“He hummed the initial melody for When Doves Cry into my answerphone – saying, ‘Don’t erase this!’ – so he’d remember it”: Prince’s Purple Rain co-star recalls the moment he had the idea for one of his greatest songs

Prince embraces Apollonia Kotero in a scene from the film 'Purple Rain', 1984. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images).

For Prince fans, 21 April 2026 will be a bittersweet day. This will mark 10 years since the star’s death, aged just 57, and will be a moment to reflect on not only what we’ve lost, but also the remarkable catalogue of music and memories that Prince left us.

To mark the occasion, The Guardian has been speaking to a raft of Prince’s friends and collaborators, and they paint a picture of a man consumed by his desire to play and create music.