Prince at First Avenue: The First Purple Rain

On August 3, 1983, Prince and the Revolution played First Avenue to raise money for the Minnesota Dance Theatre. They brought new songs, including one called “Purple Rain.” The audience was hearing it for the first time.

There was a recording truck outside. The performances of “I Would Die 4 U,” “Baby I’m a Star” and “Purple Rain” became the basis of the versions released on the album. Prince made edits and added overdubs, but he kept the performances. That’s the detail worth knowing: this wasn’t just an early outing for the songs. Parts of that Minneapolis benefit show are on the record.

First Avenue already mattered to Prince. He used the club regularly and tried out material there. The former bus depot would become familiar to people far beyond Minneapolis through the Purple Rain film, but its role in his music was already established. It was somewhere he could bring something new and play it in front of people.

Shop: The First Avenue Tee

Sources: The Current’s reporting on the concert and First Avenue’s venue history.

Listen: “Purple Rain” from the album. It’s the released version built from this performance, with later edits and overdubs.