On the homepage
Vita.mn
Out There
Vita.mn
Vita.mn
Prince
'Purple' afterglow
Standing alone outside the Palace nightclub, Steve Fargnoli looked like the saddest man in Hollywood.
He'd devoted two years to bringing Prince's dream, "Purple Rain," to the silver screen. But following the premiere and after-party July 26, 1984, Prince's manager was pessimistic about this maverick rock movie with a first-time star (Prince), first-time director (Albert Magnoli) and first-time producers (Fargnoli and his partners), made in Minneapolis of all places.
I tried to be encouraging, mentioning a few early glowing reviews and the cavalcade of A-list celebs who reacted enthusiastically at the Grauman's Chinese Theater premiere -- Eddie Murphy, Pee Wee Herman, Christopher Reeve, Morgan Fairchild, Kevin Bacon and the king of Hollywood himself, Steven Spielberg, as well as music stars John Mellencamp, Kiss, Lionel Richie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, the Talking Heads, Rickie Lee Jones and Little Richard.
Read more...
'Purple Rain' is high water mark for Twin Cities music scene
Now: Prince's shadow still looms large among Twin Cities musicians.
More from this series:
-
Prince collaborators: Where are they now?
He's directing "Primal Scream," a horror thriller. He wrote the screenplay, too. -
Video: Prince appears on 'The Tavis Smiley Show'
-
Video: Prince performs 'Purple Rain' in 1991
-
Commentary: The Case for Prince
Minnesota's best-known export is a peerless talent - and a world-class paradox. -
Prince / An Oral History: In the Beginning
Prince Roger Nelson was born June 7, 1958, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis to Mattie Shaw and John Nelson. They had been in a jazz ensemble called the Prince Roger Trio. Since Mattie called her husband Prince, she dubbed her son Skipper "because he was small in size and he was just real cute - he was a darling baby." -
Prince / An Oral History: Creating a controversy
Prince began recording at the Record Plant in Sausalito, Calif., with veteran engineer Tommy Vicari. -
Prince / An Oral History: Baby, he's a star
Hungering for an R&B outlet, Prince formed the Time around drummer Morris Day, his onetime bandmate in Grand Central. The self-titled 1981 album, which included the hit "Cool," was written and recorded by Prince at his house in Chanhassen. -
Prince / An Oral History: Purple Majesty
The "Purple Rain" soundtrack zoomed to the top of the charts and stayed there for half a year. Los Angeles critic Mikal Gilmore called "Purple Rain" the best rock film ever made. Its premiere was in Hollywood. -
Prince / An Oral History: Oops, party over
"Under the Cherry Moon" had its premiere in July 1986 in Sheridan, Wyo. - a site chosen in an MTV contest. -
Prince / An Oral History: Paisley Park
Prince's Paisley Park label, a joint venture with Warner Bros., produced albums by a number of R&B greats - George Clinton, Chaka Khan and Mavis Staples - as well as unknowns including Ingrid Chavez and Carmen Electra. Meanwhile, the vault in the studio basement was filling up with songs by the hyperprolific artist. -
Prince / An Oral History: Emancipation Proclamation
Prince was now co-managed by former bodyguard Gilbert Davison, who hatched the idea for a nightclub called Glam Slam. Clubs opened in Miami, L.A. and the Minneapolis Warehouse District, where he'd often hang out with a young dancer, Mayte Garcia, he met in Europe. Only the Minneapolis club survives (as the Quest), but he is no longer involved with it. -
Prince / An Oral History: A time for reconciliation
He continued to tour and record, releasing his first live CD, the boxed set "One Nite Alone," and an instrumental disc ("N.E.W.S.") that got a Grammy nomination.
