http://blog.thecurrent.or...a-tourist/

Excerpts:

What I couldn’t possibly have predicted was that we would be confronted with not just the idea of Prince or evidence of his day-to-day behavior at Paisley Park, but with the remains of the late Prince Rogers Nelson himself, cocooned in a tiny purple coffin inside a miniature model of Paisley Park, which was itself encased in a glass box in the very center of a sunlit, two-story high atrium where the tour guide said he often went to collect his thoughts because he found it peaceful. No one knew how to react to the information that was being delivered. A woman pressed her face onto the glass, leaving a cloud of fog. A man tried to crack a joke that fell flat. The staff told us to pay our respects, and let us know that Prince would want us to be joyful. We all went on to the next room.

Of all the experiences I had during my two-hour VIP tour, one in particular sticks out. As I was standing in the cavernous sound stage room where I had seen so many magical shows, checking out the purple Yamaha piano that was custom-made for his Piano and A Microphone Tour and its plush purple velvet seat, a video came up on a giant screen on the back wall where the stage once stood. It was his Piano and A Microphone show here at Paisley Park, and the moment that Prince emerged and sat down at his piano. It was gutting to see him again, standing in that place where I last saw him and hearing something that will never happen again. My eyes stung and my heart leapt. Just as I turned to my companions to say “That’s the last time I saw —” the video feed cut out, leaving us standing in silence and staring at a giant image of a desktop computer screen.

There’s a metaphor to be had there, I suppose, though I’m not sure what it is yet. Paisley Park, the museum, is still very much a work in progress, and Prince’s spirit is there, in fleeting moments. But that’s always how it’s been out there in Chanhassen, isn’t it? The more we want to grab onto him, love him, keep him with us, the more elusive he becomes. To watch so many staff scrambling around, doing their darndest to try to live up to the unspeakably large legacy that’s looming overhead — well, I can’t think of a more fitting homage to a man who will forever rest in his beloved Paisley Park.

PurpleBabied said:

http://blog.thecurrent.or...a-tourist/

Excerpts:

What I couldn’t possibly have predicted was that we would be confronted with not just the idea of Prince or evidence of his day-to-day behavior at Paisley Park, but with the remains of the late Prince Rogers Nelson himself, cocooned in a tiny purple coffin inside a miniature model of Paisley Park, which was itself encased in a glass box in the very center of a sunlit, two-story high atrium where the tour guide said he often went to collect his thoughts because he found it peaceful. No one knew how to react to the information that was being delivered. A woman pressed her face onto the glass, leaving a cloud of fog. A man tried to crack a joke that fell flat. The staff told us to pay our respects, and let us know that Prince would want us to be joyful. We all went on to the next room.

Of all the experiences I had during my two-hour VIP tour, one in particular sticks out. As I was standing in the cavernous sound stage room where I had seen so many magical shows, checking out the purple Yamaha piano that was custom-made for his Piano and A Microphone Tour and its plush purple velvet seat, a video came up on a giant screen on the back wall where the stage once stood. It was his Piano and A Microphone show here at Paisley Park, and the moment that Prince emerged and sat down at his piano. It was gutting to see him again, standing in that place where I last saw him and hearing something that will never happen again. My eyes stung and my heart leapt. Just as I turned to my companions to say “That’s the last time I saw —” the video feed cut out, leaving us standing in silence and staring at a giant image of a desktop computer screen.

There’s a metaphor to be had there, I suppose, though I’m not sure what it is yet. Paisley Park, the museum, is still very much a work in progress, and Prince’s spirit is there, in fleeting moments. But that’s always how it’s been out there in Chanhassen, isn’t it? The more we want to grab onto him, love him, keep him with us, the more elusive he becomes. To watch so many staff scrambling around, doing their darndest to try to live up to the unspeakably large legacy that’s looming overhead — well, I can’t think of a more fitting homage to a man who will forever rest in his beloved Paisley Park.

PurpleBabied said:

http://blog.thecurrent.or...a-tourist/

Excerpts:

What I couldn’t possibly have predicted was that we would be confronted with not just the idea of Prince or evidence of his day-to-day behavior at Paisley Park, but with the remains of the late Prince Rogers Nelson himself, cocooned in a tiny purple coffin inside a miniature model of Paisley Park, which was itself encased in a glass box in the very center of a sunlit, two-story high atrium where the tour guide said he often went to collect his thoughts because he found it peaceful.

can't think of a more fitting homage to a man who will forever rest in his beloved Paisley Park.

Also, from the same blog

http://blog.thecurrent.org/2016/10/inside-paisley-park-what-do-visitors-see/

and couldn't agree more with the bolded:

"Paisley Park’s current proprietors have some significant issues to resolve, but there will be time for that — all the time in the world. Whether you love or hate what’s been done with Paisley, there’s no escaping the fact that it’s a place like no other. The most important thing that remains to be done is to return performances and recording sessions to the building, so it can again be alive with music. Guides and galleries aside, making Paisley Park a place for new music again will truly be the most important tribute to the incomparable Prince."

A former Producer video/editor during the "gold experience" commented on this article.

[Edited 10/7/16 0:05am]

luv4u said:

rogifan said:

luv4u said:

I read on FB that his remains weren't actually in that replica urn. Can anyone confirm?

http://www.citypages.com/.../396185571

purplethunder3121 said:

PurpleBabied said:

http://blog.thecurrent.or...a-tourist/

Excerpts:

luv4u said:

rogifan said:

luv4u said:

Oh wow. Welp, I guess I'd rather have them there than 6 feet under or on some family members mantle. He loved PP and his spirit will live on there forever. But I can see it being highly emotional, especially when you're not expecting it.

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

ecnirp98 said:

rogifan said:

luv4u said: Oh wow. Welp, I guess I'd rather have them there than 6 feet under or on some family members mantle. He loved PP and his spirit will live on there forever. But I can see it being highly emotional, especially when you're not expecting it.

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

ecnirp98 said:

ecnirp98 said:

Perhaps P designated that's where he wanted to be before he passed. The current placement would keep it forefront in every one's mind that this is still P's home and to keep it respectful since there are those fans that think they are "special". Already reported that some phone pics were done altho signs posted not to. It is also a way for one to pay their respect should they wish to do so. People were'nt happy not knowing where he was after he died, now complaining about where he is. It never stops. Eventually, we all will need to accept the fact that Prince is gone (as we all will be) but he lives on in PP.

[Edited 10/7/16 5:04am]

sfinky1 said:

I thought from the start his ashes should be laid at PP somewhere, it is his spiritual home, nowhere else would make sense I'm confused though. The article mentioned photos were taken - I thought there was strictly no cameras or photos allowed??

yes I read that if anyone takes pictures they will be banned from pp

^ Photos were taken by the tour guide (VIP Tour only). Either on an in-house ipad or or on peoples own mobile phones.

Shane said:

I was a former Producer video/editor during his now infamous TAFKAP "gold experience" , myself returning from LA back to Minneapolis . We shouldn't forget that Paisley Park was envisioned as a major proffesional recording studio as well as film & rehearsal space. As any alumni recording engineer that survived his manic work schedules can attest , the various rooms with wood or stone reflects the timbre of instruments (with skillful microphone placement) which gave an amazing one-of-a-kind sound no one else could even imagine. Listen to a stripped acoustic guitar 12 "version of 7, that I used to blast in my own office at the top of the stairs over looking the atrium. Prince wanted the best in every way, Susan Rogers (no relation) would be summoned from LA because of her abilities recording a" big drum sound" from Michael Bland. When the -gold experience finally dropped & went gold. Then suddenly the boss wanted to film, I coordinated and we accomplished it all on his sound stage. The sound stage sports a curved photo wall - actually the largest in the upper Midwest.
I always said you could shoot two car commercials next to each other with track full light kits and camera cranes with out bumping into or bothering each other. He would set up the full touring version of his shows the actual speakers w custom mixing board to tour. As well with special risers and moving floor belt he could stand on. Then there were the late night parties and spontaneous comedy acts. Yes Dave Chappell came we filmed his entire routine (4 full 35mm Panasonic cam packs track & crane) so much in fact I told the boss we needed to stop or no film left for him. Anybody that knew him or worked there was aware of the excitement of creating or being a part of his vision. It's so unfair that this amazing facility now sits idle-merely a backdrop for his many awards and guitars that will never be tuned and played again.
It's my hope that in the future Paisley can slowly return to some vitality as a working production studio filled with musicians and artists. That would make those doves outside my office door cry again.
Shane Perry

- One of the comments left on the article.

http://blog.thecurrent.org/2016/10/inside-paisley-park-what-do-visitors-see/

ecnirp98 said:

rogifan said:

luv4u said: Oh wow. Welp, I guess I'd rather have them there than 6 feet under or on some family members mantle. He loved PP and his spirit will live on there forever. But I can see it being highly emotional, especially when you're not expecting it.

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

This.

Do his family not know how private he was. Surely he would not have wanted this. So wrong

dodger said:

ecnirp98 said:

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

This.

Do his family not know how private he was. Surely he would not have wanted this. So wrong

i have to agree. thought about it overnight and although i believe Prince's ashes should be at PP, imo it's a bad idea to "display" his remains as part of the tour. this is just my opinion

I'm glad that Prince is where he would go to gather his thoughts and that he's at home in the heaven he built for himself on earth.

Its hard to process HIM, like that...ashes. But it is a way to gain the closure pay our respects and We will all leave ashes behind - we are lucky for everything Prince built to be enjoyed forevermore.

It feels too soon but I think sooner is better than later and its best not to let PP become a stale stagnant empty place.

jdcxc said:

NinaB said:

I wish they hadn't done that On display like that.

There are ways to lay Prince to rest at PP without making him a museum artifact in a display case.

That comment just broke my heart. But isn't that the way it is--a wake is nothing up placing a dead body on display...But at least that is done only once. they need a special room for his remains that is quiet and respectful--not the atrium. Tacky.

purplethunder3121 said:

NinaB said:

I wish they hadn't done that On display like that.

There are ways to lay Prince to rest at PP without making him a museum artifact in a display case.

purplethunder3121 said:

ecnirp98 said:

rogifan said:

luv4u said: Oh wow. Welp, I guess I'd rather have them there than 6 feet under or on some family members mantle. He loved PP and his spirit will live on there forever. But I can see it being highly emotional, especially when you're not expecting it.

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

Where his ashes are located, gives visitors a chance/opportunity to pay their respects.

luv4u said:

ecnirp98 said:

I can't say I am comfortable to have his remains as part of a tour, I am all for people seeing where/how he worked, sharing the music and experience, but something feels undignified about his ashes being available for everyone to view.

I understand PP is probably the most fitting place for his ashes, it's where he spent most of his time and lived the last few years, but I don't think they have be 'mounted' for people to gawp at, they could have just said his ashes are at PP, and leave it there, but too make it part of the tour does not feel right to me.

Where his ashes are located, gives visitors a chance/opportunity to pay their respects.

To be fair, I have not been on the tour, I am just going from the description posted, it's just my impression that it does not feel right for me, I wouldn't call myself overly sensitive, so for me to think that it must have hit a nerve !!!

We all know how private Prince was, so it just does not feel right to me, they also said that Prince would goto the Atrium alone to gather his thoughts and chill, so put his ashes there in peace in a private area, I agree he should be at PP, just putting it on the tour feels wrong. They could have put a place there, like a shrine for people to pay respects without having the ashes there on view.

I've read most all the comments regarding his remains being on display and personally i think they are exactly where they should be....at PP. I for one think its nice that they are allowing the public to see them and really like the minature PP. I know P was incredibly private but he was already working on turning PP into a museum and I think he would be ok with his ashes being on display in this manner