Here's the transcript of Matt Fink's interview with CNN on April 22.
BALDWIN: As fans celebrate the life of Prince, it is no surprise the top 11 songs on iTunes right now are all of his, "Purple Rain," "Little Red Corvette, "When Doves Cry," "Kiss," and "Let's Go Crazy," all on the list.
Prince's impact on culture and music goes far beyond the songs. His style, his funk. He conducted his business, this is all part of legacy for fans and musicians around the world.
Joining me, by phone, Matt Fink. You know him as Dr. Fink. He was a member of Prince's band, the Revolution, for 12 years, way back in the early '80s.
So awesome to have you join us, sir.
And Kamau Bell, CNN host of "United Shades of America" and Prince fan.
Nice to see you as well.
Matt Fink, Dr. Fink, my condolences to you. I cannot imagine how you feel.
I know you have a band, Purple Experience, and you're in touring, in Chicago tonight. Your late friend, but can you take me back and tell me a story from the early '80s backstage? Tell me an anecdote.
MATT FINK, FORMER BAND MEMBER, PRINCE'S REVOLUTION & CURRENT BAND MEMBER, PURPLE EXPERIENCE (voice-over): Well, Prince was quite the practical joker at times. And he wanted the band to play a joke on one of the local music critics because they were going to come back and interview Prince backstage before a show. And I believe this was -- have been either the controversy tour or even an earlier one, maybe "Dirty Mind." I can't remember. But he asked all of us to suddenly get into a major fight amongst ourselves in the background while he's doing the interview in the dressing room, start yelling at one -- at each other and throwing furniture around in order to disrupt the interview and --
BALDWIN: Did you?
FINK: Oh yeah. Oh yes, we did. It was all in good fun.
BALDWIN: Oh, my gosh. That's what I'm hearing so much of his sense of humor.
"Purple Rain." You were in the Academy Award-winning film. What the heck was that like working on that? And what do you make of today, just the impact in 2016 of this man and his work?
FINK: Well, for all of us growing up in Minneapolis to be in a film was most exciting thing that could possibly happen. We didn't grow up in Hollywood or New York. And to be from part of that and involved in such a big project, it was extremely exciting and a great learning experience. And, you know, what more can you say? It's a dream come true when those kinds of things happen for young Midwestern boys, you know?
BALDWIN: He stayed there and the - estate is there. I speak volumes of Prince, the man, and the Minnesotan.
Kamau, to you, I've listened to you talking about him and what strikes me is how, you know, his business acumen and fight the good fight and control of his stuff and fighting music labels. You agree with that, yeah?
W. KAMAU BELL, CNN HOST, UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA: Yeah. I think first of all his music is incredible.
BALDWIN: Incredible.
BELL: We know everything about everybody now and he had a sense of mystery around him and he fought for artists. We wanted to control his own art and that sort of teaches all artists not that you make the art but you can control it afterwards and that's a real lesson. Like you put up the stop 10, 11 songs on iTunes, you have to pay for them. We can't go to Spotify and listen to Prince. We have to pay for him. He taught us the art, and we should have to pay for it if we want to experience it.
BALDWIN: Uh-huh.
Dr. Fink, back to you, when you step on that stage tonight in Chicago and you play part of this catalog, how are you -- how will you feel?
FINK: Well -- excuse me. Just the thought of that brings tears to my eyes. So it's really hard. But we're going to do the best we can to console everybody and entertain them as best we can tonight in light of when's happened. That's all I can say. You know? We're all in shock and in disbelief. Very difficult.
BALDWIN: I cannot imagine for you just as a fan but just
for you being with him and knowing him as well as you.
Good luck tonight. And we'll be thinking about you. And thank you for calling in
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