Prince’s ‘Former Drug Dealer’ Speaks About Pop Star’s ‘Major Addiction To Opioids’

[avaistheone1]

Source: Huffington Post UK

A man who claims he supplied recently deceased Prince with opiate painkillers has spoken about the extent of the pop star’s addiction.

Named only as Doctor D, the man said he sold drugs to him between 1984 and 2008.

He claims Prince would spend up to $40,000 (£27,700) on six month supplies of highly addictive Dilaudid pills and Fentanyl patches.

Doctor D told the Mail Online: “I first met Prince in 1984 while he was filming the movie Purple Rain and he was already majorly addicted to opiates - I didn’t hook him on drugs.





Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/princes-former-drug-dealer_uk_571bc654e4b018a884dce83f

---

Doctor D said: 'He was always a pill man - that's why nobody ever saw him do drugs. He never shot up, or snorted cocaine' He states that Prince did highly addictive opiates for 25 years.

Perhaps this is why Prince insisted on a private room at the hospital.

[ericson00]

1. a music or hollywood superstar uses drugs....what a surprise

complete shame. Tho I hope the guy isn't lying like John Marc Karr just to get publicity.

[MFM008]

2. I know the pain

I had multiple surgeries including 2 knee replacements. I dont think I could have gotten through with out percocet.
After my first knee replacement i took it for weeks around the clock, then when the pain receptors settled down, I thought Well, i can quit these now. I just quit. NEVER NEVER NEVER just quit. I went through a week of withdrawals, extreme anxiety and other physical symptoms. Now I use them very carefully. I get why people become addicted. Pain is tiresome and exhausting BUT he should have had the Hip replacement surgery. I had my knee replacements without blood transfusions although I gave permission to DO it if need be.
Now my knees give me little trouble, however there are sacrifices. No more running, no jumping around. I have difficuly getting on the floor on my knees. Maybe that's what he couldn't handle. Speculation.
May he rest in peace now.

[sharp_stick]

4. I'm sorry

I know what you went through. It's horrible.

[CountAllVotes]

64. I hope you are getting better

There are so many holes in this story that it stinks!

The way things are now, you must see a doctor and be drug tested constantly to keep getting the MEDICATIONS that one needs to have a desire to remain living.

Not all people that REQUIRE pain medications to live are "addicts". Furthermore, the way these drugs are prescribed and distributed now, there is no such thing as FOUR refills on a single RX for a controlled substance such as Percocet! People have to go at least every three months to the doctor, be drug tested and then get the RX refilled. Some people have to do this every single month!

I feel sorry for the late Prince. I too hope his family goes after said drug dealer, "Dr. D" or who the hell ever this person claims to be!

Some/most people do not have a clue as to what it is like to live in chronic pain. They'd rather point the finger and call you an addict and tell you to use cannabis. As much as cannabis is a useful medicine, it doesn't touch the pain many suffer from and yes, that is a reality for many that suffer from chronic intractable pain.

Shame on the people that write this crap!

[libodem]

66. What you said!

Agree with your post.

[CountAllVotes]

75. There is way too much ignorance around pain problems

And thank you.

People living in chronic pain need to be understood and treated with respect and not treated like criminals.

It sickens me to note the amount of ignorance around this issue.

Those that are legitimate pain patients deal with humiliating scrutiny that I find to be loathsome.

I have a friend that is soon to be 88 years old. She was born with a severe spinal deformity and has had numerous surgeries throughout her life and now, at the age of 88, she is being drug tested every three months due to the pain problem she was born with and suffers with and yes, she takes legally prescribed opiates for her pain.

I totally understand going after people that are doing illegal things but to treat legitimate people that are trying to live some sort of a life suffering with horrible intractable pain I find to be beyond despicable!

[alarimer]

81. I don't understand the mindset that would require an 88 year old be drug tested.

I mean, I know they are just playing by the (ridiculous) rules, but it defies common sense.

[CountAllVotes]

84. This person could be selling the pills

and using money to buy food perhaps?

Actually, said person is well off and has no money worries.

The only thing this person is upset about is being drug tested and humiliated every few months. Sickening isn't it?

[LovingA2andMI]

3. BULLSHIT!!

I hope Prince's Family sues the s**t out of these vultures.

[avaistheone1]

5. You may be right.

The autopsy has been completed and the results are forthcoming.

[2naSalit]

6. They have to conduct

toxicology tests and they take about two weeks. I hope there is no sign of drugs.


I was thinking about this earlier today and maybe he had a relapse of epilepsy?

I am only concerned that he's on the other side of the veil now... he left us with a wealth of art and that is what he said he wanted to be remembered by and that's how I choose to remember him.

(we need a broken heart emogee).

[avaistheone1]

7. True. I hope there isn't either.

However, if there is it will be speak powerfully to the destructive nature of opioids in taking down a young icon's life.

[LiberalArkie]

9. I really don't doubt it. He had major hip problems and very arthritic hands. So he had to be in

intense pain all the time. And with the U.S. saying pain is imaginary and you don't really need that meds just take an aspirin.

[2naSalit]

12. Somehow I don't think

anyone who said such a thing has ever endured long lasting intense pain. My mother used to tell me that I couldn't feel pain when I was a child and she ignored my complaints until she had to rush me to the ER one day. She doesn't think that anymore but she made my life hell for a rime because she was misinformed. Pain is our bodies way of telling us something is wrong after all.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

38. Conservatives think that illness is a moral failing.

And if you're sick you're just faking it and desperate for attention. Nope. And that's why women are weaker because we get menstrual cramps and go to the doctor more often. BS.

[2naSalit]

39. +1

[Seeking Serenity]

83. Um, I'm pretty sure Democrats are in charge of the WH, FDA, DEA

Which are leading the charge against opioids.

"Pain? I'm so sorry. I'm sure that must be terrible for you. Here, take an aspirin or two. That'll make you feel all better. What, you need hydrocodone? YOU OBVIOUS DOPEHEAD!! WE'LL NOT HAVE ANY OF THAT!"

[abakan]

70. I'm with you calling

BULLSHIT on this sad attempt at getting a little of Prince's light.
I know there is a special place in hell waiting for when his time comes.

[Odin2005]

8. BULLSHIT!

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Gotta love those anonymous sources n/t

[truthisfreedom]

13. I don't think constant opioid use and high energy performances mix.

I don't believe it.

[appacom]

14. Me neither

[glinda]

20. they don't especially over time

he would have crashed long ago

[chapdrum]

23. Then again, there's

Keith Richards.

[brett_jv]

68. Keef says he's been off the dope since like the 80's though ...

There's lots of examples of people keeping up their high-octane musical performances while strung out on opioids ... FOR AWHILE. Jimmy P, Keef, Toxic Twins, Axl ... to name a few. But nobody has kept it up at the level of PRINCE ... for almost 40 friggin' years. I'm sorry ... you can maybe pull it off 5-8 years MAX ... but eventually it catches up with you. And you can bet people are gonna KNOW, esp. nowadays. Even in the 70's everyone knew Jimmy Page and Steven Tyler and Keith Richards were junkies. Be even harder to keep it quiet now.

[wordpix]

27. Exactly. Unless like MJackson he was

on uppers for performances and recording, and opioids at other times.

[LovingA2andMI]

37. Doubt It....Highly

Prince was a Vegan and Jehovah Witness. Being a "addict" does not fit into his lifestyle.

Plus: Unknown to anyone that is not a true fan.
1). Prince Sister Tyka was on drugs in the 1990's and it was HE that got her into treatment.
2). Prince Step-Brother and former Head of Security in the 1990's Duane Nelson got on drugs. Prince paid for his rehab treatment MULTIPLE times before having to move on from being a Co-Dependent for Duane. Duane ended up passing from Drugs in 2011.

Prince was not Physically a "healthy man". He had hip problems due to wearing high heels for YEARS ON END during his performances were he jumped off rafters, did the splits on the regular and much more. Also, he did have arthritis in his hands.

If Prince took anything it was for Physical pain from performance based body breakdowns for decades on end. Phil Collins - who was not a dancer per say (except he tried in Easy Lover with Phillip Bailey) had to quit touring after years of playing the drums which led to rheumatoid arthritis in his hands and wrists.

Remember, Prince played over 20 instruments, made 39 albums, have a vault full of unreleased materials, plus PERFORMED for over 39 years straight without fail. Anyone's body, no matter how health conscious, can and will break down at some point.

Again, if Prince was using drugs, it was for PAIN MANAGEMENT and not anything else. He also avoided likely MUCH NEEDED surgery on his hips due to his Faith (JW) teachings which bans any form of blood transfusion (that can happen in a major surgery like hip replacement surgery).

The bottom feeder "15 Minutes of Fame" Low-Life Vultures are making myself and other Prince Fans sick -- and we hope Prince's surviving family sue them into the next century for spreading these "drug addict BS" lies.

[2naSalit]

40. ^^^THIS^^^

[BumRushDaShow]

50. "Prince was a Vegan and Jehovah Witness". And so was Michael Jackson.

The Jackson family were Witnesses and as I understand, they often attended JW events. In fact, MJ was a vegetarian and MJ was doing his energetic performances (since childhood) much longer than Prince, although they were a couple months apart in age.

Both men were meticulous in their execution, both had a strong drive to give their fans the best performance possible at every venue, and both were driven to maintain public "entertainer personas" to maximize the imagery they needed to project for their "brand". And this took a severe toll on both of their bodies - no matter how well they may have tried to nutritionally maintain their physiques.

IMHO, there is a difference between being an "addict" to "feel good" or "be hip", and being addicted due to legitimate relief of physical pain.

[Schema Thing]

62. Most people can't understand this, but Prince and MJ were sort of at opposite ends of the JW...

...Jehovah's Witness experience.


Odd as it may seem, MJ was treated badly by the JWs, much like most people are if they don't conform 100% or try to think for themselves at any point (I was born into that cult). His money and fame shielded him some, but only slightly. He was eventually disfellowshipped. I speculate that this is because he was also born-into-it... The congregation elders felt more ownership of Michael (entitled to control every aspect of life).

Prince, otoh, is a total anomaly in that religion. He was brought into the fold (to the extent he actually was "in the fold&quot by Larry Graham, a wealthy rock star in his own right, and also an anomaly in that organization. I could list numerous specifics to make my point, but I'll just point out this one overriding thing: if ANY Jehovah's Witness, anywhere in the world, formed a little garage rock cover band and dressed like Prince and covered Prince tunes, even the cleaner ones.... that person's congregation elders would disfellowship them in short order - meaning they would be ripped from the only community they know and shunned by their closest family.

IMO, Prince was a Jehovah's Witness like I am a multi-instrumental rock superstar - I'm sure he felt like he loved "Jehovah God" (and yes, you'll hear them use that verbal construct) and believed they had "the Truth". And, I'm sure he was generous with them commensurate with his belief - but he had no idea how that organization actually works the way his fellow congregants experience it.

[BumRushDaShow]

73. Agree

that he was an anomaly. I think this may have partly been why the 2 never performed together or were seen together (outside of one event honoring James Brown). I remember Graham Central Station (Larry's group) while in high school and had friends who were JW (there were 2 Kingdom Halls within a couple miles of where I live)... There are many still out on the street handing out Watchtower magazines. But then I live not far from a Krishna Temple too and they used to be out and about (not so much anymore after the complaints in the neighborhood)...

[King_Klonopin]

51. Clarifications needed...

Addiction is not a lifestyle, no more than sexuality is a lifestyle.
Addiction is not a choice one makes; addiction is the loss of choice.
Addiction effects people indiscriminately -- even good people whom we admire.
Most people who become addicted to opiates began by taking prescribed pain-killers.
Addiction seems to be genetic in origin (case in point: sister has an addiction problem,
and -- I believe -- father?)

No one has all the facts at this time, so no one knows for sure one way or the other.

If he had an addiction problem, I would not make it a moral issue and I would maintain
the same level of respect for him, regardless. It truly would be sad and tragic if his
life ended this way, but it would not make him a "bad" person deserving scorn.

Don't shoot the messenger, even if the messenger is behaving "impolitely".

My initial guess was that he died from sepsis or an acute cardiac event, based on the
report that Prince had made a visit to a hospital ER because he had "flu-like symptoms" --
it's a long-distance diagnosis, I admit. Who knows for sure ?

Drug-related death is going to be a consideration because it is so common among
celebrities in the music industry that it has become a cliche. VH1 "Behind the Scenes"
is probably writing the script as we speak.

[Schema Thing]

59. Nothing you said conflicts with the op.

[craigmatic]

15. Damn they couldn't wait until he was buried to give him the MJ treatment.

[PCPrincess]

16. The REAL Problem With Addiction to Opiates

is not the opiates and it is NOT the desire to use them; it is the illegality of them that makes life living hell for those who use them. Someone with a great deal of financial security and people around who are always willing to help out, could easily live a successful life even while using opiates.

Yes, its time that we give up the knee-jerk reactions to drug use. Years of propaganda and stigma are hard to deprogram, however, its way past time to do it. We also need to lay off doctors, many of whom are simply helping people with pain. It is the stigma attached to use of drugs that ensures that people won't have easy access to the knowledge about how to use an opiate or painkiller without risking over-use.

[reACTIONary]

24. +10!

[Dustlawyer]

25. I had to threaten to sue a hospital and ER Doctor for patient dumping because they didn't

want to admit my 100 lbs 5'7" alcoholic pill popping brother when he was close to death and had spent all day in the ER. He was yellow and covered in sores from malnutrition. They said his labs were not bad enough. They finally did and even admitted that it was because of my threat. They said only one day. The next day other doctors saw his labs and freaked. We were told when they released him yesterday that he has severe cirrhosis of the liver.

Over the years we tried everything, but he wouldn't stop. He was intellectually limited due to brain damage at birth and while high he could pretend he was famous for golf or motocross, whatever.

Numerous trips to the ER for pancreatitis attacks revealed a medical profession that treated alcoholics as "fucking drunks" which is what one ER Doctor called my brother. It is a disease and they forget that. I will promise you that Doctor probably thinks twice before he utters that to a family member of an alcoholic!

Our society treats addiction and mental illness as a bad life choice. We lock them up or throw them on the street, but we don't treat them. Some "Christian" nation we are!

[wordpix]

28. +1000 on your conclusion

My friends have a schizophrenic son and he got worse in adulthood. There's no help in many states, but even if there is, the mentally ill person has to recognize he needs it and has to agree to be helped. That's not going to happen with very sick people.

[Dustlawyer]

34. Yes I agree. He could have been helped years ago before he got so bad, now he cannot remember

anything minute to minute. We could find no help for him then and it's too late now!

[Skittles]

47. so sorry, Dustlawyer

I know the feeling

[riderinthestorm]

60. Your brother is so lucky to have you in his life

And you're an amazing brother for being his advocate.

[Old Vet]

63. Iam so sorry to hear about your brother first, Second, been though the same thing with my brother...

As my brother was dying we begged the doctor to please give us a private room for the family since we were at the point where he was on a morphine drip and expected to pass at any time from cirrhosis(he was also yellow). Didn't think that was much to ask of the doctor. After a hour they began moving the other patient out who had a broken arm, In the middle of all this shit of the two familys moving about in the room my brother passed. Still got big feelings about that spectacle, So yeah he was just another alcoholic.

[m-lekktor]

30. I agree! nt

[DeltaLitProf]

48. Can they not play terrible havoc with the stomach and liver?

n/t

[hamsterjill]

17. So, we are supposed to believe a drug dealer?

I honestly think this is ludicrous. Not meaning that Prince may have had a drug addiction. At this point, we don't know.

But what purpose does it serve to publish this kind of stuff at this juncture? Let the world grieve the loss and celebrate the artistic contributions of Prince. There will be plenty of time for the "drug dealers" of the world to have their fifteen minutes in the limelight.

[SCVDem]

18. STFU!

So quick to drag someone through the mud.

WE DO NOT GIVE A SHIT!!!

Please Go Away!

[2naSalit]

19. I say prove it

louse!

[pnwmom]

21. Anyone with the money would insist on a private room at the hospital.

Especially any public figure who wanted any semblance of privacy.

[dflprincess]

26. And stories about Prince

(not just those in the last few days) have often mentioned how painfully shy he was in spite of his on stage persona.

Why anyone would think his wanting a private room is odd, is way beyond me. (And who wouldn't prefer a private room?)

[pnwmom]

31. Health regulations now require new hospital rooms to be singles,

because research has proven they reduce hospital infections significantly. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of old rooms out there.

[glinda]

43. Gossip said they did not have one. Only shared.

May or may be true. Sometimes if a person has a problem and does not want to be confronted, they bolt.

[spooky3]

22. Uh, some hospitals have nothing BUT private rooms because non-celebrities demand them.

I cannot imagine a celebrity who could afford a private room when so sick as to need a hospital, being willing to share a room.

[pnwmom]

32. Yup. I had a baby in a hospital that had only singles and that was more than 20 years ago. nt

[Duppers]

36. Exactly!. That was not in the article

But was avaisthe1's silly comment.

[hollowdweller]

29. Percocets are sort of minor league

I'm surprised he could OD on them unless he took gobs of them, and you'd think if he was an addict and used to taking only pills he would know how much he could take.

If true, wonder if he was trying to quit, he didn't have the flue he was going thru withdrawl really bad and then he got home and took too many when he had cut his tolerance down.

2 difft people on the hollow here have bit the dust on opiates. They really aren't a good choice for chronic pain people wind up taking more and more.

[glinda]

44. Agree with you.

It does appear he di not have a handle on his usage or pain management. Yes...vomiting, dry mouth, symptoms of withdrawal. Not flu. Unless he was suffering the four day after effects from ODing. Day 4 or so would be the bad day if one survives it.

[King_Klonopin]

52. Percocet is not "minor league".

They are as much an opiate as heroin. They contain the same chemical as OxyContin (oxycodone)

Take enough (8 or 10) all at once, and you can stop breathing.
Take a lot over a long period of time and the Tylenol in them will cause liver damage.

[brett_jv]

67. They're definitely dangerous/addictive/etc but still relatively minor league for serious addicts ...

It's like a 'starter' drug. I'm NOT talking the Oxycodone ... I'm talking the PERCOCET formula of oxycodone.

Reason being exactly what you mentioned ... the acetaminophen. You don't have to be very far into an addiction to opioids for you to 'outgrow' Percs.

I.E. you start having to take too many, and it starts messing up your liver and making you feel crappy.

Take 8-10 and you can stop breathing? Depending on weight, it'd probably take less than that for an opioid-naive person, if we're talking the 10/325's. For an actual addict? That's what you need just to get out of bed in the AM. Back when there was the old formulation of Oxycontin that was crushable and sniffable (unlike the crap ones they have now), someone I know (who isn't me) used to crush an 80mg and sniff it to his head after rolling out of bed every day ... for years. That's 8 of the 10mg percocets worth of oxycodone without the toxic APAP. And he'd do the same thing every 6 hours or so ... While going to work and doing so fairly productively, if you can believe that. Point being: there's actually no 'upper limit' to how much dope the body can adapt to ... given enough time. I've heard of a dude that used to do 16 x 80mg Oxycontin/day. Do the math on how many percocets THAT is ...

Basically, anyone who's going to sustain an opioid addiction is going to have to move 'up' if you will to something that's pure dope: Instant Release Oxycodone aka Roxies, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, Opana, Morphine, Fentanyl ... Heroin.

I for one don't buy this dude's story. Prince was way too productive, and way too healthy-looking for way too long. You don't join and remain an active church member in Jehovahs Witnesses with a raging opioid addiction. WHY would you?

That said, he may've JOINED the church to help KEEP himself clean. That's a very common thing for addicts to do is turn to God for help, obviously. So what I'm saying is I'd not be terribly surprised to find out that in, say, 1984, he was strung out on opioids ... but I strongly suspect he got clean and stayed clean for a vast majority of his career. It's very difficult to tour the way that he did with an illicit opioid habit,esp. without a GREAT many people finding out ... you'd end up cancelling shows regularly (which he did not do) because you'd be out of meds while 'on the road'. You'd send your underlings to the streets, and people would 'talk' because of that. Think about, like, the reliability of a Guns and Roses concert, circa 1986-1993. You never knew whether it would REALLY happen, if Axl would even show up, or if he'd just decide to walk off half-way through ...

I'm happy to say I absolutely DO NOT 'buy' that PRN has been a raging illicit opioid addict his whole career ... now, if he had himself a REAL, and extremely ... uh ... corrupt ... actual Doctor who would get him whatever he wanted whenever and wherever ... that would facilitate the touring aspect, but doesn't explain his phenomenal looks, and energy/stamina he's had this entire time. Being a pill junkie just does NOT lend itself to the way his career path has gone, what he's accomplished, how he's looked (WAY younger than his real age) etc. Go back and watch old Friends episodes some time and look what happened to Matt Perry's looks during the time he was hooked on Vikes. In retrospect, it's VERY obvious the effect it had on how he looked.

Lastly, nobody who's a raging addict has the self-discipline to be become, and stay Vegan, either, which he was for his later life. That's because the lack of self-discipline involved in being actively addicted WILL spread into ALL areas of the addicts life, eventually.

So, I'm just not buying this dude's story. Maybe in 1984 or thereabouts, but I'd bet any amount that PRN has been clean for most of his career.

However, health problems esp chronic pain or surgeries have a led a GREAT GREAT many 'now-clean' (but always still) addicts back into the fold of active addiction. I'd not be shocked to find out opioids played a role in his death. But if so, I'd bet that he only recently started taking them again, and probably for a legit/legal reason. He may not have realized how quickly and easily your body will return to a state of physical dependence (i.e. you get withdrawal effects) when it's 'been there before'. As they say in AA, you cannot turn a pickle back to a cucumber, it simply can't be done. The changes to your body brought on by a period of serious opioid addiction never entirely go away and you'll forever have a proclivity to quickly become re-addicted simply by introducing them to your system ... for ANY reason. Even legit ones.

But I really, really hope this entire storyline is just BS.

[Myrina]

82. They build up in your system ...

.... kinda like what Heath Ledger did, if I'm remembering correctly ... it wasn't a one-time "woo hoo let's take the whole bottle" sort of thing, it was constant, increasing dosage that your pain becomes accustomed to so you need to take more to kill the pain *and* unfortunately that shit is also building up in your liver & other organs at the same time. Your body reaches a tipping point.

I was on Percocet and Gabapentin last summer before & after surgery for a ruptured disk in my back that was pressing on my spinal cord. Before the meds I laid in bed crying, begging to die, the pain was so bad. With the meds I could actually rest. I can see how people are hesitant to give them up.

Interestingly, one of the tells of an oncoming Percocet OD is flu-like symptoms - nausea, body ache, fever, etc. which may be why his peeps said (and maybe they believed) he really did have the flu.

[PBass]

33. The Huffington Post sucks. Bullshit tabloid. (NT)

[2naSalit]

41. When Jon Stewart referred to them

as "sideboob gazette" I stopped going there... that was years ago. I won't even go there from a link posted here. And Stphen Colbert called it "HuffinPuff".

I used to read some of their stuff long before AOL got involved but they started to get stupid quite a while before that.

[TexasBushwhacker]

56. And most of their writers are unpaid n/t

[2naSalit]

57. ...and that too

which I forgot about since I don't even think about them anymore.

[m-lekktor]

72. that's one of the main things that site is notorious for, not paying the writers. nt

[Wibly]

35. Disgusting drivel

Shame on DU for allowing this sort of blatant smear to be posted.

[LovingA2andMI]

42. Agree...

It is a direct INSULT to this forum. Which makes one wonder, why is it here posted in the first place.

[CountAllVotes]

65. +1

No kidding. It is disgusting drivel at best and an INSULT to this forum and also to all of those out there that require pain medications to survive a life that would be otherwise not worth living.

[CountAllVotes]

55. +1

Agree.

[glinda]

45. I call BS and someone just pushing the drugs by this interview.

[Moostache]

46. He is gone and we are all artistically poorer because of that...nothing will make that go away.

Cheap speculation and fame seeking on the coat tails of a true artist into history is pathetic, even if it were true (which in this case I seriously doubt).

The impact to me is personal and a loss that I will feel at various times for the rest of my journey - especially because my wife and I were both fans and shared many Prince-infused memories since 1989, but the details of his passing are something I find ghoulish and unnecessary for public consumption.

Remember the man, cherish the good deeds, forgive the misdeeds and reflect on the music and the fact that a man who touched more lives than almost all of us mourning his demise will combined.

RIP Prince Rogers Nelson
Thank you for the music, thank you for the efforts to ease suffering and make a positive impact.
Live well lived.

[King_Klonopin]

53. The title of your post sums it up nicely. nt

[brett_jv]

69. +1000 ... now I'll share my list of favorite Prince tunes I made the day he passed for another forum

Since you're a fan since 1989 you probably know most if not all ... I'd rather party like it's 1999 than worry about Prince's personal life. It's damn sure what HE would've wanted ...

25. Delirious (1999)
24. I Would Die 4U (Purple Rain)
23. Darling Nikki (Purple Rain)
22. Little Red Corvette (1999 … ranked low cause I’m so sick of it at this point)
21. P Control (Gold Experience)
20. Erotic City (b-side of something on Purple Rain, IIRC)
19. The Continental (Symbol Album … an unappreciated jam that’s 100% Prince)
18. Adore (Sign O’ The Times)
17. Nothing Compares 2U (The Hits)
16. Cream (aka Bang a Gong – from Diamonds and Pearls)
15. Baby I’m a Star (Purple Rain)
14. Pop Life (Around the World in a Day)
13. Play In The Sunshine (Sign o’ The Times)
12. Do Me Baby (quite possibly the sexiest f**king song ever … from Controversy)
11. Controversy
10. When Doves Cry (Purple Rain … another that should be higher but I’m SICK of this song)
9. Kiss (Parade)
8. I Feel for You (Prince)
7. Sign o’ The Times
6. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (Sign o’ the Times)
5. Lets Go Crazy (Purple Rain)
4. 1999
3. Raspberry Beret (Around the World in a Day)
2. Lets Pretend We’re Married (1999 … oooooooeeeshashacoocooyeah … all the hippies sing together!)
1. Purple Rain

Honorable mentions: Get Yo Groove On, New World (Emancipation), Endorphinmachine, We March (Gold Experience), My Name Is Prince, 7, Blue Light, Damn U (Symbol Album), Eye No, Annastesia, Alphabet St (Lovesexy), Bob George (Black Album ... which I own ON VINYL, a bootleg from 1990), Elephants & Flowers, Still Would Stand All Time (Graffiti Bridge), U Got The Look, Housequake,Starfish and Coffee (Sign O’ The Times), Diamonds and Pearls, Insatiable (Diamonds and Pearls), D.M.S.R., Lady Cab Driver (1999), Jack U Off (Controversy), Dirty Mind, Uptown, When You Were Mine (Dirty Mind), Bambi, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Soft & Wet (Prince).

[Moostache]

74. That is an awesome list...lots of memories in there 4 me 2!

"Aw no, don't you think about callin' her a 'ho....Ya juvenile delinquent....best sit yo ass on the corner...talkin' about Pussy Control....huh...can you dig it?"...One of my all-time favorite Prince tracks...that was the 90's answer to "Erotic City"

Couple tracks I would add would be:

"Days of Wild" (Crystal Ball - studio; live bootleg tour tape in Minneapolis is AMAZING...originally intended for "The Gold Experience&quot

"I'd rather dress 2 make a woman stare
I'm puttin' on somethin' that another won't dare
It's a freezer burn compared 2 cool
If U still got loot, then who's the fool?"

and

"Face Down" (Emancipation - studio; I have a killer soundboard NYC bootleg tape for live performance that is crazy good).

"Bury me face down, let the motherfuckers kiss tha ass...OK?"

The thing I always remember about this track is the amazing 10 minute live version Prince laid down during the Emancipation Tour and walking out of the show in Indianapolis and while walking through the parking lot after the show overhearing a person asking their friend "What did that have to do with Elvis?".

Both tracks have got signature Prince basslines and rhythm, on point lyrics and relay stories to me about my past and when I first heard and fell in love with them.

The man is gone, but the music he left stays with us to remember and to share.
Thanks for sharing some of your memories as well.

[Person 2713]

76. +1 Those are 2 of my faves .....

[rusty fender]

49. I don't get it

Why does it matter to any of you whether or not Prince was a drug addict? Does it make his music any less enjoyable if he was an addict?

[marble falls]

54. BULLSHIT

[restorefreedom]

58. please self delete this crap off du

there is an autopsy pending. also, sheriff ruled out suicide. he did NOT say homicide was ruled out just that there appeared to be no violence.

even if meds show up in his system, it could have been a dr action ala mj or inside job or accidental or a bad combo of prescription meds or the flu with strong meds. we don't know.

meantime, lets not encourage these trolls out to get their 15

[riderinthestorm]

61. Can we please stop speculating and wait for the toxicology report?

I hate these anonymous sources with stories that can't be sourced about dead artists.

Maybe consider deleting?

[roamer65]

71. Off the topic of Prince...

It really is time we take a much more progressive approach to opiate addiction. It needs to be treated as a medical condition, not a criminal one.

[maxsolomon]

78. Its a full-blown crisis in this nation

right next to homelessness in its urgency.

[restorefreedom]

79. very important point

dr drew, who i rarely listen to, made the point that IF prince died of an accidental od, he said EVEN IF YOU TAKE THESE DRUGS AS PRESCRIBED, they can get you into trouble. doesn't mean there is abuse happening.

also, he said that a middle aged man should not have to be on such meds chronically without the underlying issues being addressed.

there is too much "write and run" happening in the medical community. they take out their pads, write a script, and then once someone is hooked or cant function without the pain relief, they say too bad we can't just keep giving them out.

meanwhile, big pharma resists all other possible treatments for pain, medical mj, acupuncture, etc.

they want their payout. yes, it is a major public health issue and many want to look the other way and get their $$$$$$$

[maxsolomon]

77. I don't find this surprising in the least

Particularly the parts about his social anxieties or buying in bulk 2x/year. If you've ever watched him in an interview, he comes off as diffident - the way Bowie did, too. An odd contrast to the on-stage flamboyance.

Prince sounds like he was very meticulous about his usage. Until he wasn't.

[whatthehey]

80. Well that's either a habit of truly epic proportions or terribly profligate

Dilaudid goes for a few dollars per pill on any number of internet pharmacies. If he were taking, say, 10,000 every six months that would be about 55 pills a day. I have no idea what that would do to you but I doubt it would improve your musicianship. Fentanyl isn't much higher. Now the guy was plenty rich and it's likely there are boutique variants for the well-heeled, but the math is still a tad off..