(CNN)At the height of his stardom in the 1980s and '90s, Prince was ubiquitous, a marquee star who sold out stadiums, stole the silver screen and slayed fans with his bare-chested sass and sexuality.
Then a dispute with his record company changed his worldview and he retreated from the public eye.
Save for the occasional awards show, benefit or tour, Prince kept his private life private -- no small feat in the age of social media.
As he fought to protect his brand in an industry known for its formulaic approach, he maintained a tight grip on his music, restricting it from YouTube and streaming services, and prohibiting any photos or videos from being taken at his shows.
All of which made his death Thursday that much more shocking. A look at the last few days of his life provides some clues in hindsight that all was not well, but it's safe to assume that if Prince knew death was close, he did not want us to know.
April 7: Atlanta shows postponed
Fans were lined up outside Atlanta's Fox Theatre when the news broke: Prince had to postpone two back-to-back shows scheduled that evening.
They were nearly inconsolable -- not just because of the postponement, but the reason given by the venue: "the entertainer is battling the flu."
Fans worried that a bigger health problem could be afoot; many expressed their anxiety in meme form.
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