The man born Prince Rogers Nelson 66 years ago this month entered the year 1984 as a mysterious, budding star and wrapped it as a worldwide phenomenon whose influence remains evident across genres and generations to this very day.
“Purple Rain,” both the film and the soundtrack, served as Prince’s vehicle to achieve such great heights and, as such, the Twin Cities are celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Purple Rain” in numerous ways, from free dance parties to live performances to an impressive new book stuffed with rare photos and new interviews that shed further light on the Purple One’s once-in-a-lifetime creativity.
After famously signing a record deal at 19 that gave him creative control over his music, Prince spent the early years of his career establishing himself as both a musical genius and a provocative, androgynous weirdo who wrote sexually explicit songs and performed them in a style that was part Little Richard, part James Brown, part Jimi Hendrix.
By 1983, the mainstream was starting to catch up with Prince, thanks in large part to his double album “1999” and its hat trick of hits including the title track, “Little Red Corvette” and “Delirious.” But Prince wasn’t one to take the easy route from there. He insisted his then-manager Robert Cavallo land him a starring role in a studio film.
What eventually emerged was “Purple Rain,” a loosely autobiographical film set in and around his hometown of Minneapolis. Filming took place mostly in Minnesota at the end of 1983, including the 25 days Prince’s team took over First Avenue, home to the movie’s many memorable concert scenes, which showcase the Purple One’s otherworldly talents as a musician and entertainer. (Watching it today, it’s tough not to flinch — at least a little — at the physical demands Prince imposed on himself that ultimately led to the damage to his body and his life-ending addiction to painkillers.)
The stark, bass-free single “When Doves Cry” set the stage for the arrival of “Purple Rain” in the summer of 1984. The film grossed 10 times its $7.2 million budget, while the soundtrack spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, sold 25 million copies worldwide and won two Grammys and an Oscar. It helped cement the concept of the Minneapolis Sound, a groove chased by everyone from Janet Jackson to Fine Young Cannibals.
Prince wrapped 1984 with a victory lap tour that included five shows at the late St. Paul Civic Center at the end of December. While he easily could have ridden the success of “Purple Rain” for another year or two, Prince defied expectations and forged new paths from there.
Prince may have been allergic to nostalgia, but his fans most certainly are not. With that in mind, here are some of the ways to celebrate the man and his singular achievements from that fateful dozen months some 40 years ago.
Watch ‘Purple Rain’
Somewhat surprisingly, “Purple Rain” is currently not streaming on any of the major services. Those who don’t mind ads can watch it for free on Pluto TV. Major sites like Amazon Prime and Apple TV offer rentals for around $4 and purchases around $8.
For those who want to relive 1984 in pristine quality, Warner Bros. is releasing the film in 4K Blu-ray on June 25.
Celebrate Prince on the streets
The free Prince Celebration Block Party runs from noon to 5 p.m. June 22 outside the Prince Mural at 101 N. Ninth St. in downtown Minneapolis. The event will feature music, an art installation, food vendors and plenty of dancing. Revelers are invited to wear their favorite Prince gear and celebrate all things purple.
Attend Celebration
As always, the annual Celebration at Paisley Park and at sites in downtown Minneapolis offers live music (Morris Day, the Revolution, New Power Generation), celebrity panels, access to exclusive concert footage and custom tours of Prince’s famed home and studio. It’s a great chance to delve deep into all things Prince and meet fellow fans from around the country and even the world. Events run from June 20 through 24, but it all comes at a steep price.
Catch Dr. Mambo’s Combo
Dr. Mambo’s Combo has been performing weekly at Bunkers Music Bar and Grill since 1987 and was a favorite of Prince’s, who enjoyed the group’s nimble performances of soul, rock and R&B. The current band lineup features some names familiar to Prince fans: Julius Collins and Margaret Cox on lead vocals, Sonny Thompson on bass, Brian Ziemniak on keys, Geoff LeCrone on guitar and Peter Suttman on drums.
This special concert, dubbed Forever In My Life: A Birthday Tribute to Prince, features a collection of songs across the many eras and styles of Prince as well as songs he wrote for other artists. 6:30 p.m. June 19; Parkway Theater; $40 (in advance), $45 (at the door); theparkwaytheater.com.
Enjoy ‘Prince and Purple Rain’
Local music journalist Andrea Swensson has spent much of the time since Prince’s death immersing herself in all aspects of his life, writing liner notes for reissues, hosting the official Prince podcast and working on the newly released coffee table book “Prince and Purple Rain.”
Actually, calling this handsome tome a coffee table book is a bit of a disservice, as it goes into far more depth than most such books, which tend to favor flash over substance.
In her introduction, she aptly dubs it “a love letter to Prince and Purple Rain.” She covers Prince’s early days, his career leading up to “Purple Rain” and its cultural impact through a series of candid interviews, sharp insights and endless photos. It’s the perfect memento for anyone who lived through 1984 as well as anyone interested in learning what they missed.