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Prince death: Post-mortem examination under way | Prince death: Post-mortem examination under way |
(35 minutes later) | |
A post-mortem examination is under way in Minnesota after the sudden death of music superstar Prince at his home on Thursday, aged 57. | A post-mortem examination is under way in Minnesota after the sudden death of music superstar Prince at his home on Thursday, aged 57. |
Police found the legendary artist unresponsive inside a lift at the property, and paramedics were unable to revive him, the sheriff said. | Police found the legendary artist unresponsive inside a lift at the property, and paramedics were unable to revive him, the sheriff said. |
A wave of tributes has swept around the world for the enigmatic musician. | |
In London, US President Barack Obama said he had started the day with the Prince songs Purple Rain and Delirious. | |
They had been playing, he told a news conference, at the US ambassador's residence in Regent's Park, Winfield House. "I loved Prince because he put out great music," he said. "It's a remarkable loss." | |
Fans gathered across America to dance and sing along to hits by Prince, who sold more than 100m records. | |
Illuminated buildings from Las Vegas to Melbourne, Australia, turned purple - the colour with which he was associated. | |
Prince's innovative music spanned rock, funk and jazz. He was at his peak in the 1980s with albums like Dirty Mind, 1999 and Sign O' The Times. | Prince's innovative music spanned rock, funk and jazz. He was at his peak in the 1980s with albums like Dirty Mind, 1999 and Sign O' The Times. |
The singer had been rushed to hospital in Illinois last Friday, while flying home from a concert in Georgia, but was treated and released a few hours later. | The singer had been rushed to hospital in Illinois last Friday, while flying home from a concert in Georgia, but was treated and released a few hours later. |
Quoting unnamed sources, US entertainment news site TMZ reports that he was treated for an overdose of the painkiller drug Percocet on that occasion. | Quoting unnamed sources, US entertainment news site TMZ reports that he was treated for an overdose of the painkiller drug Percocet on that occasion. |
"We're told Prince was taking painkillers for a hip problem," the site says. "We're told he had corrective surgery for his hips around 2010." | "We're told Prince was taking painkillers for a hip problem," the site says. "We're told he had corrective surgery for his hips around 2010." |
'The people are just distraught' | 'The people are just distraught' |
The post-mortem examination began at 09:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Friday. Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Minnesota warned it could be some time before post-mortem findings were released. | The post-mortem examination began at 09:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Friday. Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Minnesota warned it could be some time before post-mortem findings were released. |
"Gathering the results will take several days and the results of a full toxicology scan could likely take weeks," a statement said. | "Gathering the results will take several days and the results of a full toxicology scan could likely take weeks," a statement said. |
A transcript of the emergency call to the sheriff's office which reported the death has been released to US media. | A transcript of the emergency call to the sheriff's office which reported the death has been released to US media. |
Phoning at 09:43 local time on Thursday, an unidentified male caller says, "We have someone who is unconscious." | Phoning at 09:43 local time on Thursday, an unidentified male caller says, "We have someone who is unconscious." |
Struggling when asked to name the address, the caller replies, "Um, we're at Prince's house." | Struggling when asked to name the address, the caller replies, "Um, we're at Prince's house." |
"Yeah, we have um, yeah, we have um, so, yeah, um, the person is dead here," the caller continues. He adds, "And the people are just distraught." | "Yeah, we have um, yeah, we have um, so, yeah, um, the person is dead here," the caller continues. He adds, "And the people are just distraught." |
An unidentified female caller later joins the conversation to give the number of the house. | An unidentified female caller later joins the conversation to give the number of the house. |
"You're at Paisley Park, OK, that's in Chanhassen," the police dispatcher checks. "Are you with the person who's..." | "You're at Paisley Park, OK, that's in Chanhassen," the police dispatcher checks. "Are you with the person who's..." |
The male caller interrupts to confirm, "Yes, it's Prince." | The male caller interrupts to confirm, "Yes, it's Prince." |
'Shockadelica' celebration | 'Shockadelica' celebration |
Among the many stars to post tributes was U2's Bono. "I never met Mozart, I never met Duke Ellington or Charlie Parker I never met Elvis But I met Prince," he tweeted, with a picture of the lyrics to Prince's song The Cross. | Among the many stars to post tributes was U2's Bono. "I never met Mozart, I never met Duke Ellington or Charlie Parker I never met Elvis But I met Prince," he tweeted, with a picture of the lyrics to Prince's song The Cross. |
Film director Spike Lee, a friend of Prince's, led an improvised party in Brooklyn, New York, calling fans to a celebration. | Film director Spike Lee, a friend of Prince's, led an improvised party in Brooklyn, New York, calling fans to a celebration. |
"5,000 Purple Prince Lovers Came Out To Show How We Feel About Da Man," the director wrote on Instagram. "We Shouted, Sang And Danced. It Was All Brooklyn LOVE For PRINCE..." | "5,000 Purple Prince Lovers Came Out To Show How We Feel About Da Man," the director wrote on Instagram. "We Shouted, Sang And Danced. It Was All Brooklyn LOVE For PRINCE..." |
In Prince's native Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins baseball team turned their stadium purple, as did the Lowry Avenue Bridge in the centre of the city. | In Prince's native Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins baseball team turned their stadium purple, as did the Lowry Avenue Bridge in the centre of the city. |
On Thursday evening, hundreds of people gathered for an all-night party at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis, where Prince recorded his 1984 hit Purple Rain. | On Thursday evening, hundreds of people gathered for an all-night party at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis, where Prince recorded his 1984 hit Purple Rain. |
One fan outside Prince's home told BBC News: "He was a legend of our city, he was probably the shining star here." | One fan outside Prince's home told BBC News: "He was a legend of our city, he was probably the shining star here." |
Born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958, he was a prolific writer and performer from a young age - reportedly writing his first song when he was seven. | Born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958, he was a prolific writer and performer from a young age - reportedly writing his first song when he was seven. |
He was also an arranger and multi-instrumentalist, and recorded more than 30 albums. Hits included Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. | He was also an arranger and multi-instrumentalist, and recorded more than 30 albums. Hits included Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. |
In 1984, he won an Oscar for the score to Purple Rain, a film in which he also starred. | In 1984, he won an Oscar for the score to Purple Rain, a film in which he also starred. |
Throughout his career he had a reputation for secrecy and eccentricity, once changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol. | Throughout his career he had a reputation for secrecy and eccentricity, once changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol. |
He had a mercurial relationship with technology. In 2000, he released singles via the pioneering music-sharing service Napster, but he later declared the internet "completely over" and refused to allow his music on major streaming platforms. | He had a mercurial relationship with technology. In 2000, he released singles via the pioneering music-sharing service Napster, but he later declared the internet "completely over" and refused to allow his music on major streaming platforms. |
Prince's latest album, HITnRUN Phase Two, was released last year and he had been touring as recently as last week. | Prince's latest album, HITnRUN Phase Two, was released last year and he had been touring as recently as last week. |
Share your tributes to Prince. Did you meet him? Did you see him live? Email your comments: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Share your tributes to Prince. Did you meet him? Did you see him live? Email your comments: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |