The Valeyard

I'm absolutely stunned by this news. Floored.

movieking

I'm floored. Completely shocked. I loved Prince. Some of his stuff was pretty out there, but he was a musical genius. I've always said that the best concert that I've ever been to was Prince. It was bordering on a religious experience for some people in the audience. What a loss.

andicus

Just unbelievable... RIP

Deftones

I recognize his talent, but I am among those who don't get him or his music.

inri222

Wow this really sucks. He was a religious guy who never touched drugs, would've expected him to live long.
I'm a big fan of his 80's output. Got to see him live in 1984 on the Purple Rain tour. One of the most musically talented individuals to walk the Earth.
Who would have guessed that Prince and Vanity (who led a different life) would die in the same year at the same age?

Rest In Purple

hdnmickey

Same here. Amazing guitar player beyond being such a great songwriter and performer. I was always left to wonder just how well he could more traditional rock and metal music had he any interest in doing so. Guitar players that had worked with him would say he would occasionally start playing old rock stuff like Hendrix, or metal songs, when goofing around, but then going back to his usual stuff.

Sadly I figured this was coming given the widespread news about the emergency landing a few days ago. Didn't know it would happen just days later, but something was clearly wrong.

astrochimp

Shocked to hear this.

Sad year in music so far

bluetoast

Man...very surprising. Sad news.

RichC2

Because it's landing in the comments of every major site, this is the blind item they're referencing about potentially "going off his meds" : http://blindgossip.com/?p=77843

wishbone

Dvdlovr24

Still my favorite Halftime Show.

slop101

Silver lining... hopefully this will get his unreleased songs in his "vault" out there.

Coral

Wasn't a fan, but boy are musicians dropping like flies this year.

I was expecting an increase in celebrity deaths in the coming years due to their ages and such, but it seems to have kicked into high gear so quickly... and many being musicians.

dex14

Well that makes sense.

bluetoast

Gotta add that as a very little kid, the Batman Album - I played that over and over on cassette. It made its way into my rotation alongside more kid friendly stuff like Disney soundtracks. Still a fan of that album.

stvn1974

Still remember being 9 and listening to my Purple Rain cassette. When Nikki masturbated with a magazine my mother about had a heart attack. Took a few more years to understand why. RIP.

slop101

Wonder if his death had anything to do with him being a Jehovah's Witness and not allowing himself to take any drugs, including medication needed to live.

Chrisedge

Lucky enough to see him twice (Purple Rain & Lovesexy Tours) and while I wasn't a massive fan of his albums, he was one of the best performers ever. His SuperBowl performance is easily one of the very best of all time.

RIP

Giles

unfrickin' real - I'm shocked.

OldBoy

just heard Little Red Corvette in car yesterday. so freaking sad!!

JasonF

This is just terrible.

JeremyM

This. Sucks.

Numanoid

That's Christian Science. Jehovah's Witnesses can take medicine, just not blood.

milo bloom

I played the hell out of the soundtrack, it still gets rotation from time to time especially since we played Arms of Orion at our wedding.


Yeah, not to diminish Bowie's influences, but Prince is on a more personal level. These were songs that got into your soul and stayed there. Listening to a DJ announce this a few minutes ago on the radio, talking about the concerts he went to and then starting into Purple Rain, it hit me pretty hard.

cdollaz

Any news yet on cause of death?