Prince & the Revolution: Who are they, and where are they now?

What has everyone been doing all these years? We catch up with Wendy, Lisa and other members of the Revolution.

August 26, 2016 at 6:47PM
Guitarist Wendy Melvoin fronted The Revolution Reunion, a Benefit to Celebrate Life initiated by drummer Bobby Z, brought together Prince's former backing band together in a benefit for the American Heart Association at First Ave. in Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday night, February 19, 2012. At left was bassist Brown Mark while guitarist Dez Dickerson is at right. The keyboardist is Lisa Coleman.
The Revolution played a benefit concert at First Avenue in 2012. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Dr. Fink. He produces independent and unsigned artists worldwide as well as doing session work from his StarVu Studios in the suburban Twin Cities. Since January, he has been helping to develop a new music streaming service and an audio products line for MobileSoft Corp.

Wendy & Lisa. A recording act in the late '80s and early '90s, Melvoin and Coleman still work together 90 percent of the time, doing everything from co-writing, producing other artists and composing for film and television. They became the first women to receive an Emmy for a main title theme song, winning for Showtime's "Nurse Jackie." Even though their last album was in 2008, they continue to play and write together almost every day.

BrownMark. A recording artist for Motown in the late 1980s, he is now producing artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Sage Waters, and exploring a new country-funk sound. BrownMark is also producing a podcast show scheduled for release this fall.

Bobby Z. He continues to play drums and runs an independent music and video label distributed by Entertainment One, a multinational media distribution company.

about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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