.  It’s too many already and all over the map.

    • #19
  20. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    RIP Prince, a terrific talent.

    Purple Rain as one of the “best and most influential music films ever” per NYT–not so much.

    • #20
  21. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    A guy just walked by my office singing “Lit-tle Red Cas-Ket…”.

    • #21
  22. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Douglas:A guy just walked by my office singing “Lit-tle Red Cas-Ket…”.

    As jokes in bad taste go, that one’s pretty good.

    • #22
  23. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    Joe Muckalutz died today as well. RIP Joe we will miss you.

    • #23
  24. donald todd Inactive
    donald todd
    @donaldtodd

    BrentB67:Ridiculous talent. It will be years before his contribution is understood.

    I remember when the time came that he could no longer get a record deal.  That was when he decamped from his name and merely used a symbol to represent who he held himself to be.   Of course how do you say a symbol, and the speaking crowd replied with “the artist formerly known as Prince.”

    I thought that Lets Go Crazy is in the top 10 of hard rock and roll songs, but beyond that item he wasn’t personally appealing to me.   Greatly talented but not overly appealing.  That, I am sure, is one of my limitations.

    • #24
  25. donald todd Inactive
    donald todd
    @donaldtodd

    Salvatore Padula:So now he’s permanently back to being the artist formerly known as Prince?

    Maybe he got a name change and forgot to tell us.

    • #25
  26. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Herbert: never was a fan, but think the above video is great, maybe i’ll give him a second look. BTW he throws the guitar up in that air at the end, what happened to it?

    George caught it.

    • #26
  27. Randal H Member
    Randal H
    @RandalH

    Salvatore Padula:So now he’s permanently back to being the artist formerly known as Prince?

    He’s now the artist formerly known as ALIVE.

    Don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I saw this in the comments on TMZ and couldn’t resist. He was obviously talented.

    • #27
  28. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    You write enough lyrics, one of them will pertain to your demise, but dang: he died in an elevator.

    • #28
  29. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    “Prince means the future, because he’s changed music, everyone in music, he’s influenced every person, and I believe that he represents our future, and it kind of died with him in a way.”

    The CNN article on his death actually had this quote from a fan.  I think he deserved better.

    • #29
  30. Don Tillman Member
    Don Tillman
    @DonTillman

    bloomcountyprince

    • #30
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