33 years ago today, Prince played “Purple Rain” for the first time – Heather Janz was a guest at Prince’s 30th B’day party source: by Jackie Renzetti · August 3, 2016 Screen shot taken from video of Prince and the Revolution’s debut performance of Purple Rain, August 3, 1983 Before the 1984 blockbuster Purple Rain catapulted Prince on to the national stage, there was an Aug. 3, 1983 benefit concert for the Minnesota Dance Theatre at the recently re-branded First Avenue. It was there that the budding pop star debuted much of the Purple Rain album tracks, and recorded the versions of “Purple Rain,” “I Would Die 4 U” and “Baby I’m A Star” heard in the film and soundtrack. ...