If you’re looking to document what a rough year we’ve had so far in terms of the losses of superstar musicians, look no further than Dream Theater’s keyboardist Jordan Rudess. NO – he hasn’t passed, thank god. But as someone that played with David Bowie (on the Heathen album), he did an incredibly poignant acoustic rendition of Bowie’s hit “Space Oddity” after his passing earlier this year. With Prince’s passing last week, Rudess waited until after the band’s sound check in Philadelphia on Friday (23) to pay tribute to his Purpleness by playing a rendition of “Purple Rain.” He called on the band’s lighting designer and video tech to bathe the stage in Prince’s signature color. Despite being on a huge stage with video and lighting, it still manages to be an understated and moving tribute.
