Hi, guys,

It has been a long time since I posted here. I have fond memories of doing so, and I appreciated all of the support for my book in the face of criticism that was sometimes harsh and often misguided.

Let me start by telling you that Prince died on my birthday. Yes, I was born on April 21.

While my interest in Prince's recorded output continued to wane since the publication of my book, the recent tragedy has offered me an opportunity to view material old and new on YouTube. (Obviously, the efforts to expunge his work from the channel have ceased.) It is clear that his zest for performing and his musical ability remained as strong as ever. The man had passion. He lived with purpose. Simply put, he lived in the fullest sense.

Possessed was out of print a while ago, and copies are hard to find. It's extremely expensive on Amazon.

I'm trying to figure out how to do an electronic release. I plan to add new material, accomplish appropriate revisions, and probably re-title a book whose title obviously is ill-suited to this moment.

I'm not trying to "cash in" on a tragedy, and I can assure you that the compensation for writing Possessed, on a hourly basis, amounted to pennies. But if anything does come it financially, I will donate a considerable portion to a charity that would honor Prince. In any event, I am extremely proud of the book, and would like people to be able to read it.

My mother died two months ago extremely suddenly. She was also a writer. So my thoughts remain consumed with that loss far more than anything else.

Still, I share everyone’s sense of loss of this musician who so enriched our lives and made such a monumental contribution to the world.

I wish you all the best.

Alex

@alexhahnlaw on Twitter

People are passionate about Prince. I did not agree with you on some stuff but that is part of lerning... and growing...and living... I am glad you wrote it and i am glad i read it. (just wish i did not lead it to a girl friend...she kept it)

oh holy corn! I just looked at amazon and ebay and saw what they are going for! WOW!

Hi Alex, I think an update (and an expansion of the later years) would be lovely and worthwhile move. If you want some input, ideas, and filling in previous gaps, PM me. Happy to help out for nothing, but obviously have a lot of coverage to give, particularly in the later era.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and condolences with us on the org. I, for one, would be very interested in reading an updated version of your book...whether I agree with everything written or not.

AlexHahn said:

Hi, guys,

It has been a long time since I posted here. I have fond memories of doing so, and I appreciated all of the support for my book in the face of criticism that was sometimes harsh and often misguided.

Let me start by telling you that Prince died on my birthday. Yes, I was born on April 21.

While my interest in Prince's recorded output continued to wane since the publication of my book, the recent tragedy has offered me an opportunity to view material old and new on YouTube. (Obviously, the efforts to expunge his work from the channel have ceased.) It is clear that his zest for performing and his musical ability remained as strong as ever. The man had passion. He lived with purpose. Simply put, he lived in the fullest sense.

Possessed was out of print a while ago, and copies are hard to find. It's extremely expensive on Amazon.

I'm trying to figure out how to do an electronic release. I plan to add new material, accomplish appropriate revisions, and probably re-title a book whose title obviously is ill-suited to this moment.

I'm not trying to "cash in" on a tragedy, and I can assure you that the compensation for writing Possessed, on a hourly basis, amounted to pennies. But if anything does come it financially, I will donate a considerable portion to a charity that would honor Prince. In any event, I am extremely proud of the book, and would like people to be able to read it.

My mother died two months ago extremely suddenly. She was also a writer. So my thoughts remain consumed with that loss far more than anything else.

Still, I share everyone’s sense of loss of this musician who so enriched our lives and made such a monumental contribution to the world.

I wish you all the best.

Alex

@alexhahnlaw on Twitter

.

Hi Alex,

I was reading your book in a bookshop in 2007 shortly before Prince did his world-breaking 21 Nights run at the O2.

I am sure there are plenty of people here at prince.org who did actually enjoy your lascivious account of everything, plus the 2002 bit about painkillers.

It is a shame about Amazon though. When will people learn?

If it helps, the guy that used to run the bookshop now manages software for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, so the World has officially gone to hell in a hand cart.

Yours,

[Edited 5/5/16 18:31pm]

[Edited 5/5/16 18:35pm]

AlexHahn said:

I'm trying to figure out how to do an electronic release.

I missed it the first time around, so I'd love to see an electronic release.

Hi Alex

I bought your book last year before the prices rocketed. I read it then and am rereading it now. I appreciate your taking the time and trouble to write it, and would love to see a new edition with additional material.

If there is anything we can do to help, let us know.

P.S. You could do a Kindle release, a release on a platform like Lulu, or release it as a digital copy on your own website.

And I am very sorry for the loss of your mother. It must be difficult to think about writing about Prince when you have another nearer source of bereavement. My condolences.

[Edited 5/5/16 18:41pm]

[Edited 5/5/16 18:43pm]

OnlyNDaUsa said:

oh holy corn! I just looked at amazon and ebay and saw what they are going for! WOW!

I think I only paid $10 for my used copy.

Thanks for posting Alex

My condolences on the loss of your mother

SquirrelMeat said:

Hi Alex, I think an update (and an expansion of the later years) would be lovely and worthwhile move. If you want some input, ideas, and filling in previous gaps, PM me. Happy to help out for nothing, but obviously have a lot of coverage to give, particularly in the later era.

.

I agree on the updating. I enjoyed the book, despite the weird fan backlash. As with any biography, I'm sure there is always a ton of stuff never published. A revision and update would be a great thing for us fans.

Thank you again for all your past efforts and your work on "Possessed". I do hope you are able to update the book, and able somehow to allow for a printed version. It's hard to believe a publisher wouldn't want to cash in on the massive amount of press and interest in all things Prince in the near future.

McD said:

The book was a horrendously written, insightless, inaccurate mess. I actually showed a worker in Waterstones a few choice sentences before she apologised and refunded me. It's obvious we are going to see a whole host of new books, and updated old ones. But when the original was so woeful, the author admits no interest or knowledge of his subject subsequent to publishing, and now suddenly wants to update, retitle and cash in, I don't think we should be getting remotely excited. Sorry, but the book was awful. This is the dictionary definition of a shameless cash-in. Complete with telling us he has no new knowledge to even update with, and the bizarre defence of giving money to charity. Why do so if you weren't properly paid for your efforts the first time? And why broadcast it? Don't waste your money.

.

somebody has to be on a horse

Thanks for posting and the book is great. An update would be appreciated.

I agree. So tasteless as was back then.

McD said:

The book was a horrendously written, insightless, inaccurate mess. I actually showed a worker in Waterstones a few choice sentences before she apologised and refunded me. It's obvious we are going to see a whole host of new books, and updated old ones. But when the original was so woeful, the author admits no interest or knowledge of his subject subsequent to publishing, and now suddenly wants to update, retitle and cash in, I don't think we should be getting remotely excited. Sorry, but the book was awful. This is the dictionary definition of a shameless cash-in. Complete with telling us he has no new knowledge to even update with, and the bizarre defence of giving money to charity. Why do so if you weren't properly paid for your efforts the first time? And why broadcast it? Don't waste your money.

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

Not to mention, Hahn is the lawyer who fought against Prince in a past issue here and then decided to write the book The Rise and Fall of Prince. Talk about biased and conflicts of interests.

McD said:

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

.

somebody has to be on a horse

Why don't you say that to people complaining about The National Enquirer. Are you aware this book was sold on the back of tabloid style overdose coverage, which was already in print in a biography but not plastered all over the place like in Posessessed? [Edited 5/5/16 19:54pm]

Thanks for posting, Alex. Curiously enough, April 21st is my birthday, too. I really enjoyed "Possessed" and would enjoy your take on the run of albums (Musicology -> HitnRun) that were released after the book left off.

Iamtheorg said:

Not to mention, Hahn is the lawyer who fought against Prince in a past issue here

Yes, and that work remains much appreciated. Thanks for providing the opportunity for me to say that again.

I have the book in softcover. The information is extinsive and indepth covering what was known about Prince's life up to 2002 the One Nite Alone tour. The book is critical and sometimes gossipy, but not mean spirited.

I had no idea that the book is out of print now.

[Edited 5/5/16 20:50pm]

McD said:

AlgeriaTouchshreek said:

.

somebody has to be on a horse

Why don't you say that to people complaining about The National Enquirer. Are you aware this book was sold on the back of tabloid style overdose coverage, which was already in print in a biography but not plastered all over the place like in Posessessed? [Edited 5/5/16 19:54pm]

.

I'd be amazed if Alex Hahn achieved as much circulation as the National Enquirer, we only ordered it into the shop because it was one of the few Prince books that showed up on Nielsen!!!

.

PEACE

I have this book, bought it a long time ago, will probably read it again now.

djThunderfunk said:

An update would be appreciated.

yes it would!

Your book was one of the most insightful and informative I've ever read. I appreciated your objective points of view, and ability to analyze the man and his music. It gave me a greater appreciation of this enigmatic artist and I recommend it absolutely. Thank you for posting!

I've got "Possessed",

Why has this one gone so far up in price? Because it was a very limited print run?

i have an unread new copy. wow.