Group
The Revolution
founded by Prince
- From
- Minneapolis, United States
- Active
- 1979–1986
- Rating
- ★ 4
- Releases
- 43
- funk
- pop
- dance-pop
- funk rock
- neo-psychedelia
- pop rock
- psychedelic pop
- psychedelic soul
About
The Revolution is an American funk rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979 by Prince, serving as his live band and later as his studio band. The band's sound incorporated rock, funk, R&B, new wave, synthpop and psychedelia elements. Along with Prince's other projects, the Revolution helped create the Minneapolis sound. By the time of their 1986 breakup, the Revolution had backed Prince on two studio albums, two soundtracks and two videos.
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After making its studio album debut on 1999 (1982), the Revolution rose to international fame with Purple Rain (1984), which reached number one on the Billboard 200 and became certified 13× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The band achieved its second number-one Billboard 200 album with Around the World in a Day in 1985. They charted six top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including three number-ones: "Let's Go Crazy", "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss".
The Revolution officially disbanded in 1986 after the Hit n Run – Parade Tour, which supported Parade, the soundtrack for Under the Cherry Moon, but following Prince's death in 2016, the band announced reunion shows. The Revolution has won three Grammy Awards.
Members
-
Lisa Coleman keyboard
-
Wendy Melvoin guitar
-
Brownmark bass guitar
-
Bobby Z. drums (drum set)
-
Dr. Fink keyboard
-
Eric Leeds additional, saxophone
-
Jerome Benton additional, background vocals
-
Matthew Blistan additional, trumpet
-
Greg Brooks additional, background vocals
-
Wally Safford additional, background vocals
-
Miko Weaver additional, guitar
Discography
Singles
Live
-
International Lover
-
Parade Europe
-
Parade America
-
Someone 2 Call
-
Uniondale 1985
-
Rainmaker
-
Boston Metro
-
From the Soundboard: 1984 Birthday Show
-
Another Lonely Ex-Mas
-
27: Mutiny at the Prom
-
Our Last Night in Europe
-
Purple Rush
-
Purple Finale
-
An Honest Man
-
The Avenue
-
Stockholm
-
Computer Blue
-
Atlanta ’85
-
Birthday Parade
-
Septembre
-
Live
-
Hello Louisiana
Compilations
Other
Links
Listen
Concerts
Buy
Founder
Tribute
Also known as
Prince & The Revolution · Prince and the Revolution
Tags
- film soundtrack
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 4c8ead39-b9df-4c56-a27c-51bc049cfd48
- ISNI
- 0000000108063629
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 7 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.