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REVOLUTION – PRINCE, THE BAND, THE ERA • James Campion Good day, Profonde Musique Readers,   Hope this finds you well.   I am happy to announce that my new book, Revolution: Prince, the Band, the Era is coming out on August 28! Bloomsbury US   ISBN: 9798765161456

I’m also excited after two years of working on it that it will be released under the guise of my new publisher, Bloomsbury U.S., and I can’t wait for you all to read it. And for those who have pre-ordered it already either from me or Amazon or wherever you guys buy your books, I cannot thank you enough.
 
What the hell is this now?
 
Well, Bloomsbury has a pretty good introduction for it:
 
“Revolution is a detailed exploration into the era of Prince’s most prolific and groundbreaking music made with considerable inspiration and performed by a unique cadre of musicians he gathered and relentlessly drove to be the sonic, visual, and ideological reflection of his evolving vision. Although being the most self-contained, versatile, and prolific artist of his era, Prince reveled in the band, a multi-racial, intergender unit that acted as both family and loyal acolytes that embodied his ethos, expressed his pathos, and lifted him to rarified heights of pop dominance. This is the story of the genre-shifting, multi-media, trailblazing Prince & the Revolution from their humble inception to their precipitous rise in celebrated hit singles, albums, films, and tours to their controversial and shocking demise.”
 
Yeah, that about covers it. 
 
As mentioned, I spent years researching and writing Revolution, traveling to Minneapolis and visiting all the key geographical areas and homes and venues that made Prince who he would become, including his meeting so many of the members of his early bands that would be instrumental in his compositions and performances, until they became the Revolution. I was fortunate to work beside such noted Prince historians as Duane Tudhal and Andrea Swensson, both of whom lent blurbs on the finished book below. I am also jazzed to have the great Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone and author of so many of my favorite music books pen the Foreword. Rob is not only an incredible music essayist, journalist and author, but he was instrumental in my trying a different tact for this project, as he, as well as many colleagues and fellow writers, insisted I explore more of what I experienced from the music than my more recent works. Revolution is the culmination of that evolution, so it makes sense Rob kicks it off.
 
To that end, I made a concerted effort to approach the exercise as a novelist with the hopes of bringing a new slant to, for some, a well-known story, but most importantly for me, a way to introduce those who know of Prince, but don’t really know him intimately – to his art, his methods, and his incredible influence and impact on music and pop culture, especially during the period I cover in the book, the 1980s, where he was the center of the pop culture universe for a short but explosive time. 
 
Revolution marks my fourth project with Backbeat Books, and I am so pleased and honored to have them as a support group for all my authorial endeavors.    
 
Below are some early returns on what people I respect greatly think of the book and the very important Library Journal that ranked it in their prestigious “Starred” Review for non-fiction this month:
 
Praise for Revolution:
 
“James Campion makes this book a love story between Prince and the Revolution, fraught with the agonies and ecstasies of long-haul creative intimacy. What an experience to follow Prince on this journey. Campion makes this book a tribute to the musicians who took this trip with him—the only ones who really know his fantasies from the inside. To read this book is to comprehend the raptures of being part of that communal groove the Revolution shared, as well as the pain when the connection breaks down. But as long as that bond lasts, we are beautiful. It’s gonna be a beautiful night.”
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone magazine, author of Dreaming the Beatles, On Bowie, Heartbreak is the National Anthem
 
“The Revolution were more than just Prince's co-stars in Purple Rain. They were key collaborators at a time when the artist refined what we now know as the ‘Minneapolis Sound.’ A critical appreciation of this talented group—who held their own alongside a demanding, endlessly creative, once-in-a-generation supernova—is long overdue.”
—Andrea Swensson, author of Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years
 
“Prince is commonly understood to be a solitary genius who created some of the greatest songs of the 80s and 90s largely by himself. But the reality is that he worked with scores of collaborators, the most famous being his backing band, the Revolution. James Campion finally gives the Revolution the attention they deserve, adding some necessary insight into the legend we all know and love.” 
— Steven Hyden, Uproxx magazine, author of There Was Nothing You Could Do and Long Road
 
“The Revolution played a vital part in Prince’s history, and their legendary story needs to be told and celebrated.”
— Duane Tudhal, music historian, author of Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 to 1984
 
REVIEW BLURBS
 
“A revealing and captivating deep dive into the fascinating personal and professional trajectory of an artist and his band, one that would shape and influence future generations of musicians for decades to come.”
— Library Journal “Starred” Review
 
Full review: 
https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/revolution-prince-the-band-the-era-2271018
 
“Prince is my all-time favorite recording artist (period). How could I not check out Campion's upcoming book on the subject? Also, with an introduction by noted music expert Rob Sheffield, I knew this would be worth the read. Campion, of course, gives the reader the details about Prince that all devotees of the artist know. However, he also goes into great details about the rest of this band - telling us who they were, where they came from, and how they came to be part of this fantastic line up of performers. I enjoyed reading about the influences each of them brought to the table and how those, in turn, helped to shape aspects of the music of that time. I very much recommend for both long-time fans as well as the more casual followers.”
— Marin’s View, Martin Maenza, Librarian
 
 
You guys are my most loyal readers and if you hadn’t already heard the news, I wanted you to know straight from me. 
 
If interested in Revolution and want to order your copy directly from my website, I will sign it and mail it out with FREE SHIPPING! (USA only) That can be done here:
 
https://www.jamescampion.com/revolution-prince-the-band-the-era/
 
Otherwise, you can find it anywhere you get your books.
 
I will be appearing on a bevy of podcasts and radio shows, most likely a bookstore event in NYC with Rob Sheffield this fall, and there should be more print reviews to share, which I will try to do in a timely matter here. I am also about to record my fourth in a series of interview clips at my place, this time with my talented niece, Sydney Leigh, who has embarked on her music career and is doing amazing things. She, and her music, can be found here:
 
https://www.sydneyleigh.us
 
I recently recorded her playing one of her beautiful songs, “The Insomniac” live at Washington Square Park. That’s here:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIV32klxmSo 
 
One last thanx must go to my incredible team, my assistant Jessica Smale, who transcribes my interviews and nudges and hustles and finds people I could never find and then books my calendar and then reminds me I have one. And to my old pal, Doc Slater, who makes my website hum and yells at me for some reason or other. 
 
And I thank you all for reading, as always, especially since I transitioned completely over to covering and opining on music. I have been so pleased with the response Profonde Musique has gotten thus far. I am extremely fortunate to have you all in my corner.
 
Hope you get to order and read the book. And please, let me know what you think. That matters the most. I always say, “I write to be read.” I’ve done my part. Ha!
 
Check back soon,
James Campion - August 15th 2025

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