Prince died yesterday and the world is going through withdrawals. Prince was a boomer who died too early, only 57, but he made the most of his years.
As with many of the boomer male rock stars passing the last couple of years, some youngsters now discover Prince’s music for the first time. And crowds of boomer women swoon remembering music fantasies from their younger years. But despite the acclaim, Prince died at home, alone, in an elevator.
Me? I remember one hell of a musician who burst onto the scene while disco gasped in very late 70’s. Supremely talented. Wildly creative. Outrageous. An even edgier Ziggy Stardust–is that possible?
Prince’s halftime show at Super Bowl XLI is an unbelievable tour de force. He began the set with We Will Rock You and carried through to end with Purple Rain, mixing covers and originals that crossed musical spectrum equal to his own creative force.
Prince’s Super Bowl Halftime Set
The halftime set included Credence Clearwater Revival’s, John Fogerty-written, Proud Mary; a hit mostly remembered for Tina Turner’s rendition. Crossed through Bob/Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower (a favorite covered by Jimi Hendrix) and moved into Foo Fighters’ Best Of You. All mixed in with his originals Let’s Go Crazy, Baby I’m A Star, and the Prince anthem Purple Rain.
And he did all this during a Miami downpour, performing without cover.
He crossed Deep South swamp blues/R&B (depends on your musical taste and performer) to folk and acid, and ended in grunge and alternative. No other performer has so smoothly matched the musical tastes of the vast American audience watching the Super Bowl, or even the wider audience extending beyond the U.S. borders.
The Greatest Guitar Solo Ever?
No remembrance would be complete without mentioned Prince’s guitar solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions. Watching Prince on stage with Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, and George Harrison’s son Dhani Harrison is a treat. Prince said he did the gig as much to share the stage with Tom Petty as for any other reason.
It’s another sad day for boomer male. Another cultural signpost slips our grasp. But he left behind some wonderful memories.
RIP Prince.
