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A decade after Prince’s passing, the enigmatic legacy of the legendary musician continues to captivate fans and those who knew him. The iconic Purple Rain artist died at just 57 on April 21, 2016, from an accidental fentanyl overdose. Known for his reclusive nature and rare interviews, Prince maintained an air of mystery throughout his career.
Yet, a fascinating connection emerged between Prince and the Nelson family, as revealed by Gunnar Nelson in a recent interview. Gunnar and his twin brother Matthew Nelson, best known for their band Nelson, first met Prince backstage at the American Music Awards shortly after their father Ricky Nelson’s death.
Gunnar recalled the encounter, describing it as a poignant moment for the 18-year-old brothers who were performing a tribute to their late father. “This was back in the day when this was Purple Rain era Prince. And he lived that,” Gunnar said, emphasizing the intensity of that period in Prince’s career.
During the awards show, the twins were invited by Dick Clark to perform, and it was there they crossed paths with Prince. Gunnar painted a vivid picture of the legendary artist’s guarded demeanor, noting that Prince rarely engaged directly with people. Instead, his towering bodyguard Gilbert acted as an intermediary, relaying messages between Prince and others.
On the day they met, however, Gilbert was absent. Prince, dressed in his signature purple coat and flamboyant style, approached the brothers himself.
“He was leaning against the door, said, ‘Hey, man, I caught your sound check. I dig you guys’ sound.
Keep it up,’ and then turned and walked away,” Gunnar recounted, calling the moment “amazing.”
The story deepened when Gunnar later learned from their father’s longtime manager, Greg McDonald, about a surprising earlier encounter between Prince and Ricky Nelson. While Ricky was filling in for singer Andy Gibb on the TV show Solid Gold, Prince appeared unexpectedly with an acoustic guitar and spent hours in Ricky’s dressing room.
“Prince sat on the couch playing all of our dad’s early hits, note for note,” Gunnar said. “Apparently, Prince was a Ricky Nelson fan. Who would have thought?”
Reflecting on these connections, Gunnar joked about how he and Matthew once believed they were the exclusive Nelsons to meet Prince, only to discover their father had also shared a unique bond with the music legend decades earlier.
This glimpse into Prince’s private interactions offers a rare look at the man behind the mystique, revealing a surprising appreciation for early rock ’n’ roll and unexpected friendships forged beyond the spotlight.