Princely Purple Rain Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Revolution

The Revolution was the band name for a variety of musicians who performed together between 1982 and 1986. The band members performed together in various lines ups and certain ones continued to work with Prince on and off until the early 1990s. In 2012 the band reformed to undertake a reunion/benefit concert in Minneapolis at First Avenue.

After the death of Prince in 2016, The Revolution reformed and have continued to perform Prince's songs as well as their original songs.

Answer: Sixth

Although "Purple Rain" was Prince's sixth album it was the first accredited to his backing band The Revolution. Prince had success with previous albums, especially "1999" but "Purple Rain" well and truly put him on the success road with accolades from the Grammys to the Oscars.

Answer: Stevie Nicks

It is believed that Stevie Nicks received a more country version of the music for "Purple Rain" from Prince, with the idea of her writing the lyrics to it. After Nicks declined to collaborate, Prince performed the music to The Revolution who took away the country feel and made it more rock based. Within six hours of it being heard by The Revolution the final version was done and dusted.

Prince was a session musician on Nick's single "Stand Back" in 1983 and they became friends. There have been a number of interviews with Nicks from that time up to his tribute show where she has admitted that she was asked and did not write the lyrics as she was "scared" of the 10 minute music score.

There are numerous interviews with Nicks discussing this whilst Prince was alive and of course after his death, but I have been unable to find anything by Prince to confirm or deny it. It will remain an enigma.

Answer: Ventura Highway

The 1972 song by America, "Ventura Highway" on their album "Homecoming" received some success on America's Billboard, and overseas charts. The lyrics from the song
"Sorry boy, but I've been hit by
Purple rain
Aw, come on Joe, you can always
Change your name"

This is believed to be the first public reference of the term purple rain, and in this version it references the skyline and atmospheric conditions.

Answer: No bass line

A bass line is basically music for low-pitched instruments usually performed by the rhythm section. During a solo performance the bass line can mean any instrument played in a lower register. "When Doves Cry" was performed without a bass line, even though its original version was to include one. After consultation with Jill Jones, it was agreed to delete it from the song and perform it in its unconventional state.

Answer: Let's Go Crazy

The first track, and the first song performed in the movie "Purple Rain", was "Let's Go Crazy". Released also as a single, "Let's Go Crazy" was to become Prince's second Billboard 100 number one songs.

Answer: Wendy Melvoin

The first two of Prince's albums did not acknowledge any other artists. From the third to the fifth album certain members of The Revolution were credited as back up performers on the work. With "Purple Rain" the total band was acknowledged with its members being Prince, Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Matt Fink and Bobby Z. Melvoin played guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, drums and did back-up vocals for the group.

Answer: Riding a motor bike

Prince was portrayed sitting astride a customised 1981 Hondamatic Honda CB400A motorcycle. The customisation included on the purple motorcycle was a large Windjammer fairing, mini-ape handlebars and a pink velour seat.

Answer: Apollonia Kotero

Apollonia Kotero gained the leading female role in "Purple Rain" as Prince's girlfriend. "Take Me with U" was a duet, Prince and Apollonia, and the last single released from the album "Purple Rain".

Interestingly Apollonia recorded the original version of Prince's song "Manic Monday" but it did not gain the fame nor fortune of the successful version by the Bangles.

Answer: Best Original Song Score

The Oscar for Best Original Song Score (now Best Original Musical) was won by Prince for the movie "Purple Rain" in 1985. The runners up were "The Muppets Take Manhattan" by Jeff Moss and "Songwriter" by Kris Kristofferson.