First Avenue

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The venue's history is deeply tied to Prince. Discouraged by discrimination that had created a race barrier in the Minneapolis music scene, talent buyer Steve McClellan decided to book Prince in 1981 for $2,500 plus part of the gate. Before his death in 2016, Prince played many concerts at First Avenue. Recorded live at an August 3, 1983 show by a Record Plant truck parked outside, 'Purple Rain' was later used as the title track for the film *Purple Rain*—the film was already titled *Purple Rain* before the song was written or recorded, based on a lyric from an earlier song. Prince's management team offered First Avenue $100,000 to use the mainroom for filming in late November into December 1983. Most of the club's employees were extras in the film. Following Prince's death in 2016, local artist Peyton Scott Russell and a small team repainted Prince's star with gold leaf in an overnight tribute approved by venue management; the star was later repainted back to its original silver color.

In Their Own Story

The air inside is thick with humidity and anticipation, smelling faintly of hairspray and old beer. On stage, a young man in a ruffled shirt adjusts his guitar strap, eyes scanning the packed room. The bass line kicks in, heavy and undeniable, shaking the floorboards. For a moment, time stops as the crowd surges forward, united by a rhythm that feels like it's coming from their own hearts. This is where the legend began to breathe.

Reader's Guide

The physical space of First Avenue is characterized by its distinctive neon signage and a layout designed for intense intimacy between performer and audience. The main floor offers a dance area directly in front of the stage, ensuring no fan is ever far from the action, while balconies provide an elevated view of the spectacle below. Architecturally, the venue retains a gritty, industrial charm that complements the raw funk and rock styles Prince championed. The club also hosted numerous rehearsals and impromptu jam sessions that helped shape the tight musicianship of his early bands. The significance of this space to Prince's image is profound; it was the proving ground where he learned to command a room without needing massive production values. The venue remains a pilgrimage site for fans, preserving the spirit of those early nights when the future of music was being written on its small stage.

Did You Know?

• Prince's star on the building's exterior was repainted with gold leaf by local artist Peyton Scott Russell and a small team in an overnight tribute following Prince's death in 2016, with venue management's approval; it w
• The building opened in 1937 as the Minneapolis depot of the Northland Greyhound Lines bus system and operated for 31 years, closing as a depot in 1968. After a period of vacancy or other use, it was converted into a nigh
• Recorded live at an August 3, 1983 show at First Avenue, 'Purple Rain' was later used as the title track for Prince's commercially successful 1984 film, *Purple Rain*—the film was already titled *Purple Rain* before the
• Prince's management team offered First Avenue $100,000 to use the mainroom for filming *Purple Rain* in late November into December 1983.

Minneapolis Roots and Musical Genesis

His father, John Lewis Nelson, was a pianist and songwriter who performed under the stage name Prince Rogers with Mattie Della Shaw in the Prince Rogers Trio; the young prodigy was named after this moniker because his father hoped he would fulfill his own unfulfilled ambitions. Although Prince initially disliked his given name, preferring to call himself 'Skipper' during childhood, his musical aptitude surfaced early when he composed 'Funk Machine' on his father's piano at just seven years old. His upbringing was marked by turbulence following his parents' divorce when he was ten, leading him to move between households and eventually reside with neighbors where he befriended future collaborator André Cymone. Despite these domestic challenges and a history of epilepsy in his youth, Prince cultivated diverse talents, playing football and basketball at Central High School while simultaneously training in classical ballet through the Urban Arts Program. This unique blend of athletic discipline and artistic grace laid the foundation for his dynamic stage presence and eventual advocacy for dance, including later saving the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago.

The Warner Bros. Breakthrough and Creative Control

Prince's professional ascent began in earnest after high school when a demo tape created with producer Chris Moon caught the attention of Minneapolis businessman Owen Husney. Recognizing Prince's potential at age 19, Husney secured a management contract that proved pivotal; he facilitated a new demo session at Sound 80 Studios and leveraged his advertising agency to generate interest from major labels. Records, which granted the teenager unprecedented creative control over three albums and ensured he retained his publishing rights—a rarity for artists of that era. Relocating to Sausalito, California, Prince recorded his debut album, *For You*, at Record Plant Studios, releasing it two years later. These works not only pioneered the distinctive 'Minneapolis sound' but also solidified his reputation as a visionary who could seamlessly blend funk, rock, and pop while maintaining total artistic autonomy over his output.

Purple Rain Era and Unprecedented Commercial Dominance

The year 1984 marked a singular peak in music history when Prince became the first artist to simultaneously hold number-one positions for a film, an album, and a single in the United States. This trifecta was achieved with the movie *Purple Rain*, its accompanying soundtrack, and the hit single 'When Doves Cry.' Recorded with his newly formed backing band, The Revolution, the *Purple Rain* album spent twenty-four consecutive weeks atop the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. This period defined his global superstardom, further cemented by the massive success of the single 'Kiss,' which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. His ability to write, produce, perform, and direct allowed him to dominate the cultural landscape, selling over 100 million records worldwide and securing numerous accolades including Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, and an American Music Award for Achievement.

Name Changes, Later Years, and Enduring Legacy

In a dramatic move during a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. Throughout his life, Prince released 39 albums while amassing a vast catalog of unreleased material, demonstrating an insatiable creative drive. His career was tragically cut short on April 21, 2016, when he died at age 57 at his Paisley Park studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, following an accidental overdose involving counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. With over 100 million records sold globally, Prince remains a towering figure whose impact on music, dance, and film continues to resonate across generations.

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