Bowie was a shock, he did at least almost make it to his three score years and ten, but Prince I still cannot quite believe and at only 57 too. The man had so many years of producing great music in him.
I recall the very first time I became aware of him. Sheelagh and I were full of cold one late winters night, huddled in the small bedroom of my flat in Jesmond, there was to be an Old Grey Whistle Test special, a live concert broadcast from Syracuse. Bursting on to the small (15") screen came this boundless ball of energy and colour, launching in to Let's go Crazy, Prince and The Revolution had arrived. The highlight, a near 20 minute version of Purple Rain, I was hooked!
The output from Prince during the eighties was unmatched and perhaps unsurpassed for pure creative output, albums, tours and movies followed in quick succession, why oh why did I never go see the man? It's now become one of my biggest regrets that I never saw him play live.
I have the music, though Purple Rain is proving a tough listen. Tracks like Raspberry Beret, Little Red Corvette, Cream and Sign o The Times still make me smile and if I were ever to get up and dance, it's going to be to a Prince song!
Musicians come and go, gaining and then losing popularity and sometimes regaining it once more, for me, popular or not, Prince was always going to do something new, something challenging. I didn't like everything he put out. But what I did like, I REALLY like. I'll be playing many of his albums over the next days and weeks not as some sad remembrance but a celebration of a unique talent.
RIP PRINCE Rogers Nelson 1958 - 2016
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