.

The Revolution's Wendy Heartbroken Over Prince Drug Death

12/19/2016
.
Prince

(Classic Rock) Prince's backing band The Revolution is heartbroken that their bandleader's death will be forever connected with drugs, after he spent so many years trying to stop people from using any substances.

Guitarist Wendy Melvoin recalled how he told her to stop smoking when she started working with him in the 1980s - and also how difficult the notorious perfectionist could be as a colleague.

Classic Prince And The Revolution album Purple Rain was last month given an American Music Award after increased sales following the leader's passing in April.

He was later confirmed to have suffered an accidental overdose - although it remains unclear whether he got the drugs via prescription or illegal means. Melvoin tells Billboard: "When I joined the band I smoked cigarettes, and he was like, 'Uh-uh, not having it. You have to stop.' And I did.

"When we were rehearsing for the Purple Rain tour, my guitar tech was a smoker. He didn't smoke in the arena. He went to test Prince's mic and just said, 'Check-one-two' into it.

"Prince could smell the cigarette on his microphone. That guy was fired immediately." Read more here.

Classic Rock Magazine is an official news provider for antiMusic.com.
Copyright Classic Rock Magazine- Excerpted here with permission.

advertisement

Prince Music, DVDs, Books and more

Prince T-shirts and Posters

More Prince News

Share this article

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it Share on Reddit email this article


Related Stories
Prince's Purple Rain Stage Musical In The Works

Powerwolf Cover Ozzy Osbourne Classic For His 75th Birthday

Butcher Brown Enlists Jay Prince For 'Move (Ride)'

Prince: The Final Secret TV Premiere Announced

Dolly Parton Covering Stones, Skynyrd, Prince On Her Rock Album