There are several rock venues around the world named First Avenue, but there’s only one that Prince devoted his love for Apollonia at in Purple Rain when he screamed, “do you want him, or do you want me, ‘cuz I want you.”
What began as a bus depot in downtown Minneapolis in the 1930s transformed into a midwestern cultural mecca several decades later.
The beautifully curved Greyhound terminal on the corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street went through several name changes when it switched gears to host music: The Depot (1970–1972), Uncle Sam’s (1972–1979), Sam’s (1979–1981), and then First Avenue (1981–present).
In the 50+ years to follow, countless legendary acts have played on the stage of First Avenue and it’s adjacent baby bar, 7th Street Entry.
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