Prince's Bandmate Reveals Troubling Memory Issues Before Overdose

BrownMark says the music icon's short-term memory was 'really, really shot' in final months

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:50pm

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An abstract close-up image of shattered glass and glittering shards in dramatic, high-contrast lighting, conveying a sense of fragmentation and deterioration.The shattered remnants of Prince's final months reflect the devastating toll of opioid addiction on even the most celebrated artists.Minneapolis Today

Ten years after Prince's death, his former bandmate BrownMark has revealed troubling details about the music icon's behavior in the months leading up to his fentanyl overdose. BrownMark, the bassist for Prince's band The Revolution from 1981 to 1986, says Prince was experiencing significant memory issues and confusion, often forgetting why he had summoned BrownMark to his Paisley Park studio. BrownMark believes Prince's reliance on opioids for pain management had clouded his memory in his final days.

Why it matters

Prince's struggle with addiction and his tragic death at the age of 57 have long been a source of public fascination. BrownMark's firsthand account provides rare insight into the legendary musician's state of mind in his final months, shedding light on how opioid abuse may have impacted his cognitive functions and daily life.

The details

According to BrownMark, Prince's memory issues became apparent when the bassist traveled to Minneapolis at Prince's request, only to find that the musician had forgotten he had summoned him there. BrownMark said he waited for days at his hotel, unsure of what was happening, until he ran into drummer John Blackwell Jr. in the lobby. When Blackwell informed Prince that BrownMark was waiting, Prince seemed confused and had forgotten that he had asked BrownMark to come. Once at Paisley Park, BrownMark said he could see 'the panic in [Prince's] face' as the musician realized he had relocated BrownMark to Minnesota. The bassist believes Prince's reliance on opioids for pain management had severely impacted his short-term memory in the final months of his life.

  • In the months leading up to his death in April 2016, Prince was exhibiting troubling memory issues.
  • A few months before his death, Prince asked BrownMark to relocate from California to Minnesota to work on a new project together.

The players

BrownMark

The bassist who played with Prince's band The Revolution from 1981 to 1986.

John Blackwell Jr.

The drummer who was part of Prince's inner circle in his final months.

Jim Lundstrom

A janitor at Prince's Paisley Park studio who connected BrownMark and Prince after years of estrangement.

Prince

The legendary musician who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016 at the age of 57.

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What they’re saying

“I knew something was wrong. Something was not right with his memory and his behavior.”

— BrownMark, Bassist, The Revolution

“You could see the panic in his face because you can see he just remembered what he had done: 'Oh man, wait a minute. I moved him here.'”

— BrownMark, Bassist, The Revolution

“Man, [pills] just clouds your memory. And I think that's what was happening with him because he was heavily relying upon opioids for his pain, for his hip.”

— BrownMark, Bassist, The Revolution

What’s next

The details of Prince's final months and the impact of opioid abuse on his mental state continue to be a subject of public fascination. As the 10-year anniversary of his death approaches, further firsthand accounts from those close to the musician may provide additional insight into his struggles in his final days.

The takeaway

Prince's tragic death highlighted the devastating toll of the opioid crisis, even among the most talented and successful artists. BrownMark's revelations about Prince's memory issues and cognitive decline in his final months underscore the profound impact that substance abuse can have on an individual's mental faculties and daily functioning.