Life of rock superstar Prince celebrated in new comic book
PRINCE, the innovative, Grammy-winning musician who died of an accidental, self-inflicted overdose of a powerful painkiller in April, is being honoured with a comic book about his life.
“Tribute: Prince,” the 24page comic book by Blue Water Productions, will celebrate the career of the 57-year-old superstar whose music blended jazz, funk, R&B, disco and rock.
“So much has been left unsaid about the passing of legendary music innovator Prince Rogers Nelson,”a spokesman for the company said in a statement.
“Prince, a prolific musician from Minneapolis, started a musical revolution with the hits ‘1999,’ ‘Little Red Corvette,’ ‘When Doves Cry,’ ‘Purple Rain,’ ‘Batdance,’ and more, challenging even the ‘King of Pop,’ Michael Jackson, for chart supremacy during the 1980’s.”
The comic book will be released on the singer’s birthday on June 8.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists are re-releasing a song by Prince to celebrate his birthday in one of the first reissues of his music since his death.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals made Prince’s song “Animal Kingdom” available for free download or streaming on its website through Tuesday, when the artiste would have turned 58.
Originally appearing on Prince’s 1998 box-set “Crystal Ball,” the song features Prince on an acoustic guitar explaining a vegan diet.
“No member of the animal kingdom ever did a thing 2 me / It’s why I don’t eat red meat or white fish / Don’t give me no blue cheese,” he sings.
“We’re all members of the animal kingdom / Leave your brothers and sisters in the sea.”
Prince was a longtime supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which often relies on celebrities and stunts to press its cause.
The “Purple Rain” star was known to serve vegan food at his Paisley Park estate, although there were mixed accounts about whether he was completely vegan or a vegetarian.
Famous for his marathon concerts and appearance as a model of health, Prince also avoided alcohol and illegal drugs.
But autopsy results released Thursday showed he died from overdosing on the painkiller fentanyl, which he apparently began taking after hip surgery in 2010.
Generally opposed to free distribution of his music, Prince had made his catalogue available on only one streaming service, Jay Z’s Tidal.
But he was in the process of reissuing his albums on vinyl when he died, with his debut album “For You” back out on record days after his death. — Reuters/AFP