FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Guitarist Says PRINCE's Death Was 'Shocking And Very Sad'

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook says that the passing of legendary singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer Prince is "a great loss" and a reminder that life is short.

Prince's body was discovered on April 21 in the elevator of his Minnesota estate Paisley Park. The coroner later ruled that he had died of an accidental fentanyl overdose.

In a recent interview with Anne Erickson, Hook said about Prince's death: "Absolutely shocking and very sad. It's a reminder that it doesn't matter how talented or successful you are when something happens with your health. You can't control that stuff. It's really sad. To think of how old I am and how old he was when he died, I really reminds me that life is short and that nobody escapes that fate. It's a just a question of when. He's obviously an incredibly talented individual — not just a great guitar player but piano player, and he played the drums and sang and did everything. It's a great loss. It's very sad, and he'll be missed."

Prince has won seven Grammy Awards, and he won an Oscar for the original song score to the classic film "Purple Rain", in which he also starred.

He recorded some 39 studio albums, recording and touring prolifically even after a very public battle to get out of his major label contract threatened to derail his career.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is working on material for the follow-up to 2015's "Got Your Six" for a tentative 2017 release.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's first album with Rise Records, the BMG-owned rock label, will be made available following the completion of the band's obligation to its current label, Prospect Park.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently announced a new co-headlining arena tour with SHINEDOWN that will kick off on October 18 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Support on the trek will come from SIXX A.M. and AS LIONS.