Sheila E., music legend/ex-fiancée of Prince, recently experienced heartbreak when she was denied entry into his iconic Paisley Park home on June 7, 2024, which would have been Prince’s 66th birthday. In an emotional Instagram video, Sheila E. expressed her disappointment at not being able to pay her respects to her mentor, who was also her former love whom she shared a tight bond with until his last day.
The “The Glamorous Life” singer/percussionist, had assumed she would be welcome at Paisley Park (just as Prince had always welcomed her) if she showed up unannounced to record a video. However, she was turned away at the gates, preventing her from entering the studio where she and Prince had once collaborated and shared beautiful moments together.
Recalling her intended visit in an Instagram video (below), Sheila E. captioned her post with this:
“Wow!! Watch the video (shame on u paisley park. Horrible. @officialpaisleypark #prince
Happy birthday Prince.”
In her video message, here’s what she shared about what went down when she showed up to Paisley Park:
“I went in to celebrate him, and I wanted to go into the studio and do a live video, take a picture, and they said, ‘No.’… My heart’s broken. I can’t even walk into Paisley. That’s kind of messed up… Not a nice way to celebrate his birthday.”
Seeking resolution and feeling that her history with Prince should hold value, Sheila E. now hopes that the museum will return her old drum kit, which Prince personally requested to display at Paisley Park. She even overheard a tour guide mentioning, “My idol, Sheila E., even has her drums set up in the studio!”
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After Sheila E. publicly put them on blast, the Paisley Park staff took to Instagram to try to smooth things over in the eyes of the public. Here’s what their post read:
“Hello Sheila – We love and respect you, and we did offer for you to come in and film in the soundstage or other areas, but we couldn’t allow filming in the studios without prior knowledge and planning, especially with tours going on at the time. We hope to have you back to Paisley Park in the future — just give us a heads-up! Happy Prince Day.”
Sheila E., who was in Minnesota for a concert with Morris Day & the Time, emphasized her significance in the history of Paisley Park. She stated that she was the first artist to record at the iconic studio with Prince, reminiscing about how they walked the grounds together when it was just “mere dirt and rope.”
Prince’s untimely death in 2016, caused by an accidental fentanyl overdose, left behind a complex estate. His siblings inherited Paisley Park, but subsequently sold most of their shares. Currently, the estate is owned by two corporations, Primary Wave (a music management company) and Prince Legacy LLC, with his sister Tyka Nelson still retaining a 2% share.
The incident at Paisley Park highlights the ongoing emotional connection that artists like Sheila E. have with the late Prince. Despite facing heartbreak on her ex-fiancé’s birthday, Sheila E. remains a respected figure in the music game, and her contributions to the legacy of Prince and Paisley Park should not go unnoticed.
And besides, Prince would have NEVER denied Sheila E. –the woman he loved profoundly– entry into his lavish abode. Therefore, neither should the Paisley Park staff, just sayin.’ 🤷🏾♂️
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