Prince's sound evolves and his use of the LINN will change the sound of the decade. Critics and fans have never heard the noise that he is about to release from the north. Purple Rain is about to be the largest most arena rock release of Prince Rogers Nelsons 7 year long 6 album recording career. Prince bets on himself after owing heavily for his first album's cost. Purple Rain is poised to make Prince a true player as a film star and Rock Star. Two of Purple Rain's signature songs, When Doves Cry & Let's Go Crazy are explained. Prince's Boss Pedal setup is highlighted. Prince's increasing mastery of his sound is emboldening him to take chances. How can u funk with no bass?

Pop kings engage in the dance battle of the decade at the beverly theatre with the godfather of soul watching. In late summer of 1983 while Prince was recovering from Vanity leaving the Purple Rain production and the firing of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis he went to the Beverly Theatre to see his musical hero James Brown. YouTube has made this clip legendary. Michael Jackson, reaping the rewards from his gigantic Thriller album was also in attendance. What happened? Come & see.

Morris Day & Prince have become the closest of friends since the beginning. Their done everything together. The journey is about to end in dramatic fashion.

Prince is closer than ever to realising his dream. Morris Day and Prince started as childhood friends on the north side. Nowadays it’s more business than pleasure and the artist formerly called Young Purple is becoming a mass media operation. Journey takes a shot at a claim for Purple Rain the song. Morris and Jerome join Laurel & Hardy, with an all time film routine.

Prince's biggest aspirations are coming true. The Revolution is about to find out what five years of constant touring and recording are really worth. Prince will leave a piece of himself behind too. This is the "be careful what you wish for" one.

Prince had a lifelong battle with publishing and his record label. When hip hop and sampling came together a new battlefield was created.

In 1984 Prince and the Revolution embarked on the 90 day Purple Rain tour. Prince defined his status as the premier band leader of his time in the tradition of Count Basie and James Brown. He accomplished it all while becoming the international superstar musician he’d always aspired to.

Prince Rogers Nelson signed with Warner Bros. in 1977, he fought and worked his way to 1984 and what he found was that all he ever wanted to achieve was done. He would soon realise that there was more to come. Some things he never knew he desired and some he would come to despise.

Prince continues to experience success in his rise to prominence. Prince has gained a lot. In 1985 Prince has a number one film and a number one album as well as multiple Grammies and an Oscar. Lisa Coleman feels lost. Wendy Melvoin wants a raise. Brownmark doesn’t like the changes. This moment of Purple triumph seems to come with some of the seeds of discontent. Prince has lost friends during his meteoric rise and the stakes are now higher than ever. He’s the head of a complicated organization, the boss of his band, the Revolution, and an absolute 1 of 1. Billy Sparks spoke truth...this is tha bidnizz! U say u want a leader? Prince is about to take full control and everyone may not like it.

Prince's new empire is buckling under its own weight. This ep has Lionel Richie, James Brown, Huey Lewis Quincy Jones Madonna Cyndi Lauper Hall & Oates and Nile Rodgers. Why? Cuz the music industry was bananas in 1985. What other Year could you legitimately stan Willie Nelson & Run DMC? Prince had just blowed up and was rejiggering his whole format. Suddenly the USA for Africa session and We Are the World happened. Bob Geldof pulled a blinder in October of 1984 with the seminal Christmas smash Band aid. Duran Duran George Michael Bono Sting Boy George Bananarama and Paul Young came together to set the example. Michael Jackson was a main focal point at the We are the World sessions. There was rumored to be simmering beef between Michael Jackson and Prince. The summit at A&M studios may have been the opportunity to settle it or blow it up. Most accounts said the two were friends with deep respect for each other. But in the eighties it was a daily versus for the pop titans.

Fame is a monster. Purple Rain was a 1of 1. Prince wants to move on from the spectacle he created with his surprise hit film and album. He’s in the clubs of LA as he tries to low key his Around the World in a Day campaign. Wendy and Lisa have been elevated to writing interests. Rick James is proving to be an enduring sore spot. The USA for Africa We are the World backlash may take Prince off his track. All that combined with the reality that Prince is a world class contrarian. 1985 is a year that Prince needs to gain perspective on what it all means. There seem to be a bunch of options, both synthetic and organic to help Prince find his way.

The Revolution want their flowers. After supporting the Purple Rain tour and major contributions on Around the World in a day and Parade its time. SO while their leader Prince is stepping off of his greatest moment into a promising career as the alpha rock star, the Revolution is getting into its side project hustle. Prince may be looking into directing. Everyone in the Prince camp has their eyes wide in this moment. Purple Rain has seemingly made everything possible. No one more so than Mark Brown (BrownMark). BrownMark has been guiding his funk rock band Mazarati for around 4 years. He's also checking in with Motown founder Berry Gordy. Berry Gordy has already impacted the Prince camp by stealing away Vanity from Purple Rain. While The Last Dragon is still banging, Prince does not forget people who have blocked the princely way. Wendy and Lisa are being utilized at high levels but you can't eat studio time. Wendy, Lisa, Bobby and Fink want some #PaperPrince (Alex voice).

Prince & Jerome were making moves in Paris long before Jay-Z and Kanye. Warner Bros has seen Young Purple work that Purple Rain in 1984. Now Prince has been given cash and crew to give life to Under The Cherry Moon. Morris Day is living in the aftermath of his stellar performance in Purple Rain and tons of people are checking for that on screen "IT" factor that was so clearly visible. Morris is running from some issues and some are Prince driven. The Family is even fracturing too. The relationship with Susannah Melvoin "does not belong" in Revolution business, according to Lisa. Bobby Z gets married. Pepe is releasing the Minneapolis Genius, scooters are rolling, who's directing this? Scorsese? Mary Lambert? 1985 is as messy and as huge as anyone can imagine. Drama in the Purple Kingdom. Come and see.

Prince & the Revolution are moving farther and farther apart as a unit. This is happening just as The Revolution are at their most collaborative. Wendy & Lisa are clearly feeling themselves and BrownMark has had enough. Prince has visited the Mountain and the experience has left him unmoved. Sheila E. and Vanity are both launching film careers as Prince wraps Under the Cherry Moon in France. Hip Hop is in its ascendance. The Kid is pushing 30. The costumes are gone, the suits are on. Christopher Tracy is leading the Parade.

The Boss has wrapped Under the Cherry Moon and heads back to the U.S. Prince has a major film dropping in July that happens to be self-directed. As that pressure mounts Prince calls all his folks to Los Angeles to compete for a spot in the next iteration of the band. Sheila E., Eric Leeds, Levi Seacer Jr., Wendy and Lisa. Detroit has been a serious player in Prince's growth and Prince's Detroit hype man Billy Sparks is on the job priming the Detroit fanbase with a hilarious appearance on Electrifying Mojo's Midnight Funk Association. Prince has now decided to incorporate after-show performances into his regular tour schedule. The heavy lifting may bring conflict. Either way this is the leveled up Prince that we would see for the next 20 years. Constantly touring and recording. Rinse ands repeat. \ Susannah Melvoin is wavering as she returns to America as an engaged woman who lost a starring role and her band. Wendy and Lisa are checking the staging and asking questions.

Yes there was a time when MTV promoted and played actual music. During this time Prince allowed Mtv to run a contest. The winner of the contest would be allowed to host his first motion picture since Purple Rain. For someone known as a control freak, he maybe should have not let this one go. From all accounts the move was a disaster resulting in Prince experiencing another commercial disappointment. This would be his second in as many years. This along with the fact that the Revolution continued to grow in number but fracture in cohesiveness. Wendy and Lisa's attempted defection at a moment when Prince's collaborative relationship is at its hight must have rankled Prince. It's all going bad.