The Revolution | |
|---|---|
 The Revolution performing at Wichita Riverfest in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Prince and the Revolution(1979–1986) |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Backing band |
| Years active | 1979–1986, 2012, 2016–present |
| Labels | Warner Bros.,Paisley Park |
| Members | Matt Fink Bobby Z. Lisa Coleman Mark Brown Wendy Melvoin |
| Past members | Prince Dez Dickerson André Cymone (pre-Revolution) Gayle Chapman (pre-Revolution) Miko Weaver Eric Leeds Atlanta Bliss Susannah Melvoin Jerome Benton Wally Safford Greg Brooks |
| Website | www.therevolutionofficial.com |
The Revolution is an American band formed inMinneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979 byPrince, serving as his live band and later as his studio band. The band's sound incorporatedrock,funk,R&B,new wave,synthpop andpsychedelia elements. Along with Prince's other projects, the Revolution helped create theMinneapolis sound. By the time of their 1986 breakup, the Revolution had backed Prince on two studio albums, two soundtracks and two videos.
After making its studio album debut on1999 (1982), the Revolution rose to international fame withPurple Rain (1984), which reached number one on theBillboard 200 and became certified13× Platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] The band achieved its second number-oneBillboard 200 album withAround the World in a Day in 1985. They charted six top 10 singles on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, including three number-ones: "Let's Go Crazy", "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss".
The Revolution officially disbanded in 1986 after theHit n Run – Parade Tour, which supportedParade, the soundtrack forUnder the Cherry Moon, but followingPrince's death in 2016, the band announced reunion shows.[2] The Revolution has won threeGrammy Awards.
When Prince formed his backing band after the release of his first album, influenced bySly Stone, he created a multi-racialmusical ensemble with both male and female performers.[3] The band initially consisted of:
Though officially unnamed, Prince experimented with the band acting as aside project known as The Rebels, recording material in 1979 inColorado to get more music out. The recordings were a group effort with lead vocals by Cymone, Dickerson or Chapman. The project was shelved for unknown reasons, but two of the tracks were later re-recorded and given away by Prince: "You", became "U", and was released onPaula Abdul's 1991Spellbound album; while "If I Love U 2 Nite" was released by bothMica Paris and Prince's later wife,Mayte Garcia. Paris rerecorded the song from scratch, which was released in 1991. Garcia's version, released in 1995, was rerecorded by Prince.
On the next two tours following thePrince Tour, the band underwent two line-up changes. Gayle Chapman quit the band in 1980.[4] The end came when she told Prince she needed more musical fulfillment and growth for herself, but Prince wanted her to commit to some short-noticed rehearsals instead. After a long conversation, Chapman quit the group to be replaced byLisa Coleman.[5][6]
The following year, after theDirty Mind Tour, bass guitarist André Cymone would leave the band. Cymone, whose family gave Prince a home after he left his father's house, left over a number of grievances with Prince—little input in the studio, he was not getting credit for his contributions to Prince's music, and in general his desire to start his own career—and would have bitter feelings toward Prince as he later claimed that Prince stole many of his ideas that were used forthe Time and that he created the bassline forControversy's "Do Me, Baby".[5] Ultimately, Cymone was replaced by Mark Brown, renamedBrownmark by Prince. Coleman was usually only identified by her first name, while Fink started wearingsurgical scrubs on stage and became known as "Doctor" Fink. Fink originally wore a black- and white-striped prison jumpsuit. However, a member of Rick James' band was doing the same thing and not wanting to copy that, Prince asked Fink, "Do you have any other ideas?" Fink said, "What about a doctor's outfit?" Prince loved the idea, and thus was born Doctor Fink.
From 1982 to 1983, when the band was almost identified as the Revolution, it consisted of:
The words "and the Revolution" can be seen printed backwards on the cover of his fifth album1999. The band members were curious as to if they were getting a real name, but Prince had held back from fully calling the group the Revolution partly because ofDez Dickerson's wishes to leave the band. When the1999 Tour ended,Dez Dickerson finally left the band for religious reasons and was replaced by Coleman's childhood friendWendy Melvoin. Prince told Dickerson that he needed three years from him, and Dickerson was not willing to commit. Prince told Dickerson he'd leave him on payroll and honor his contract, which Prince did. Dickerson went on to eventually work for independent Christian record label Star Song.Wendy and Lisa shortly thereafter formed a special bond with Prince and greatly influenced his output during the rest of their tenure in the band. Prince's former mostly R&B/funk offerings would be more diversified with rock, pop, andclassical music elements.
Prince and The Revolution's best-selling album,Purple Rain, produced by Prince and The Revolution themselves, peaked at number one on theBillboard 200 knockingBruce Springsteen'sBorn in the U.S.A. from the number one spot.[7] Released at the end of June 1984, the album featured the singles "When Doves Cry", "Let's Go Crazy", "Purple Rain", "I Would Die 4 U", and "Take Me with U".[7] All the singles had accompanyingmusic videos (all of which included clips from their relative scenes in the movie) and all charted on theBillboard Hot 100, but the first four peaked within the top 10 while "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy" topped the chart.[7] "When Doves Cry" would become the most successful single fromPurple Rain at the time of its release on the pop charts, reaching number one on theBillboard Hot 100 as well as the Dance and R&B chart.[7]
The song "Purple Rain" won twoGrammy Awards for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Instrumental Composition Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.[7] The album spent 24 weeks at number one and would eventually be certified thirteen times platinum in the United States, six times platinum in Canada and two times platinum in the United Kingdom.[1][8][9]Purple Rain would become the first official appearance of The Revolution.[10] At the time of the release the band contained:
They lasted as such through 1986'sHit n Run – Parade Tour. In 1985, members of the then soon-to-be-defunct R&B/pop groupThe Family (which, in turn, included former members of another disbanded Prince-associated group,The Time) joined The Revolution, along with people fromSheila E.'s band. The "Counter-Revolution" line-up:
For theHit n Run – Parade Tour, the augmented Revolution with its several new members began to perform thejazzy arrangements from the album, including thehorn sections.
Dream Factory was an unreleased double LP project recorded by Prince and The Revolution in 1986. The album morphed intoSign o' the Times following the dissolution of The Revolution. "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night" was the only track with the full Revolution band kept for inclusion as the album developed. The basis for the track was recorded live on August 25, 1986, in Paris during a show on theParade Tour. Jill Jones recording her lead vocal on November 26, 1986, and Sheila E. was on tour withLionel Richie and recorded her "Transmississippirap" over the phone on the night of November 26/27, 1986. Overdubs and mix were done between November 22 and 30, 1986 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California.[11]
Prince did not want to see his band anymore and The Revolution were not happy with Prince's decision to include new band members. In a 2017 direct-to-YouTube interview (onYahoo's account),[12] Wendy Melvoin remembers Prince rehearsing with all his new selections, and ignoring The Revolution by not looking at them. Brownmark, Wendy and Lisa threatened to quit. At one point, Prince dispatchedBobby Z. to the airport and literally caught Melvoin and Coleman before they boarded. Eventually all three were convinced to ride it out. Prince promised Brownmark a lot of money, but Brownmark settled for $3000 a week, a paltry sum based on other touring bands. He turned down a much more lucrative gig as bassist forStevie Nicks, who was going on tour at that time. Brown has said that Prince never followed through on "all that money". But as the tour ended, on the final night in Yokohama, Japan, Prince smashed up all of his guitars after a final encore of "Purple Rain". Wendy looked around at the other members and whispered (and they agreed), "It's over!"
Shortly after the Parade Tour in October 1986, after all the tension between Prince, Wendy Melvoin, and Coleman due to his relationship withSusannah Melvoin, Prince invited Wendy Melvoin and Coleman to dinner at his rentedBeverly Hills home and fired them both.[5] Unhappy with their lack of credit and creativity, Wendy & Lisa went on to perform as a duo. Susannah ended up leaving the Revolution too, following a breakup with Prince, and performed for a time with Wendy & Lisa as a backup singer in their band.[citation needed]
He then called Bobby Z. to tell him that he was being replaced by Sheila E, although he was kept on payroll for quite a few years after the fact, honoring Z's contract. Bobby Z released a solo album in 1989.[citation needed]
Brownmark was asked to stay but quit. Although he said it was "partly out of loyalty to the others" and also because he was "unhappy with the direction of Prince's music at the time".[5]
Matt Fink remained with Prince until 1991, when similar to the exit ofJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis fromThe Time, Matt Fink told Prince he was not available for two dates at the Rock in Rio festival, as he was busy producing for another band at the time, and found himself replaced byTommy Barbarella.[5] Fink also stated in a 2001 interview that he was tired of being in the band. When Prince filmedGraffiti Bridge, Prince wanted Fink to "rehearse the band" and was told that "there wasn't really anywhere in the movie for him". After the ensuingNude Tour, essentially a greatest hits-type tour, Fink left for a career writing music for video games, and working at K-Tel Records, based out of Minneapolis. Unlike his bandmates Fink did not immediately release any solo material, an album not being released until 2001.[citation needed]
In 2000, Prince had a celebration concert in his hometown ofMinneapolis,Minnesota, and asked if any former bandmates wished to perform. Dr. Fink, Bobby Z. and Brown Mark appeared and joined Prince on stage to perform the song "America".[citation needed]
On December 13, 2003, Sheila E. organized a concert for the charity 1st Annual Family Jamm, which featured several of Prince's protégés, including the entire Revolution, without Prince. They played six songs including "Mountains", "Purple Rain", and "Baby I'm a Star". That next year, Wendy Melvoin performed a live rendition ofMusicology track "Reflection" with Prince onTavis Smiley'sPBS television program.[13]
At the2006 BRIT Awards, a reformed Revolution once again backed Prince, as he reunited with Wendy, Lisa and Sheila E., while also featuring formerNew Power Generation memberMorris Hayes and played "Te Amo Corazón" (from Prince's3121 album), "Fury" (also from3121), "Purple Rain", and "Let's Go Crazy". Sheila E. played drums only on "Purple Rain", playing percussion for the rest of the songs.[citation needed]
On February 19, 2012, The Revolution (without Prince) performed a reunion/benefit concert in Minneapolis atFirst Avenue, where thePurple Rain movie was filmed.[citation needed]
Following the death of Prince on April 21, 2016, The Revolution announced that they were getting back together as a band. As of 2024[update], they continue to perform Prince's songs live.[14][15]
The Revolution has been honored with a star on the outside mural of theMinneapolis nightclubFirst Avenue,[16] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[17] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[18] The band's star is located to the immediate right of Prince's own star on the mural.
| The Revolution discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 2 |
| Soundtrack albums | 2 |
| Singles | 18 |
| Video albums | 2 |
| Music videos | 16 |
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] | AUS [19] | AUT [20] | CAN [21] | GER [22] | NLD [23] | NOR [24] | SWE [25] | SWI [26] | UK [27] | CAN [8] | UK [9] | US [1] | ||
| 1982 | 1999(not credited)
| 7 | 35 | — | 23 | — | 45 | — | — | 51 | 28 | Platinum | Platinum | 4× Platinum; WW: 6.5 million |
| 1985 | Around the World in a Day
| 1 | 12 | 7 | 16 [28] | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 5 | Gold | 2× Platinum; WW: 7.0 million | |
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] | AUS [19] | AUT [20] | CAN [21] | GER [22] | NLD [23] | NOR [24] | SWE [25] | SWI [26] | UK [29] | CAN [8] | UK [9] | US [1] | ||
| 1984 | Purple Rain
| 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 [30] | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6× Platinum | 2× Platinum | 13× Platinum; WW: 22.0 – 25.0 million |
| 1986 | Parade
| 3 | 8 | 7 | 11 [31] | 6 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 4 | Platinum | Platinum; WW: 4.0 million | |
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] | US R&B [7] | US Dance [7][32] | AUS [19] | AUT [20] | GER [22] | NLD [23] | NOR [24] | SWE [25] | SWI [26] | UK [27] | |||
| 1982 | "1999" | 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | 2 | 1999 |
| 1983 | "Little Red Corvette" | 6 | 15 | 61 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
| "Delirious" | 8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Let's Pretend We're Married"(US-only) / | 52 | 55 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Irresistible Bitch" | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Automatic"(Australia-only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1999 | |
| 1984 | "When Doves Cry" / | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 4 | Purple Rain |
| "17 Days" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Let's Go Crazy" / | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | 7 | Purple Rain | |
| "Erotic City" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Purple Rain" | 2 | 4 | — | 41 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | Purple Rain | |
| "I Would Die 4 U" / | 8 | 11 | 50 | 96 | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | |||
| "Another Lonely Christmas" | —[f] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Take Me with U"(withApollonia Kotero) | 25 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | Purple Rain | |
| 1985 | "Paisley Park" | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | Around the World in a Day |
| "Raspberry Beret" | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | — | 35 | — | — | — | — | 25 | ||
| "Pop Life" / | 7 | 8 | 5 | 67 | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | 60 | ||
| "Hello" | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "America" / | 46 | 35 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Around the World in a Day | |
| "Girl" | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| 1986 | "Kiss" / | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | — | 10 | 16 | 3 | 6 | Parade |
| "♥ or $" | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Mountains" | 23 | 15 | 11 | 45 | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | 45 | Parade | |
| "Anotherloverholenyohead" / | 63 | 18 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | ||
| "Girls & Boys" | — | — | 21 | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | 11 | ||
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] | AUS [19] | AUT [20] | CAN [21] | GER [22] | NLD [23] | NOR [24] | SWE [25] | SWI [26] | UK [27] | CAN [8] | UK [9] | US [1] | ||
| 1984 | Purple Rain
| 1 [34] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | Prince and the Revolution: Live
| 1 [35] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2× Platinum | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
