Dr. Funkenberry

18/01/2025

Hi everyone! What a crazy start to the year. A lot has been going on medically & the fires & for now, going to update U on the fires & myself. Will update more shortly on the medical as i almost ended up back in the hospital.

These fires. The destruction. Things changed day by day if we were safe or not. The fire closest to me, where Sheila E.'s house is, ended up not being the one i had to worry about.

We received false evacuation alerts which was frustrating plus having to watch the 24 hour news cycle for information takes its toll. There were 4 fires burning around me but it seemed to be at a distance.

Then Friday night came. I was trying to get some sleep and then Ruth called me that the fire was getting close to me to evacuate. No way. I go to my balcony and see people evacuating and in a panic. I then see the hill above on fire. The palisades. The palisades, which is at a distance from me but it burned this far. Unbelievable!

So do i evacuate? The chemotherapy has been wearing me down & I only have one good foot right now. What do i pack? Then we get an evacuation alert again....but with spelling errors!! Is this real? One other neighbor got the alert but others did not. What is going on??

So I was on high alert as people were contacting me worried about me. I stayed on high alert thinking of what clothes to pack and maybe only taking one of my most prized Prince items just in case…The local news were set up down my street and again a few blocks away interviewing people evacuating. This is madness.

I stayed firm but alert. Not packing. The entire time in disbelief and fighting off being tired from the fatigue that comes with the cancer. Friday night was long and Saturday dragged but it seemed like we were in the clear.

Saturday night finally slept for a few hours and then decided to drive around locally.

To see the amount of national guard and the police blocking off every street going up for about 7 miles was abdolutely mind-boggling.

The next few days were windy and we were in danger. It appears the wind will return on Monday as a fire warning has been triggered through Tuesday and later this week. I don't think it will be 90 mph winds again but right now all of us are just tired and are mentally exhausted as we see the good of my hometown helping each other out and donating and volunteering. We also see some of the scum looting and trying to take advantage of others in their weakest moment.

I’m usually someone helping in these times but right now, I can barely help myself. The chemotherapy has taken its toll and I am fighting off another infection, not sepsis this time I think, along with step backs with my foot. I was truly caught off guard with the evacuations and navigating everything by myself. I am angry because of my inability but I know how lucky I am.

These past months have been challenging. I, however, still have my place. I am still alive. I am still able to fight. Others are not as lucky. This past year has been quite a challenging one and I keep being tested on how strong I am. I don't need to be tested anymore, but I am. I am strong. Just like all of L.A. Just like the firefighters. Never give up. Always keep fighting. What I am fighting for is bigger than me.

Don't be fooled by Hollywood and celebrity that everyone in L.A. is rich. Some of us are the hardest workers & fighters to just barely make ends meet. I didn't come here for lifestyles of the rich & famous. I was born here. This is my home. My. Home.

I thank U all for thinking of me during this unfathomable time. Thanks to Ruth & Ben & everyone. It has been a crazy month healthwise & firewise. Without your help, it would be so much harder. I promise more of a medical update sooner rather than later. Know that i appreciate every one of U. Just continue to be there for each other as I have a feeling this year will be hard. Together though, we can get through everything.

Much love always, be L.A. Strong, never give up, and..... .

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Dr-Funkenberry-With-Medical-Costs

07/01/2025

Love life. Love God. Lovesexy. 💜

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=961996419323537&id=100065395623755&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Under the cover.
The story behind Prince’s iconic Lovesexy album cover.

The French fashion photographer and video director Jean-Baptiste Mondino is best-known for his graphically composed, colour-saturated images. His photographs are renowned for their subversive and sexual imagery. He has directed videos for artistes such as Madonna, Neneh Cherry, and Björk.

The image for the cover of Prince’s 1988 ‘Lovesexy’ album is a montage combining close up flower photography with a n**e portrait of the artist, who sits on the unfolding petals of a white lily, leaning back against pillowy blooms of pale purple.

Prince poses facing to the left, with the nearer knee bent up, hiding his crotch, and the fingers of his right hand spread across his chest. It’s a teasing parody of a modest gesture of concealment which actually frames his ni**le in the angle between thumb and first finger. He’s in his late twenties, slim, with smooth light brown skin. Warm shadows outline his back and thigh. He has a line of chest hair running down to his navel, emphasised by a narrow metal pendant on a chain. His black Afro hair forms a soft cloud pushed back from his face and falling behind his shoulder. Lilac and purple iris petals frame his head.

Prince’s gaze is lifted up and off to the left with a soft, thoughtful expression. The background of lilies and iris evoke the post-war religious iconography which Mondino cites as a source of inspiration.

One final detail adds to the sense of transgression: on the left, sprouting from the centre of an enormous white lily, a single stamen curves in towards Prince’s body, the dark red tip on its green stem impossibly, joyously ph***ic.

MONDINO: “Before I met him, I was completely under Prince's spell. There was no one above him. Sure there'd been Talking Heads, Devo, and a few others… But Prince! He was doing pop, electro, funk, he sang like an angel, he could play everything, he had the look, he had Wendy and Lisa… I fell head over heels in love with Prince.

He asked me to make a video for him. I spent a week in his company at the time of Lovesexy. We were in the studio in Minneapolis and he said we were leaving the next day for Los Angeles and suggested I do the album cover.

We were supposed to talk and find ideas in the plane. But then we weren't together and so when we got to L.A. he invited me to come find and him at a club that night. And there he was with his Los Angeles entourage, Sheila E, Mike Tyson… As the night went on I began to get anxious, the studio was booked. Later he told me we'd talk over breakfast.

Obviously I didn't sleep a wink. So I went to the essence of a choir boy: the Sistine Chapel. Prince's discourse is pretty apocalyptic, Sign O' The Times, 1999, and yet at the same time kind of ta***ic, that way he talks about spirituality and sexuality. I did a little drawing during the night, starting from the idea of a n**e.

The next morning (the day of the photo-shoot) Mondino suggested to Prince that he would like to shoot him naked. Prince said, “Perfect.”

Mondino shot one roll of Kodak Ektachrome film using a Hasselblad camera. Later that day he met Prince at his hotel and showed him the contact sheets.

“That same night we chose just one Ekta which I took back to Paris with me. The rest of the photos on the contact sheet were destroyed. Then I scanned that photo and used the only machine that could retouch in Paris [the Quantel Paint Box]. It was my friend Kiki Picasso who had the demonstration model.

Prince took a plane and we all found ourselves in the kitchen, the kids horsing around with his bodyguards. In the end Prince destroyed everything, and he said to me, "I think what you did with the flowers was best."

The cover came out and got banned in quite a few States in US whereas the rest of the world were ready for the LoveSezy look. It's a religious image par excellence.

07/01/2025

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy & healthy New Year. Even though 2024 had a lot of blue, i hope U were able to see the green.

I wanted to express my gratitude and tremendous appreciation for the amount of donations to my cancer battle. It is mind blowing to know that U have my back in this process which has been so challenging.

All of U have made it less challenging and I am eternally grateful. I could not fathom the expense of someone battling cancer until I went through it. It is truly mind blowing. All of this has been a lot and I had no idea. This has truly been a battle unlike any I could ever imagine and would not wish on anyone.

So thank U kindly for your donations and continuing to donate knowing this is a process and I can't wait til the update where I say I'm cancer free! I will give U guys an update next week on what's going on.

Right now I just wanted this to be positive as we head into a new year.

Please make the most of this new year as U can and "wherever U are, think of your dreams, remember the dreams become the life U lead" Wise words and words that I follow with what i want to achieve in my life & the Prince legacy.

Thank U again and much Love....always.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Dr-Funkenberry-With-Medical-Costs

07/01/2025

💜💜💜
https://www.facebook.com/100065395623755/posts/961361292720383/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Prince Makes His Live Debut
On this day in music, January 5, 1979, 20-year-old Prince played his first public show at Minneapolis’ Capri Theater, for what was sure to have been a lucky audience.

Everybody's gotta start somewhere. For Prince, it started at the Capri Theatre, located on 2027 West Broadway in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 5, 1979. That's the venue where Prince booked a three-night residency to showcase songs from his debut album, For You.

Warner Bros. knew they had a star on their hands, and had already taken the young artist around the country on a promo tour of radio stations to meet and greet the program directors and DJs they hoped would spin his records. With his debut single, "Soft and Wet," soaring up the Hot Soul Singles chart, the label also set up a series of meet-and-greet autograph sessions for the young Prince.

"It was weird. It was mostly kids from 11 to 20. They were relating to me being so young," he told the Minneapolis Star in on January 5, 1979--the day of his live debut. "There’s been ads in the teen magazines and my age has really come up. The kids would ask me if my real name is Prince, what 'Soft and Wet' means, and did I really play all those instruments myself.”

When pressed about his expectations for that first live show, the artist was honest: "I’m nervous. I’ll be terrified, because it’s gonna take a while to block out the fact there are people out there. I find it extremely hard to perform for people," he mused. "I think I found it hard to sing and play in front of my band at first. But now that I got to know them better, it’s really easy now and we all bounce off each other as far as energy goes. I think before I can bounce off the crowd it will take a few songs."

Warming up to the interview, Prince began to open up. "We’ve got a few songs we’ll do at the Capri that I’ll probably never record on an album because they’re too spicy," he revealed. "They come off well in a concert situation, but on a record . . . albums and concerts are pretty much different. I like to make an album and get it out like a book or something. And concerts do you just want to excite. They’re pretty wild and they come off well, visually."

From all reports, the opening night performance from Prince featuring his freshly minted band of all local players including Bobby Z (drums), Dez Dickerson (guitar), Andre Cymone (bass), Matt Fink (keyboards) and Gayle Chapman (keyboards), was a success. The ensemble opened with "For You," playing "I Am You" and "Soft and Wet," as well as a series of the aforementioned unrecorded tracks before closing with "Just as Long as We're Together."

The Warner Bros. suits came into town for the second night of the residency. According to the book Prince: A Pop Life, label exec Carl Scott was blown away when he saw Prince "literally climbing over amplifiers and electronic equipment, going from one place to another to create these sounds. I just couldn't believe I was watching this. There was something absolutely genius taking place. It was totally different to anything that I had ever really experienced before. I knew that something in there was magic, but I didn't know what it was."

Still, it was clear that Prince and company were a little green around the edges and could use some work. Instead of sending them out on a tour, they waited for the artist to return with his self-titled sophomore studio effort before launching him out to perform across America. Even then, Prince and his panoramic sound baffled a world unable to put any of it into a neat category.

"They didn’t understand that we are trying to bridge the worlds of rock, funk, jazz and whatever,” Prince would say in 1980. “The critics were led to believe we would be laid-back because of the albums. ... They thought we were gay or freaks. We’re wild and free. It’s no holds barred."

Photo: Sherry Rayn Barnett

03/01/2025

Another one of my favorite moments of 2024 was in April, which isn't the happiest of months. Being asked to be a part of 's Prince symposiums is truly an honor and be it in person or virtual, I want to be a part of them for decades to come. I wasn't able to do everything I wanted to do in New York but thanks to Cameron, I did a lot. Being a tourist without being a tourist & not having 89 flowers on my back.

Now....to be truthful...I knew things were wrong with me. I just wanted to push through til after the Prince Celebration in June which is what I did and then took care if things. After a day all over New York & meeting other panelists for dinner, I had to skip out on the after festivities and get back to my hotel. I laid out the purple suit and was in bed that night til as long as I could be til taking an uber to NYU. Cam taught me the way of the subway's but I knew the Uber gave me more time to rest. I tried to do more things but i wanted to get back to my hotel and rest after the panel. That included missing out hanging with others and passing up the Rick James musical with (Thank U Luci for the other hook up. I owe U!) It also meant missing time with & as I was too weak to do certain things. , Randy Ferguson, Miss India & others, it upsets me i couldn't spend more time with U & taken several photos to savior the time. We will need to do that!

thank U for being a great moderator & it was great being on the panel with U & along with others I met. I really wanted to be there for every panel as I missed a few of my favorite people as well.

It was an amazing time & it is always great to honor the legacy of Prince & give back to the community that is keeping his legacy alive. Thank U again, De Angela and the entire . Much love always. 💜

01/01/2025

Well...this wasn't done with the Super Deluxe. Not all documentaries have to be 9 hours. This can still be done...with the right people involved. 💜

youtu.be/lVpt7q4xrn4 Prince / Miles Davis Paisley Park Studios Tracklist: Hot Thing If I Was Your Girlfriend Let\'s Go Crazy / Land Of 1000 Dances When Doves Cry Purple Rain / Ault Lang Syne 1999 U Got The Look It\'s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night

27/12/2024

Hi there! Time for another update.

I wrote this on "Christmas Eve"....

Hi there!

I hope everyone is doing the best they can at this time of year, whether U celebrate or not. I know it can be tough so if U are struggling, please reach out to others and let them know in ways that U are comfortable with. It does not make U weak in any way. Know that.

So today, December 24th "Christmas Eve", I am starting the next round of chemotherapy and as U know, the past couple of months have been tough with getting sepsis and my foot issue which i had to have surgery on to remove cysts that were continuously growing. It did cause a quarter sized outer heel wound AND a 4 centimeter deep wound in my heel. The wound is now about the size of a dime BUT the internal wound is sitting at 2 centimeters deep.

I had to have a wound vac attached to my foot, making me even less mobile. I did have people here with me for that but for a majority of my battle, I have been doing this alone. Unfortunately, the chemotherapy has been affecting the wound recovery and the wound vac didn't work. The doctors and I have been discussing different solutions, be it to cast the foot or use antibiotics or other means to heal the wound which we will try again before the casting or trying the wound vac again.

As for this round of chemotherapy, we are pushing through and just being very aware of things. We do not want the sepsis to return and it seems the antibiotics and daily IV helped fight it off. I was lucky it only got to my abdomen and did not spread to my heart.

The items that will help the foot wound are not covered by insurance (shocker) and are quite expensive. Hoping will only need a month of using them and will heal the wound. I will eventually need to have reconstructive foot surgery but i cannot have the surgery until after the chemotherapy and a year after i had the cancer surgery. So looking at late summer 2025...hopefully!

I appreciate all your help with donations and well wishes. It truly means a lot and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for all of U.

It might seem like it sucks to be going through this during this time of year and having to start the next round on thus date. Yet this is to make sure I have many more "Christmas's" and new years in my future. That's the plan. Mind set is everything and my future includes a whole lot of purple in it. I got some work to do I am going nowhere.

Much Love....always!

Jeremiah/j7/drfunkenberry

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Dr-Funkenberry-With-Medical-Costs

20/12/2024

💜💜💜

Thank you to the for one of the 2025 Special Merit Award Honorees - Lifetime Achievement Awards - by the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs board of trustees. It is always an honor for the recognition, whether from the Grammys or our Fams in the Purple Army, as it highlights Prince’s outstanding contributions of great artistic, cultural and historical significance. 💜

Congrats to the other notable honorees who have also left a very special mark in music history.

20/12/2024

Prince, The Clash, Frankie Valli & More to Receive 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards From Recording Academy



https://www.billboard.com/lists/2025-lifetime-achievement-awards-recording-academy-special-merit-awards-full-list/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2ugDTf3rxg3FG_IPbTE12bkRsw4zVRjZJkCGPy1aO4-YGdEz6ydLYNen4_aem_K4AvL4GCu7zJ8LM_8FD6eQ

Here’s a complete list of the Recording Academy's 2025 Special Merit Award recipients, including lifetime achievement awards to Prince and The Clash.

14/12/2024

So I'm at a loss and have been struggling to find the words to write. Angela passed earlier this week and this one hurts like Rich Cranmore's did earlier this year. I knew Angela more though, with her living in California but at a distance.

She reached out to me shortly after my cancer diagnosis and like many of U, I still hadn't gotten back to her. The sense of being overwhelmed has been commonplsce for me over the past year since before my diagnosis and please, i hope none of U take it personally. Give me time and patience. 💜

Angela was kind and would lend U an ear, even when she had a lot going on herself. She was energetic and wanted to keep moving and be at whatever the latest show was. Be it to keep her mind off of what she had going on or just to be out. Her heart would be in the right place with a little bit of sass. That's how i saw her. The past few years have been a lot for all of us and I haven't seen her since the middle of covid when she and her good friend came to my place (after a show of course!)....

Angela, I'm sorry I didn't reach out when U reached out to me. I thought I had time. Im sorry if the past few years were tough on U. U were a better friend to me than i was to U and that could be said for a lot of U out there. I just hope that any pain U had is gone and U can see your kiddo any time U want now.

Im thankful for U and hope U know this week has been hard on a lot of people that have found out about your passing. Much Love & light to U always. 💜

06/12/2024

Update 12/5

Hi there everyone!

In my last update, I advised that i was transported to the hospital. I was in pain but didn't realize i was running a fever (102.9) which was causing me to shiver, not just the pain. I also have a blood infection, sepsis, which is dangerous but not uncommon during chemotherapy treatments.

They had to do multiple CT scans, checking my blood pressure & heart rate because everything was going everywhere & they also performed an ultrasound on my heart to make sure the sepsis didn't spread there. That was nerve wracking! It didn't spread there and they feel the sepsis is in my abdomen. They took multiple blood tests daily and one time brought blood jars! I never knew those existed.

I was in the hospital for an extended time when U know they try to kick U out with quickness! I was home before thanksgiving and since then i have been getting daily IV antibiotics for the sepsis along with wound care for my foot at home. I do get blood tests as well but not every day. Its to see if the sepsis is gone or any other infections are happening.

As for Chemotherapy, my oncologist visited my room while i was there. He still wants to be aggressive with the chemotherapy as he wants to kill the cancer but if we are aggressive as he wants, the sepsis could kill me. Chemo kills the bad cells but it also kills the good cells which is what made my body susceptible to the sepsis.

I have started my next round of chemo but we cannot be as aggressive this time. The following round of chemotherapy will be on December 24th, Christmas Eve and we will be aggressive again. Will be a tough Xmas & New Years but we are doing this to make sure i have many more Christmasas & new years, for those that celebrate or not.

I don't know if everything is fully covered by the hospitals (2) i was at n with them running every test imaginable on me, im a little worried bout that bill. We will see.

I will update U on my foot within the next week as that is going to be a difficult process but we need to do things aggressively before there is an infection there.

I want to thank U guys again for the donations and people that have sent gifts and cards. It is appreciated. I truly do feel the love & support. If U want an address to send stuff to, i can provide one where it will reach me.

Donations are the best & will provide links that others want outside of gofundme although i know that is the easiest way. Check comments or link trees on my socials. 💜

The photos i used this time were of the cards & some gifts sent my way as to keep things more positive.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Dr-Funkenberry-With-Medical-Costs