April 21, 2026 marked 10 years since Prince’s untimely passing. We have asked you your most unforgettable Prince memory. Was it a concert that took your breath away? A Prince song/album that came into your life at just the right time? A performance so extraordinary it still resonates today? See also our previous 5 Years Without Prince article.
We have compiled a few stand-out responses from our Facebook & Instagram posts below.
Contributions
The last time he and I sat down and spoke for over an hour at the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The night he played the infamous guitar solo. We hadn’t seen each other of quite a few years. We talked about how we missed each other, about all the things we did together and how much we loved each other other.
Performing with him during the 4th october 2002 gig at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. I sang “Shake” with the Master playing the piano, and all his incredible musicians behind me. It was a kid’s dream come true. I grew up with his music. Prince was my University, Over the years I travelled Europe to follow his tours, I discovered new places, new people, new music. I lived the emotions of shows, aftershows, and some soundcheck too. Those were the days. so many precious memories. But that moment on stage with him, holding a mic in one hand and his lyrics book on the other, well, I’ll never ever forget. Thank you Prince.
At Hammersmith Apollo when he said he wanted a peach to come and dance with him. Along with 2 other girls, he picked me out and held my hand as I came up on stage. When I got to stand next to him he realised how tall I was, at which point he twirled me by hand, let go and gently pushed me towards the back of the stage for perspective! “Turn the house lights on!” He said and told us to dance. Then I realised I was there in front of thousands of people thinking what have I done! :)
The Australia 2003 tour! I just moved to Australia the year before from the Netherlands. After frantically mobilising ten people with cellphones to repeatedly phone a special early bird phone number we got as members of the online NPG music club, I managed to get an ON Stage ticket… this included: access to the soundcheck, meet and greet in P’s dressing room and sitting on stage during the whole concert. Literally in between the band members. A dream come true! We sat with twenty people backstage chatting with P and the band for an hour. And during the concert, he picked me (moi) to dance for him in the middle of the stage during his guitar solo of ‘You Got the Look’. I was wearing a black and white polka dot top with wide sleeves. I attended three shows in the three places he visited down under, finished with the aftershow in Brisbane. The aftershow finished at 4:30 am, my flight back to Sydney was at 7 am. The staff member who checked me in recognised me: hey, you were also at the concert last night. Apparently, I had been on the big screen a lot. And I was still wearing the pokka dots. And… She upgraded me to business class. :)
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club 2014. Hit N Run. I lined up for 14 hours. Was worth every minute! As the doors opened, chaos began! I held up my money and I was pulled to the front. Got in and placed myself right of stage, in front of a piano. Prince walked out to cheers… and sat right in front of me at the piano. It’s like I had my own private performance! He stayed there for the majority of the show. I couldn’t believe it! During Do Me Baby, I sang “STARING EACH OTHER DOWN” a bit too loud… Prince stopped playing, looked right at me and put his finger to his lips before carrying on. All I could say was “sorry, Prince”! A surreal moment for me. As was hearing a small extract of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World. I never thought I would hear him sing that song in my lifetime. A very special night.
First gig parade at Wembley Arena. Being part of the UK Controversy Club… sending my ticket slip off to get front row seats…so many amazing concerts . Being part of the live 4 Love video… P came out after the show with a shoulder cam to film us.
I will always remember the way Prince came into my life. It was a summer afternoon and I heard, from afar, a tape playing in my sisters’ room. The song “I Wish U Heaven” was playing. In that moment the song completely captivated me and I asked who it was. My sister told me it was Prince. That was when I first became aware of him, and since then, together with his songs, I have been creating the soundtrack of my life.
Piano and microphone tour, Sydney Opera House. Prince being so happy with the crowds enthusiastic response that he joked we might break this old building. At the end of the night one of the ushers said it was the best show she had seen in all her years working there. It was truly special. The atmosphere was electric you could feel the energy of him and everyone there. Big love.
Listening to Lovesexy for the first time felt like a religious experience. When I got to Anna Stesia in particular I just closed my eyes and lost myself in the chant “Love is God, God is love. Boys and girls love God above” and that was the first time I can say I felt comfortable with acknowledging the thought of a higher being actually existing.
Seeing Prince twice at the same place, the New Morning, Paris. First time in 1987, one hour of mad funk (included an opening act named Madhouse, who played like 20 minutes). Second time 23 years later, but this time it lasted four hours, started at 2.20 a.m. and ended when, in the streets of Paris, the sun was up. It was, of course, more than just a concert, it was a communion. I remember saying to myself: « Wow, I saw him here in 1987 and now I see him again at the same place… Sure I will see him in 23 years too, in 2033, when he will be 75 years old. After all, I live with Prince, and he lives with me, and I’m pretty sure this guy is kinda immortal. » I was wrong, Prince was not immortal, but his music is, and will live with me forever. Just like the precious memory of these two unforgettable concerts. Yes, it was some amazing beautiful nights!
The first time I heard ‘When Doves Cry’, it instantly captivated me. Who is this person? Every spring I have to listen to the ‘Parade’ album. I absolutely adore it. My favourite track is ‘I Wish U Heaven’ from the Lovesexy Tour. It was one of the best experiences of my life. You know when he plays the album parts and then opens it up? Suddenly he has a whole arena of strangers and we’re all singing Heaven Sugar baby back at him. That night changed everything. “Say y’all, anybody in here feel good tonight? Well, this feeling you’re feeling is LoveSexy. It’s the feeling you get when you fall in love not with a girl or a boy but with the heavens above. Say Yes. Say Yes. Say Oh Yes… Heaven sugarbaby! …….On the one y’all. Yes”
1989 LoveSexy tour hit Detroit. Only way to get tickets is at Cobo Areana at the box office. My sister say your not standing in line in Detroit by yourself. She comes with me, we sit all night, amazing people all around, first hear of the black album. Guy jamming it on his box. Morning comes and the line is rushed by others. We finally get in and we order 3 tickets, for me my girlfriend and my sister. They say $180 we don’t take credit cards! We didn’t bring cash, a guy hears what happens and offers to buy our tickets and my sister paid him with a check! October 31st what a show in the round, my sister didn’t get to go.
I never wrote up an account of the Paisley Park Piano and a Microphone shows, perhaps because it was obvious that something was amiss – when I came back home I told my wife that I didn’t think he would be around much longer. And that was by far the most impactful experience with Prince and an indelible memory that I will take with me when I go. But this was one heck of a good time – and you all were instrumental in making it happen, so many thanks to you: https://medium.com/@craig_walmsley/79db3f2fbdb1
I have so many unbelievable memories of Prince, having lived right by Paisley for the past 30 years, I spent a lot of time over there. But one really cool moment happened at a late night party he threw. Before he took to the stage, the floor was basically a dance party. Wife and I were feeling the funk, when she spun once, she hit this guy who was standing just a little too close. She turned around to ask that he give her some space, only to realize that it was his Purple Majesty himself. He looked at her and only in his ever so quiet voice, leaned in and simply said “I’m sorry, nice moves”, and the. He strolled to the stage, turned back, and gave her a sly little smirk. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t washed her elbow since. The show started and for the next 7 hours we just jammed our asses off. The smile never left my wife’s face. Oh yeah, it was also the very first time I had ever take her to Paisley. Doesn’t get much better than that for a first time experience.
On a rainy night in L.A., Prince decides to play at Tower Records on Sunset Blvd to launch 3121. A cramped setting with about 100 people and Entertainment Tonight reporting. Prince played an incredible set directly 4 feet in front of me. I could have pressed the pedal effects board with my foot! At the end, after a blistering guitar solo, he takes three steps forward and hands me the still-smoking Hohner classic guitar. I didn’t know that E.T. was filming and captured this moment I’ll never forget for the rest of my life!
Having him pick me three times to dance on stage with him… And 2 of the times it was just he and I on stage. The first time was a show on the Musicology tour and back at Paisley after the concert, I actually got to talk with him…. There were so many other things he did when he knew me and my 3 girlfriends – like multiple times handing us his guitar at the shows at the Rio… And at the 717/07 performance at Macy’s he intentionally fell back off this stage into our arms (my 3 friends and I) – And we just put him right back on the stage. He trusted us. -had about five years of being in the inner circle, and I can’t even explain how special all my memories are.
My most favorite, best Prince memory is the weekend I spent on an LA sidewalk outside of the Paramount studio trying to get tickets to see Prince on Arsenio Hall in 1991. We lived 10 lifetimes over those two and a half days. We slept on the sidewalk, played four square in the street, had card tournaments, had gang bangers point glocks at us and almost had a riot start because some guy who friended us tried to stay with us because we were second in line and people behind us were pissed. The producer came out and told us they had enough people to fill the audience without any of us, we freaked and told the guy to leave and thankfully he did. We got tickets and saw the best performance I ever saw of Prince. His performance of Purple Rain during that show was transcendent. One of the best memories of my life.
Glam Slam LA. Down front. He’s wearing those damned black lace pants. Realizing I’m staring at his crotch, he comes over and squats putting his junk dead in my face. Finally embarrassed, I cover my eyes and wave him away. Laughing, he stood up and continued the show without missing a beat.
The Pittsburgh 1999/Triple Threat concert and meeting with Prince afterwards will always be a cherished memory for me. I started our fan club in ’81 and was hoping to get authorization and bring it worldwide. When Chick showed up at our hotel after-party door and read off the fan club’s officers names I was excited. He escorted us a few doors down and Steve Fargnoli answered the door. We spent about half an hour speaking with Prince and Steve and getting autographs.
I was lucky enough to be invited on stage that was at New Morning in Paris. I didn’t want to go, but was surrounded by men, and suddenly Prince points his mic to me. Urging me to come onstage, as he needs a mic stand. When I landed on stage the crowd cheered and that surprised him. Are you a TV personality or what did he ask. I am literally no one, and lost for words. What do you do for a living he asks, « Human Resource » is what I can hardly mumble. When I turn head to the crowd, searching for friends, I realise how impressive it is to be the center of attention.
Meet‑and‑greet with Prince before his Sydney concert in 2003. We were lucky enough to sit in on his soundcheck – which was incredible – meet him before the show, sit on stage with him during the concert, and then head to the after‑show at The Basement. I even asked Takumi for the towel Prince had used during soundcheck… and he handed it to me. I still have it. Being the shy person I was, I tried to hide toward the back of the stage and just clap along instead of dancing. Ridiculous, I know! Prince wasn’t having it! He walked over, gently mimicked my little clapping routine, and basically told me without words to get up and move. And I did :). I still pinch myself when I think about meeting the man who inspired me from my early teens. His loss is one I’ll never fully get over. Rest in paradise Prince.
Many good memories- the soundtrack of my life, seen him 18 in magical shows. But 1 was really unforgettable. 1987 Sign Of The Times concert in Utrecht been there. Announced the extra concerts in Ahoy the next Wednesday. Monday night at 5 o’clock waiting in Leidsestraat for the Nieuwe Muziekhandel for tickets. I was standing at the corner of the street near a bridge. A limousine drove through the street, stopped at the bridge. Prince stepped out, jumped on the top, did some dance moves en a twirl. Time stood still. I was standing about 7 meters from it. Flabbergasted. He jumped in the limo and drove full speed away because the other fans were running towards him. The waiting queue became shorter and I did get my tickets.
