Private Prince: Never-seen-before pictures of reclusive Purple Rain megastar give a rare insight into the everyday life of tragic virtuoso one year on from his death

Just one year ago today, the world lost one of the biggest icons ever to grace a stage.

Purple Rain megastar, Prince, died suddenly on April 21, 2016, from an accidental drug overdose at the age of 57.

Now, never-before-seen photos have been released to mark the one-year anniversary of his tragic death. The intimate pictures give a rare insight into his everyday life at his private Paisley Park estate.

Prince's stunning snaps are featured in a new book written by his art director, Steve Parke, titled, Picturing Prince: An Intimate Portrait. The book spans four decades of the legendary music icon's career.

Some of the photos show Prince sitting barefoot in the grass, meditating, posing outside of his home and enjoying a walk in the sun.

Parke, a Baltimore-based photographer began working with Prince in 1988 and served as the singer's art director until 2001.

'Everything I have is stuff that Prince was OK with. He and I would go through them and choose ones to keep and which ones to get rid of,' Parke is quoted saying on his website.

It was a year ago Friday that the music superstar was found dead at Paisley Park, the suburban Minneapolis recording complex where he lived.

Paisley Park was turned into a museum shortly after his death. The estate has a full four days of events ranging from concert performances by Prince's former bandmates to panel discussions.

George Boxill, a sound engineer who worked with Prince on the songs from 2006 to 2008, had arranged the release on an independent label.

He said he was respecting the wishes of the star who long battled the music industry and that most proceeds would go to the estate.

But the estate objected, accusing Boxill of seeking to profit and saying that he did not have the right to sell the music on his own.

Source:
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4433468/amp/Never-seen-pictures-reclusive-Prince.html