I always see people discussing which Prince band is the best so I'm curious how many actually seen the Revolution live? If you did, which show and which tour. Discuss.
[This message was edited Sat Feb 22 19:35:56 PST 2003 by EverlastingNow]

My grandfather did, he was 8 in October 1918.

I did...late '84, "purple rain" tour.
I had a great time and screamed my head off.
[This message was edited Sat Feb 22 19:58:26 PST 2003 by lovebizzare]

I did. July 3, 1986, McNichol's Arena. I'm sure you were at that show too, right? My first Prince concert, and only Revolution experience!

I wish I could remember it more specifically. It's a pretty hazy memory now.

I saw the Purple Rain tour in St. Paul in 1984. My first Prince concert.

I remember:
~that there was a huge curtain over the stage that had the "When Doves Cry" face on it
~at the end of the show a bunch of little pieces of paper came showering down from the ceiling over the crowd (flower petal-like)
~people were asked to bring a food donation for the local food pantry
~the energy of the crowd and how everyone was waving their arm in the air and singing along during 'Purple Rain'. Great memory


I'm glad I was fortunate enough to experience that tour. Seeing Sheila E. as the opening act is an extra special memory, too.

madartista said:

Hi madartista! This was my second Prince show, and it was beyond amazing.

Prince and the Revolution
July 3rd 1986
McNichol’s Arena

Setlist:

Around the World in a Day
Christopher Tracy’s Parade
New Position
I Wonder U
Raspberry Beret
Alexa de Paris
Controversy
Mutiny
Do Me Baby
How much is that Doggie in the Window
Lady Cab Driver/Automatic
DMSR
The Dance Electric
A Case of You
Under the Cherry Moon
Anotherloverholenyohead
Girls and Boys
A Love Bizarre w/ Sheila E.
Soft and Wet
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Head
America w/ Prince drum solo
Purple Rain w/ Joni Mitchell
Kiss

Hope this helps your haze!

me

I did. My first show of any kind..I vividly remeber coming home from school and seeing the news that Prince had just anounced a show but it sold out in like 40 minutes. I get this call from a girl I knew who said she got tickets..i begged her to hook me up and she did! Anyways...the show was June 7, 1986 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Mazarati opened up and did two songs..I think Players Ball and 100 MPH. I remember Princes set opening with Around the world in a day with the curtain closed. Sound was dead on..Andre Cymone was there..they did The Dance Electric and so was Sheila...everybody sang Happy Birthday..although I know he would frown on that now but wow what a memory.I still remember it like it was yesterday. They played what I think is the best version of Pop Life I have ever heard..with Eric Leeds playing flute..sounded so cool. The thing I liked best about the whole show was it was kind of an expaned Revolution..Jerome was there..the full Revolution and Atlanta Bliss and Eric Leeds...It was cool to see him in the midst of a transition like that.

EverlastingNow said:

Definitely helps! Thanks much! I do remember Sheila walking down on the floor before the show. I vaguely remembered Joni being there for Purple Rain. I did NOT remember "A Case of You" -- but I hardly knew of Joni then anyway.

So did you see the Triple Threat as your first? My mom thought I was too young. Damn!!!

Thanks again!

lovebizzare said:

I also saw him on the "1999" tour, does that count?

madartista said:

Yes my first show was Triple Threat, I got the ticket from my brother for my eleventh birthday. And yes I remember Sheila walking out before the show in a long white coat and got the crowd saying "Sheila E...Sheila E.". And Prince did A Case of You on the piano and I remember he was in a solid black suit and all the lights were red. Sigh...what a great era!

lovebizzare said:

Yes of course that counts!

rreef said:

I was just watching that show, that's what made me wonder how many of the "Old Breed" is still around.

Not me.

It was March, 7th 1985 As part of their Purple Rain tour. I was only 14 years old at the time. A historic moment in time and Prince kicked much ass, as he and the Revolution were at the peak of their power and popularity. Revolution in full throttle. Before the show it was cool with all the energy about, but when showtime came I was up a bit and to the left, and could see down behind the drums and the whole back stage, and right before the show the band Mark, Wendy, Matt, Bobby, Lisa, all just strolled to their intruments real casual. and looked around. The whole place was dark Then to the right side of the stage their was a hallway with light on and then stairs that lead down well as soon as Prince entered the building he was surrounded with alot of bodyguards, like at least eight and he in the middle it was the impressive. The Revolution casually walk to their places, and Prince shows up separate and surrounded by 8 or 12 bodyguards. Nice entrance if ya can afford it. Well during the show Prince jammed on as usual, but one part that stood out to me was when Prince had done 3 songs and was leaving for an outfit change, when a young black girl in the 3rd row she was about 18 or 19. She had made her way past the 3rd row and was stretching up and over the crowd that was at one time the first and second rows, with her right hand towards the stage, and most of her body was down in the crowd, with just like her shoulder up and half of herself up, and she was trying real hard to reach as far as she could. When he noticed her, he stopped from running off stage. Prince must of thought she was stuck and walk over to her squatted and grabbed her hand, and said something. She did not respond. She just made a face and started crying alot and closed her eyes. He then realized she was okay. She just wanted to touch his hand, and he abruptly stood up and continued off stage to change for the next part of the show. The rest of the show continued on real cool, at the end Purple Rain was played for a long time. So long, that the people who were waiting to pick up people, like parents, sisters, brothers, cops, bakers, and mailmen, were all let in during Purple Rain. After the music faded out and the main house lights were turned on, people just kinda walked out real slow. There was some small chatter outside of the building, and then lots of lights and sirens, as Prince's tour bus came from around the building at a fast speed headed for the hotel. An Elvis moment forsure. Ladies and gentlemen prince has left the arena. The most talked about man in america, and you could feel it in the air. Electric and amazing.

july said:

Wow. Great, great recollection. I never saw The Revolution live. I wish I would have though, maybe some day. I'll cry myself if I see them reunited with Prince, really.

I did. Frankfurt 1986 and it was a great experience. It was my 1st concert ever. At that time it was kinda unreal to really see him live on stage, little did I know how many times I would experience it again in the future...

IPurple Rain w/ Joni Mitchell


wowo joni mitchell onstage with him, i bet thats a cool bootleg didnt prince send a song to joni mitchell but she turned it down for being unsuitable? i imagine it would have been a song like sometimes it snows in april which i always thought would be cool with joni singing it. anyone know anything about that?

If 1983 counts as the Revolution.. yes.

I did March 84 Nassau Colisseum...excellent concert... never forget it

I haven't

SnowQueen said:

I was at this show too. Our seats were on the back side of the stage. Not great seats, but we had a good view of his "bath" scene.

Wow -

Everlasting Now and Madartista -- I also grew up in Denver, but being only 13 at the time of that '86 show, I probably didn't even realize he was performing back then. I am incredibly envious that you two were able to see such an amazing show, especially during my favorite era (Parade).

I never cared much for McNichols, but who the hell cares if you're watching Prince and Joni perform Purple Rain!! Do you two know of other Prince shows from Denver? I think there was a long hiatus until the Jam of the Year in (what was it...1998 at Fiddler's Green?) I was so excited he was finally coming back, I remember calling and calling lousy Ticketmaster even before the lines opened, but I scored second row in the Purple Circle or whatever he called it...woohoo! I presume you two went to that one, too?

PeachBlack said:

PeachBlack, I was 14 for the Parade show in Denver and I remember we camped out for tickets from Friday at noon til 10 a.m. the next morning! I'm still surprised my parents allowed it to be honest. I remember Joni standing back at Miko's mike for Purple Rain and it was beautiful, I just wish there was a boot of this show. And Prince actually was back at McNichol's 2 years later for the Lovesexy tour. I was blessed to have front row seats for that show and sadly the show was only half sold! But he still put on an amazing show. And yes, he didn't come back after that until Oct 97 for the JOTY Tour, did you see the aftershow at the Church that night?

Yup! First Prince concert was Purple Rain '84 in Detroit.
Then again in '86 on his birthday in Detroit. Too cool when Wendy all led us in singing Happy Birthday to him and when he said I coulda stayed in uptown for my Birthday but I wanted to come and party with ya'll! Guess we won't be singing HAppy Birthday to him anymore with his current beliefs...so sad...

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

smile...

july said:

This concert was at the Pam Am Center in
Las Cruces, New Mexico on March 07th 1985.

SunFlowerz said:

ditto.

squirrelgrease said:

My seat wasn't the best, either, as I was pretty far back. I wish I had thought ahead and brought binoculars so I could see better what was happening on stage.

December of 82&then January of 85 both in Houston.Better concert with the 1999 Show but more fun during the 85 show with the Crowd.