Already a rising superstar and sex symbol on the music scene, courtesy of the groundbreaking and innovative 1999 album, the Purple Rain movie and accompanying soundtrack of the same name catapulted the diminutive genius Prince Rogers Nelson to transcendent megastardom who possessed all-time talent within his 5-foot-2 frame.
And, surprising to some, Prince is still enjoying a love affair with the world’s women some 30 years later after Purple Rain made him one of the faces of entertainment.
The movie was the figurative soundtrack for the X and Y generations and told the quasi-biographical tale of a tortured musical savant who almost followed in his father’s self-destructive path before being whisked from self-immolation by his music and his woman.
Purple Rain ranks with The Beatles A Hard Days Night as one of the best music-based movies in the annals of Rock & Roll, while the movie and album together became Prince’s answer to Michael Jackson’s legendary “Motown 25″ moonwalk and “Thriller” video the year before. Released at the end of July of 1984, the film also introduced the talented funk band The Time to mainstream music audiences, most particularly Morris Day who incredulously nearly stole the film from The Purple One with his lovable arrogance and hilariously profane antics.
Let’s take a look back and forward at Prince’s Purple Rain at 30, and where the major players in the movie are today.