Spike Lee shares his encounter with Prince, recounting the moments when he jestingly asked the musician to bestow one of his famed custom guitars, only to receive a disapproving glance.
In an unexpected turn of events, legendary filmmaker Spike Lee once asked superstar musician Prince for one of his iconic guitars in the late '90s. This audacious request, made during a casual conversation, left Prince looking at Spike with a look of surprise or disbelief, much like one might expect if asking to use someone's living room floor.
Fast forward to 2018, Spike Lee shared this amusing anecdote on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, "The Tonight Show." He discussed his relationship with Prince and the use of his music in his movie "BlacKkKlansman." During the same episode, Spike Lee showed a photograph of himself with Prince's guitar, adding a touch of intrigue to the story.
However, contrary to popular belief, Spike Lee did not receive a guitar from Prince. Instead, a year later, he received a big-ass guitar case, a humorous nod to the initial request.
The connection between Spike Lee and Prince deepened when the filmmaker was granted permission to use an unreleased song by the artist, a cassette recording of "Mary Don't You Weep," over the film's end credits. Spike Lee claimed that Prince wanted him to have the song for "BlacKkKlansman," a claim he asserted he would swear on his mother's grave.
Spike Lee's tribute to Prince did not end there. During his Academy Award acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman" at the 2019 Oscars ceremony, he paid homage to the late musician.
Throughout his storied career spanning five decades, Spike Lee has been an iconoclastic writer, film director, and producer. His early work with Public Enemy included the song "Fight The Power," which was written specifically for his movie "Do The Right Thing." In the 21st century, he has become a highly respected and acclaimed figurehead of the American arts and culture community. His latest accolade is an Oscar for comedy-drama "BlacKkKlansman."
Despite his success, Spike Lee has expressed missing Prince, a testament to the bond they shared, even if it was marked by an unforgettable, cheeky request.
- Spike Lee shared an anecdote about his request for Prince's guitar during an interview on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, "The Tonight Show," in 2018.
- Contrary to popular belief, Spike Lee did not receive a guitar from Prince, but a year later, he received a big-ass guitar case instead.
- Spike Lee was granted permission to use an unreleased song by Prince, a cassette recording of "Mary Don't You Weep," over the film's end credits for "BlacKkKlansman."
- During his Academy Award acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman" at the 2019 Oscars ceremony, Spike Lee paid homage to the late musician Prince.
- Spike Lee's early work included a collaboration with Public Enemy on the song "Fight The Power," which was written specifically for his movie "Do The Right Thing."
- In the 21st century, Spike Lee has become a highly respected and acclaimed figurehead of the American arts and culture community, earning an Oscar for comedy-drama "BlacKkKlansman" in his latest accolade.
- Despite his success, Spike Lee has expressed missing Prince, a testament to the bond they shared, even if it was marked by an unforgettable, cheeky request.
