1999 Tour
# 1999 Tour

The 1999 Tour was a concert tour by American recording artist Prince in support of his fifth studio album, 1999. It was, up till then, his longest tour of the United States. In addition to Prince and his band, his latest all-girl group, Vanity 6, made their first live act tour along with the returning The Time.

## History

This tour saw the debut of Vanity 6 as a live act to go along with The Time as opening act. Even with the release of The Time's second album, What Time Is It?, tension between Prince and The Time escalated as the band was forced to play as Vanity 6's band during their 40-minute set with only a small increase in pay. They were further slighted by having to play behind a curtain, while the sultry girl group performed out front on stage. Eventually, the heat between the bands and the fact that Prince was getting increasingly insecure at The Time's nightly great performances, led to Prince dropping them from the tour completely.

This marked the end of guitarist Dez Dickerson's tenure as a member of Prince's band. In the prior year, Dez became a born-again Christian and found himself conflicted playing music that contained Prince's racy lyrics. He was further upset when prior to 1982's Homecoming Tour stop in Minneapolis, he expressed his desire to omit "Head" from that night's set, that often ended with Prince simulating masturbating with his guitar. Dez gathered support from the rest of the members in the band to show a united front requesting they would not play the song in front of Dez's family, but when Prince was confronted and called for a vote, all but Dez sided with Prince, angering Dez.

With Dez's impending departure, Prince had already found a replacement in Lisa Coleman's childhood friend Wendy Melvoin, who had already been participating in soundchecks with the band and would even stand in for Dez when he was not available. By the last leg of the tour, Wendy was officially the backup guitarist.

Initially, Prince had planned on playing at London's Dominion Theatre but opted out at the last minute, in order to continue gaining status across the United States.

The typical 1999 Tour setlist started with the "Don't worry..." intro from "1999" before an instrumental buildup to "Controversy", which segued into "Let's Work". "Do Me, Baby" was another staple from the Controversy album. Although some occasional older material was played, the remainder of the concert focused on new material. A keyboard interlude by Lisa introduced the new "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?". An extended "Lady Cab Driver" was a highlight and the slow jam "International Lover" were always played, as well as "Little Red Corvette" and "1999" (which often closed the show). "D.M.S.R." was usually worked in, sometimes as an encore. Occasionally some older material included "Head", "Uptown" and "Dirty Mind". "Still Waiting" sometimes segued into "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?". Between acts, songs from Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark were played.

## Set list

Setlist of November 30 – December 3, 1982, at the Masonic Temple Auditorium, Detroit, Michigan

* "Controversy" (Includes "1999" 'don't worry...' intro)
* "Let's Work"
* "Little Red Corvette"
* "Do Me, Baby"
* "Head"
* "Uptown"
* Keyboard Interlude by Lisa Coleman
* "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
* "Automatic"
* "International Lover"
* "1999"
* "D.M.S.R."

Setlist of March 8, 1983, at the Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia

* "Controversy" (Includes "1999" 'don't worry...' intro)
* "Let's Work"
* "Do Me, Baby"
* "D.M.S.R."
* Keyboard Interlude by Lisa Coleman
* "With You" (Instrumental)
* "Still Waiting"
* "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
* "Lady Cab Driver" (New version with additional lyrics)
* "Little Red Corvette"
* "Dirty Mind"
* "International Lover"
* "1999"

## The Band

* Director, Guitar, Piano, Tambourine, & Vocals: Prince
* Guitar: Dez Dickerson, later Wendy Melvoin
* Keyboards: Matt Fink
* Bass: Brown Mark
* Keyboards: Lisa Coleman
* Drums: Bobby Z
* Background vocalist: Jill Jones

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening acts | Attendance/Capacity |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| November 11, 1982 | Chattanooga | United States | Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 3,866 / 3,866 |
| November 12, 1982 | Atlanta | United States | Fox Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 10,543 / 10,875 |
| November 13, 1982 | Atlanta | United States | Fox Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 10,543 / 10,875 |
| November 14, 1982 | New Orleans | United States | Saenger Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 7,907 / 7,907 |
| November 18, 1982 | Columbus | United States | Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 3,916 / 3,916 |
| November 19, 1982 | Gary | United States | Genesis Convention Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 8,500 / 8,500 |
| November 20, 1982 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 14,032 / 14,032 |
| November 21, 1982 | Cleveland | United States | Cleveland Public Hall | Vanity 6 The Time | 7,987 / 7,987 |
| November 24, 1982 | Philadelphia | United States | Class of 1923 Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| November 26, 1982 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,187 / 12,187 |
| November 27, 1982 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 13,800 / 13,800 |
| November 28, 1982 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,352 / 12,352 |
| November 30, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 25,932 / 25,932 |
| December 1, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 25,932 / 25,932 |
| December 2, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 25,932 / 25,932 |
| December 3, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 25,932 / 25,932 |
| December 4, 1982 | St. Louis | United States | The Checkerdome | Vanity 6 The Time | 16,323 / 16,323 |
| December 5, 1982 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Gardens | Vanity 6 The Time | 6,850 / 6,850 |
| December 8, 1982 | Saginaw | United States | Saginaw Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| December 9, 1982 | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,703 / 11,703 |
| December 10, 1982 | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,703 / 11,703 |
| December 11, 1982 | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,703 / 11,703 |
| December 12, 1982 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,500 / 12,500 |
| December 15, 1982 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,200 / 11,200 |
| December 16, 1982 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,098 / 11,098 |
| December 17, 1982 | Pine Bluff | United States | Pine Bluff Convention Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| December 18, 1982 | Baton Rouge | United States | Riverside Centroplex | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,000 / 12,000 |
| December 19, 1982 | Birmingham | United States | Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 15,000 / 15,000 |
| December 20, 1982 | New Orleans | United States | Saenger Theatre | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| December 29, 1982 | Houston | United States | The Summit | Vanity 6 The Time | 22,852 / 22,852 |
| December 30, 1982 | Shreveport | United States | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 5,230 / 5,230 |
| December 31, 1982 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 17,734 / 17,1734 |
| January 2, 1983 | Houston | United States | The Summit | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| January 3, 1983 | Lake Charles | United States | Lake Charles Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 5,230 / 5,230 |
| February 1, 1983 | Lakeland | United States | Lakeland Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,500 / 10,000 |
| February 2, 1983 | Savannah | United States | Savannah Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 3, 1983 | Augusta | United States | Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 4, 1983 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 5, 1983 | Richmond | United States | Richmond Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 6, 1983 | Roanoke | United States | Roanoke Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 5,115 / 9,828 |
| February 10, 1983 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 11, 1983 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 16,000 / 16,000 |
| February 13, 1983 | Washington, D.C. | United States | D.C. Armory Starplex | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 14, 1983 | Washington, D.C. | United States | D.C. Armory Starplex | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 15, 1983 | Chapel Hill | United States | Carmichael Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 10,180 / 10,180 |
| February 16, 1983 | Macon | United States | Macon Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,252 / 9,252 |
| February 18, 1983 | Tallahassee | United States | Tallahassee–Leon County Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,975 / 9,975 |
| February 19, 1983 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 11,626 / 11,626 |
| February 20, 1983 | Mobile | United States | Mobile Municipal Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 22, 1983 | Greenville | United States | Greenville Memorial Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 24, 1983 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 25, 1983 | East Lansing | United States | MSU Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 26, 1983 | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 27, 1983 | Ann Arbor | United States | Crisler Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| February 28, 1983 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,860 / 16,000 |
| March 2, 1983 | Peoria | United States | Peoria Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 3, 1983 | Trotwood | United States | Hara Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 8,000 / 8,000 |
| March 5, 1983 | Baltimore | United States | Baltimore Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 12,447 / 12,447 |
| March 6, 1983 | Salisbury | United States | Wicomico Youth and Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 8, 1983 | Norfolk | United States | Norfolk Scope | Vanity 6 The Time | 6,853 / 6,853 |
| March 9, 1983 | Columbus | United States | Columbus Municipal Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 3,916 / 3,916 |
| March 10, 1983 | Monroe | United States | Monroe Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 11, 1983 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 12, 1983 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 13, 1983 | Kalamazoo | United States | Wings Stadium | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 15, 1983 | Bloomington | United States | Met Center | Vanity 6 The Time | 13,729 / 13,729 |
| March 17, 1983 | Rockford | United States | Rockford MetroCentre | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,500 / 10,000 |
| March 18, 1983 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,474 / 9,474 |
| March 19, 1983 | Kansas City | United States | Municipal Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,330 / 9,330 |
| March 21, 1983 | New York City | United States | Radio City Music Hall | Vanity 6 The Time | 5,882 / 5,882 |
| March 24, 1983 | San Antonio | United States | HemisFair Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 25, 1983 | Norman | United States | Lloyd Noble Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 28, 1983 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre | Vanity 6 The Time | 6,251 / 6,251 |
| March 29, 1983 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| March 30, 1983 | Phoenix | United States | Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,223 / 12,221 |
| March 31, 1983 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 13,574 / 13,574 |
| April 1, 1983 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 28,400 / 28,400 |
| April 2, 1983 | Fresno | United States | Fresno Convention Center | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| April 3, 1983 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | — |
| April 5, 1983 | Denver | United States | Denver Auditorium | Vanity 6 The Time | 5,790 / 5,790 |
| April 7, 1983 | Milwaukee | United States | MECCA Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 9,532 / 9,532 |
| April 8, 1983 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena | Vanity 6 The Time | 21,672 / 21,672 |
| April 9, 1983 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | Vanity 6 The Time | 17,500 / 17,500 |
| April 10, 1983 | Chicago | United States | UIC Pavilion | Vanity 6 The Time | 10,638 / 10,638 |
