The Revolution (band)
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| The Revolution | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota | |
| Genre(s) | Rock/Funk/Experimental | |
| Occupation(s) | Backing band | |
| Years active | 1979–1986 | |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros./Paisley Park | |
| Associated acts |
Prince, Wendy and Lisa, The Time, The Family, Sheila E., Mazarati, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6 | |
| Members | ||
| defunct | ||
| Former members | ||
| Prince, Dez Dickerson, André Cymone, Bobby Z., Gayle Chapman, Doctor Fink, Brownmark, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin, Miko Weaver, Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss, Jerome Benton, Greg Brooks, Wally Safford, Susannah Melvoin, Jill Jones. | ||
The Revolution was Prince's backing band from the late 1970s through 1986. It is unknown when the band was actually dubbed "The Revolution," but the name was indicated (in reverse lettering) on Prince's 1999 album, released in 1982. The band was prominently identified and provided more input on the next three albums: Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day and Parade. In the film Purple Rain, Prince (as "The Kid") and the band are identified as "The Revolution".
Contents |
[edit] Formation
When Prince formed his backing band after the release of his first album, he followed in the footsteps of one of his idols, Sly Stone by creating a multi-racial, multi-gendered musical ensemble. The band initially consisted of:
- Dez Dickerson on guitar
- André Cymone on bass
- Bobby Z. on drums
- Gayle Chapman and Matt Fink on keyboards
Though officially unnamed, Prince experimented with the band acting as a side project known as The Rebels, recording material in 1979. The recordings were a group effort with lead vocals by Cymone, Dickerson or Chapman. The project was shelved for unknown reasons, however two of the tracks would later be re-recorded and given away by Prince. "You", became "U", and was released on Paula Abdul's Spellbound album while "If I Love You Tonight" was released by both Mica Paris and Prince's later wife, Mayte Garcia.
Gayle Chapman quit the band in 1980 due to religious conflicts and was replaced by Lisa Coleman. Coleman was usually only identified by her first name, while Fink started wearing surgical scrubs on stage and became known as "Doctor" Fink. Wanting more creative control, André Cymone left the next year and was replaced by Mark Brown, renamed Brown Mark by Prince.
In 1982, when the band was actually identified, it consisted of:
- Dez Dickerson on guitar
- Brown Mark on bass
- Bobby Z. on drums
- Lisa Coleman and Doctor Fink on keyboards
When the 1999 tour ended, Dez Dickerson left the band for religious reasons and was replaced by Lisa's childhood friend Wendy Melvoin. 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 and classical music elements.
[edit] Dissolution
In 1986, for the Parade Tour, Prince augmented The Revolution with several new members to perform the complex and jazzy arrangements from the album. The horn section from the album joined him on tour, as well as a new guitarist, backing vocalist and dance group. The new members were:
- Miko Weaver on guitar
- Eric Leeds on saxophone
- Atlanta Bliss (Matt Blistan) on trumpet
- Jerome Benton, Wally Safford and Greg Brooks as dancers/vocalists
- Susannah Melvoin on backing vocals
Weaver was pulled from Sheila E.'s band. Leeds, Benton, and Melvoin were remnants of the disbanded The Family. Susannah was Wendy's twin sister, and also Prince's love interest at the time. Blistan was a friend and former bandmate of Eric Leeds. Brooks and Safford were former bodyguards for Prince.
Despite the stellar performance of the band on tour, discontent in The Revolution had been brewing and was about to reach a boiling point. Wendy and Lisa were unhappy with their lack of credit and creativity and left the band shortly after the Parade tour in 1986 to perform as a duo. With the nucleus of the band gone, Prince decided to make several changes. Susannah left, following a hurtful breakup with Prince. Bobby Z. was replaced by the more versatile Sheila E. Brown Mark was asked to stay, but decided to pursue a solo career. Dr. Fink decided to remain with Prince.
The fragmented Revolution retained many of the newer members (Weaver, Brooks, Safford, Bliss and Leeds) while Prince added Sheila E. associates Levi Seacer, Jr. on bass and Boni Boyer on keyboards/vocals. The new incarnation of the band was unnamed, though some members of the new band referred to the group as the "Counter-Revolution", and fans came to dub it as "The Lovesexy Band". Prince may have been toying with a new band name in 1988, when on the album Lovesexy, Prince states, "Welcome to the New Power Generation" on the track "
No".
[edit] Legacy
In 2000, Prince had a celebration concert in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota and asked if any former bandmates wished to perform. Dr. Fink, Bobby Z. and Brownmark jammed with Prince on the song "America."
In 2004, a concert for charity known as the Family Jamm featured several of Prince's protégés, including the entire Revolution, minus Prince. Later the same year, Wendy Melvoin performed a live rendition of Musicology track "Reflection" with Prince on Tavis Smiley's cable television program.
At the 2006 BRIT Awards, a somewhat reformed Revolution once again backed Prince, as he reunited with Wendy and Lisa while also featuring Sheila E.
[edit] See also
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
