The Purple Rain Tour was one of the most successful tours
to that point. Lasting 90 scheduled concerts, in 15,000-20,000 capacity
arena's, in 32 cities, being seen by 1.75 million people in the US and
Canada and grossing approximately $30 million. The original idea was that
this was going to be a world tour, but because of Prince being fed up with
touring that idea was abandoned. As a replacement the broadcasted the march
30th, 1985 concert from Syracuse live in Europe, where it was seen by approximately
12-15 million people. That show was also released on video.
He also played 4 free charity concerts for handicapped children and
in some cities food drives were organised. Also the tour raised $500,000
for Marva Collins' experimental Teacher Training Institute in Chicago.
Sheila E and her band played the opening act.
| Tour | First date - Last date | Total Shows |
Regular Shows |
After Shows |
Club Shows |
Special Shows |
Opening Act |
Resch. Shows | Cancelled Shows |
Award Shows |
R-TV Other |
| Purple Rain Tour | 04-11-1984 - 07-04-1985 | 104 |
98 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
The Tourbook:
The Band:
Bobby Z.: Drums
BrownMark: Bass, Vocals
Wendy Melvoin: Guitar, Vocals
Dr. (Matt) Fink: Keyboards
Lisa Coleman: Keyboards, Vocals
Eric Leeds: Saxophone (Starting February 18, 1985)
During Baby, I'm A Star, Sheila E. and members of her band joined on
stage.
The Stage:
Setlist:
Let's Go Crazy
Delirious
1999
Little Red Corvette
Yankee Doodle Dandee (instrumental)
Free
Father's Song
God
Computer Blue
Darling Nikki
The Beautiful Ones
When Doves Cry
I Would Die 4 U
Baby, I'm A Star
Purple Rain
As the tour progressed the 90-minute show began to extend to a 120-minute
show. There were some changes to the setlist.
The piano segment was often extended to include:
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?
Let's Pretend We're Married
International Lover
Do Me, Baby
Other songs included from time to time were: Dirty Mind, I Wanna Be
Your Lover, When You Were Mine, Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)
and Under The Cherry Moon.
Towards the end of the tour additional songs made their occasional
appearnce in the piano segment: Condition Of The Heart, 4 The Tears In
Your Eyes, Raspberry Beret, With You, Still Waiting, A Case Of You and
Noon Rendezvous.
Early 1985 Take Me With You was added after Little Red Corvette.
17 Days, Irresistible Bitch and Possessed were often included in the
later part of the tour.
A few concerts towards the end of the tour the show started with full
versions of 17 Days or Controversy behind the closed curtain before the
show continued in the usual way.
On a few occasions at the end of the tour the standard closer Purple
Rain was followed by another encore of America.