Cause of death
Prince Roger Nelson was found dead in the elevator of his Paisley Park apartment and studio complex in Minnesota on April 21, 2016. He was 57 years old. Shortly before, Prince had been hospitalized with the flu. The singer felt so unwell after a concert in Atlanta that his private jet had to make an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, to receive medical treatment. He had been struggling with severe flu symptoms for several days.
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A day after he was released from the hospital, Prince took the stage at a party near his estate and reportedly said, “Please wait a few more days before wasting your prayers,” in a nod to his health.
Then, on the morning of April 21, 2016, emergency responders were called to the pop star’s property. A short time later, a press spokeswoman confirmed Prince’s death. His death certificate states that the cause was an “accident with injuries”. In addition, a spokesman for the local corrections department confirmed that Prince died of an opioid overdose.
Although Prince was considered a musician with no drug experience, according to his drummer and former partner Sheila E., he had had to resort to painkillers for at least the past 30 years. He suffered from hip pain caused by wearing high heels.
What is Fentanyl?
The name of the painkiller that caused Prince’s overdose death is fentanyl. It is a synthetic narcotic with a morphine-like effect. It is used in cancer patients with severe pain, despite its high potential to be addictive. In Germany, fentanyl is subject to the Narcotics Act.
Deaths from fentanyl, which is referred to as “heroin’s deadlier cousin,” continue to occur in the United States. The rapper Mac Miller, for example, died from a cocktail of cocaine, alcohol and fentanyl. It was developed as a painkiller but quickly found its way into the drug trade. Possession of the drug without a prescription is illegal. The epidemic has been spreading for years, both in the USA as well as in Germany and other countries. The biggest risk when taking it is acute shortness of breath.
Inheritance disputes
Prince did not write a will. Business interests quickly mixed in with the regret for the star. Prince left behind countless recordings on tapes, cassettes and in digital form. The majority of it was stored in the “Vault”, a strong room in Paisley Park. Already in the first weeks after Prince’s death there was a dispute over his inheritance.
Many believed they could have a say in the exploitation of the huge back catalog and everything unreleased. Close relatives include his sister Tyka Nelson and five half-siblings. But alleged illegitimate children have also spoken out so far. Plus, of course, the record companies for whom Prince recorded 39 studio albums.
Today, the Prince Estate, the estate administration of Comerica Bank and Trust, oversees the artist’s assets. The bank is in contact with relatives and with the labels on which Prince released his music. There was often disagreement between the three parties.