In a letter written to legendary songwriter Prince, Paul McCartney praised the Purple Rain hitmaker as “just what the city needs”.
The veteran guitarist, who died in 2016, had been contacted by McCartney, who had accepted a Lead Patron role at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 1996, which delighted The Beatles and Wings member. Opening his letter addressed to “Dear Princely Person”, McCartney would go on to request a donation from Prince. McCartney would joke it had been so long since he’d written a letter, the last time being when he was at school. McCartney added that Prince’s donation would be enough to help “thousands of future kids.” Though it’s not known whether Prince donated to the school, the letter itself was sold at auction for $15,000. The full letter can be read below.
“Hi there! I know how hard it is to always be getting letters that ask for some favour or another, so it was not easy for me to accept the job of Lead Patron for a Performing Arts School to be located in my home town, Liverpool.
But, you guessed it! I did agree to do it, so now I’m writing to “friends and all good people” to try and interest them in the scheme. The story started just after the inner-city riots in Liverpool a few years ago. A friend suggested that ‘what the city needs is a “Fame School”.’
“I liked the idea as a possible positive focus for local and overseas kids, but it was only later when I went back to my own old school that was in ruins, that I thought by locating a Performing Arts Centre there we could save the 1825 building in the process. So….. (phew!)
“We’re now well on our way, as the enclosed info shows, but there’s still a lot to be done. Now the hard part. A donation from you would be a great boost to the project, and I know your involvement in some way, would be a thrill for everyone concerned.
“Hope you didn’t mind me writing this, it’s so long since I’ve written letters I feel like I’m back at school myself. Anyway, one of these days you’ll have to come and teach a class some moves!! Who knows, it may turn out to be something special for thousands of future kids. Thanks for looking at this. Cheers, & love.”
Prince fans were filled with praise for the legendary performer’s take on Sinead O’Connor hit, Nothing Compares 2 U. A note from The Prince Estate before the song begins reads: “The following is previously unseen rehearsal footage of Prince and The Revolution from the summer of 1984.
“It was in this very room at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnseota, that Prince created and committed to tape one of his most beloved and iconic compositions, which six years later would become a worldwide hit for Sinead O’Connor.
“Prince’s original studio version of Nothing Compares 2 U is presented here for the first time.” Though O’Connor’s version may be the most recognisable of the song, the Prince version shared by his estate is a masterful piece which has left listeners sobbing.
