4 Decades of Purple Rain: Revolution To Celebrate at First Avenue

We're getting old, and this is a Sign O' the Times: members of Prince's Revolution will reunite at First Avenue to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his iconic album Purple Rain.

The shows will take place Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22nd. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 12th (2024) at 11am.

40 Years of Purple Rain

image via Amazon.com

Purple Rain was released on June 25th, 1984 as the soundtrack to the film Purple Rain. It became Prince's first #1 album on the Billboard Top 200 and stayed at the top for 24 consecutive weeks.

The album won Grammys for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, plus an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.

Purple Rain has since been ranked number 8 (OUTRAGE) on Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020, and added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.

"I Would Die 4 U", "Baby, I'm a Star", and "Purple Rain" were recorded live at First Avenue on August 3rd, 1983.

What Does "Purple Rain" Mean?

"When there's blood in the sky – red and blue = purple ... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain." ~ Prince

The Current Revolution Band Lineup

Lisa Coleman - keyboards and piano
Wendy Melvoin - guitar
Bobby Z - drums
BrownMark - bass
Dr. Fink - keyboards

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H/T: Kare 11

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Mammoth WVH w/Nita Strauss at First Avenue in Minneapolis

The 2nd stop of Mammoth WVH's biggest (so far) headlining tour was at the iconic First Avenue in Minneapolis on November 5th, 2023. Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper's guitarist) opened the show. There were zero Van Halen songs played (as Wolfgang Van Halen has said will happen numerous times in the past) but the spirit of his father was present in the joy Wolfgang displayed in his performance. The set was filled with Wolfie's rockers, and included a brief but emotional solo acoustic set by Wolfgang that featured "The Distance"...a song written for his late father, guitar hero Edward Van Halen.

Gallery Credit: Choad

Source: 4 Decades of Purple Rain: Revolution To Celebrate at First Avenue