Greatest American Band Debate: Any Band that Prince Was In Part I - The Revolution

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Dig if you will Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, sitting alone playing the piano. He is working through the construction of his groundbreaking opera The Magic Flute. Later in the week he invites friends over to his home, and Mozart plays through the entirety of his masterpiece, just the man and his piano. The assembled guest would probably have been blown away. The master, his music, and his piano. Once the last key has been struck, Mozart would tell the guests that his music can only truly be appreciated with a variety of people playing various music instruments together. There needs to be a variety of vocals to complement the complex score. Mozart is a genius, but his genius can best be experienced with a band working in concert with the creator. Every great artist has become transcendent with their often forgotten bands who elevate the music to its true greatness.

The death of Prince has rekindled an intense interest in the artist's incredible music. With a catalog that starts in the late 1970's and ends late last year, Prince left a musically legacy that has very few peers. This legacy began in Minneapolis Minnesota when a very young Prince was gathering friends together to perform music that had never been heard in human history. The loose group of friends, later known as The Revolution, would play clubs in the twin cities creating what would be known as the Minneapolis Sound. Hit songs like  Controversy, 1999, and Little Red Corvette were not directly credited to the Revolution, yet the band members were instrumental in crafting these hits. It would be a few more years until the general public was fully aware of The Revolution.

In 1984 the film and album Purple Rain hit America. The music on Purple Rain is some of the most famous pop music to have ever been made. Songs like When Doves Cry, Lets Go Crazy, I Would Die for U, and Purple Rain have more than stood the test of time. The members of the Revolution not only contributed to the album, but they also played fictional versions of themselves in the film. Wendy Melvoin on guitar and vocals, Brown Mark on bass guitar and vocals, Lisa Coleman on keyboards, piano, and vocals, Matt "Doctor: Fink on keyboards and vocals, and Bobby Z. on drums - this was the most famous, and prolific, version of the Revolution. Coleman, Fink, Mark, and Z were with the band at the beginning, but the addition Wendy Melvoin catapulted the Revolution's sound.

After the success of Purple Rain, Prince would continue to expand the Revolution with members from other bands. Morris Day's band The Time and Sheila E's The Counter-Revolution would add members to the Revolution's line up. The albums Around the World in a Day and  Parade added more hits with songs like Raspberry Beret and Kiss. The band also released a live album in 1985 simply titled Prince and the Revolution: Live. 

Each new hit single also brought a new music video to the young, and still music video playing, MTV. The Revolution was becoming instantly recognizable outside of their iconic leader. Everyone started to know why Matt Fink was called Doctor Fink. Former band mate Dez Dickerson face and voice was instantly recognizable because of 1999. The many videos for the hits off of Purple Rain heavily featured the band with scenes from the movie. Prince, along with his band, had conquered everything music had to offer.

In 1986 Prince and the Revolution started to plan out and record the double LP Dream Factory. The band was having a lot of trouble getting along. Many members were frustrated with how big the Revolution was becoming due to all the new additions. Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin quit due to not be able to get along with Prince. The duo has had an extremely successful career post Revolution. Brown Mark left after one of the bands tours and went on to become a producer. Bobby Z was replaced by Sheila E on drums and went on to release a solo album in 1989. Matt Fink stayed with the band until it's eventual dissolution 1991 and has gone on to make music for video games and work at K-Tel Records. The final Revolution album Dream Factory was never released. 

In the early to mid 1980's no body was making music as innovative and exciting as the Revolution. Many people to this day credit these hits solely to Prince. The artist that Prince was has no equal. His genius left an unmatched mark on music. Like Mozart that genius needed input, and talent, of others who were singularly talented. The Revolution could match Prince's genius and create incredible music. Dearly beloved. we are gathered together to celebrate The Revolution. When you listen to their contribution to Prince's genius, you will go crazy.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is nowhere near done with highlighting the greatness of Prince. Next up - The New Power Generation. Do you have a Prince band, or any other band, to praise? Come write for SeedSing.