RIP Prince...

"life is just a party, and parties weren't meant 2 last"

The formerly living artist known as Prince?

This totally bums me out.   Prince was the music of my youth.  I remember sitting in my high school band singer's bedroom in freshman year listening to Dirty Mind, amazed that he played all the instruments. Purple Rain came out I think junior year and was the sh&t.  We played a cover of Take Me With U at our high school talent show      Saw that tour at the LA Forum, then sort of lost interest after college. But saw him again in 2011 when he did a 40 something night stay back at the Forum, Sheila E was there, Chaka Khan, played for 3 plus hours, was really an amazing show.  And he is one of the best guitarists I've seen live.  Was looking forward to seeing his latest project, just him and a piano which was getting very very good reviews.  

This has had me bummed out since I heard the news late this afternoon. I saw tweets and went into denial. I teared up. He was so cool just being himself. He was an amazing talent, hard-working, he defined himself from the moment he splashed onto our radios. Just an amazing performer, unique, authentic, unapologetic. His body of work will speak for itself long after all of us are gone. I am so sad at this shocking news.

I will always remember Prince, and the Revolution as the music that finally, FINALLY took disco off the radio.  Thank You! 

Thoughts and condolences go out to all those personally effected.   RIP! 

Truly, I am a little young for Prince but still love his music and appreciate the talent. I also love that he was so eccentric but just owned it. He didn't try to be something other than what he was ... 

I am a little sad that I never got to see his live show. That is on me. He was just in Toronto and i have several friends who have been to see him. 

I'm just a bit old to have been a part of the Prince era.....but there was no way not to be touched by his music in some way.  Over time, I have become good friends with another parent of my kid's tri team, among others.  Last year we were in Westchester, Ohio for the Jr. Elite Nationals and found ourselves in a wine/cigar bar way too late and way too drunk.  There was a guy there with a keyboard and microphone singing some wine bar songs.  My friend went up and talked to him for a bit and then sat down again.  A few minutes later my bud heads up to the microphone and he and the keyboard player break into "Raspberry Beret" with my friend singing.  I was broke up, as were all the rest of the drunks in the place at 2am.  It was awesome!  My buddy told me on the walk back to the hotel that he had been a Prince fan forever and that he had been to a dozen concerts with his wife all over the midwest. We sang Purple Rain while we walked and laughed. .....excellent night, owed to Prince.

Thinking back on how controversial he was to some people, as far as I know there was no taint on him......no sex scandals, marriage scandals, drug sandals....blah,blah,blah.....just an artist and his craft.  Pretty cool.  I sincerely hope his manner of death, whatever it turns out to be, doesn't bring any "scandal" for the righteous horde to latch on to.  He doesn't deserve that..

RIP indeed.