The 7 Stages of Grief

Date: 18 September 2025 - Author: Vas Christian

Preamble

London, the turn of the century. A teenage boy stands at his dressing table, door locked, headphones on, ready to embark on a journey. He'd recently begun a relationship with someone extraordinary. Someone inspiring, whose talent and creative genius were unmatched, offering flavours, ideas, and visions no other artist could evoke. This teenage boy had discovered Prince, and the connection blossoming between them felt tangible. Sure, he had never met Prince in person, but that wasn't an issue. This relationship was by design, crafted by Prince's own hand.

Every time this young fan picked up a new Prince album, (new to him, at least), the ritual was always the same. Standing at the dresser, headphones on, CD tray sliding in, he'd hit play. No skipping, no jumping back and forth, just start at track one and let the journey unfold. Prince firmly believed albums mattered, even deep into the age of streaming and curated playlists. He put immense effort into sequencing his albums: the cornerstones, the pop hits, the mood pieces, the experiments, the segues, everything crafted to be consumed exactly as he intended. Prince poured his heart and soul into his music, knowing that somewhere in the world, someone would appreciate it, that it would speak to them on some level, that it would excite and inspire. That was the journey this young man was about to embark on. A trip around the world… in a day. (I apologise!)

There was much doubt and there were those who kept the faith… WHICH ONE WERE YOU !!! 💜💜💜

— Prince (@prince) August 24, 2023

I guess we'll find out.

Where Were We?

The last time I wrote about the state of Prince's releases was around Celebration 2023, (The Road to Day 7). Attendees at the annual Prince pilgrimage had been gifted a novelty single entitled The Vault Series Vol. 1 (the less said about that, the better), and although there had been no official word on substantial forthcoming releases, a combination of leaks and rumours made it clear that something related to Diamonds and Pearls was in the pipeline.

When photos of the then-unreleased Diamonds and Pearls remaster (and still-unreleased Love Symbol remaster) surfaced on eBay in March 2023, they didn't surprise the diehards. Well, the fact that they were being sold on eBay was a shock, but their existence wasn't. In fact, rumours of Diamonds and Pearls being the next expanded release had been swirling in Prince circles since the release of Welcome 2 America in 2021.

Word on the street was that the Prince Estate, managed by Comerica Bank & Trust at the time, initially focused on two hit albums when compiling material for box set releases: 1999 and Parade. On paper, these choices made sense. A Purple Rain Deluxe Edition had already been handled by Warner Bros. early in the process, ruling out the most obvious choice. 1999 was the album that launched Prince into the mainstream, featuring huge hits like Little Red Corvette, and though Parade wasn't his most commercially successful album, it delivered a massive number-one hit with Kiss.

The 1999 Super Deluxe was the first to be released in 2019. Due to some urgency concerning ownership and publishing rights, Warner Bros. chose to prioritise Prince's critically acclaimed magnum opus, Sign 'O' the Times for release in 2020, moving Parade down the schedule. As Parade had been in development for a couple of years, it was assumed to be next in line for release in fall 2021. However, around the time Welcome 2 America hit store shelves, word spread that plans had changed again.

The popular rumour was that the Prince Estate had decided to prepare an expanded edition of Diamonds and Pearls to commemorate its 30th anniversary. There was even talk of the most expansive edition including a remaster of the follow-up album, Love Symbol, resulting in the project being dubbed Diamonds and Love.

Had everything gone as planned, this would have been by far the most ambitious Prince box set to date. Personally, I never bought the 30th anniversary angle. Although the timing was convenient, I believe the decision to release Diamonds and Pearls over Parade was made to placate Sony Music. (Contractual guff. I won't bore you with the details.)

At the time, I remember discussing with friends that prioritising Diamonds and Pearls over a plethora of other albums (especially those from the '70s and '80s) was a mistake for several reasons.

Would You Be A Happy Boy Or A Girl?

For starters, Diamonds and Pearls was not in urgent need of remastering. Unlike many of Prince's earlier albums, Diamonds and Pearls was produced with CDs in mind from the outset. However, albums from For You to arguably Lovesexy were produced, mixed, and mastered primarily for analog formats. Although compact disc technology became a viable household option for music around 1983, major labels didn't prioritise CD mastering (tailoring dynamics and EQ for digital clarity) until around 1987 or 1988. This is why many fans prefer original vinyl pressings of those early albums, as the CD versions often lack the warmth and fullness of sound. (Don't get me started on The Black Album.)

Secondly, all the edits, remixes, and B-sides associated with Diamonds and Pearls were already available on CD. With Prince embracing the capacity of the compact disc in the '90s, he moved away from simple 7” edits and delved into the unique world of maxi-singles. In fact, as early as 1988, fans could pick up Alphabet St. (This Is Not Music, This Is a Trip), Escape (Free Yo Mind From This Rat Race), and I Wish U Heaven (Parts 1, 2 & 3) on compact disc. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for extended versions of songs like Love or Money, Mountains, and Anotherloverholenyohead. The additional content associated with Diamonds and Pearls is far more accessible as a result (Horny Pony, Violet the Organ Grinder, The Ethereal Mix of Cream). To this day, fans discovering Prince can go on eBay and snag these CD singles for just a few dollars.

However, for me, the biggest misstep in choosing Diamonds and Pearls as the next big focus wasn't related to anything previously released, (quite the opposite, in fact). For me, the most exciting part of a Prince Super Deluxe is always the vault discs. While most fans might argue that the live content is the biggest treat in these sets, I adore Prince's studio recordings. You may not get the spectacle of his stage performances, but the studio was where he truly documented his life's work. Unfortunately, this is where the Diamonds and Pearls Super Deluxe Edition fell flat for me, and I always knew this would be the case.

I was incredibly lucky to get into Prince when I did. By the time I had collected all of his albums, it wasn't long before the bootleg label Thunderball began compiling most of Prince's unreleased yet circulating studio tracks and releasing them in volumes. For someone late to the party like me, this was a vital education. Since these sets presented Prince's unreleased songs in chronological order (as best they could with the information available at the time), I was able to appreciate many of his greatest gems by era.

Volume 1 (1976-1984): Moonbeam Levels, Extra Lovable, Electric Intercourse, Do Yourself a Favor, She's Just a Baby. Volume 2 (1984-1988): In a Large Room With No Light, Crystal Ball (original mix), Rebirth of the Flesh, All My Dreams, We Can Funk '86, Crucial (feat. Eric Leeds). Volume 3 (1988-1991): Madhouse 24, The Voice Inside, Dance With the Devil, Elephants and Flowers (original version), We Can Funk (Prince's extended solo mix), The Grand Progression. Skip to Volume 5 (1995-2001): Days of Wild, Mad*, Funky Design*, Super Hero, Proud Mary, A 1,000 Hugs and Kisses (feat. Nona Gaye), High*, Supercute*.
* Admittedly, some tracks on Volume 5 were technically released via Prince's NPG Music Club online subscription service. However, as a late adopter of the internet, I was incredibly grateful for their inclusion at the time.

Just masterpiece upon masterpiece. The tracks on Prince's cutting-room floor were songs that could have launched entire careers for other artists. For years, those Thunderball sets were my happy place, my hidden speakeasy, my forbidden fruit. That said, I can't muster the same enthusiasm for Volume 4 (1991-1994). The era brought us such “classics” as Work That Fat and The P! And is it just me, or does anyone else cringe whenever they hear Get Blue? I don't know why.

I simply didn't enjoy the outtakes from this era as much as I did others. In Prince's defence, this was also the period when he recorded Hold Me, which he gave to Jevetta Steele for her album, Here It Is. It's an incredible ballad that I had slept on for decades.

Although marketed as covering 1991 to 1994, the material in Volume 4 primarily focused on songs recorded between Diamonds and Pearls and Love Symbol. From 1993 onward, when Prince began recording for Glam Slam Ulysses (music that formed the basis of Come), he and the NPG truly kicked things up a gear.

Just because I struggle to appreciate the outtakes from this era doesn't mean Prince had fallen off or was unable to produce great music. It just seems to me that everything worth listening to from this period was already released on the albums themselves.

For me, Diamonds and Pearls was a decent album overall, but a track-by-track analysis reveals it's a bit hit-and-miss. For every Gett Off, there's a Jughead. That said, the singles were incredible: Thunder, Gett Off, Cream, and the title track. By contrast, although Love Symbol lacked viable single choices, I find it the better album. It may not have had earth-shattering commercial hits to dominate radio at the time, but its consistent quality makes it a joy to play from beginning to end.

In short, Diamonds and Pearls was a good album, but from every angle, I truly believe it was a poor choice for the Super Deluxe treatment.

This decision was a bit disheartening for me, but the Prince Estate under Comerica was building strong momentum with its releases. In 2019, we were treated to Originals in the summer and the 1999 Super Deluxe Edition in the fall. In 2020, we got the remastered Prince and the Revolution: Live and the Sign o' the Times Super Deluxe Edition by year's end. The formula seemed to be a stand-alone release in the summer and a major box set by Christmas. We had already received Welcome 2 America as 2021's stand-alone release, and Prince's then-archivist Michael Howe had stated in an interview that the next expanded box set was in the works. If Diamonds and Pearls was released that year, it wouldn't be too disappointing. It would clear the way for albums that, in my view, were in greater need of the Super Deluxe treatment.

Welcome 2 America marked the end of Comerica's streak of consistent Prince releases. After its release, the project faced significant disruptions. In Comerica's defence, they could hardly be blamed for the challenges that followed. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many artists to postpone major releases due to global restrictions on businesses, manufacturing, and shipping, which caused widespread supply shortages, including for vinyl records. As a result, Diamonds and Pearls / Love was delayed, with a presumed release date targeted for 2022.

In July 2022, control of Prince's musical empire changed hands. The final court hearing regarding the distribution of Prince's assets concluded, and the newly formed Prince Legacy LLC took over from Comerica. Prince Legacy LLC, comprising the three Prince siblings who retained their shares of his assets along with their legal counsel, assumed responsibility. Comerica offered to continue managing Prince's music catalogue on behalf of Prince Legacy LLC for a fee, but their services were declined. This marked the beginning of a new era. Unfortunately for fans, this era has so far been disappointing, with limited progress to celebrate.

Love, If You Would Just Please Give Us A Sign

This isn't the first time I've sat down to write a follow-up to my “Road to Day 7” article. Usually, I'd get three paragraphs in before thinking, “What's the bloody point?” I could trudge through the timeline of events, detailing every rumour, drama, and release (though, to be fair, the releases wouldn't take long to cover), but it feels redundant at this point. Instead, I'll focus on what I think is relevant.

Despite multiple delays, Diamonds and Pearls finally saw the light of day in October 2023, though not quite as Comerica had envisioned. The standalone remastered album became available a month earlier on DSPs, with the full package and physical versions following shortly after. It's understandable that the new administration, Prince Legacy LLC, needed a moment to get a grip on the multiple projects in progress when they took over. This is likely what caused Diamonds and Pearls to miss the 2022 holiday slot.

The Diamonds and Pearls package earned some critical acclaim, snagging a nomination for Best Historical Album at the 2024 Grammys, though it lost to Centennial: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists. Commercially, the release was a bit of a letdown. I'm no expert at crunching sales figures when it comes to pop music, but the fact that the set is still widely available in most formats at a fraction of its original price speaks volumes.

A significant chunk of the fanbase was thrilled with the Diamonds and Pearls release. Despite my gripes, I'll admit there were a couple of previously unreleased gems that I was grateful for. Alice Through the Looking Glass was a filthy yet delicious surprise, and Horny Pony (Version 2), though stripped-down, is just a vibe. That said, I'm still shocked that The Last Dance has been liberated from the vault before Empty Room. I honestly didn't think it was possible to have a worse version of Jughead.

While the Diamonds and Pearls set found its audience, some of us were left scratching our heads. The package felt a bit watered-down in places. For starters, the two previous super deluxe sets each included two concert recordings (one audio-only, one with full video). For Diamonds and Pearls, they opted for just one show in both formats (Glam Slam, January 11, 1992). To be fair, it's a belter, and the switch from DVD to Blu-ray delivered sensational picture quality. Still, did this decision shortchange the fans?

The bigger question lingers: what happened to the Love Symbol remaster? When rumours of a Diamonds and Love combined package started swirling, they sparked plenty of questions. How would it work? Would a joint set give each album enough scope to shine? What would this mean for the scale and cost of the release? I'm guessing even Comerica had doubts about the feasibility of this undertaking, but that didn't stop them from forging ahead. Prototypes and test pressings for the Love Symbol remaster were produced, and screenshots of work folders from early 2022, shared privately among some fans, revealed 29 digital tracks prepared that never made the final cut.

When the decision was made to boil the set down to just the Diamonds and Pearls content, one extra track was included. Darkside was not part of the original track pool, and fans speculate this is because it was essentially a demo for what became Blood on the Sheets. Thankfully it managed to find its way into the finished set.

Did the fans miss out? Arguably, yes. Despite the added cost, scrapping the Love Symbol content left the fanbase without some stunning gems. Prince's original recording of With This Tear is arguably one of his most tender vocal performances. For me, Face 2 Face stole the show. Borrowing the drum pattern from Forever in My Life, Prince's multilayered vocals effortlessly create something breezy and refreshing—every beat like a cold sip of soda.

I've never been one to hide my feelings. Baby you blow my mind.
You could never know how good you make me feel, not some but all the time.
When you talk you give me confidence, there's enough to make this case
How I can't wait 'til I get to meet you, Face 2 Face.

Sure, some might argue that a combined Diamonds and Love set would've been too much to consume at once, but what other shot will we have at a Love Symbol Super Deluxe edition? Piggybacking off Diamonds and Pearls was likely this material's best chance at seeing the light of day. Let's be honest, how commercially viable would a standalone Love Symbol rollout be?

At the end of the day, what we got is what we got, and there's no clear right or wrong when it comes to the decisions behind the Diamonds and Pearls set. Still, my worry is that this release is clouding the fanbase's expectations for what's to come. Releasing under Prince Legacy LLC's watch, fans seem to hold this set up as a benchmark for what the current management can deliver. However, I see things a little differently. Given how long this set was in development for, paired with the vault tracks already being digitised, mixed, and likely mastered before Prince Legacy LLC took over, didn't Comerica already do most of the heavy lifting here?

Leaving Diamonds and Pearls aside for a moment, what can Prince Legacy LLC actually be credited for first hand in terms of releases?

How Long I Cry 'till The River Run Dry?

I'm not saying Prince Legacy LLC has been sitting on their hands since taking over in 2022. Up to now, they've hosted three Celebration events at Paisley Park and arranged some additional events such as The Black Album anniversary party. Fans got the opportunity to stay at the Purple Rain house through Airbnb, decked out and furnished with love by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. There's a Broadway show in the works. They were renegotiating with Netflix over a new documentary series. It hasn't been total radio silence, but where's the music?

2023: Two Studio Singles
On 7 July 2023, two vault tracks were released through streaming platforms, tied to the Paisley Park Celebration event:
All A Share Together Now (recorded 4 September 2006): An early Lotusflow3r track from a 2007 preliminary tracklist.
7 (E Flat Version) (recorded 9 August 1992)

2024: Musicology B-Sides and the Purple Rain Dolby Atmos Mix
To mark the 20th anniversary of Musicology, the Prince Estate uploaded three B-sides onto streaming platforms between April and May:
United States of Division (assumed recording January 2004, released 5 April 2024): A slightly different mix from the previously released version.
Magnificent (recorded May 2003, released 26 April 2024)
Silver Tongue (recorded early 2004, released 24 May 2024): Note, this version was previously unreleased since it is not the demo released in 2004 via the NPG Music Club.

On 24 June 2024, a Dolby Atmos mix of Purple Rain hit streaming services for its 40th anniversary, with a physical Blu-ray following on 25 April 2025.

2025: Two Alternate Versions and the Around The World In A Day Dolby Atmos Mix
On 6 February 2025, a trailer was released through the Prince social media accounts stating that the vault was now free (because the Comerica vault releases were just figments of my imagination). However, the backing track to the trailer was a version of the song Free that I'd never heard before.
Fr33 (Acoustic) (recorded early 2008, released 6 June 2024)

A few months later, capitalising on the limited IMAX run of the Sign O' The Times concert film, an Atmos mix of Sign O' The Times (Live in Rotterdam 1987) was released, (the same recording used in the film, pre-overdubs). For clarity, this was just the title track, not the concert in full.
Sign O' The Times (Live in Rotterdam 1987) (recorded 27 June 1987, released 29 August 2025)

There Ain't No Reason To Stay

At the time of writing, we're in the rollout of a remastered Around the World in a Day reissue, with the full-length version of America and the Paisley Park (Remix) launching on streaming services as promotional singles. More may trickle out before the album's eventual release in November.

This new Around the World in a Day release has been dubbed a Deluxe Expanded Edition, not a Super Deluxe as we've come to expect up until now. This package includes no unreleased vault tracks, no live shows, and no glossy coffee table book. Unfortunately, yet understandably, this announcement has left a lot of fans who have been yearning for something more substantial very disappointed. This is a large step backwards compared to what we have come to expect, particularly when you consider that even the Deluxe Edition of Purple Rain, which was the first expanded reissue of its kind, had a lot more to offer than this.

For a better insight into the fan backlash, please check out this piece by Jon Bream in The Minnesota Star Tribune entitled 'Prince fans disappointed with reissue before it's even released'.
https://www.startribune.com/prince-around-the-world-in-a-day-reissue/601472465

The remastering of Around the World in a Day, complete with its edits, 12” mixes, and B-sides, is long overdue and sorely needed in my book. Frankly, releases such as this should've been taken care of during Prince's lifetime, not just for this album, but for at least his first ten. It's doubly infuriating when you consider all the reissues that Sony rolled out back in 2022. This is the format that all those albums should have taken. Why are we now being drip-fed remasters on an annual basis? Doesn't Prince's back catalogue deserve better than this?

Ultimately, I'm glad that this remaster is happening at all, but this has left fans asking: where are the vault tracks? Seven months after it was announced that the vault was finally free, and this “deluxe” album has no previously unreleased material?

A handful of fans have defended the lack of additional tracks, asking that if the estate had decided to expand this reissue further, what would be included? Unfortunately, I think one issue causing conflation is actually the release of the Purple Rain Deluxe Edition from 2017. Songs such as The Dance Electric, Our Destiny and Roadhouse Garden were probably better suited here, since they were worked on during the sessions leading up to the final mastering of Around The World In A Day. How about Prince's vocal version of All Day All Night, the updated mix of Wonderful Ass featuring Wendy and Lisa on vocals, Prince's abandoned attempt at Strange Relationship? How about Prince's vocals on The Family tracks such as Screams of Passion and Desire?

It was the announcement of this expanded edition, (and the fanbase's backlash,) that motivated me to sit down and write this. This reveal has solidified a suspicion I've had for a while, and it's something I think the fanbase at large has missed.

If You Were Given All The Answers, And You Stopped To Wonder Why

The fanbase has every right to be annoyed with how Prince's music is being handled at the moment, but they still seem to be living in hope that the next big shipment of vault tracks is just around the corner. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the tracks released in the past three years that Prince Legacy LLC have greenlit.

Take a close look at these releases and tell me if you're noticing a pattern. How many of these tracks are either alternate mixes or alternate recordings of previously released Prince songs? Now, I'm not saying the improved mixing and remastering on releases like Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day isn't valued. Nor is material like these alternate recordings of 7 and Free. They all deserve to feel sunlight. But how many truly unique songs has the new management been able to provide since taking over? All A Share Together Now. It's been three years! Two singles per year? Prince used to record two songs a day on a regular basis! It's not as if Comerica hasn't given them a head start. There's probably a nice chunk of material all ready to be gift-wrapped and shipped out of Iron Mountain as we speak.

Speaking of which, that brings me to my next point. It seems that archivist Michael Howe ceased working for the Prince Estate around the time Comerica was relieved of its duties. Fans were reassured that author and researcher Duane Tudahl was also involved in the archiving process, but according to his LinkedIn page, he's no longer with the Estate and hasn't been for at least a year. So who is archiving Prince's tapes now? More worryingly, is anybody archiving them? Have they gone back to decaying and gathering dust, just like they were in the vault for decades? If not, why don't we know more?

Let me create a hypothetical scenario. You're going about your life, minding your own business, when a massive chunk of a pop star's assets lands in your lap. Part ownership, publishing rights, their entire back catalogue, all their unreleased tapes, and a say, (maybe even the final word), on every decision made about them. This share is worth millions upon millions of dollars. Ask yourself, what would be the wisest thing to do to capitalise on this situation?

Would you spend your time overseeing tape preservation, mixing, mastering, artwork, production, and manufacturing, sinking money into projects with no guaranteed return? Or would you sell merchandise, greenlight musicals, and host fan events, maybe leverage your position to beef up your assets through acquisitions or deals?

This is the question that no one is asking and fuck me I'm terrified to ask it myself, but are we in this situation because Prince's music is simply worth more unreleased than it is released?

Prince's persona was built around the illusion that he was a Willy Wonka-like figure. A mysterious genius who could play every instrument on his records and had an entire bank vault of unreleased music. We know that in 2025 there's next to no money to be made in recorded music, and once Prince's music is released, the illusion vanishes. The mystery is gone. Is it possible that releasing his music actually devalues his assets?

I'm not saying with certainty that individuals within the Prince Estate have no intention of releasing substantial material from the vault. I'm simply stating that, based on what I've observed, this is my personal belief. Moreover, I've held this view for over a year now.

Splatter vinyl, anyone?

And Love, It Isn't Love Until It's Passed

21 April 2016. I'm sitting in my living room, the evening news on the TV, but I'm not really watching. Then the report comes through: Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator at Paisley Park. Death hits everyone differently, but I wasn't proud of my reaction. I wasn't sad, I was fucking furious. I don't know why, but I bought into the illusion that Prince had a plan for everything, that he orchestrated his life and career down to the smallest detail, that he was such a genius, so in control, that nothing was left to chance. Was this your big plan, Prince? Was this what it was all for? To just die and leave and that's the end? Yeah, I wasn't thinking straight at the time.

Once the anger faded, I was mortified. I can't recall how long it took before I could muster the courage to play Prince's music again, but I remember one of the first songs I listened to was If I Love U 2nite with Gayle Chapman on vocals. Wept? I was inconsolable.

I wasn't too tapped into Prince's affairs at the time, to be honest. I didn't care to look. It didn't matter to me. I was just so sad to see him go, so young, under such tragic circumstances. Prince deserved better. He should have died an old man, comfortable in his bed, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Not alone, ill, and frightened in a metal box.

In November, I was walking through a supermarket when I spotted Prince 4Ever, a greatest hits package and Prince's first posthumous release. I glanced at the track list and was delighted by what I saw: there, on disc 2, track 13, was Moonbeam Levels. What a perfectly fitting first vault track. Moonbeam Levels was the first unreleased Prince song I heard that made me think, “Why the hell didn't he release this?” As I later learned from Susan Rogers, Prince had tried for years to find the perfect album for this song, but it never fit comfortably into any sequence. Stumbling across this CD made me realise that, though Prince was gone, the vault remained strong. That time capsule, which Prince said contained the future, still held his life's work. As long as the Estate kept releasing those records, it would feel as if Prince had never truly left. We could still experience those journeys, just as I had twenty years earlier, standing at my dressing table with headphones blaring.

But Now I've Got To Letitgo

What happened to Prince in life was a tragedy. No good man deserved his fate. Unfortunately for all of us, tragedy is part of life. They happen every day. Did Prince deserve better? Sure he did. In fact, that could be said about every facet of his life. Prince deserved to own his masters. Prince deserved to have creative control of his past. Prince deserved to have children. Prince deserved to be in the writers hall of fame. He deserved more respect, he deserved more acclaim, he deserved more hits, he deserved to be listened to when he spoke about the importance of being independent or getting better deals with your label, and sure as hell didn't deserve to die when he did.

Do you want to know what's even more messed up? Nothing has changed. Nearly a decade after his passing, the sentiment remains the same: Prince deserves better.

Comerica gave us a taste of what celebrating Prince's life could have been like. In life, Prince built one of the most impressive discographies popular music has ever seen. He also left behind so much unearthed material that his posthumous discography could rival it. “My only competition is, well, me in the past.” Those journeys could have continued for years. Regardless, there was always going to be a last time, and I've come to accept that it's likely already happened. I will always love Prince, I'll always be grateful for the joy he brought me, and I'll always know where to find him, in the past.

I dreamed of a day when all the mysteries would be revealed, when you could turn on your hi-fi, iPod, or phone and listen to Prince's entire recording career from beginning to end. That's what his life's work deserved: to be enjoyed, consumed, and studied as a complete body. Yet, even with pieces missing, isn't the picture that remains still beautiful?

A few weeks ago, I was listening to the Funkatopia podcast, where host Mr. Christopher discussed fan frustration with Prince's former drummer, Michael Bland. I'm paraphrasing, but Michael said something like, “If there's nothing you can do about it, you have no choice, you have to wait.” He wasn't being vindictive; he was just stating it as fact. But Michael is wrong. I don't have to hang around and wait. There is something I can do… and have done.

Prince is in a better place now, and in some ways, so am I. I've accepted the situation for what it is and moved on. There was a time when I'd wake up every morning and check my phone for any news, rumor, or conjecture about Prince's affairs. Sure, I still love the man, the music, and I'll write about his work when the mood suits me, but there's an entire world of music out there. I'm sure Prince wouldn't want me wasting my time waiting for this shower to get their shit together. As far as I'm concerned, the Prince Estate in this current form is good for little more than the occasional meme, and maybe that's all it will ever be.

That's why I wanted to write this. Over the past week, I've seen so many fans upset. People are saying things like, “I understand why you're upset” or “You have every right to be disappointed.” I'm not going to do that. I'm going to tell you that you're allowed to let go. The current situation isn't your fault, and stepping away from it is okay. You're not letting Prince down. You're not letting anyone down. You're not ceding ground. There's nothing we can do about it, and getting upset helps no one. I'm not telling you what to do. I'm just saying letting go is an option, and it's working for me.

The dawn is what you make it, and may you live to see it.

Special Thanks To...

Mr. Christopher of Funkatopia ● Michael Bland ● Baron3121 ● Little Star (She knows) ● The greatest of all time, Prince