I hope there are more metal fans like myself mourning the death of Prince today. His guitar playing and attitude were more metal in the 80's than most of the Glam Bands that were his contemporaries at the time.
While most of us laugh at "The Name Change" it was done as a form of protest in the battle over artists rights to their own music. It sure as hell wasn't as shortsighted as Lars Ulrich was in his one man mission to bring down Napster.
He was to the 80's what David Bowie was in the 70's and Little Richard in the 50's. He flew his freak flag proudly. Did he play Basketball in one of his famous Purple Suit's? Yes. DId he write a song that wound up on the infamous "Filthy 15" list from the PMRC? Yup.
It's hard when it's 57 and you know he was clean and sober. A devout Jehovah's Witness for the later part of his life he never let his religious views get in the way of his art. However, today is a day for mourning AND celebration.
I'll be sad at the loss of a talented person but his legacy will live on through what he created and the lives his music and personality touched