When we 1st met Prince, 1 of the questions he asked was “have U ever been 2 Minneapolis” ?
At the time we had not, he simply replied in Prince style “U Should”
Here is r guide 2 the city and places 2 visit.
Purple Rain Locations
1) First Avenue.
First Avenue and 7th St Entry are iconic music venues located in a renowned building in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The nightclub is positioned at the intersection of First Avenue North and 7th Street North, which inspired their names. Locally, they are affectionately known as The Mainroom and The Entry.
Constructed in 1937, the building served as the Minneapolis depot for Greyhound Lines for 31 years. In 1970, Allan Fingerhut bought the property and transformed it into a nightclub. Throughout the 1980s, First Avenue thrived, becoming a pivotal landmark in the music and entertainment scene. It played a crucial role in pioneering the '80s funk rock subgenre through the Minneapolis sound and was the main venue for local icon Prince. Since gaining prominence in the 1980s, First Avenue has welcomed numerous celebrated local and national music acts. The venue's exterior is adorned with over 400 large stars, honoring these artists and other significant figures to the city.
The historical and cultural importance of the venue has garnered recognition both locally and nationally. Journalist David Carr, in The New York Times, noted that the cultural significance and history of First Avenue is paralleled by only a handful of clubs in the United States, such as CBGB, Maxwell's, Metro Chicago, and the 9:30 Club. Additionally, it was among the first clubs to feature Black artists in the predominantly segregated music scene of Minneapolis.
Discrimination had erected a racial barrier within the Minneapolis music scene. Encouraged by Dunlap to compose their own songs, Jimmy Jam and the 11-member band Mind & Matter managed to overcome this obstacle with engagements secured by McClellan in the mid-1970s. After initially booking Black acts like the one-hit wonder Lipps, Inc., featuring lead singer Cynthia Johnson, McClellan made the pivotal decision to book Prince in 1981 for $2,500, in addition to a portion of the ticket sales.
"Purple Rain" was recorded live in 1983 by a Record Plant truck at an August show and later became the title for the film Purple Rain. Prince's management offered First Avenue $100,000 to film in the main room from late November to December 1983, ensuring the Entry stayed open. Many club employees appeared as extras in the movie. The production contributed a patch panel and dimmer packs to the club. While McClellan worried that the audience shifted from true music enthusiasts to tourists, he and Meyers appreciated the increase in revenue.
In 2000, First Avenue & 7th St Entry released a promotional book titled "First Avenue & 7th Street Entry: Your Downtown 'Danceteria' Since 1970," authored, edited, and designed by Rebecca Noran. The book chronicles the club's history. Additionally, the club briefly issued a magazine called "First Avenue In House" from September 1998 to August 2000.
2) First Ave, Depot.
The Depot Tavern opened in 2010 next door to the 7th St Entry. The bar and restaurant has live video feeds from both the Mainroom and the Entry.
3) The Crystal Court within The IDS Centre
80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis
Built in 1972 The IDS Centre soars 792 feet into the Minneapolis skyline. The lobby and shopping area at the bottom of the tower is known as The Crystal Court and the skyway level was the location used for the scenes between Prince and Apollonia outside the guitar store.
The area still looks very similar and is open to the public seven days a week.
(Sadly, there are no shops selling white cloud guitars now)
4) The Kid’s’ House (Exterior)
3420 Snelling Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA
An easy walk from the Minneapolis Blue Line Light Rail stop at 38th Street this was the house used for the exterior of ‘The Kid’s’ troubled family home in Purple Rain. Prince’s NPG Music Publishing purchased the property in 2015.
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