Whatever Happened To Prince’s Bandmates
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 19: Musician Prince performs onstage at the 36th Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 19, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Prince made his initial mark in the music world by recording with his cousin’s band, 94 East. Soon after, he embarked on his solo career, releasing his debut album, For You. From the start, Prince showcased his extraordinary talent by composing, arranging, producing, and playing all the instruments on most of his solo records.
In 1979, Prince assembled his first backing band, which included André Cymone on bass, Gayle Chapman and Lisa Coleman on keyboards, Dez Dickerson on guitar, Dr. Fink, Bobby Z. on drums, Brownmark on bass, and Jill Jones on vocals. This lineup eventually evolved into the iconic Prince and The Revolution.
By 1987, Prince was preparing for his Sign ☮ the Times tour and formed a new band featuring Dr. Fink, Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss (brass, vocals), Mico Weaver on guitar, Sheila E. on drums and percussion, Levi Seacer Jr. on bass and guitar, Boni Boyer on keyboards and vocals, and Cat Glover on vocals. This group continued to push the boundaries of Prince’s creative vision.
In 1990, Prince introduced another new ensemble, Prince & The New Power Generation, showcasing his relentless drive to evolve his sound and performance style.
Prince passed away in April 2016 at his home in suburban Minneapolis, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence the music culture. But what happened to the talented musicians who once shared the stage with him? Let’s find out.
Where Are Prince’s Bandmates Now?
André Cymone
Prince’s high school bandmate and bassist from 1979-1980, released his sixth studio album titled 1969 in 2017, available on BandCamp and iTunes.
Dez Dickerson
Guitarist for The Revolution from 1979-1983, now manages label and branding companies Pavilion Entertainment and Pavilion Synergies in Nashville.
Dr. Fink
Revolution keyboardist from 1979-1990, remains active, performing with The Revolution, and contributing to the Netflix film Wine Country.
Bobby Z. Rivkin
Drummer for The Revolution from 1979-1986, currently hosts a radio show every Sunday on 96.3 K-TWIN in Minneapolis.
Lisa Coleman
Keyboardist for The Revolution from 1980-1986, continues to work as a film and television composer and released her first solo instrumental album, Collage, in 2019.
Mark Brown (Brownmark)
Bassist for The Revolution from 1981-1986, is actively making music in his own studio, collaborating with inspiring musicians.
Eric Leeds
Saxophonist for Madhouse and The Revolution from 1986-1989, reunited with his band The Family in 2007, now known as Fdeluxe, and released the album Gaslight independently in 2012.
Sheila E.
Drummer for Prince from 1987-1989, recently performed and served as music director for the Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince concert, which aired on CBS in April 2020.
Levi Seacer Jr.
Collaborated with Prince from 1987-1993, later sued Prince for unpaid royalties, eventually settling for around $40,000.
Cat Glover
Backing vocalist and tour choreographer from 1987-1989, released the EP Catwoman in 1989 and has since worked in London and Los Angeles, recording her own material.
