Prince’s backing band will reunite for spring tour

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

For members of Prince’s 1980s backing band The Revolution, reuniting and hitting the road for a spring U.S. tour is how they are coping with the “Purple Rain” pop superstar’s unexpected death a year ago.

“We’re taking it to the people who are grieving like we are, and letting them have a little bit of relief,” guitarist Wendy Melvoin, sitting on a couch with other members of the band during a break at their Minneapolis rehearsal space, said Wednesday.

When Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose a year ago today, members of The Revolution were mourning at a Minneapolis hotel and made an impromptu video, promising to reunite for shows honoring their one-time flamboyant front man. After three sold-out shows at the First Avenue nightclub (the setting of Prince’s hit 1984 movie “Purple Rain”) in September, The Revolution will kick off a tour today at Paisley Park in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen on the anniversary of his death.

The tour includes the House of Blues in Cleveland on May 18. Tickets are $40 top $155 via livenation.com.