The Revolution

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Revolution was Prince's backing band. He formed the group in 1979 in Minneapolis, shortly after his first album, and wanted a mixed band of men and women from the start, following the example of Sly Stone. The line-up changed in the early years: Gayle Chapman made way for Lisa Coleman, André Cymone for Brown Mark, and Dez Dickerson for Wendy Melvoin. Together with Bobby Z. and Matt Fink they formed the core of the band. On the sleeve of 1999 from 1982 the band name is already printed in mirror image.

Music and breakthrough

The big success came with Purple Rain in 1984, the first album officially credited to Prince and the Revolution. It topped the Billboard 200 and yielded the singles Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry, which both reached number one in the United States. Around the World in a Day followed in 1985, also a number one, and Parade in 1986, the soundtrack to the film Under the Cherry Moon. Kiss became the band's third number one.

Influence

The sound of The Revolution blended rock, funk, R&B, new wave, synth-pop and psychedelia. Wendy and Lisa in particular brought more pop and classical influences into Prince's music, and during the Parade tour the band gained a horn section for the jazzy arrangements. In this way the group belongs to the Minneapolis sound. After the last show in Yokohama in 1986 Prince disbanded the band, and part of the recordings for the unfinished album Dream Factory moved to Sign o' the Times. After his death in 2016 The Revolution got together again to play his music live.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1984Purple Rain (soundtrack)
• 1985Around the World in a Day
• 1986Parade (soundtrack)