Prince’s unreleased music may truly never see the light of day.
Just 24 hours after it was revealed a six-tracks EP titled Deliverance would be available for streaming to commemorate the one year anniversary of Prince’s death, a lawsuit filed by the late singer’s estate and Paisley Park has prohibited the project’s release.
According to the filing, the estate claims George Ian Boxill, Prince’s sound engineer and the EPs producer neglected to return the unfinished recordings, per a contract Boxill allegedly entered into with Prince prior to his death. Before legal action was taken, the EP was slated to be available on iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Google Play, but has since been removed from those platforms. Tidal and Spotify were not originally included.
Deliverance was said to feature six songs recorded from 2006-2008. After Prince’s death, it was reported Boxill spent the entire year finishing the songs, arranging and completing production. A suit filed against Boxill alleges the value of all six songs hovers around $75,000.
Yet, despite fans not being able to hear any new Prince music, Billboard reports the Purple One’s 1980 backup band The Revolution will be hitting the road this summer in honor of him. “We’re taking it to the people who are grieving like we are, and letting them have a little bit of relief,” guitarist Wendy Melvoin,” said.
The tour begins this Friday (April 21) in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen and is scheduled to hit Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco and conclude July 15 in Seattle.