Prince's Final Days: From Atlanta to Paisley Park

For his final performance, it was just Prince, his piano and an intimate theatre crowd singing along to "Purple Rain." The crowd was playfully jubilant, taking pictures and videos, tweeting selfies and singing along. The enigmatic musician gave no hint that was anything was amiss; he was generous and energetic, as full of life as he'd seemed many years before.

More than a week after his death, a clearer picture of Prince's final days is emerging— including signs weeks before he was found dead in an elevator in his Minnesota home.

Reaction to Prince’s death has ranged from shock — one Atlanta school teacher broke down in front of his class — to tributes, such as the re-release of his movie, “Purple Rain,” in theaters and all-night dance parties in cities across the globe.

The April 14 performance at Atlanta's Fox Theatre didn't feel like an end to a career. It would just be hours later when fans would have reason to be concerned for Prince's health, but that night was "amazing," according to Atlanta attorney Hannibal Heredia.

“He didn’t look to be sick or frail at all; his voice was strong from a bass growl to a high falsetto,” Heredia said. “That’s what made his death a week later so shocking. All of his songs were done in a refreshing way, and he was incredibly energetic, just dancing around his piano.”

The timeline that takes us from Prince dancing with crowds to his biggest hits to us dancing without him in tribute to his life actually began a week before that final show.

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Thursday, April 7

Two weeks before his death, Prince was scheduled to appear at the Midtown Atlanta iconic theatre for two performances in his “Piano and a Microphone” tour. Only hours before the April 7 performance, he cancelled both shows because of the flu. The show was rescheduled for the following Thursday.

Thursday, April 14

Concertgoers were told that Prince would perform an 80-minute set. Heredia was hopeful for extra time during the last show. "The buzz was that there was a time limit for the 7 p.m. show, but that if you were lucky enough to see his second show, he might play longer,” Heredia says. “I personally didn’t feel shortchanged, because he put on an amazing show."

Prince walked off the stage at the end of the night after the final notes of "Purple Rain."

Friday, April 15

Prince left Atlanta immediately after his second show. His private jet was en route to his Minnesota home when he fell ill. The plane made a rapid descent into Moline, Ill., as the pilot radioed to air-traffic controllers and requested help. Their exchange took place over 7 minutes before the plane landed, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Prince was never identified by name.

Local paramedics were dispatched on an "unresponsive passenger" call. Prince was unconscious and carried off the plane by his bodyguard at about 1:30 a.m. on April 15. A "heavily redacted" report obtained by the Star Tribune notes paramedics worked to revive Prince at the airport and departed at 2:16 a.m.

Several sources with direct knowledge of the death investigation, however, have told the Star Tribune that paramedics gave Prince a shot of the opioid antidote Narcan, and that Prince had overdosed on an opioid.

Narcan is an anti-opioid treatment with naloxone hydrochloride. The treatment can be administered by injection or by nasal spray. Increasingly, police officers are carrying the shot when they respond to overdose calls.

Prince was taken to a local hospital for further treatment, released within hours, and then flew home. A spokesperson told TMZ at the time that Prince was suffering from the flu.

After he was released from the hospital, Prince sends the following tweet:

"When we heard about the Moline incident, we all still remembered that he had been reported as having the flu a week earlier,” Heredia said. “At the time, we thought he’d just overdone himself in Atlanta. I’m a musician myself, and entertainers run on adrenaline. We thought he’d just got on the plane and collapsed from exhaustion. That’s what made the events of the next few days so heartbreaking to hear.”

Saturday, April 16

Rolling Stone reported that Prince was resting at home. Around 8:30 am, Prince tweeted to a fan that he was on “a cloud of purple intoxication.” He also tweeted about supporting local record stores:

At his Paisley Park complex in Minnesota, Prince threw a 10 p.m. dance party entitled “Paisley Park After Dark,” showing off a new piano and guitar, both purple. He did not perform, but he took to the stage to thank his fans. Prince reportedly told the crowd to “save your prayers.”

Sunday, April 17

Prince tweeted to a fan who attended his Atlanta concert:

He also tweeted an image that appeared to be from his dance party the night before:

Monday, April 18

Prince posted his final tweet at 3:34 p.m. with a promo pic for his "Piano and a Microphone" tour, along with a link to an independent music store chain:

Wednesday, April 20

Prince was brought to a Twin Cities hospital and seen by a doctor. He returned home at 8 p.m. with a staff member. Police would later say this is the last time that Prince was seen alive.

Thursday, April 21

Seven days after that final show, Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator in his home. He had missed an early morning holistic medicine appointment, and his staff went to check on him.

The Carver County Sheriff’s Office was called to Paisley Park on a medical call. Deputies attempted CPR but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m.

Opiod painkillers were found on his body, according to Chanhassen authorities. Carver County authorities say a cause of death will not be made public for several weeks until testing and reports are completed. They say foul play and suicide did not take place.

Publicist Yvette Noel-Schure released a statement confirming his death:

"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary iconic performer, Prince, has died at his Paisley Park residence this morning at the age of 57. There are no further details as to the cause of his death at this time."

"When one of my coworkers told me the news, I blurted out, 'I was at his last show!'" Heredia said. "I still can't believe it. I've been listening to his music every day since then, even at the gym. I was 14 years old when I bought his album '1999,' and it's just a terrible loss."

With the death of so many prominent musicians this year such as David Bowie, Keith Emerson, Glenn Frey and now Prince, Heredia has a theory: “God is creating some sort of super band, and he’s picking and choosing its members very carefully. What other explanation could there be?”

Read more of Patch’s coverage:

• Prince Received Life-Saving 'Narcan' Shot in Illinois: Report
• What is Naloxone - Drug Being Mentioned in Connection with Prince's Final Days?
• AMC Re-Releasing 'Purple Rain' This Weekend
• Prince’s Death: Atlanta Teacher Breaks Down in Class
• Prince's Death: Justin Timberlake, Ellen DeGeneres, Samuel L. Jackson Among Celebrities Who Express Shock, Sadness
• Prince: Pop Star. Movie Star. Comic Book Hero?
• The Terminal Tower Lights Up Purple to Honor Prince

--Image via WikiMedia Commons