Prince's Bassist Reveals Icon's Memory Loss Before Death

BrownMark says Prince was 'in a panic' over forgetting conversations and plans in final months

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:12pm

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An extreme close-up of shattered glass and glittering sequins in high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the fragility and glamour of Prince's final days.The glittering remnants of Prince's legendary career reflect the private struggles he faced in his final months.Minneapolis Today

Ten years after Prince's death, his former Revolution bassist BrownMark is revealing new details about the icon's troubling memory loss and erratic behavior in the months leading up to his 2016 fentanyl overdose. BrownMark says Prince was 'in a panic' over his worsening short-term memory, often forgetting conversations and plans they had made. The bassist believes Prince's memory issues were caused by his heavy reliance on opioids to manage his chronic pain.

Why it matters

Prince's memory struggles and drug use in his final days shed new light on the private struggles of a legendary performer who always strived to maintain a flawless public image. BrownMark's account provides a rare, insider's perspective on the icon's deteriorating health and the challenges he faced in his final months.

The details

According to BrownMark, he received a call from Prince in 2016 asking him to fly to Minneapolis to work on a new project. But when BrownMark arrived, Prince had forgotten he had invited him. The bassist said he waited for days at his hotel before running into drummer John Blackwell Jr., who had to inform Prince that BrownMark was there. When BrownMark finally got to Paisley Park, he said 'that's when I knew something was wrong' with Prince's memory and behavior. A few months later, when BrownMark relocated to Minneapolis as planned, Prince 'froze' when he saw him, in a 'panic' because he had forgotten making that arrangement.

  • In 2016, Prince called BrownMark and asked him to fly to Minneapolis to work on a new project.
  • A few months later, BrownMark relocated to Minneapolis as planned to work with Prince.

The players

BrownMark

The bassist who played with Prince's band The Revolution from 1981 to 1986, including on the legendary albums '1999' and 'Purple Rain'.

John Blackwell Jr.

The drummer who informed BrownMark that Prince had forgotten he had invited him to Minneapolis.

Prince

The iconic musician who struggled with memory loss and erratic behavior in the months before his 2016 death from a fentanyl overdose.

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What they’re saying

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

— BrownMark, Former Revolution Bassist

“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, Former Revolution Bassist

“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, Former Revolution Bassist

What’s next

The details of Prince's final months and the impact of his drug use on his mental state will likely continue to be a subject of fascination for fans and music historians.

The takeaway

Prince's struggle with memory loss and erratic behavior in his final months highlights the private challenges faced by even the most legendary performers, who often feel pressure to maintain a flawless public image. BrownMark's account provides a rare, insider's perspective on the icon's deteriorating health and the role that opioid addiction played in his tragic demise.