http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prince-confidant-drummer-kirk-johnson-paisley-park-tour-legacy/

next? seriously? What a jerk.

I talked to Kirk back in October when we were at Paisley Park. We were shoulder to shoulder in the editing room. Talked to him for about 10 minutes or so. (we had went in the editing room once.....came out, and our tour guide let about 3 of us go back in and talk some more, and shut the door behind us ) He came off as friendly. Relaxed. Didn't seem too devestated or anything, but I chalk that up to it being 6 months after the fact. Talking to him didn't seem business like or anything. He was very laid back about the things I asked. And some things we talked about weren't even Prince related. It was just almost like talking to an old aquaintance. He made one comment to me that was a little......bothersome?.....but like the interview....talking to him there was some nervous laughter too....

I agree with the CBS lady....that laughter was a bit odd.

The way this was edited makes Kirk Johnson look bad. I think it was perfectly normal to ask those questions but I understand why Kirk would not want to give an answer.

Still, the laughter, nervous or not, was a bit strange.

KoolEaze said:

I agree with the CBS lady....that laughter was a bit odd.

The way this was edited makes Kirk Johnson look bad. I think it was perfectly normal to ask those questions but I understand why Kirk would not want to give an answer.

Still, the laughter, nervous or not, was a bit strange.

I watched it a couple times, and that kinda laughter I almost took as kind of a "wow like I didn't see these questions coming!" almost an irritated laugh. Also sort of took it like a "if you only knew.....".....type of laughter when she'd ask the questions. I may be totally off though. I usually am!!

ksl1974 said:

I talked to Kirk back in October when we were at Paisley Park. We were shoulder to shoulder in the editing room. Talked to him for about 10 minutes or so. (we had went in the editing room once.....came out, and our tour guide let about 3 of us go back in and talk some more, and shut the door behind us ) He came off as friendly. Relaxed. Didn't seem too devestated or anything, but I chalk that up to it being 6 months after the fact. Talking to him didn't seem business like or anything. He was very laid back about the things I asked. And some things we talked about weren't even Prince related. It was just almost like talking to an old aquaintance. He made one comment to me that was a little......bothersome?.....but like the interview....talking to him there was some nervous laughter too....

May I ask what the comment was that was a little bothersome?

Didn't watch the interview, but I read it. I wish all of the associated artists would say as little as Kirk did.

There are a few things to remember here:

Kirk is still part of the investigation. A lot of people are, and it doesn't mean he's a suspect or something bad like that. It means he could be limited on what he can or wants to say.

The laughter and "next" thing is more of a "I'm not even entertaining that bullshit". She called him Prince a "drug user". It has a bad connotation, and people related it to someone on meth, or heroin, or crack 24/7 - like folks you see on Intervention. I don't believe Prince was popping pills like Tic-Tacs. But I also don't believe he never took anything, at all, ever. Somewhere in the middle is the truth. And Kirk chooses not to verify that, because frankly he doesn't have to. I'm insanely curious about how the author of the soundtrack of my life died, but I have to make friends with the possibility that I might never know.

Kirk is protecting his friend by not biting that 'drug user' reference, or "opiate addiction" attempt at a soundbite. His laughter was balking at those questions. He wasn't nervous. Dude's performed with one of the most famous entertainers, and he's certainly given interviews. This one was no different, really, other than he's not really spoken to anyone in the last year. He just wasn't having the name-calling and the degrading comments by ol' girl.

And to the person who said he "didn't seem too devastated" or anything. People learn to cope, and maneuver in their new reality; their new truth that their friend is gone. Did folks expect him or whoever to show up, head hanging, and boo-hooing? People have to buck up and move forward with their life, their business, and keep going. I can only pretend to imagine what Kirk feels when he looks around Paisley Park, and his friend isn't there anymore.

If he ever writes a book, it's only the second from those around him that I'd wanna read, other than Mayte. He knew Prince longer than Mayte, and seeing as how the Revolution or whoever probably won't write one - Kirk would be next on my list. But - not holding my breath on that one.

nelcp777 said:

ksl1974 said:

I talked to Kirk back in October when we were at Paisley Park. We were shoulder to shoulder in the editing room. Talked to him for about 10 minutes or so. (we had went in the editing room once.....came out, and our tour guide let about 3 of us go back in and talk some more, and shut the door behind us ) He came off as friendly. Relaxed. Didn't seem too devestated or anything, but I chalk that up to it being 6 months after the fact. Talking to him didn't seem business like or anything. He was very laid back about the things I asked. And some things we talked about weren't even Prince related. It was just almost like talking to an old aquaintance. He made one comment to me that was a little......bothersome?.....but like the interview....talking to him there was some nervous laughter too....

May I ask what the comment was that was a little bothersome?

Yes, what comment was that?

His comment was about sleeping. "nice being able to get some sleep". I knew what he meant because of all the stories of Prince staying up all night sometimes. But it was still kind of a shocking statment. I looked at him like ...did you seriously just say that??....and then he kinda laughed and clairified "we used to have some long nights!!".

And as far as me saying he didn't seem devestated, I wasn't meaning that he wasn't sad. I was more or less responding to other posts I've seen where people where bashing him for being too "upbeat" in that CBS interview. So I was making the point, I was standing there talking to him 6 months after the fact and he seemed fine. But that's why I said.... 6 MONTHS AFTER THE FACT. Trying to drive the point home to people that time does change things,....

Who jokes like that? What's wrong with him?

ksl1974 said:

His comment was about sleeping. "nice being able to get some sleep". I knew what he meant because of all the stories of Prince staying up all night sometimes. But it was still kind of a shocking statment. I looked at him like ...did you seriously just say that??....and then he kinda laughed and clairified "we used to have some long nights!!".

And as far as me saying he didn't seem devestated, I wasn't meaning that he wasn't sad. I was more or less responding to other posts I've seen where people where bashing him for being too "upbeat" in that CBS interview. So I was making the point, I was standing there talking to him 6 months after the fact and he seemed fine. But that's why I said.... 6 MONTHS AFTER THE FACT. Trying to drive the point home to people that time does change things,....

"Next!!!!"

Nothing shocking about that Susan Rogers said she saw him work 3 days straight without sleep and she was with him the whole 3 days and saw him do nothing but drink coffee. He obviously had a sleep disorder that he ignored but because let's be honest being able to stay up he was able to get twice the amount of work done then other people in the industry. Knowing what we now about sleep disorders he was not going to be living long anyway. Everybody needs rest because it can put a serious strain on your body.

ksl1974 said:

His comment was about sleeping. "nice being able to get some sleep". I knew what he meant because of all the stories of Prince staying up all night sometimes. But it was still kind of a shocking statment. I looked at him like ...did you seriously just say that??....and then he kinda laughed and clairified "we used to have some long nights!!".

And as far as me saying he didn't seem devestated, I wasn't meaning that he wasn't sad. I was more or less responding to other posts I've seen where people where bashing him for being too "upbeat" in that CBS interview. So I was making the point, I was standing there talking to him 6 months after the fact and he seemed fine. But that's why I said.... 6 MONTHS AFTER THE FACT. Trying to drive the point home to people that time does change things,....