avatarRandy Runtsch

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Abstract

ston Astros whip our Minnesota Twins baseball team at Target Field in Minneapolis. After the loss, on our way to the car, we walked by First Avenue, a nightclub where Prince had performed early in his career. We found no Prince-related street art. But we spotted the late artist’s name in a gold star, among a star-spangled field of silver stars, on an exterior wall of First Avenue.</p><p id="57fa">Bands and artists have performed at First Avenue since 1970. It has been a starting point for many acts from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, including Prince, The Revolution, Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and The Jayhawks. Other well-known artists and bands have performed there over the years, too.</p><p id="e50e">First Avenue appeared in Prince’s 1984 film, Purple Rain. The film also featured music performed at the venue.</p><p id="7925">David Carr wrote in the New York Times that the cultural history and weight of First Avenue is matched by only a few clubs. They include CBGB, Maxwell’s, Metro Chicago, and the 9:30 Club.</p><p id="f0ff">Other acts who have performed at First Avenue, and whose names are highlighted in silver stars on the nightclub’s walls, include these:</p><ul><li>U2<

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/li><li>The Cure</li><li>Emmylou Harris</li><li>Taj Mahal</li><li>Joe Cocker</li><li>Motörhead</li><li>Aerosmith</li><li>Korn</li><li>Wilco</li><li>Radiohead</li><li>Goo Goo Dolls</li><li>The Black Crowes</li></ul><p id="b0f5">Being gold, Prince’s star stood out among all the others. That is, until we saw a red star with the name of another Minneapolis resident, the late <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd">George Floyd</a>.</p><p id="c6c6">This story is dedicated to the memories of Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958-April 21, 2016) and George Floyd (October 14, 1973-May 25, 2020).</p><div id="a72e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/bob-dylan-in-living-color-844d101e4599"> <div> <div> <h2>Bob Dylan in Living Color</h2> <div><h3>April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Graffiti & Street Art”</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*byOPrxnu2ANZdIbzOrozNg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Exterior wall of the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The walls feature hundreds of stars with the names of artists and bands who have performed there over the years, usually early in their careers. Photo by Randy Runtsch.

Star-Spangled Prince and The Revolution

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle

The brightest stars will shine forever.

In April 2022, Mary Chang Story Writer challenged writers to publish a photo and story in the category “Graffiti and Street Art.” I accepted the challenge, and wrote Bob Dylan in Living Color, about a mural in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Knowing that the artist Prince was from Minneapolis, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles responded kindly. She asked, “Can you catch some of Prince for me? Please?” I told her I would do my best.

Recently, on a warm spring day, my wife and I watched the Houston Astros whip our Minnesota Twins baseball team at Target Field in Minneapolis. After the loss, on our way to the car, we walked by First Avenue, a nightclub where Prince had performed early in his career. We found no Prince-related street art. But we spotted the late artist’s name in a gold star, among a star-spangled field of silver stars, on an exterior wall of First Avenue.

Bands and artists have performed at First Avenue since 1970. It has been a starting point for many acts from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, including Prince, The Revolution, Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and The Jayhawks. Other well-known artists and bands have performed there over the years, too.

First Avenue appeared in Prince’s 1984 film, Purple Rain. The film also featured music performed at the venue.

David Carr wrote in the New York Times that the cultural history and weight of First Avenue is matched by only a few clubs. They include CBGB, Maxwell’s, Metro Chicago, and the 9:30 Club.

Other acts who have performed at First Avenue, and whose names are highlighted in silver stars on the nightclub’s walls, include these:

  • U2
  • The Cure
  • Emmylou Harris
  • Taj Mahal
  • Joe Cocker
  • Motörhead
  • Aerosmith
  • Korn
  • Wilco
  • Radiohead
  • Goo Goo Dolls
  • The Black Crowes

Being gold, Prince’s star stood out among all the others. That is, until we saw a red star with the name of another Minneapolis resident, the late George Floyd.

This story is dedicated to the memories of Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958-April 21, 2016) and George Floyd (October 14, 1973-May 25, 2020).

Freestyle
Pop Culture
Prince
Street Art
Music
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