![]() Prince was found dead at Paisley Park | |
Date | April 21, 2016 |
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Location | Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States |
On April 21, 2016, American musician Prince died at his home, Paisley Park, in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Two weeks previously, Prince had cancelled his shows of April 7 citing the flu as the reason, and after a show one week later he had been hospitalized briefly with flu-like symptoms.
The news of Prince's death triggered reactions from around the world. Makeshift memorials were created in Minnesota, London, New York, Sydney, Berlin, and other cities in countries where Prince had toured; sales of his albums and singles saw a significant increase in the following days. Many commentators noted Prince’s impact on music, fashion and culture and wrote of his status as one of the more influential musical artists, while numerous musicians and public figures also expressed their grief and shock.
Events surrounding death
Illness and hospital visit
On April 7, 2016, Prince postponed two performances from his Piano & A Microphone Tour, at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta; the venue released a statement saying he had influenza.[1]
He rescheduled and performed two replacement concerts in Atlanta on April 14, even though he still was not feeling well, and had a ban on photos or videos during the concert.[2][3][4]
While flying back to Minneapolis early the next morning, he became unresponsive, and his private jet (a Dassault Falcon 900) made an emergency landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, so that he could seek medical treatment.[5] He was rushed to a hospital but checked out, three hours later, against the recommendation of doctors. There are conflicting news reports that he was treated for a drug overdose[6] of Percocet[7] versus reports from Prince's spokesman that he had been suffering with the flu.[8] Representatives stated that he suffered from "bad dehydration" and had had influenza for several weeks.[3]
Events before death
Prince was seen in public the following evening, when he shopped at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis on Record Store Day, and made a brief appearance at a dance party at his Paisley Park recording studio complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota, stating that he was feeling fine.[4][9]
On the evening of April 16, Prince held a dance party at Paisley Park Studios, which also served as his home. The gathering was to reassure the public of his well-being where Prince asked people to "save their prayers" for later.[10] Earlier in the day, he was seen biking by the Office Max and then resting on the sidewalk, where he asked a bystander not to take a photo of him.[11]
On April 19, 2016, he attended a performance by singer Lizz Wright at the Dakota Jazz Club.[12]
Events at the time of death
Members of Prince's staff were unable to contact him on the morning of April 21. They went to Paisley Park to check on him.[13]
At 9:43 a.m., the Carver County Sheriff's Office received a 9-1-1 phone call from an unidentified male requesting that an ambulance be sent to Prince's home at Paisley Park. The caller initially told the dispatcher that Prince was unconscious, then moments later said he was dead.[14] Opioid painkiller medication was found on Prince's person at the time of death.[15]
Emergency responders found Prince unresponsive in an elevator.[16] Prince did not respond to CPR administered by emergency responders and was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m. (1507 UTC).[17] He was 57 years old.[18][19]
On April 28, 2016, a search warrant for Prince's home was announced as well as a criminal investigation, though few details were released by the sheriff's office.[20]
Autopsy
A four-hour autopsy was conducted by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Ramsey, Minnesota, on April 22, 2016, but it may take days or weeks for results of the toxicology report to be released.[21] According to the Sheriff's Office, the body showed no signs of trauma and was not considered a suicide.[8] On April 27, 2016, the Sheriff's Office announced that prescription pain killers were found in Prince's home and that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had been called[22] for assistance. Officials did not say whether pain killers were involved in Prince's death, however.[23] On April 28, 2016 it was announced that investigators were looking at a possible overdose as the cause of death.[24]
Reactions
Numerous musicians and cultural figures reacted to Prince's death.[25][26] Cities across the US held tributes and vigils, and lit buildings, bridges, and other venues in purple.[27][28][29] In the first five hours after the media reported his death, "Prince" was the top trending term on Twitter, and Facebook had 61 million Prince-related interactions.[30] MTV interrupted its programming to air a marathon of Prince music videos and Purple Rain.[31] AMC Theatres and Carmike Cinemas screened Purple Rain in select theaters over the following week.[32] Saturday Night Live aired a special episode in his honor titled "Goodnight, Sweet Prince", consisting of comedy skits involving him, his musical performances from the show, and the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special after-party.[33] Nielsen Music reported a sales spike of 42,000%,[34] and his catalog sold 654,000 albums and 2.82 million individual song downloads between April 15 and April 24.[35] The United States Senate also paid homage by passing a resolution praising his achievements as a musician.[36] Prince was #1 on iTunes 45 minutes after his death was announced.[37] In the first five hours after the media began reporting his death, "Prince" was the top trending term on Twitter, and Facebook reported there had been 61 million Prince-related interactions.[30] Google released a doodle that featured the website's logo in purple amongst purple raindrops; upon clicking the logo doodle would lead to Prince-related links. Snapchat also had a purple rain filter in his memory. The adult website Pornhub also changed the "P" in their name to Prince's own love symbol.
Extent of public reactions
Fans flocked to his Paisley Park Studios to pay tribute,[21] many leaving purple balloons and flowers.[7] In Portland, Oregon, the annual "Bowie vs. Prince" bike ride, held since 2008, will be cancelled after this year's event, which will serve as a memorial and feature bicyclists dressed as Prince and David Bowie, who died in January.[38] Three days after Prince's death, the NHL's Minnesota Wild preceded a home Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Dallas Stars with a moment of silence in the musician's honor.[39]
Reactions from notable persons
- U.S. President Barack Obama, who held a secret party in the White House for Prince in 2015:[40] "Today, the world lost a creative icon...Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince...Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent. As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. Rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer."[40][41]
- Rihanna : During her performace of Diamonds in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the stage lights switched to a hue of purple to mourn the loss of the singer, in commemoration of his hit single "Purple Rain".[42]
- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Springsteen and the E Street Band during their The River Tour 2016 opened their show in Brooklyn with Purple Rain and lighting the stage purple. Springsteen then shouted , "Prince forever! God bless," at the end of the song.
- Bono: "I never met Mozart, I never met Duke Ellington or Charlie Parker. I never met Elvis. But I met Prince".
- Beyoncé: "We lost a legend. RIP Prince."
- Mariah Carey: "Genius, legend, inspiration, friend. The world will miss you. I'll never get over it."[43]
- Paul McCartney: "God bless this creative giant. Thanks Prince."
- Billy Idol: "Oh my god I can’t believe that Prince has died…he was a great great talent…RIP"[44]
- Slash: "So sad to hear of Prince's passing; one of the greatest musical talents of my lifetime. Maybe of the 20th century. RIP.."[45]
- Spike Lee: "I miss my brother."[46]
- Stevie Nicks: "My friend is gone...This is what it sounds like, when doves cry. He was my dove..."[47]
- Oprah: "Prince, the doves really are crying now."[48]
- Mick Jagger: "I am so saddened to hear of Prince's passing. Prince was a revolutionary artist, a wonderful musician and composer. Prince was an original lyricist and a startling guitar player. His talent was limitless. Prince was one of the most unique and exciting artists of the last 30 years."[49]
- Stephen King: "Prince was a musical genius, straight up. His loss is huge."
- Lionel Richie: "I can’t believe it, I’m in total shock. So many wonderful memories, I will miss him."[50]
- Justin Timberlake: "Numb. Stunned. This can't be real."[51]
- Shania Twain: "Sad beyond words that Prince is gone. To me he was one of the greatest music heroes - a true genius. There will never be another Prince."[52]
- Ben Weinman: "Noooooooo!"[53]
- Dixie Chicks: During the Denmark show on their DCXMMXVI Tour, the band covered "Nothing Compares 2 U" as part of their set list.
- John Cale: "Another shock to the system WTF ?"[54]
- David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd, payed tribute to Prince by segueing the guitar solo from “Purple Rain" into the Pink Floyd song, “Comfortably Numb" during a charity performance at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Funeral and post-death events
Funeral plans were discussed among the family.[55] His body was cremated immediately after the autopsy. Prince's publicist would not release information on disposition of the cremated remains.[56] A private memorial service was held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Prince's home where about 20 invited guests attended.[57] Purple boxes of memorabilia were given to the public waiting outside of the service.[58] A public memorial service was planned for the future.[13] Prince's sister filed a document with a court stating that Prince did not have a spouse, child, or surviving parents, and that his sister had no knowledge that Prince had a will.[59] Prince had six living siblings.[59] There may be a legal battle between potential heirs.[60]
At the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness that Prince attended, there was no fanfare but a one-sentence announcement before the final hymn: “Our brother Prince Rogers Nelson fell asleep in death this past Thursday.” There were several aspects of Prince's life that reflected modesty and humility.[61] The Internal Revenue Service is expected to review a valuation of Prince's name, image, and likeness and subject it to a 40% estate tax. There are proponents that such asset be taxed as it generates income rather than taxed as an predicted asset of the estate.[62]
Legacy
Prince's ex-wife Manuela Testolini had spoken with him before his death about building a school in his honor. Her foundation, called In a Perfect World, supports an educational program known as REACH (Rural Education and Community Harmony), which has built 19 schools across the world. Testolini has not decided on the location of the future school, as she wanted Prince to make the decision.[63] Prince reportedly planned to make his home a public attraction, "like Graceland", as reported by Variety.[64]
References
- ^ Radford, Chad (April 7, 2016). "Prince has postponed both of tonight's shows". Creative Loafing. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella. "Prince's last days: What we know". cnn.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Horgen, Tom (April 16, 2016). "'All's good' with Prince, back in Chanhassen after emergency landing". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Music News: Prince appears at Paisley Park to assure fans he's okay after health scare". April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Clues to the Mystery of Prince's Final Days". The New York Times. April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Prince Treated for Drug Overdose After Emergency Landing in Quad Cities". whotv.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ a b "Prince death: Singer cremated in private ceremony". BBC News. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ a b Jason Sickles, Yahoo. "Prince's body showed no signs of trauma; cause of death still unknown". yahoo.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Bream, Jon (April 17, 2016). "April 17, 2016: Prince offers a little speech and even less piano at Paisley to prove he's fine". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Prince Proves He's Alive and Well at Paisley Park Dance Party [PHOTO]". The Boombox. April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (April 21, 2016). "Hints of Prince's Failing Health Preceded a Sudden Death". nytimes.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Murphy, Esme (April 21, 2016). "Prince's Final Moments In Minneapolis". WCCO. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "'Most beloved' of Prince family, friends bid farewell". msn.com. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ Variety Staff (April 21, 2016). "Prince Reportedly Treated for Drug Overdose Before Death; 911 Details Released". Variety.
- ^ Evan Perez, CNN Justice Reporter (April 28, 2016). "Source: Prince had opioid medication on him". CNN. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Music legend Prince found dead at 57 at Paisley Park". Minneapolis Star Tribune. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Prince : pas de signe de suicide ni de traumatisme, sa mort reste inexpliquée". Le Figaro. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (April 21, 2016). "Prince Is Dead at 57". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Rainbow Appears Over Prince's Minnesota Home as Fans Mourn Artist". NBC News. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Investigation into Prince's death now is a criminal probe". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ a b Gray, Melissa. "Prince death: Autopsy seeks answers". cnn.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Pete Williams. "Prince's Death: Local Investigators Ask for DEA's Help". NBC News. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "Death of Prince: Painkillers found in home, reports say". USA TODAY. April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "APNewsBreak: Investigators Look at Overdose in Prince Death". ABC News. April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Bueno, Antoinette (April 21, 2016). "Celebs React to Prince's Death: Read Touching Tributes From Carmen Electra, Katy Perry, Madonna and More". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Prince dead at 57, artists pay tribute". Fact. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Parties, vigils, other tributes to Prince in many cities". CBS News. Associated Press. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Purple Rain: Cities Across the Country Light Up in Memory of Prince". KTLA. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Boston Honors Prince By Lighting Zakim Bridge, South Station Purple". WBZ-TV. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ a b Tennery, Amy (April 21, 2016). "Social media explodes as Prince tributes mark death of music icon". Reuters. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ Schwindt, Oriana. "'Purple Rain' Is Not On Netflix, But It Will Air On MTV Thursday Night As Part Of Its Prince Takeover". Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Solis, Steph. "Where to watch 'Purple Rain' this weekend". USA Today. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Russell, Erica. "Goodnight, Sweet Prince: 'SNL' to Honor Music Icon With Special Tribute". PopCrush. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Brown, August (April 25, 2016). "Prince album sales skyrocket after death". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 25, 2016). "Prince Has Sold Nearly 3.5 Million Albums & Songs in U.S. Since His Death". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ Carney, Jordain (April 28, 2016). "Senate passes resolution honoring Prince". The Hill. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ Maglio, Tony. "Prince Is Already No. 1 on iTunes". Thewrap.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Portland Bids Farewell to Its 'Bowie vs. Prince' Bike Ride", by Laura Bliss, The Atlantic Citylab
- ^ Gentille, Sean (April 24, 2016). "Watch the Wild's very good, very purple Prince tribute". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ a b Bradner, Eric. "Obama mourns 'creative icon' Prince - CNNPolitics.com". cnn.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ Kelley, Lauren. "President Obama Mourns Death of 'Creative Icon' Prince". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ Emily Blake (April 22, 2016). "Rihanna pays tribute to Prince on a purple stage". Mashable. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- ^ "Stars react to Prince's death: 'A world less funky. I don't want to believe it'". LA Times. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ USA Today Network USA TODAY 9:18 p.m. EDT April 21, 2016. "'Stunned' celebrities react to Prince's death". Usatoday.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Slash on Twitter: "So sad to hear of Prince's passing; one of the greatest musical talents of my lifetime. Maybe of the 20th century. RIP."". Twitter.com. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ "Spike Lee Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Celebrities React to Prince's Death on Social Media". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ By the associated press (February 1, 2007). "Oprah, Mick Jagger Among Celebs to React to Prince's Death". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "MickJagger (@MickJagger)". Twitter. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie)". Twitter. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Justin Timberlake on Twitter: "Numb. Stunned. This can't be real."". Twitter.com. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Shania Twain on Twitter". Twitter.com. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
Sad beyond words that Prince is gone. To me he was one of the greatest music heroes - a true genius. There will never be another Prince.
- ^ "Ben Weinman (@dillingerescpln)". Twitter.com. April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ "John Cale (@TheRealJohnCale)". Twitter. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ Atkinson, Sophie. "When Is Prince's Funeral? The World Is Still Mourning The Loss Of A Legend". bustle.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (April 24, 2016). "Prince death: What we know". Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. CNN. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/small-group-prince-family-friends-attend-somber-service-article-1.2613639
- ^ Ralph Ellis and Melissa Gray, CNN (April 24, 2016). "Prince death: Remains cremated, private service held - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ a b Sosario, Ben. "Prince Died Without a Will, According to Court Documents Filed by His Sister". The Washington Post. April 26, 2016.
- ^ Allen, Nick. "Prince 'had no will' raising possibility of battle over". The Telegraph. April 25, 2016.
- ^ Haggerty, James R.; Audi, Tamara. "Prince’s Little-Known Life". The Wall Street Journal. April 24, 2016.
- ^ Richard Rubin (April 28, 2016). "What Is Prince's Legacy Worth? The Tax Man Wants to Know". WSJ. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Anderson, Danielle. "Prince's Ex-Wife Manuela Testolini to Build School in His Honor". people.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Brent Lang,Katie Van Syckle. "Prince's Final Days: Inside His Last Concerts - Variety". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2016.