It’s been two and a half months since funk pop superstar Prince has passed, but the effect of his death can still be felt amongst his fans along with the myriad of artists who have been influenced by him. Prince’s Paisley Park Estate (55,000 sq. ft and worth $6.6 million) will be converted into museum in his honor. However, the feeling is evidently strongest amongst those who played with him. The Revolution, Prince’s backing band from the 80s, has regrouped with its original members to play pair of reunion shows by the name of “An Evening with The Revolution” in September.
The band had formed in 1979, but it was only by 1982 that the band had truly become the Revolution in their leader’s record 1999. It played for Prince on both 1999 and Purple Rain, and soon broke up due to internal tension. Although many of the members had definitely experienced friction with Prince and his music, his death was enough of a catalyst to bring them together in tribute.
The band revealed its intentions to reunite soon after Prince had died back in April, and they have finally announced some tour dates. The members playing at these two shows include Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (of Wendy & Lisa), Bobby Z., Mark “Brownmark” Brown, and Matt “Dr. Fink” Fink, as well as Dez Dickerson and André Cymone who had left the band before it became officially known as The Revolution.
The band will be playing in Minneapolis, Minnesota at First Avenue, their home venue where they had recorded portions of Purple Rain. The shows will be on Sept. 2 and 3, and the tickets will go on sale this Friday at noon EST. General Admission tickets will be sold for $65.00, and V.I.P. tickets will be $100.00.
On the First Avenue’s website, The Revolution released a statement saying “With profound loss and apocalyptic grief, we, along with the world, mourned Prince upon the news of his passing … Only by playing for you, the fans, can we be Prince’s Revolution. He gives Us 2 oneanother now, as we all start to heal and fill forever emptiness with sound. 2gether, we are The Revolution.”
First Avenue’s General Manager Nate Kranz added “When we first spoke to The Revolution, and the conversation turned to a possible reunion, it only seemed natural to bring them to First Avenue – to bring them home.”
An Evening With the Revolution
09/02: Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
09/03: Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
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