Prince's former band reunites for Purple Rain club show

Prince's former backing band The Revolution reunited for the first time in five years for an emotional show at the club featured in Purple Rain on Thursday night (01Sep16).

Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Matt Fink and their bandmates took the stage at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota to pay tribute to their late leader, who died from an accidental drug overdose in April (16).

Wendy led the group as it belted out a string of Prince hits, including Let's Go Crazy, When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret, and 1999, and told fans, "I encourage every one of you to take every one of these songs and make them your own."

Melvoin battled with her emotions throughout the show and almost broke down during a stirring rendition of Sometimes It Snows in April, but she was all smiles as Prince's childhood friend and first bandmate Andre Cymone joined The Revolution onstage to perform a bass solo during Let's Work.

Other special guests included Dez Dickerson, the Revolution's original guitarist, who recreated his solo on Little Red Corvette, and soul singer Bilal, who sang on The Beautiful Ones and When Doves Cry.

Meanwhile, Prince's ex-wives Mayte Garcia and Manuela Testolini and his former lovers Susannah Melvoin and Apollonia were spotted in the crowd, as was Prince's brother Omarr Baker and other members of the family.

The show ended with a rousing encore performance of Purple Rain.

The Revolution will play another two First Avenue shows over the weekend (02-04Sep16). The group is also scheduled to be part of an official Prince tribute show, which is scheduled to take place at the newly-built U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis next month (Oct16).