Prince-trommeslager John Blackwell er død

Den tidligere Prince-trommeslager John Blackwell Jr. er død, kun 43 år gammel af en hjernesvulst, skriver hans enke Yaritza på hans Instagram-profil (se nedenfor).

Blackwell var trommeslager i Princes band New Power Generation fra 2000-2015 og spillede også med blandt andre Justin Timberlake på dennes "FutureSex/LoveSounds"-turné i 2006 samt med D'Angelo.

Blackwell gav tre Prince-hyldestkoncerter i juni 2016. Ved den lejlighed interviewede GAFFA ham og stillede ham blandt andet følgende spørgsmål:

Hvad har du lært af Prince?

– Alt. Alt! Han lærte mig om kontrol, om ikke at give musikken væk til pladeselskaberne, at respektere musikken and to stay real to real music, hvordan jeg skal motivere mig selv til at blive ved med at blive bedre. Jeg har gået på Berkley College of Music, men jeg har også gået på Prince College of Music.

Læs hele interviewet her.

 

My husband incredible drummer John Blackwell Jr. passed the way peacefully in my company today. Thanks God for his life and thanks everyone for their support. Yaritza

Et opslag delt af John Blackwell (@johnblackwelljr) den 4. Jul 2017 kl. 10:28 PDT

 

One year ago, my husband, incredible drummer John Blackwell Jr. was diagnosed with brain tumors while in Japan playing at the Blue Note Tokyo in a featuring with top bassist Nik West. This whole year has been very challenging not only for John, but for me also, that have to provide the care he needs, and with the help of God, you as donors, and his doctors, nurses and therapists he is still fighting hard to get better. Today, he faces another hospital change, now to a rehab facility, where he will receive Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies to continue his long recovery process. I want to give special thanks to my mother, that for three months has been next to me everyday taking care of me and John, his friends John Spinelli, Tim Conwell, Bruce Harris and Takuya Futaesaku -Takki- and everyone who has visited him including his family, my family and his drummers friends Gregg Bissonette, Dennis Chambers, Antonio Sánchez, Billy Cobham, Chad Smith, Natalie Depergola, Connor Fass, Eric from Tampa, and musician Joe Cosas, just to name a few. I pray God for John everyday, every hour... and thank you for your prayers, donations and for the good thoughts for John. Yaritza

Et opslag delt af John Blackwell (@johnblackwelljr) den 30. Jun 2017 kl. 3:28 PDT