The Revolution - Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Bobby Z, BrownMark and Dr. Fink - is most commonly known as the versatile band behind the music icon, Prince. Merging funk, rock n' roll, rhythm and blues, pop & psychedelia genres, the band is considered to be one of the most successful music acts of all time.
The Revolution rose to international fame and prominence in the mid 1980s with Purple Rain, a rock operatic project centered around Prince that catapulted him and the group to instant stardom. The project consisted of two parts: a studio film and an accompanying soundtrack/album. The film was a box office smash hit, while the soundtrack is regarded by many as one of the greatest albums of all time. The record, Purple Rain, was recently inducted into the Library of Congress to be persevered for generations to come. After the summer of 1985, The Revolution soon found themselves to be a global phenomenon, following the release of the film and touring throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.
To this day, the album Purple Rain is certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, having sold more than 13 million copies in the United States alone, and the film continues to inspire and entertain audiences around the world. In November 2016, the album won Best Soundtrack of the Year at the American Music Awards, 32 years after its initial release, a testament to the true artistry of the band. It is a feat no other band has accomplished to this day.
The Revolution have achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day), multiple top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and have won numerous awards, including three Grammys & the three American Music Awards. The band officially disbanded in late 1986 after the Parade Tour, which supported the soundtrack for Prince's second film, Under the Cherry Moon.
However The Revolution remained close to each other through out the years and reunited on a few occasions with Prince's blessing, most notably for the American Heart Association in early 2012 after drummer, Z, suffered a near fatal heart attack.
Following the tragic, sudden passing of their fearless leader in April 2016, The Revolution reunited to honor the musical genius that Prince instilled in them and upon the world. In September, they returned to where it all started - First Avenue - an intimate venue in Minneapolis that was very important to Prince & The Revolution during the Purple Rain era and the years prior. The core, original members have decided to remain united and continue to honor and pay tribute to Prince in the best way possible; playing the music they helped create with him and with it, heal this new world they now find themselves in without the incomparable, iconic Prince.
"Only by playing for you, the fans, can we be Prince's Revolution. He gives Us 2 oneanother now, as we all start to heal and fill forever emptiness with sound. 2gether, we are The Revolution."
The Revolution
