Prince dies, age 57

One of music’s greatest icons, Prince, has died, age 57, in his Paisley Park home last night (morning in the US), his publicist has confirmed.

The artist, whose work has influenced that of so many others, recently visited Australia as part of an international tour that was stripped back to basics: just he, a piano, a microphone, and that great batch of songs.

Over a 35-year career, Prince released 39 solo albums and had worked with countless artists, often referred to as ‘proteges’.

Recently, rumours circulated about his health, but only because of the strange nature in which he suddenly announced an international tour, arriving in each country only weeks after releasing show dates.

Prince went into hospital last week after his plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Illinois, US.

Upon release from hospital, it was reported he was suffering from a bad case of the flu, which only worsened throughout the week.

The artist shunned media for the most part in the last years of his life, rarely giving interviews and keeping his online presence to an absolute minimum.

As much as the man might have avoided the media, his music was continuously rotated, and will always be remembered, be it covered, sampled, or simply played in its brilliant original form.

Rest In Peace, you great soul.  Antonino Tati