jpav said:

I saw him in Toronto exactly 4 weeks before his death. He looked healthy and happy. He looks a little tired in some of these photo's, but that seems pretty normal. We all have days when we look more tired than others.

Empress said:

TurnItUp said:

SeventeenDayze said:

What does it mean to "know" someone though? I have had HORRIBLE experiences at the hands of "family" and if I never see them again I wouldn't be surprised and would actually be relieved.

Please don't assume that everyone has or comes from a loving family. That's just not reality for a lot of people. Don't you see how those leeches are all fighting now about Prince's estate?

All that glitters ain't gold

But how sad is that that you're not close to family. I see the leeches that you're talking about and it's sad. You need family. I mean a close family. It's terrible to be by yourself. You say I'd rather be alone, but really you don't want to be.

That's a huge assumption on your part - that someone says they'd rather be alone but really they don't want to be. I prefer to be alone. I enjoy who I am and enjoy my life. I, too, have little to no family contact (by my choice). I feel comfortable with myself, with my thoughts, with where I am in life. Why would you assume that anyone that prefers to be alone doesn't really want to be?

CalhounSq said:

Empress said:

I saw him in Toronto exactly 4 weeks before his death. He looked healthy and happy. He looks a little tired in some of these photo's, but that seems pretty normal. We all have days when we look more tired than others.

It's interesting that the people swearing he looked ill said none of this in tour reviews, etc. I think it's hindsight, but I'm clearly in the minority.

I thought his color looked off at the last show in Atlanta, had started to put that in my blog, but changed my mind, because I realized it could have just been the lighting. He looked grey, but the lights were not doing him any favors at that time. I did comment, however, that Prince had come full circle, that it is all a cycle, and Prince seemed to be feeling this cycle, that the pictures of the incarnations of Prince through the years reminded me of cycles and the changes we all go through as we mature, but we always come back home.

Happy 4th everyone. Was reading in this thread where someone mentioned his wearing gloves inside...Looking at the photos, he has low to no body fat. Body fat helps to keep one warm. Noticed he wore a cap inside as well and I doubt it was for bad hair days...More likely, he was cold. I mention the next with dread since all the speculation has gotten to me and keeps me thinking and GUESSING...and there are no answers or facts coming...maybe later but not likely while the investigation is ongoing since I read wear records were sealed. There is a young woman in my office who has Stage 4 cancer that has metastized and is receiving chemo......she has all her hair, but a very gaunt appearance and she'can't touch anything cold with her hands...it's extremely painful. She doesnt wear gloves. She just doesnt do cold. I could go on but I have to quit playing Inspector here since I am not part of the investigation team. It is good to be able to comment and express thoughts though since my friends are like....really? you still thinking about that...he's been gone for almost 3 months now. You obsessed or what? Thanks.

Lilly1234 said:

rightbluecheek said:

Hi everyone. I wish to share with you the perspective of someone like me who at a certain point distanced herself from the Prince persona and music. I did that because I was not getting good vibes anymore from this guy. I remember the last time I saw him live in Barcelona in 93...I just did not get him or his music anymore. I always knew there was something very special about this guy, but it wasn't for me anymore. A month before his passing, something made me reach out for him again. I remember watching the Arsenio interview and thinking...this guy has finally become an adult. The look in his eyes was completely different. Gone was the attitude and the arrogance. He seemed to be finally at peace with himself. It seemed to me that he had struggled all his life to keep his persona alive, somehow destroying the person. I saw a grown up man, aware of his age, and cool with it. It really made me wish to go see him live again, and I started to look for the dates of his Piano and Microphone tour. I was ready to make peace with him. Of course I will not have that opportunity, but it really does not matter because, I really am glad I finally saw the man I imagined he could be, and I made peace with him just the same. Maybe like someone said here, he was sad. I prefer to think he was just finally aware.

Thank you for sharing. I experienced something very similar.( I think it had something to do with having kids and raising them during that time frame.) But I always recognized the genius. He evolved over the years and though there were still stories of his attitude at times, he seemed to reflect often about his impact on the world. Fascinating man.

Thank you for your answer. I guess that just as for everyone, it takes a lifetime to be fully aware of who you really are, and is definitely even more difficult for a celebrity who did not have a stable background as a child. Like I said, I saw an adult who was fully aware of what being a celebrity means, and just wanted to show his real self. I really liked that. He was a fascinating man, indeed.

P.S The man deserved a break and to slow down...Was on prince vault looking for info on songs relating to which album...i looked at his tour schedule over the years. He was a very busy man and it shows the progression of slowing down except for instance whenthe terrorist attack in France prevented the tours.

rightbluecheek said:

Hi everyone. I wish to share with you the perspective of someone like me who at a certain point distanced herself from the Prince persona and music. I did that because I was not getting good vibes anymore from this guy. I remember the last time I saw him live in Barcelona in 93...I just did not get him or his music anymore. I always knew there was something very special about this guy, but it wasn't for me anymore. A month before his passing, something made me reach out for him again. I remember watching the Arsenio interview and thinking...this guy has finally become an adult. The look in his eyes was completely different. Gone was the attitude and the arrogance. He seemed to be finally at peace with himself. It seemed to me that he had struggled all his life to keep his persona alive, somehow destroying the person. I saw a grown up man, aware of his age, and cool with it. It really made me wish to go see him live again, and I started to look for the dates of his Piano and Microphone tour. I was ready to make peace with him. Of course I will not have that opportunity, but it really does not matter because, I really am glad I finally saw the man I imagined he could be, and I made peace with him just the same. Maybe like someone said here, he was sad. I prefer to think he was just finally aware.

i lost touch with him for a few years but i feel like the return to natural hair symbolized his full self-realization and i was just so thankful to see him evolve so much. i've liked how he's always followed a unique path but his recent natural realness was very addictive.

Agree that he looks very gaunt. If anything, the afro offsets how thin his face got.

CalhounSq said:

rogifan said:

CalhounSq said:

It's interesting that the people swearing he looked ill said none of this in tour reviews, etc. I think it's hindsight, but I'm clearly in the minority.

People that saw him at Dakota Jazz Club just a couple nights before he died said he looked/sounded fine too. I think like you said its hindsight.

CalhounSq said:

benni said:

CalhounSq said:

Empress said: It's interesting that the people swearing he looked ill said none of this in tour reviews, etc. I think it's hindsight, but I'm clearly in the minority.

I thought his color looked off at the last show in Atlanta, had started to put that in my blog, but changed my mind, because I realized it could have just been the lighting. He looked grey, but the lights were not doing him any favors at that time. I did comment, however, that Prince had come full circle, that it is all a cycle, and Prince seemed to be feeling this cycle, that the pictures of the incarnations of Prince through the years reminded me of cycles and the changes we all go through as we mature, but we always come back home.

.

It wasn't any surprise because he was getting over the flu. Remember he canceled the first show for being sick and wasn't back to 100%. Or maybe it was opiate withdrawl, but either way, he wasn't at his top health and that was known on the day of the shows.

FunkiestOne said:

Astasheiks said:

In the 1st photo, Do you see a odd shape above his head formed by the smoke???

I have the same photo in Entertaiment magazine and you can see that figure in the magazine.

That's called Pareidolia

CalhounSq said:

Empress said:

I saw him in Toronto exactly 4 weeks before his death. He looked healthy and happy. He looks a little tired in some of these photo's, but that seems pretty normal. We all have days when we look more tired than others.

It's interesting that the people swearing he looked ill said none of this in tour reviews, etc. I think it's hindsight, but I'm clearly in the minority.

Have to agree with you. I just don't see all of what some are seeing. The only pic that looks off is the one in front of the little avatars of his hairstyle changes. His eyes look tired. But hell, I look like that when I haven't had enough sleep too.

StopIt said:

His skin had been the color of death for months.

He'd been dead in the eyes b/c he knew he was terminal.

Its so obvious, but carry on then folks.

Did all these physical changes people are noticing begin, before or after February?

PurpleMusic07 said:

geetee71 said:

Was this pic taken in Atlanta?

.

Bohemian67 mentioned that the second ATL show was the first P&M show where he showed photo backdrops throughout his career - the redfoxbandit pictures - which this has.

.

He definitely looks rather frail and sick to me here, and I don't think it's retro-projecting.

.

.

FULL SIZE IMAGE: http://i.imgur.com/Xh4qrSg.jpg

It's really neither here or there at this point, but me he looks like a 57 year old man that has been battling the flu. Honestly should look much worse. Yah hrs pretty damn thin. But he's been crazy thin in the past, so it's not that startling from that perspective.

i think one of the reasons his face looks different and a somewhat sickly is, he has on a light brown smudgey eye liner on both his upper and lower lid, instead of the crisp black that we have seen for most of his carreer. it makes his eyes and entire face look different than what we are used to seeing to me

Tresha68 said:

StopIt said:

His skin had been the color of death for months.

He'd been dead in the eyes b/c he knew he was terminal.

Its so obvious, but carry on then folks.

I agree with StopIt.

Ifsixwuz9 said:

CalhounSq said:

Empress said: It's interesting that the people swearing he looked ill said none of this in tour reviews, etc. I think it's hindsight, but I'm clearly in the minority.

Have to agree with you. I just don't see all of what some are seeing. The only pic that looks off is the one in front of the little avatars of his hairstyle changes. His eyes look tired. But hell, I look like that when I haven't had enough sleep too.

Yea... the ONE time he doesn't pose it UP for the camera, & "he looks ill!" I just don't see it, never would have thought...

He looked tired to me, but still so beautiful.. His eyes looked like the sparkle was faded here, theres a sadness, yet peaceful laid back look to him..and age if you havent seen someone in a long time can shock you... his thin frame and gaunt face is also due to age..being vegan and as we know now poor health.