Dez Dickerson

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Dickerson's journey with Prince began with a classified ad in the Twin Cities Reader in 1979. After a brief audition in the back of Del's Tire Mart, he was picked as guitarist. During the 1981 Christmas break, Dickerson had a profound conversion experience and became a born-again Christian. This caused him to struggle with performing songs with sexual themes, and despite the band's growing popularity, he desired more and more to quit. He contributed songs for Prince's side projects, writing "He's So Dull" for Vanity 6. (Note: 'Wild and Loose' and 'After Hi School' for the Time were written by Prince and Morris Day, or Prince alone, not by Dickerson.) After the 1999 tour, he left the band. He later formed the Modernaires and toured with Billy Idol on his 1984 Rebel Yell tour, but the Modernaires did not appear in the film Purple Rain. He released a solo album, Oneman, in 1998, and a book, My Time with Prince: Confessions of a Former Revolutionary. In 2005, he released a double CD retrospective and Rock of Ages – Where Classic Hymns Meet Classic Rock!, featuring his son Jordan on drums and bass. In 2012, he joined a full-scale Revolution reunion organized by drummer Bobby Z. to raise money and awareness for heart disease; Prince did not attend. Starting in 2023, Dez periodically fills in for different hosts at Super Talk 99.7 WTN in Nashville.

In Their Own Story

Backstage at the First Avenue club, the air was thick with sweat and anticipation. Dez looked down at his guitar case, the leather worn smooth by years of touring. Around him, the crew buzzed with excitement for the night's show, but silence settled in his chest. He thought about the verses he had sung earlier that day, words that no longer felt like truth to him anymore. The purple lights from the stage flickered through the curtain gap, casting long shadows on his face. It wasn't a decision made lightly; it was a choice between the roar of the crowd and the quiet voice within. He closed the latches slowly, knowing this would be one of the last times he walked out to that specific sound.

Reader's Guide

Dez Dickerson served as the primary lead guitarist for Prince during a pivotal period of commercial expansion, joining the touring ensemble around 1979. His tenure spanned through the recording and promotion of the Controversy and 1999 albums before reaching its zenith with the Purple Rain film and tour. Musically, Dickerson brought a jazz-influenced edge to the funk foundation, often trading solos that highlighted his technical proficiency on stage. This created an immediate vacancy that allowed other musicians like Wendy Melvoin to join the fold later. Following his exit from Prince's orbit, Dickerson pursued a career in Christian music and gospel ministry. He released several solo albums focused on religious themes while maintaining a connection to the broader musical community. His legacy remains tied to the early visual identity of The Revolution, often seen in archival footage wearing signature glasses and playing distinct guitar riffs that helped shape the sound of an era.

Did You Know?

• Dickerson answered Prince's ad for a touring musician in the Twin Cities Reader in 1979 and was hired after a 15-minute audition at Del's Tire Mart.
• His guitar solo on 'Little Red Corvette' ranked number 64 on Guitar World's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
• He wrote 'He's So Dull' for Vanity 6, but did not co-write 'Wild and Loose' or 'After Hi School' for the Time (those were written by Prince and Morris Day, or Prince alone).
• In 2012, he joined a Revolution reunion organized by drummer Bobby Z. to raise money and awareness for heart disease; Prince did not attend.
• Starting in 2023, Dez periodically fills in for different hosts at Super Talk 99.7 WTN in Nashville.

Rise Within the Revolution

Desmond D'andrea Dickerson, born in Minneapolis in 1955, emerged from a background of local rock bands to join Prince's inner circle. In 1979, he responded to an advertisement in the Twin Cities Reader and secured his position after a brief fifteen-minute audition held at Del's Tire Mart. As the guitarist for the Revolution, Dickerson became integral to the band's early sound, contributing backing vocals on major hits like 'Little Red Corvette' and '1999.' His instrumental prowess was particularly highlighted by his guitar solo on 'Little Red Corvette,' which later earned a spot on Guitar World's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. Beyond performing, he served as a songwriter for Prince's side projects, penning tracks for Vanity 6 and co-writing songs for The Time. His tenure coincided with the group's explosive rise in popularity, establishing him as a key architect of the Minneapolis sound before his departure following the 1999 tour.

Faith and Departure

A profound spiritual transformation occurred during the Christmas break of 1980 when Dickerson experienced a born-again conversion. This shift fundamentally altered his perspective on performing music with sexual themes, creating an internal conflict as the band's popularity soared alongside Prince's provocative artistic direction. Despite their growing success, Dickerson increasingly felt compelled to leave the group to align his career with his new religious convictions. He eventually departed after the 1999 tour, paving the way for Wendy Melvoin to take his place. His exit marked a significant transition in the band's lineup and sound, driven by his desire to pursue options that respected his conscience rather than continuing on a path he found troubling.

Post-Revolution Ventures

Following his departure from Prince's orbit, Dickerson formed the Modernaires, a short-lived group that toured with Billy Idol during the 1984 Rebel Yell tour. Although they appeared in the film Purple Rain, their contributions were not included on the official soundtrack or released as singles. After an unsuccessful attempt to secure a solo recording deal, he relocated to Nashville in 1987 to support singer Judson Spence while engaging in session work and production. His career trajectory shifted significantly toward Christian music; by 1990, he was serving as vice president of A&R for Starsong Communications. Four years later, he founded Absolute Records, a label dedicated to Christian rock that released works by artists like Squirt and These 5 Down, demonstrating his commitment to the genre after leaving mainstream pop.

Legacy and Later Years

In the decades following his time with Prince, Dickerson has remained active in the music industry through various projects. He released a solo album titled Oneman in the late 1990s and authored a memoir detailing his journey from audition to departure. In 2005, he issued two significant collections: a retrospective of his work from 1982 to 1987 and Rock of Ages, a rock reinterpretation of classic hymns featuring his son Jordan on drums and bass. The 'Modernaire' track from the Purple Rain film was finally released as a single in 2008. Currently based in Nashville, he manages Pavilion Entertainment and occasionally hosts segments for Super Talk radio. His enduring connection to his former bandmates was highlighted in 2012 when he joined a Revolution reunion organized by Bobby Z., an event Prince attended but did not perform at.