I hate when media says "the purple rain singer" when they talk about Prince and his passing. I know that is the most identifiable album in his career but wait, there is more..
When he released his first album he didn't have musicians brought in from the record label, he didn't have any crazy financing. In fact he played all 27 instruments himself to get the record done. He plays 27 INSTRUMENTS people!
Since he hit the scene is 1978, it went something like this..
Studio albums 39
Live albums 4
Compilation albums 6
Video albums 17
Music videos 136
EPs 13
Singles 104
Remix albums 1
So now some possible drug use may overshadow the accomplishments and genius that he was and still will be for a long while. There are plenty of today’s musicians that use drugs for various reasons but everyone seems to ignore that. As long as we have music to listen to or a concert to attend, we ignore it until something fatal happens then people jump on the bandwagon of “drug addict” and all the other negative name calling that goes with the stigma
Anyone that knows anything about Prince would know he was always making music non-stop, touring and his “pop up concerts” that happen and turn into almost all night party. So with those demands put on by himself and his hungry fans wanting more, is it that unrealistic if he was “medicating” to continue at the pace that he was? It’s not like he dropped off the planet and was playing video games and shooting up like when Alice in Chains lead singer was found.
If the overdose story was true think about leading up to it. He was scheduled to play Atlanta and had to cancel because he was sick. He rescheduled to make everyone happy, played his ass off and obviously may have overdone it on painkillers after the show. He wasn’t just flying around getting high, he was in true pain to keep up. If you have ever been to a Prince concert (I’ve been to 6), you will know what a product he delivers
I am not condoning or cursing the situation but, he is not the only person famous or non that might have been in the situation to medicate to keep going. I chose to remember the genius that was Prince and not judge whatever may have aided him along the way..
