Keller @ Large: Prince Had A Difficult Life

BOSTON (CBS) - When a talented artist like Prince, who's been a pop music icon for nearly forty years, dies at the very young age of 57, it's shocking.

I'll leave the musical appreciations to others, other than to note that everyone I know who ever saw him play live says he was fantastic.

As a much younger and hipper friend of mind put it when I asked him Thursday if Prince's popularity has held up: "Anyone who knows anything about anything likes Prince."

But would you trade your life for his if you could?

According to Prince's Wikipedia entry, for all his amazing success, he had a very bumpy ride.

His parents separated when he was ten and the rest of his childhood was spent bouncing between their homes and that of a family friend. His adult personal life included two failed marriages and the death of a newborn son. He fought constantly with the recording industry over contractual and copyright issues, and even threatened legal action against his own fans at times.

There is definitely a price to be paid for being rich or famous or both. You become a mark for grifters, a target for jealous losers, and an object of derision for the haters who thrive these days on the internet.

No wonder so many mega-celebrities wind up isolated and paranoid; they never really know whom to trust.

Perhaps Prince was happy in spite of it all, and his creativity endured. But it doesn't sound like much fun to me.

Listen to Jon's commentary: