When and where was this filmed? Was the song the only thing performed, or was this from a full out concert where only that song was used for the video?

Nice jamming on that video, btw....Prince has to do some of that again with that kind of energy, if possible.

it was shot in nice, france in october 1985.

I truly love that video and the energy in the room is astounding.

And when I see posts from people asking what was so great about The Revolution and why some of us want to see them back together again, I feel like telling them to watch this video and that should give them all the answers they need.

Rico said:

is it more a matter of wanting the revolution back or is it more a matter of wanting prince circa 1985 back?

Hey the Revoution was cool back then but it bugs me when some people act like Prince has not made any good music without them which definitely not true. They were the band from PR and so they are more popular than any other band.

Anxiety said:

I would love to see The Revolution back with Prince, but not as it was back in 1985/6. I'm intrigued to see if they'll influence him in the same way as they did back then and if his music will go off in another direction.

Dugen said:

GREAT QUESTION!... I always wondered about that shoot... What other songs were performed during this mini-concert?... One of the best live clips EVER!!... Always hated it when MTV wouldn't play the complete version.

I love this video... It's like taking everything that's cool about the 80s... and concentrating onto one stage. Prince looks so cool in that trenchcoat and hat.

Jude said:

Per Nilsen's "The Vault" has the following set list for the mini concert:
- America
- Paisley Park
- Delirious
- Little Red Corvette
- Purple Rain

and I don't recall a bootleg of this puppy being out there

The best live video performance ever by them.....

They were on fire!!

The 'Love Bizarre' performance with Shelia E., comes in second....

Rico said:

I'm sure The Revolution members have all got older and lost much of the energy of youth just like Prince. It would never be the same, that's why a lot of people say, what would be the point? It could only ever be a disappointment - especially if they had just watched this video as you suggest!

metalorange said:

Yeah, I think that the best reason for a reunion would be for the inevitable musical maturity the members would have gone through since '85. I mean, hell, in 20 years you learn a few things. And that musical intelligence can only translate into some groundbreaking music beyond even the Dream Factory sessions.

Jude said:

And let's not forget how sweet it was to see P's drum solo





Btw, was this an omen of the assless pants to come? Kinda looks a lil' see through to me

metalorange said:

you know, that's just it (for me, anyhow)...on the one hand I think of the Revolution and how great they were together and how that particular blend of people just meshed so incredibly perfectly, and how they brought out that genius in Prince (not that he 'needs' them to show his genius, because he doesn't and I know that -- it's just they just had this symbiotic relationship that seemed to feed off each other's talents so wonderfully, plus each *individual* talent brought something to the mix and just look at the results.

but I think that the Revolution back then was like a lucky, perfectly timed, serendipitous thing -- both in terms of those particular people all brought together, and how they were all brought together at that paricular time in history. the 80s were their time. it was meant to be then.

as for 2005, sure, there's the chance that, were they were to reunite again, history might repeat itself and that amazing, intangible "spark" they all collectively created musically might re-emerge. and sure, maybe that part of their souls and talent and personality hasn't fundamentally changed enough through the years, and they *could* create new music that still has the magic to it.

BUT -- and here's the scary part to me -- the possiblity is JUST AS GREAT that growing older, having more life experience, etc., *has* changed them all, both musically and personally, enough so that the 'Revolution spark' that existed 20 years ago could NEVER be recreated or re-established no matter how hard they each wanted it, and the resulting music *would* be disappointing.

the chance that they'd today, in 2005, be just as amazing and perfectly meshed together as a band as they were 20 years ago makes the idea of a reunion sooooo tantalizing to me, and of course there's just the nostalgia of seeing them all together like that again. but, in the end, i honestly think i'd rather keep my daydreams alive about a reunion and how magical and wonderful such a thing might be, and how great the music might be that would come of it...i don't think i'd want those fantasies destroyed by them actually reuniting and having it suck and be embarrassing and disappointing to everyone.

sometimes dreams and memories bring WAY more joy than reality.

and oh yeah..i agree with the above statements that the "America" vid is THE best live performance video! incredible energy. just perfect

Ummmmm .....
Assless pants

Is this video officially relesed anywhere on DVD by any chance?

I was so happy when MTV played this so regular poeple could experience what I knew was amazing at the concerts

And The REvolution can still kick *ss!!! Anyone at the Family Jamm 2 years ago knows that!!! Sheila herself was amazed out how great they sounded!

Any drummers out ther know what is the deal with those 4 little mini-toms you see in that pic? Are they toms? bongos? or hooked up to the Linn?

I know in this video he and Bobby were playing ectronic octoganal pads (simmons?) but are those 4 things pads too? Bobby used to have them even back in PR days before he played the octagonal pads.