Unreleased Prince Album Set For Auction

Grammy-winning keyboardist Dr. Matt Fink, a longtime collaborator of Prince, announced he’s auctioning an unreleased album by the music legend this week. Fink, who worked with Prince from the late ‘70s through the early ‘90s, was part of Prince’s short-lived side project, The Rebels, which recorded the album in 1979. Though it was never released, fans have long been intrigued by the music’s elusive history. Alongside Fink in The Rebels were Dez Dickerson, André Cymone, Gayle Chapman, and Bobby Z.

“The label didn’t want to dilute Prince’s image after he’d already put out two albums under his own name,” Fink told Star Tribune, recalling how Prince created the album in secret before pitching it to Warner Bros. “Prince did it on the sly and then came to Warners after the fact and said, ‘Look what I did. Can you do something with this?’” Although some tracks from the cassette have circulated as bootlegs, Fink clarified, “I’ve never bootlegged anything.”

Why Fink Is Auctioning His Prince Collection

Dr. Fink is parting with a unique collection of memorabilia, from a tour-used Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer to a draft script of Purple Rain and gold and platinum discs. Despite parting with these items, he’s holding on to his Grammy for Purple Rain. Fink, now 66, explained that his decision to sell was partly influenced by his son’s lack of interest in the collection and the financial ups and downs of a music career. He said:

“Income is very inconsistent in this industry.
“Prince did take care of us. [But] there were difficult times between then and now.”

A Sentiment-Free Sale

While some might hesitate to sell such personal items, Fink seems to have no regrets. According to Star Tribune, he feels “neither guilty about selling nor sentimental about the items.” The 54 lots are estimated to bring in between $150,000 and $300,000. The auction is now live on Popstore’s website, with the unreleased Rebels album as a coveted highlight. However, the buyer will likely face restrictions if they hope to release it legally.

For Prince fans, this auction offers a rare peek into a mysterious era of his career, and it’s sparking excitement in collectors worldwide.