Prince: "I Was Born Epileptic" (VIDEO)

Prince announced Monday night on PBS' "Tavis Smiley" show that he was born with epilepsy.

"I've never spoken about this before, but I was born epileptic, and I used to have seizures when I was young," he told Smiley. "My mother and father didn't know what to do or how to handle it but they did the best they could with what little they had."

Prince continued, telling Smiley about how grateful he is today as he looks back on his emotional childhood:

My mother told me one day I walked into her and said, 'Mom, I'm not gonna be sick anymore.' And she said, 'Why?' I said, 'Because an angel told me so.' Now, I don't remember saying it, that's just what she told me, and from that point on I've been having to deal with a lot of things, getting teased in school. Early in my career I tried to compensate for that by being as flashy as I could and as noisy as I could. I just looked forward to this time in my life when I could reflect back on it, and talk to people like yourself, Dr. Cornel West...when you all come over tot eh house and we sit and we just talk about heavy things, I just become thankful, I don't know.

Watch:

Comments

[swan1]

He wrote, produced, and played every instrument on the "Batman" CD in less than one day. Nobody has ever come closse to that achievement nor ever will. Stop with the hate. If you don't like his music , fine, just stop with the childish hatred.

[hartkid]

oh, Prince is a delightful entertainer. I hope that when he's old (in his 80's) I can get him on my geriatric ATV racing league. I know that the ATV racing has been responsible for the deaths recently of two beloved golden girls, but it really is a lot of fun. Fast paced, if not completely competent, racing. the slow reaction times, and poor muscle tone and weak bones make for a lot of "interaction" on the course among the riders. The "no helmet" rule also ensures a lot of high-profile celebrity funerals, which is good for the economy. I need a like minded engineer to help me develop alcohol burning funny rascals for drag races too. Calling all bloggers. Start your engines and break out your bibles. Consider the lillies of the field and what a 700 cc ATV can do to them when piloted by a geriatric American celebrity.

[LeftLeanWing]

Oh Oh......th­at lithium didn't kick in yet, huh ?

Just breath in a paper bag for a couple of minutes..

you'll be aiight !

[hartkid]

the only bag I had lying around was the one I keep all my model glue in. Seems like it did the trick.

[Budokan]

Hang it up. Your fifteen minutes were up over twenty years ago.

http://kennethmarkhoover.com

[madatnewsmedia]

I don't know where you live, but Prince is still relevant and his music is still cool as hell.

[Heidi Guntrum]

Please watch this and get an education http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifp_SVrlurY

He is one of the best guitarist on the planet.

[LeftLeanWing]

I don't think so...

one hundred plus years from now Prince will be considered the Mozart or the Vivaldi of our Age.

He has so much music in different genre in the vault that he is guaranteed musical immortality.

AP - Sept 30, 2135
Music Concepts releases a new hit from the turn of thelast century musical genius 'Prince'.

[jamesmac10]

how right you are. he is an awesome musician and a great composer. Not just song writer but a real composer.

[Dante in Madison]

That's what they'll say about you and your blog when the general public tires of you. Wonder how you'd feel about getting slapped with that one cold morning.

[BalletMom]

Maybe in the spotlight - but not in history.

He still sells out tour dates in minutes.

[ediva75]

He is just that super cool to me. I really respect him even more as a FAN of his. He looks SUPER SUPER SHARP in that suit!! This man has truly truly evolved and God plays a huge role in that for him (even with me not agreeing with all of what Jehovah Witnesses are for).

I hope he tours again so I can go see him for the 4th time!!

[LeftLeanWing]

I went to the last show while he was in DC at the Verizon Center ....

It was a great show geared to Adults and not the Kids ....

He has truly adapted well as he's matured and is still the coolest cat in the house.

[crayola 08]

meh, all i wanna hear about is why he hasn't aged since 1984. i mean look at the guy, he's the black vampire lestat.

[BalletMom]

I came up just a few years behind Prince. I knew Jimmy Harris and I knew guys that used to chase Prince and beat him up. Later, just before and after Purple Rain I ran with a crowd on the fringes of his entourage.

He's brilliant, he's charismatic, AND he's weird.

[montecarlo408]

I played music for 17 years, and I don't know a musician who isn't a little wierd, or eccentric, to put it more politely. The man is 50, however, and never ages. That's what puzzles me.

[BalletMom]

Oh he's aged. But he's very egocentric - so I'm sure he uses lot-so-products. And then there is that old adage.... black don't crack.

[steelygumby]

for me as well, experiencing the overwhelming sense of gratitude is the most unexpected thing about getting older.

[Michelle Schultz]

He could have been born with wings on his back and fire shooting from him, I'd still love him. Makes me no never mind!

[Palemoon]

LOLOL, funny, your comments sound exactly like what happened at the 51st annual Eurovision Song Contest when the shock rock band Lordi (modelled after Kiss) set 2 records in winning. Oldest singer in the history of the competition, and the highest winning point total in the history of the competition. Considering such notables as ABBA and Celine Dion were previous winners, that's quite an accomplishment.

And it relates to what you said by their image and lyrics and stageshow.­...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X58Nc7IuSc

"Wings on my back
I got horns on my head
My fangs are sharp
And my eyes are red
Not quite an angel
Or the one that fell
Now choose to join us or go straight to Hell"

LOL, are they a trip or what? Anyways, what you said made me think of that right away, lol. And I'm sure Prince could get away with doing the same thing.

[deeppeace]

Wow. Talk about overcoming obstacles.

[SmartPerson]

Such a fantastic performer. Thank you for your artistry and intelligence. Now, this is news. What a strong person to overcome such an illness and still be all that God gave you. I am an even bigger fan.