21/06/2026
Once in a century, the universe sends someone like Prince and then never again.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked the "Purple Rain" guitar solo as #1 on its list of the 100 greatest guitar solos of all time which was released on 4 May 2026.
On his 1978 debut album For You, Prince played all 27 instruments featured on the record. Throughout his career, he remained a master of the guitar, drums, piano, and bass.
In 1984, he achieved a rare feat: having the #1 album, #1 single, and #1 movie in the U.S. simultaneously. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the film.
He released 39 studio albums during his life, but that was just the surface. He famously had a massive climate-controlled "Vault" at Paisley Park containing thousands of unreleased songs, enough to release a new album every year for a century.
In 1993, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol (the "Love Symbol") as a protest against his record label, Warner Bros. He felt they were "marketing" his name like a brand, so he became "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
"He pioneered the "Minneapolis Sound," a hybrid of funk, rock, pop, synth-pop, and new wave that influenced the entire landscape of 80s music.
While known for his vocals and dancing, he was a top-tier guitarist. His solo during the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" remains one of the most celebrated moments in rock history. His 2007 Super Bowl XLI halftime show is widelyconsidered the greatest of all time, famously featuring him playing "Purple Rain" in the middle of a literal downpour.
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the very first year he was eligible. After his death, it was revealed that he had secretly donated millions to various charities, schools, and environmental causes without ever seeking public creditHe was one of the first major stars to advocate for artists owning their master recordings. His battle with Warner Bros. changed how future generations of artists negotiated their deals.
