Drummer/percussionist Sheila E played a one-of-a-kind DW custom kit as part of a special musical celebration honouring Prince at the BET Awards, June 26th at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
As a personal tribute to Prince, Sheila E played a gloss white drumset and matching timbales crafted in DW’s California Custom Shop and hand painted with Prince’s iconic “symbol” accented with multi-coloured butterflies and finished with gold hardware. The art for the drums was inspired by Sheila E’s recently inked tattoo commemorating the life of the multi-talented artist who passed away on April 21st.
“My instrument is the portal into which I pour my heart and soul,” said Shelia E, “it allows me to express what I am feeling. This Sunday, I have the opportunity to share with the world so many of the emotions that I, and many others, have experienced in these past weeks since Prince’s passing. It will be part of our healing process and another step on the road that lies ahead.”
Sheila E’s electric performance of a medley of Prince classics including, Erotic City, America and Baby I’m a Star closed the evening’s award ceremony which also featured tributes from The Roots, Janelle Monae, Stevie Wonder and Jennifer Hudson among others.
