Prince Alarming Pharmacy Runs ... Indicate Secret Health Crisis

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Prince hit up a local pharmacy hours before he died -- the 4th time he visited this week -- indicating his health was far worse than the simple flu.

TMZ obtained this photo of Prince leaving a Walgreens near his home in Minnesota Wednesday night at around 7 PM.

Our sources tell us Prince had frequented the Walgreens for years -- but last night, people at the store were concerned because he looked much more frail and nervous than usual.

As we previously reported, Prince's team told the media he was suffering from the flu. It seemed odd, because his private jet had to make an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois last Friday, just 48 minutes from his home.

Prince was hospitalized ... but was discharged after only a few hours. Our sources in Moline told us at the time they felt Prince left the hospital way too soon because he was "not doing well" and needed further medical care.

On Saturday, the day after he was released from the hospital, Prince took the stage at a dance party near his home and curiously said, "Wait a few days before you waste any prayers."

Prince died Thursday morning. Officials are investigating the cause of death.

Prince Fatality at Paisley Park Estate

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Someone has died at Prince's estate in Minnesota.

Authorities responded to a medical emergency at his Paisley Park studio on Thursday morning. The Carver County Sheriff's department in Chanhassen, Minnesota tells TMZ there has been a fatality, and they're notifying next of kin.

According to the Sheriff's dept ... deputies responded to Paisley Park at 9:43 AM.

As TMZ first reported ... Prince was briefly hospitalized in Moline, IL. His private jet made an emergency landing there after 1 AM Friday.

His people told us the 57-year-old had been battling a bad bout of flu.

Beverly Hilton Sued They Made Me Drink Liquid Nitrogen!!!

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It doesn't take a chemist to know ... you can't substitute liquid nitrogen for vodka ... so claims a man who says he got a most unwelcome specialty cocktail at the famed Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Jeremy Cox claims he was at a fancy shindig in August at the hotel where Whitney Houston died, when the bartender offered him and his wife a "specialty cocktail." He claims the bartender said, "You need to drink them right away."

Jeremy says he gulped it down, and immediately gasped, turned pale and collapsed. His wife thought he was dead.

Turns out, according to Jeremy, instead of getting a drink cooled by liquid nitrogen, he was actually served a glass of liquid nitrogen.

As for his injuries, Jeremy says the drink burned his mouth, esophagus and stomach. And when he hit the ground he suffered head trauma.

We contacted the hotel Merv Griffin once owned ... so far, no word back.

Kathy Bates Wake Up, Politicians! 10 Million Patients Need Help

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THE WORLD'S GOTTA KNOW

Kathy Bates is throwing her support behind a group of women on a mission that could affect millions of people like Kathy ... who are suffering with lymphedema.

We got Kathy at LAX on Tuesday, and she opened up about her painful battle. Lymphedema is a swelling of tissues caused by removal of/or damage to lymph nodes. Kathy developed it after undergoing a double mastectomy in 2012.

Kathy told us patients are dealing with two huge issues -- one being the lack of health insurance coverage, but as she explained it ... the cavalry is on its way to Washington, D.C.

As for issue #2 -- Kathy's doing her part. Check it out.

AC/DC's Brian Johnson Don't Bury Me Yet I'm Still Our Lead Singer

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Sorry Axl Rose ... AC/DC's Brian Johnson is "no quitter" and wants everyone to know his hearing issues will NOT force him to retire from the band.

On the heels of the news Axl's taking over lead singer duties for AC/DC's remaining European tour dates ... Johnson says, doctors advised him to stop performing shows in arenas or stadiums "where the sound levels are beyond my current tolerance, without the risk of substantial hearing loss and possibly total deafness."

However, he says he's still good to go in studio, and plans to do that when AC/DC records again. Brian will also continue getting treatments, and "I am hoping that in time my hearing will improve and allow me to return to live concert performances."

In other words ...

Waka Flocka Flame There Is Such a Thing As TOO High!

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Even accomplished weed smokers like Waka Flocka Flame can overdo it.

The rapper was in Seattle Sunday and his evening was interrupted by some EMTs who gave him a lift in their ambulance. Waka blames it on "#nonGMO edibles and 20 or more blunts."

The rep says Waka didn't end up in the hospital, which is weird because that's usually the dropping off point for an ambo.

FYI ... recreational weed is legal in the state of Washington, though we doubt that would have stopped Waka.

Ace Frehley Too Old for This Crap ... Doctors Warn

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Ace Frehley can no longer rock and roll all night -- doctors orders.

TMZ has learned Frehley is back home resting after being rushed to the hospital Friday night for exhaustion and dehydration. The ex KISS guitarist was released Sunday night with one warning: slow down.

Docs told the 64-year-old he's in great shape for his age, but needs to stop running around like he's still 18. He was advised to arrange a less exhausting tour schedule.

We're told Frehley already clocked in a dozen shows this month -- and was shooting a music video in L.A. at the same time ... flying back and forth to play his East Coast dates. Fortunately, the Saturday gig he had to cancel was his last tour date.

He plans to follow doctor's orders and stay off the road for a while.

Joe Manganiello Hospitalized with Very Dangerous Appendicitis

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Joe Manganiello was sidelined over the last few days because of appendicitis and a surgery that was extremely serious ... TMZ has learned.

Sources connected with the actor tell us, Joe went into the hospital late last week to have his appendix removed, but when doctors went in they were alarmed. We do not conclusively know the nature of the problem, but one source says his appendix burst.

Joe, who cancelled an event Sunday, was still in the hospital as of last night.

Joe's rep has said he has a chronic condition and suggested that's why he missed his Sunday appearance. We know he ripped a bicep during shooting of 'Magic Mike' and had surgery as a result. We also know the bicep is an ongoing problem, but we're told appendicitis is what kept him away last week.

Desiigner My Show is SICK! Rapper Pukes Onstage

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Kanye West's new artist is making a serious splash in the biz -- by throwing up his guts in the middle of a show, and acting like it never happened.

Desiigner, who 'Ye signed to his label earlier this year, was performing his hit "Panda" Saturday night in NYC. Apparently he caught the same flu bug Prince caught recently ... because while D was jumping around onstage he lost it.

Props to Desiigner though ... he kept the show going.

Even more props to the janitors.

Stripper Pole Lawsuit I Broke My Pelvis On Your Bus Pole

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A woman claims she broke her pelvis falling off a stripper pole mounted on a bus during a bachelorette party, and she says the bus company is to blame.

Lacey Laatiks and her friends rented a bus from a L.A. based company for a round trip between San Diego and Temecula, where they hit up 4 wineries. On the ride home she says the bus swerved, causing Lacey's hands to slip off the pole.

Lacey claims in her lawsuit she landed on her side and the fall caused multiple pelvic fractures requiring metal braces and screws. She says she rode home in agony and when the bus finally stopped she was just thrown on the lawn and left.

She insists the company's to blame because it should have never let her dance, swing, and hang on the pole while the bus was traveling at freeway speeds.

She does not say if drinking was involved, but if we could guess ...

We have reached out to the company for comment, so far no word back.

Ace Frehley Hospitalized ... Forced to Cancel Show

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Ace Frehley will not be back, back in a New York groove ... instead he's laid up in a hospital bed.

The former KISS guitarist says he was admitted to a Pennsylvania hospital for exhaustion and dehydration ... after a concert Friday night.

Frehley is still hospitalized, and as a result had to cancel his scheduled show Saturday nigh in NYC, his hometown.

A message posted on his official website says Ace will head back to L.A. to recover once he's released from the hospital.

Prince Rushed to Hospital After Emergency Landing

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3:30 PM PST -- A rep for Prince tells TMZ, the singer has been fighting the flu for several weeks. He canceled 2 shows on April 7th but wanted to make Thursday night's performance in Atlanta, even though he was still not feeling well.

After the show, he got on a plane and felt considerably worse, so his plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, where he was taken to the hospital and treated. He was released 3 hours later, got back on the plane and is now back home.

Prince was rushed to a hospital early Friday morning after his jet made an emergency landing in Illinois ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, Prince's private plane made an unscheduled landing at Quad City International Airport in Moline just after 1 AM. The singer was immediately transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

A source close to the 57-year-old singer tells us he's been released and is doing okay. The nature of the medical emergency is unclear.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer had performed Thursday night in Atlanta ... and he was in the air for only a short time before things went south.

ZZ Top's Dusty Hill Busts Shoulder ... Show Does NOT Go On

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ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill ain't that much of a rough boy after all -- he fell right before the band's show Thursday night in Texas and dislocated his shoulder ... forcing them to cancel the concert.

The bearded ones were set to play in Lubbock, but a manager at the venue tells us Dusty fell as he was getting off his tour bus. It's unclear what caused the fall.

The manager says an ambulance on site took the 66-year-old rocker to the hospital for treatment. ZZ Top momentarily considered going on with the bassist from their opening act, Tim Montana and The Shrednecks -- but decided fans would be disappointed if they went on with half-beard power.

The show's been rescheduled for May 29.

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WE'RE SORRY TO INFORM YOU ...

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' Star Hospitalized After Car Wreck

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The actress who plays the mom in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was taken to the hospital after a nasty car wreck ... and some witnesses say it was her fault.

We're told Lainie Kazan was driving in the Valley Saturday and drifted into an oncoming lane. We're told her Lincoln SUV struck another vehicle head-on. And, of all places, the accident happened right in front of The Great Greek restaurant. For real.

Our on-scene sources tell us Lainie and the other driver were both conscious afterward -- but you can see in the pics Lainie's neck was immobilized in a neck brace.

Lainie's current condition is unclear -- her rep wouldn't comment. No citations have been issued, but cops tell us the accident is still under investigation.

Vince Neil Security Cam Confirms Hair Pull Woman Claims Back Pain

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Vince Neil has an uphill battle to clear his name after his Las Vegas battery citation, since cops say security cameras caught him red-handed ... with a fistful of the victim's hair.

Neil claimed he only "pushed past" a female autograph seeker at the Aria last week ... but according to police records, obtained by TMZ, officers reviewed surveillance footage which showed the Motley Crue frontman pulling the woman down to the ground by her hair.

Neil has denied it got that physical. She says she was left stunned, and suffered a sore neck ... as well as pain in her lower back and hip.

Cameras also captured the woman taking pics with Carrot Top before she saw Nic Cage. She claims she said, "Nicolas, I love you" and followed the actor before being pulled down.

As for the scene outside -- cops say Neil was actually trying to fight another individual, while Nic tried to play peacemaker.

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AFTER THE INCIDENT

Everclear Singer My Brakes Screwed Me in Nasty Car Wreck

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Everclear's lead singer got into a car wreck ... and he's blaming his Ford's crappy brakes.

Art Alexakis tells TMZ he was driving the speed limit (35 mph) in Pasadena last Friday night just before sunset when traffic in front of him started to slow down. Art says he tried punching the brakes on his 2013 Ford Flex but they just didn't bite ... causing him to rear end the car he was trailing.

We're told cops and EMS responded to the scene to check everyone out and gave the all clear. Art says all he suffered was a scratch on his leg.

As for the Ford, Art says it was a goner ... but the good news? Insurance is picking up the tab on a new ride and everything is wonderful now.