He's a fan who got close to Prince. He says he considered Prince a friend. He often had news about upcoming events, releases, etc., and it was probably safe to assume he got it straight from Prince, or someone just as close to Prince at Paisley Park.

He was the first I read about the 2014 WB deal for distributing AOA/PE, and a deluxe Purple Rain due that year. At times, he'd also have exclusive audio on his site from a rehearsal or soundcheck.

As far as anyone's Twitter feed in the next week, I'm staying away from it. Too much melodrama with fans. It's almost like they'd rather garner sympathy, than stay unselfish and focus on Prince's legacy. Someone on FB last night posted about how they fell to their knees in a store and cried (REALLY?) then somehow drove home, and their son got them into the house, then they were on the floor wailing and pitching a fit etc. And this was just during the plane incident. It was so over the top. I copied it and quoted it on my FB. Hardcore fans like me read it and were like "WTF? People are dying in Syria, and there's violence at Berkley, but you're huffin' and puffin' in a Walmart about Prince's plane landing?"

So, while everyone has a story to share, and it's their right to do so, I'm stayin' away from it. Especially folks like Funkenberry. Not because he's melodramatic. He's not. But he was close to Prince, and it's those feeds I don't care to read. That's when it becomes more personal. It's too heavy, for me. Others might find comfort in it, though, and that's cool. (Especially ol' girl who apparently went 5150 on aisle 17.)

PS Dr. Funkenberry on Instagram is cool. He posts some cool pics of Prince stuff sometimes. Scroll through his feed.

coldasice said:

Stan

probably

TrivialPursuit said:

He's a fan who got close to Prince. He says he considered Prince a friend. He often had news about upcoming events, releases, etc., and it was probably safe to assume he got it straight from Prince, or someone just as close to Prince at Paisley Park.

He was the first I read about the 2014 WB deal for distributing AOA/PE, and a deluxe Purple Rain due that year. At times, he'd also have exclusive audio on his site from a rehearsal or soundcheck.

As far as anyone's Twitter feed in the next week, I'm staying away from it. Too much melodrama with fans. It's almost like they'd rather garner sympathy, than stay unselfish and focus on Prince's legacy. Someone on FB last night posted about how they fell to their knees in a store and cried (REALLY?) then somehow drove home, and their son got them into the house, then they were on the floor wailing and pitching a fit etc. And this was just during the plane incident. It was so over the top. I copied it and quoted it on my FB. Hardcore fans like me read it and were like "WTF? People are dying in Syria, and there's violence at Berkley, but you're huffin' and puffin' in a Walmart about Prince's plane landing?"

So, while everyone has a story to share, and it's their right to do so, I'm stayin' away from it. Especially folks like Funkenberry. Not because he's melodramatic. He's not. But he was close to Prince, and it's those feeds I don't care to read. That's when it becomes more personal. It's too heavy, for me. Others might find comfort in it, though, and that's cool. (Especially ol' girl who apparently went 5150 on aisle 17.)

PS Dr. Funkenberry on Instagram is cool. He posts some cool pics of Prince stuff sometimes. Scroll through his feed.

lmao i'm sorry to even laugh at this but it's funny to me. i understand a person meaning a lot and influencing another but just reading a lot of this stuff whenever it pertains to a celebrity or musician and it's like...do some people need real help? it's scary and at times seems unhealthy.

but anyway, i was sad for a while. i do hate that he isn't here anymore but i believe he's in a much better place than here and i'll continue to celebrate him by listening to the music, watching the footage and learning instruments.

Well I hate to admit it but I cried, no dropping to my knees in public, and on more than one occassion; and I don't even consider myself a hard core fan. I am in a better place with it now, but I think I am going to also do a media blackout this week.

Ingela said:

Mostly a jerk. Tried listening to him interview Jerome Benton. Before he even gets to the interview he starts, he spends 10 full minutes being a douche. Click. The man has issues. We all do but stfu about it if you're doing a podcast that's not about you.

That was the first time I tuned into his podcast and good lord. Seemed really self important. Offering his services to the estate as a representative of the fans, please. I couldnt' get through it. Just seemed like a male Prince geek who would spend a conversation with another fan correcting your dates and acting like he knew Prince's true wants and desires intimately.

Purpleone4Eva said:

TrivialPursuit said:

rogifan said:

Oh man FB is nuts. I see fans doing live feeds talking about their emotional state as they're getting ready to fly to Minnesota for PP events. This week is going to be melancholy for me for sure but some of this stuff is just too over the top.

I agree. I know some folks see me as a harsh voice against the melodrama, but goddamn it - stop the melodrama. Life is what you make it. And if folks expect to be broken down, and wrought with emotion turmoil, then they will be.

I'm all for grieving and walking through the pain. I've certainly been on my own journey. Sometimes I'm like "This is it, these are the cards on the table, this is the hand I have to play". But there are those "WTF did you do man? Why did you do that to yourself???" times too. They don't last long, because even Prince didn't stay in the past, so why should any of us?

I could sit here and say "No one loved Prince more than I did", and I'd be right. So would every other person saying the same thing. We all feel this pain. But to purposely start burning black candles all week, spilling unnecessary tears on their CD collections, buying everything purple at Dollar Tree, and making a big bruhaha of it all is, as Iyanla Vanzant said, drama with a capital D.

For me, it's so fucking disrespectful to not only have this "Celebration" on the weekend of his death, but to fucking plan to be sad. "Oh, I know it's going to be hard!" No you don't. You make it hard. You can choose to be happy, to be joyful, and maneuver in gratitude. It's almost like everyone wants the attention to be on them for their grieving, instead on Prince's incredible legacy. Selfish.

To go on FB and do these stupid ass live videos, and say "I dread the day, I'm planning but not ready for it, OMG it's going to be so bad!" - STFU. It's too much. And the ol' girl falling down in a store, whimpering her way home from the store and being helped into the house then being in a ball on the floor (she also scared her kids, by her own admission), is just utter nonsense. THEN, even once she heard he was okay, she said "No he's not. It's not good." I'm like, are you wishing death on Prince? You're not a psychic, you're just a drama queen. It dishonors him and his legacy.

My mother died April 21, 2012. Every year, the day is sorta difficult of course. I'm not emotionless, but I've never just sat and purposely made myself sad over it. There's no celebration in mourning. There's no honor in suffering for the dead. The dead don't care.

TrivialPursuit said:

jcurley said:

Hi Searched n couldn't find answers. Read his very sad Twitter feed today...breaks your heart Oh God Prince...x

.

No wonder considering you couldn't even manage to get his name correct.

jcurley said:

Ha blimey. You seemed to need to get that out of your system!

Eh, there was nothing in my system. It's just me being verbose. I actually have no real investment in him one way or the other. I don't hate him, nor do I think he's the IT guy. But, he was close to Prince, so I'd trust his word over a random news article most times.

He noted the other day how Prince had him put out 411 on the concert/hang out gig right after the plane incident, at Paisley Park. He wrote a story about it on ...Instagram I think.

TrivialPursuit said:

rogifan said:

Oh man FB is nuts. I see fans doing live feeds talking about their emotional state as they're getting ready to fly to Minnesota for PP events. This week is going to be melancholy for me for sure but some of this stuff is just too over the top.

I agree. I know some folks see me as a harsh voice against the melodrama, but goddamn it - stop the melodrama. Life is what you make it. And if folks expect to be broken down, and wrought with emotion turmoil, then they will be.

I'm all for grieving and walking through the pain. I've certainly been on my own journey. Sometimes I'm like "This is it, these are the cards on the table, this is the hand I have to play". But there are those "WTF did you do man? Why did you do that to yourself???" times too. They don't last long, because even Prince didn't stay in the past, so why should any of us?

I could sit here and say "No one loved Prince more than I did", and I'd be right. So would every other person saying the same thing. We all feel this pain. But to purposely start burning black candles all week, spilling unnecessary tears on their CD collections, buying everything purple at Dollar Tree, and making a big bruhaha of it all is, as Iyanla Vanzant said, drama with a capital D.

For me, it's so fucking disrespectful to not only have this "Celebration" on the weekend of his death, but to fucking plan to be sad. "Oh, I know it's going to be hard!" No you don't. You make it hard. You can choose to be happy, to be joyful, and maneuver in gratitude. It's almost like everyone wants the attention to be on them for their grieving, instead on Prince's incredible legacy. Selfish.

To go on FB and do these stupid ass live videos, and say "I dread the day, I'm planning but not ready for it, OMG it's going to be so bad!" - STFU. It's too much. And the ol' girl falling down in a store, whimpering her way home from the store and being helped into the house then being in a ball on the floor (she also scared her kids, by her own admission), is just utter nonsense. THEN, even once she heard he was okay, she said "No he's not. It's not good." I'm like, are you wishing death on Prince? You're not a psychic, you're just a drama queen. It dishonors him and his legacy.

My mother died April 21, 2012. Every year, the day is sorta difficult of course. I'm not emotionless, but I've never just sat and purposely made myself sad over it. There's no celebration in mourning. There's no honor in suffering for the dead. The dead don't care.

BartVanHemelen said:

jcurley said:

Hi Searched n couldn't find answers. Read his very sad Twitter feed today...breaks your heart Oh God Prince...x

.

No wonder considering you couldn't even manage to get his name correct.

BVH is a pain the arse but bloody hell he does make me laugh at times!

ThisOne said:

The good Dr is female - well that's what I always thought

Dr. Funkenberry is a girl? Uh, LOL - no. Have you never checked his Instagram or site? He has posted selfies before.

But I mean let's face it, we're all women hanging around Prince.

TrivialPursuit said:

ThisOne said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Dr. Funkenberry is a girl? Uh, LOL - no. Have you never checked his Instagram or site? He has posted selfies before.

But I mean let's face it, we're all women hanging around Prince.

I don't have instragram ! I believed it was a woman because I could feel the love in many articles

You don't need Instagram to view it. http://www.instagram.com/drfunkenberry