L.A.’s Purple Reign: Prince, Purple Rain, and a City’s Legacy

Thom Vest
Jun 4
5 min read

By Thom Vest

Los Angeles was never Prince’s hometown – that distinction belongs to Minneapolis – yet the City of Angels is woven deeply into the Purple Rain legend. Forty years ago, in the summer of 1984, Prince Rogers Nelson became a global superstar with the release of Purple Rain, an album-film combo that blended rock, funk, romance, and autobiography into a cultural phenomenon. The Purple Rain era not only cemented Prince’s legacy as an artist of electrifying creativity; it also forged unexpected ties with Los Angeles’ studios, stages, and subcultures. From Hollywood backlots to Sunset Strip clubs, from LGBTQ+ dance floors to fashion runways, Prince’s influence in L.A. endures – and this week, the city will honor that legacy with a celebratory screening and rooftop dance party on what would have been his birthday.

In this retrospective, we journey through Prince’s evolution up to Purple Rain, peek behind the scenes of the film’s creation, and explore the Los Angeles places and people that helped shape his purple reign. Along the way, we revisit the creative alchemy that produced an Oscar-winning rock drama, the flamboyant style that challenged norms, and the community of artists and outsiders who found freedom in Prince’s example. It’s a story of how a shy kid from Minneapolis conquered Hollywood on his own terms – and how the people of L.A. embraced the man in purple.

Making Purple Rain: A Film, an Album, and a Cultural Phenomenon

Behind the scenes, Purple Rain blended reality and fiction in powerful ways. Prince cast his actual band, The Revolution, and his real-life rivals, The Time. The film’s female lead, Apollonia Kotero, was cast just days before filming after Vanity dropped out. Apollonia, an L.A. native, was thrust into Prince’s orbit – and the chemistry they built on set became central to the film’s emotional core.

Most of the film was shot in Minneapolis, including live performances at the club First Avenue, but Los Angeles still left its mark. Some “Minneapolis” exterior shots were actually filmed at the Wiltern Theatre, and the iconic image of Prince on his purple motorcycle – used as the film’s poster and album cover – was staged on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. Several songs from the Purple Rain album were recorded in Studio 3 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood. Tracks like “When Doves Cry” and “The Beautiful Ones” came to life in that studio, which Prince returned to throughout his career. The synergy between film and soundtrack was unprecedented. Each bolstered the other, transforming Purple Rain from a musical passion project into a cultural force.

Critics and fans alike were blown away. Purple Rain wasn’t just about Prince – it was about ambition, artistry, gender expression, and redemption. It featured women, queer subtext, and people of color at the forefront, quietly challenging industry norms long before it was fashionable to do so.

“I’m not a woman / I’m not a man / I am something that you’ll never understand.”

L.A. Landmarks of a Purple Legacy

Despite its Minneapolis setting, Purple Rain is forever linked to Los Angeles. Prince recorded some of the album’s most iconic tracks at Sunset Sound, and the Warner Bros. backlot provided one of the most indelible images in rock history. The Forum in Inglewood became a major chapter in Prince’s live performance legacy, not only during the 1985 Purple Rain Tour, but again in 2011, when he played an unprecedented 21-night residency known as the “21 Nite Stand.”

And then there was Glam Slam. In the early ‘90s, Prince opened a nightclub in Downtown L.A. at 333 S. Boylston Street. With its purple glow, erotic architecture, and late-night jam sessions, Glam Slam became a cult hotspot. Though it eventually closed, the space lives on – today it’s The Bellwether, a live music venue that honors its purple past.

Prince also made headlines for leasing and dramatically remodeling a Hollywood Hills mansion in 2005, turning it into a full-fledged purple paradise. While the property has long since been restored to neutral, its stint as “Paisley Park West” is the stuff of L.A. lore.

Style, Identity, & The Freedom to Be

In a city obsessed with image, Prince was an oracle. He dressed like royalty and rebel all at once—ruffled shirts, eyeliner, brocade jackets, thigh-high boots. His style was both armor and invitation. He dared you to look away. And for a generation of artists, musicians, and LGBTQ+ youth in Los Angeles, he was proof that there was power in embracing your own contradictions.

Long before gender fluidity became a talking point, Prince was out there on the cover of Controversy, asking, “Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay?” and refusing to offer an answer. In songs like “I Would Die 4 U,” he told the world: “I’m not a woman / I’m not a man / I am something that you’ll never understand.” He wasn’t playing a part. He was setting a precedent.

In West Hollywood clubs and Melrose boutiques, you could see his influence everywhere. Club kids copied his makeup. Fashion designers echoed his silhouettes. DJs worshipped his crate of records like scripture. Even today, it’s hard to walk into a drag show, a queer warehouse rave, or a retro-themed party in L.A. without hearing his music—or seeing someone channeling his energy.

Prince didn’t just blur the lines. He made the lines irrelevant.

Reflections from the Purple Underground

Prince’s impact in L.A. can still be felt through artists who carry the torch. Miguel credits him as a major influence. Dave Grohl once got to jam with him during a Forum soundcheck. Sheila E., Wendy & Lisa, and countless others built their careers in his orbit and still live and work in L.A.

Even younger generations, like the artists who perform at The Bellwether or the DJs spinning deep cuts in Silver Lake, reflect his legacy. Prince’s artistic DNA is everywhere – in fashion, music, activism, and attitude.

Ava DuVernay has cited Prince’s independent spirit as a creative inspiration. Haim, the Valley-born trio, still talk about the honor of being invited to one of his after-parties. These are just a few of the many modern voices echoing his genius. To know Prince’s music is to feel compelled to create—and in Los Angeles, creation is survival.

A Purple Celebration in the City of Angels

On Friday, June 7th—what would have been Prince’s 66th birthday—LA Explained invites Angelenos to celebrate a true icon in the city that helped amplify his genius. We’re transforming the historic Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood into a purple playground for the night, with a special screening of Purple Rain on a massive 42-foot screen followed by an epic rooftop dance party set against the skyline.

Come in your finest Prince-inspired look—lace gloves, purple velvet, high heels encouraged. Sip cocktails. Sing every word. Cry a little. Dance a lot. Because this isn’t just a movie screening. It’s a love letter. A time machine. A resurrection.

It’s a reminder that Prince didn’t just give us music. He gave us a way to be.

So whether you first saw Purple Rain in theaters in 1984 or discovered it years later in a haze of midnight curiosity, come celebrate with us. The spirit is still alive. The night is still young. And the purple reign never ended.