by Alan Light
New York Times, 168, 175, 253
Nicks, Stevie, 81
Nineteen Eighty-Four (Orwell), 190–91, 208–09
“1999,” 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 82, 99, 182, 275
1999, 3, 9, 15, 44–45, 47, 48, 50–51, 57, 64, 78, 163, 164, 168, 171, 174
1999 tour (Triple Threat tour), 3, 5, 51, 55, 59, 61, 74, 77, 79, 204, 249
O
O’Neal, Alexander, 39
Orwell, George, 190–91, 208
Ovitz, Mike, 104, 145
Oscars (Academy Awards), 7, 62, 226
Ostin, Mo, 29–30, 74, 104, 145, 160, 181, 216
P
“Paisley Park,” 221
Paisley Park label, 221, 244, 260, 261
Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota, 221, 262
Palmer, Amanda, 268
Palmer, Robert, 168–69, 253
Parents Music Resource Center, 78, 186
Pareles, Jon, 253
Parliament-Funkadelic, 143
Parsons, Lindsley, 114
“Partyup,” 39
Patschull, Guy, 109
People magazine, 24, 87, 109, 185, 233
Perpich, Rudy, 220
Peters, Dan, 185–86
Peterson, Paul “St. Paul,” 213
“Pop Life,” 222, 231, 243, 253
Presley, Elvis, 186, 247, 251
Prince (album), 33, 34, 39
Pryor, Richard, 103, 176, 245, 259
Public Enemy, 97
“Purple Music,” 82
“Purple Rain” (song)
continuing use of by later artists, 271–75
early versions of, 1–2, 82
final cut of, 147, 152
genesis of, 79–80
imagery in title of, 82
initial motivation for, 79
karaoke’s use of, 273–74
Nicks on, 81
Prince’s playing of, 95, 229
Purple Rain tour with, 214, 237, 242
reactions to, 81–82, 181
release of, 188–89
writing music for, 79–80
writing lyrics for, 80–81, 99
Purple Rain (album), 238
Around the World in a Day album contrasted with, 253–54
Around the World release and sales of, 249–50
awards for, 225–26
battle between Springsteen’s Born in the USA and, 11, 167, 169, 171, 189, 202–04, 248
critics on, 167–71, 189
cultural context of 1984 and, 144–45, 190–91, 201, 258–59
final version of, 150–52
lyrical content of songs in, 99–102
MTV and, 171, 209–10
promotional interviews with Prince not used for, 164–65, 211
Prince’s later work and impact of success of, 251–52, 254–55, 256–57, 267–68
public response to, 171
release of, 160–61, 166–67
Rolling Stone on, 167
sequencing songs for, 152
success of, 181, 182, 188–89, 221, 242, 251, 254
timing of release of, and Purple Rain movie release, 160, 168, 171, 175, 178–79, 181
university class on, 274–75
“When Doves Cry” release and, 161–64, 166–67
Purple Rain (movie), 2
acting classes before filming of, 83–86
black community’s reaction to, 183–84
box office success of, 181, 182, 188, 189
brief story summary for, 111–12, 144
critics and, 160, 174–80, 184, 189
cultural context of 1984 and release of, 190–91, 201
Dumpster scene in, 125, 160, 179, 180, 185
editing of, 145, 147, 152–53 156, 164
father character in, 26, 105–06, 119–20, 154, 176, 180
female lead auditions for, 107–08
filming of, 111–43
final cut screening for Warner Bros. of, 154–55, 157
First Avenue club setting for performance scenes of, 136–43
funding for, 66, 73–74, 88, 102–06, 145, 181
impact of, 181–82, 189, 200
Kid character (Prince’s role) in, 111–12, 120, 122, 143, 144, 146, 147, 153, 154
Lake Minnetonka scene in, 123–25, 143
legacy of, 268–77
Los Angeles–based production work on, 77, 124, 131, 143, 157
lyrical content of songs in, 99–101
marketing and release planning for, 134, 155–56, 159–61, 164–65
marrying cultures of music and film in, 116, 135, 153
Minneapolis weather as factor in filming, 20, 113–14, 138–39, 143
mother character in, 26, 106, 122, 125, 154
MTV and, 172, 182, 209–10
music written by Prince for, 74–80, 96–97, 99, 110, 112, 147, 150, 152, 157, 180, 226
opening of, 153–54, 178, 181
Prince’s later work and impact of success of, 251–52, 254–55, 256–57, 267–68
Prince’s performance in, 117–18, 119, 120–21, 132–33, 139–40, 153, 173, 176–77, 182–83
promotional interviews with Prince not used for, 164–66, 184, 211
reactions of other artists to, 172–73, 183–84
reactions to Prince’s sexuality in, 185–88
Revolution’s participation in 128–29
Rolling Stone on, 144–45, 164, 177, 184, 188–89
script for, 68–79, 91, 92, 102, 108, 111, 114, 115–16, 126
sexual themes in, 122, 132–33, 180, 185–86, 188
shooting schedule for, 139–40, 143, 184
song placement in, 178–79
teamwork behind success of, 256–57
timing of Purple Rain album release and, 160–61, 168, 171, 175, 178–79, 181
trailers for, 133, 164
treatment of women in, 26, 125–27, 176, 179–80, 185
university class on, 274–75
Vanity’s participation in, 106–07
world premiere of, 172–74, 212
writing and recording “When Doves Cry” for, 147–50
Purple Rain tour, 164, 174, 212–20, 223–26, 236–40
announcement of, 212, 213–14
changes in staging and lineups during, 241–42
charity efforts during, 217–18, 231
cities and shows on, 218, 219–20, 223–24, 225–26, 232, 236–38, 240, 247, 248
controversy over Easter Sunday show in Miami on, 248–49
critics on, 217, 224
Detroit as first stop on, 216–17
encores during, 223–24
ending of, 247, 248–49
Leeds on, 218, 219, 220, 223, 225, 239–40
participants’ later memories of, 218–19
possible European or Asian stops on, 247
possible opportunities after, 244–48
Prince’s recording projects during, 219–20, 232, 240, 243–44
Prince’s tired and irritable state of mind on, 238–41
rehearsal and planning for, 214–15
St. Paul stop as high point of, 220
security issues and fan madness during, 224–25, 229–30, 234
winding down of, 243–44
“Purple Shades,” 82
Purple Xperience, 32
Q
Questlove, 18–19, 76, 125, 149–50, 223, 256, 274–75
R
racial attitudes
cultural context of 1984 and changes in, 21, 195–96, 198, 210
impact of Jackson’s music on, 196, 200
MTV’s resistance to airtime f
or black artists and, 48, 195
popularity of black music and, 44–45, 57, 195–96
Prince seen as black artist and, 24, 29, 39, 42, 156, 189
Prince’s multiracial vision and, 51, 65, 138, 171, 206
Purple Rain movie and, 9, 155–56, 176–77, 183–84, 210
rap and hip-hop and changes in, 207, 269
rise of black artists with black identity and, 199, 269–70
white audiences’ acceptance of black artists and, 43, 49, 170–71, 195, 210, 217
Rainbow Children, The, 266
rap music, 207
“Raspberry Beret,” 237, 243, 253, 273
Reagan, Ronald, 10, 40, 99, 191, 192, 203
Rebels, 33, 64
Record World magazine, 34
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 201
Replacements, 138
Revolution
acting classes for, 83–84
concerns about acting expressed by 128–29
Dickerson’s departure from, 59–61
early work on music for Purple Rain and, 77–78, 79, 80
First Avenue club and, 136
filming Purple Rain and, 90, 93–94, 127–28, 140–41, 143, 171
Melvoin as member of, 3, 61–66, 90–91, 94, 242
Parade tour and, 257–58
Prince’s relationship with, 100, 147, 204
Prince’s work with, after Purple Rain, 256
Purple Rain album and, 151, 152, 163, 166–67, 210, 222, 262
Purple Rain movie release and, 171, 172, 173, 174
Purple Rain tour with, 214, 216, 239, 241–42, 275
reunions of, 259, 261–62
Sheila E. and, 147
work after Purple Rain tour and, 245–47, 258–59, 261
Richie, Lionel, 173, 228
Rihanna, 259
Rivkin, Bobby (Bobby Z), 4, 29, 33, 50, 54, 63–64, 77, 138, 167, 215, 260, 261, 262
Rivkin, David (David Z), 5, 6, 29
Ro, Ronin, 197
Robinson, Ken, 113, 119, 130, 133
Rock, Chris, 99, 162, 169, 180, 260, 268, 270
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 12, 79, 268
rock music
acting in movies and, 153–54
black musicians in, 43, 44, 270
crusades against, 78, 185–86
cultural context of 1984 and changes in, 201–02, 206
Jackson’s influence on, 79
marrying cultures of film and, in Purple Rain movie, 116, 135, 153
MTV’s influence on, 195
music videos in, 192–93
Prince’s songs as, 10, 31, 35, 39, 51, 64, 78, 97, 151, 161, 169, 171, 184, 187, 200
Purple Rain album as, 167–68, 169
Purple Rain movie and, 142, 175, 177–78, 269
racial composition of, 24
3rdEyeGirl and, 17
white audiences for, 43, 217
Rogers, Susan
Around the World in a Day and, 222
on cultural contexts of music, 191–92
filming Purple Rain and, 95, 157
on first hearing Prince, 31
on Prince, 46, 95–96, 166, 205, 271
on Prince’s music, 76, 101–02, 243
on Prince’s performance in Purple Rain, 118, 120–21
Purple Rain album and, 152
Purple Rain movie release and, 174–75
recording music for Prince, 77, 97–90, 146, 232
on Sheila E., 146–47, 219–20
on “We Are the World” and Jones, 228, 232–33
Rolling Stone
articles on Prince in, 51, 107–08
covers of, 51, 184, 205
interviews with Prince in, 24, 184–85
Prince’s albums reviewed in, 7–8, 34, 48, 253, 167, 189, 253
Prince’s praise of, 35
Prince’s performances reviewed in, 3–4, 212, 217, 218
on “Purple Rain” and karaoke, 273–74
Purple Rain’s filming and success described in, 144–45, 164, 177, 184, 188–89
on Purple Rain tour, 217
Rolling Stones, 42–43, 44, 206, 218, 271
“Ronnie, Talk to Russia,” 40
Roth, David Lee, 109
Rucker, Darius, 183–84, 270, 272–73
Ruffalo, Joe, 31–32, 92, 102
Run-D.M.C., 198–99, 207
S
Santana, 13, 146
Saturday Night Live (television show), 35, 51, 233–34
Scarface (film), 140
Scorsese, Martin, 107
Second Coming, The (film project), 54, 249
Seger, Bob, 79
Semel, Terry, 105, 145, 155, 158–59
“777-9311” (the Time), 59
“17 Days,” 163, 174
sexual behavior and sexuality
audience reactions and attitudes toward, 39
black men and, 43, 122, 176
Prince’s desire to change attitudes toward, 11, 26–27
Prince’s identity and, 67, 185, 186, 224
Prince’s songs alluding to, 35, 36, 40, 47, 152, 168, 171, 176, 186, 188, 241
Purple Rain scenes and, 122, 132–33, 177, 178, 187
treatment of women in Purple Rain and attitudes toward, 26, 125–27, 176, 179–80, 185
“Sexuality,” 40
Shaw, Mattie (mother), 24–26, 56, 147, 174, 220
Sheffield, Rob, 273
Sheila E., 146–47, 174, 184, 212, 219–20, 227, 228, 237, 240, 249, 256, 257
“She’s Always in My Hair,” 143
Siegel, Cliff, 29
Sign o’ the Times (album), 255–56
Sign o’ the Times (concert film), 16, 18, 256, 263
Simon, Paul, 9, 56, 234
Siskel, Gene, 174–75
“Sister,” 35
Sly and the Family Stone, 51, 65
Smiley, Tavis, 261
Smith, Charles, 27
Smith, Liz, 165
Smith, Patti, 16, 271
“Soft and Wet,” 31
Sparks, Billy, 132, 179
Springsteen, Bruce, 242
battle between Prince’s Purple Rain and, 11, 167, 169, 171, 189, 202–04, 248
cultural context of 1984 and, 144
impact of, 205–06
music videos used by, 192–93, 202–03
popularity of, 166, 224, 254, 271
“We Are the World” and, 228, 234
“Stand Back” (Nicks), 81
Staples, Mavis, 23
Staples Singers, 23
Starr, Jamie (Prince pseudonym), 40
Statler, Chuck, 54
Stone, Sly, 23, 31, 167
Sunset Sound studio, Los Angeles, 77, 147–48
Super Bowl (2007) show, 16, 266–67
Syracuse show (1985) video, 18, 218–19
T
“Take Me with U,” 14, 145, 146, 169, 220, 227
Talking Heads, 172, 192, 194
“Tamborine,” 222, 243
Tate, Greg, 18, 171, 176–77, 189, 199–200
Teena Marie, 34, 41, 54
“Temptation,” 243
3rdEyeGirl, 17, 262
“This Could Be Us,” 262
Thomas, Kristin Scott, 254
Thompson, Ahmir “Questlove,” 18–19, 76, 125, 149–50, 223, 256, 274–75
Thorin, Donald E., 140
Thriller (Jackson), 45, 48, 145, 162, 169, 194–96, 197, 200, 254
Time, the (band)
award nominations for, 227
breakup of, 212–13
Controversy tour with, 39–40, 43
filming Purple Rain and, 83, 90, 92, 112, 118, 132, 134, 139, 143, 144, 150, 178, 184
Morris Day’s work with, 258–59
music videos and, 54
performances with Prince, 4, 14
Prince on his admiration for, 212–13
Prince’s control over, 49–50, 63, 91, 110, 130, 180
Prince’s founding of, 39
Prince’s music and, 274, 275
Prince’s production of songs for, 40, 59
songs in Purple Rain performed by, 16, 70
success of Purple Rain and, 245
Triple Threat tour with, 47
Time, The (album by the Time), 40
Time magazine, 7, 185, 231
Touré, 76, 82, 122, 169, 238
Tracks magazine, 13, 280
Triple Threat tour, 47, 54, 78, 259
Turner, Tina, 201
U
Under the Cherry Moon (film), 16, 250, 254–55
“Uptown,” 37, 55, 63
USA for Africa, 230, 232, 233, 234
U2, 138, 201
V
Van Halen (group), 109, 200
Van Halen, Eddie, 48
Vanity
as lead in Purple Rain, 106–07, 108, 125, 123
Prince’s naming of, 44
Prince’s projects with, 110, 148, 180
Vanity 6, 41, 91, 106, 107, 110, 275
filming Purple Rain and, 83, 90, 95
Triple Threat tour with, 47
VH1, 7, 99, 162
Vibe magazine, 22, 280
Village Voice, The, 18, 31, 171, 176–77, 199
W
Warner Bros. Pictures, 5
Dumpster scene in Purple Rain and, 125, 160
filming Purple Rain and, 5
final cut of Purple Rain screening for, 154–56, 157
funding for Purple Rain from, 74, 104–05, 181
income of, 201
marketing and release decisions and, 161, 164, 165, 181
prerelease trial screenings and, 158–61
Prince’s film work after Purple Rain and, 244–45
Purple Rain filming schedule and, 139
rough cut of Purple Rain screening for, 145
success of Purple Rain and, 181–82
Warner Bros. Records, 5, 56
Around the World in a Day album and, 242–44
first contract between Prince and, 29–30, 32, 34, 43, 44
genesis of Purple Rain and, 57, 59, 104
income of, 201
Prince’s feud with, 264, 276
Prince’s projects after Purple Rain and, 255, 276
release of previously unheard Prince material by, 19–20
reservations about material of, 34
struggle between Prince and, 244
success of Purple Rain and, 181–82, 244
Wax Poetics magazine, 39, 85
“We Are the World” (USA for Africa), 228–34